Awendaw, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Awendaw is a small fishing town
in Charleston County
, South Carolina
, United States
. The population was 1,195 at the 2000 census. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes only, Awendaw is included within the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville metropolitan area.
in September 1989, but did not receive as significant damage in 2004 when Hurricane Gaston made landfall in the region. In 1992, the town of Awendaw was first incorporated and elected its first mayor, Willam H. Alston.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.8 km²), of which, 8.3 square miles (21.5 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (2.01%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,195 people, 400 households, and 312 families residing in the town. The population density
was 144.3 people per square mile (55.7/km²). There were 443 housing units at an average density of 53.5 per square mile (20.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 64.60% African American, 34.39% White, 0.08% Asian, 0.59% from other races
, and 0.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.
There were 400 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples
living together, 19.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.47.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,250, and the median income for a family was $42,917. Males had a median income of $31,696 versus $21,422 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,781. About 13.5% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.
system.
Mayor
Samuel N. Robinson.
Council Members
Administrator
Town Clerk
In 2011, Tractor Supply Company
opened a new store. The first national chain of its kind to open in Awendaw.
Sam Thompson - Opened Awendaw's first grocery store, Sam's Store. In 1929 it later became E & A Grocery & Gas and a National Landmark
.
It was burnt down in July 2005 by robbers who set it on fire, broke into the store after hours and stole the cash register.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Charleston County
Charleston County, South Carolina
Charleston County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, its population was 330,368. Its county seat is Charleston. It is the third-most populous county in the state . Charleston County was created in 1901 by an act of the South...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,195 at the 2000 census. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes only, Awendaw is included within the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville metropolitan area.
History
Awendaw was named by the Seewee Native American or "Sewee" tribe. It is also home to an oyster shell mound created by the Seewee Tribe. It is often referred to as "The Spanish Fort". Most of the mound is still intact. The rest of it was destroyed to construct roads and homes for the citizens of Awendaw. The town was heavily damaged by Hurricane HugoHurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo was a classical, destructive and rare Cape Verde-type hurricane which struck the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the USA mainland in South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane during September of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season...
in September 1989, but did not receive as significant damage in 2004 when Hurricane Gaston made landfall in the region. In 1992, the town of Awendaw was first incorporated and elected its first mayor, Willam H. Alston.
Geography
Awendaw is located at 32°59′11"N 79°38′36"W (32.986445, -79.643451).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.8 km²), of which, 8.3 square miles (21.5 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (2.01%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,195 people, 400 households, and 312 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 144.3 people per square mile (55.7/km²). There were 443 housing units at an average density of 53.5 per square mile (20.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 64.60% African American, 34.39% White, 0.08% Asian, 0.59% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.
There were 400 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 19.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.47.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,250, and the median income for a family was $42,917. Males had a median income of $31,696 versus $21,422 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $15,781. About 13.5% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The town is run by an elected Mayor-council governmentMayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
system.
Mayor
Samuel N. Robinson.
Council Members
- Nell C. Daniels
- Miriam C. Green
- Bryan McNeal, Jr.
- Bettye Simmons
- Sheila Powell
- Rodney Porcher
Administrator
- Bill Wallace
Town Clerk
- Gregory Saxton
Trivia
The 609.6 meter high WCSC-Tower is one of the world's tallest constructions. The Media General Tower is also more than 600 meters high.In 2011, Tractor Supply Company
Tractor Supply Company
Tractor Supply Company is a large retail chain of stores that offers a number of products for home improvement, agriculture, lawn and garden maintenance, and livestock, equine and pet care. It is a leading U.S. retailer in its market.Founded as a mail order tractor parts business in 1938, the...
opened a new store. The first national chain of its kind to open in Awendaw.
The Blue Crab Festival
To many Awendaw citizens crabbing is a hobby and one of the towns main economic resource. Every year in the summer the town has the Blue Crab Festival. It brings in money to the town, to use on its parks and to finish its water system that is under construction. It is still not complete.Noble Awendaw citizens
William H. Alston - African American Mayor of The Year for 2005 and mayor of Awendaw since 1992.Sam Thompson - Opened Awendaw's first grocery store, Sam's Store. In 1929 it later became E & A Grocery & Gas and a National Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
.
It was burnt down in July 2005 by robbers who set it on fire, broke into the store after hours and stole the cash register.