Blacksburg, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Blacksburg is a town in Cherokee County
, South Carolina
, United States
. The population was 1,848 at the 2010 census
. The communities of Cherokee Falls
, Kings Creek, Cashion Crossroads, Buffalo, and Mt. Paran are located within or near the town.
Blacksburg is in The Upstate
of SC on the I-85 corridor about 45 miles southwest of Charlotte, North Carolina
and is part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Combined Statistical Area
(CSA) which has a population of 1,173,433 according to 2004 estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Around the late 19th century the Black family, headed by John G. Black, a Confederate
veteran, were living in the area and persuaded the C.C. & C. Railroad Company to lay track through the town and a depot was built. The town soon became known as Black's Station in honor of John G. Black and was renamed Blacksburg in 1888.
Major John F. Jones of Massachusetts
came to live in Blacksburg to be superintendent of the C. C. & C. railroad. He gave of his own personal money to have a school, hotel (The Cherokee Inn), and several other buildings constructed in Blacksburg. He lived in Blacksburg until 1922, when he was appointed the SC Internal Revenue Collector by the President of the United States. He died in 1939 at the age of 92 in his home state, Massachusetts.
In the 1890s large amounts of iron ore were found in the area and many people hoping to make a fortune from mining the mineral flocked to the town. Blacksburg became a boom town and hotels and saloons were built for the new visitors. The town went by the name Iron City for a short time. Because of the "iron rush" the town became quite wealthy and the first electric street lights in the Upstate of S.C. and perhaps in the entire state were installed in Blacksburg.
The city was incorporated in 1888 as "Blacksburg" but still holds its nickname "Iron City" to this day.
Nearby attractions:
Annual events:
*The Iron City Festival was held for the first time on March 31 and April 1, 2006 and is scheduled to be held April 16, 2011. The festival commemorates the founding of the town and is sponsored by the Blacksburg Business Association,Inc.
Local media:
Major transportation routes
Schools:
There are four public schools located in Blacksburg. The schools are Blacksburg Primary School, Blacksburg Elementary School, Blacksburg Middle School, and Blacksburg High School.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land.
There is also a mountain summit located within the town of Blacksburg named Whitaker Mountain
that sets at an elevation of around 1,169 ft.
of 2000, there were 1,880 people, 785 households, and 503 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,018.8 people per square mile (392.4/km²). There were 911 housing units at an average density of 493.7 per square mile (190.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 74.52% White, 23.56% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.
There were 785 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples
living together, 19.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 80.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,453, and the median income for a family was $35,208. Males had a median income of $27,384 versus $21,207 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,833. About 13.7% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 29.4% of those age 65 or over.
Cherokee County, South Carolina
Cherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The county was formed in 1897 from parts of York, Union, and Spartanburg Counties. It is included in the Gaffney, South Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 United States Census, the county's...
, 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 1,848 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
. The communities of Cherokee Falls
Cherokee Falls, South Carolina
Cherokee Falls is a neighborhood of the town of Blacksburg in Cherokee County, South Carolina, United States. A former mill community along the Broad River, Cherokee Falls was a town until disincorporation and merger into Blacksburg in the 1990s. The former Cherokee Falls Cotton Mill is now a...
, Kings Creek, Cashion Crossroads, Buffalo, and Mt. Paran are located within or near the town.
Blacksburg is in The Upstate
The Upstate
The Upstate is the region in northwestern South Carolina, United States, also known as The Upcountry, which is the historical term. Although loosely defined among locals, the general definition includes the 10 counties of the commerce-rich I-85 corridor in the northwest corner of South Carolina. ...
of SC on the I-85 corridor about 45 miles southwest of Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
and is part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Combined Statistical Area
Combined Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas consist of one or more counties...
(CSA) which has a population of 1,173,433 according to 2004 estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Brief history of Blacksburg, SC
The present day site of Blacksburg, SC was first settled by a man by the name of Stark. Mr. Stark who had lived in Charleston, SC prior to moving to the area, had gotten several people to come along with him on an agriculture venture, but this venture would fail. Those who stayed behind named the area Stark's Folly.Around the late 19th century the Black family, headed by John G. Black, a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
veteran, were living in the area and persuaded the C.C. & C. Railroad Company to lay track through the town and a depot was built. The town soon became known as Black's Station in honor of John G. Black and was renamed Blacksburg in 1888.
Major John F. Jones of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
came to live in Blacksburg to be superintendent of the C. C. & C. railroad. He gave of his own personal money to have a school, hotel (The Cherokee Inn), and several other buildings constructed in Blacksburg. He lived in Blacksburg until 1922, when he was appointed the SC Internal Revenue Collector by the President of the United States. He died in 1939 at the age of 92 in his home state, Massachusetts.
In the 1890s large amounts of iron ore were found in the area and many people hoping to make a fortune from mining the mineral flocked to the town. Blacksburg became a boom town and hotels and saloons were built for the new visitors. The town went by the name Iron City for a short time. Because of the "iron rush" the town became quite wealthy and the first electric street lights in the Upstate of S.C. and perhaps in the entire state were installed in Blacksburg.
The city was incorporated in 1888 as "Blacksburg" but still holds its nickname "Iron City" to this day.
Government
- Mayor: David Hogue
- Town Council Members:
- Joe Ross (District 1)
- Mike Patterson (District 2)
- Darren Janesky (District 3)
- Janie Wilson (District 4)
- Town Administrator: Trudy Martin
Other information
Interesting facts and trivia:- Blacksburg got its nickname "Iron City" for the large amounts of iron ore discovered in the town in the late 19th century.
- Blacksburg was the first town in the state of South Carolina to have electric street lights.
- The Ed Brown Championship Rodeo attracts an estimated 22,000 people to the town on the first Friday and Saturday of August each year. In the past, the town had "Rodeo Days" Festival with several events including, a parade, car show, and street dance.
- The Blacksburg High School Marching Band has won the Class A state championship four times: 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.
- The Blacksburg High School football team won the state football championship in 1976
Nearby attractions:
- Kings Mountain National Military ParkKings Mountain National Military ParkKings Mountain National Military Park is a National Military Park near Blacksburg, South Carolina, along the North Carolina/South Carolina border...
and State Park, commemorating a battle of the Revolutionary War, are located about 5 miles northeast of the town. - The famous PeachoidPeachoidThe Peachoid is a four-story water tower in Gaffney, South Carolina, United States, that resembles a peach. The water tower holds one million gallons of water and is located on Interstate 85 between exits 90 and 92...
, a 1,000,000 gallon water tank shaped like a peach, is located just 10 minutes south of the town in Gaffney, SC.
Annual events:
- The Bike Ride for Iron City Ministries is held each year and raises money for Iron City Ministries, a non-profit organization which helps people in Cherokee County, SC with needs such as food and clothing.
*The Iron City Festival was held for the first time on March 31 and April 1, 2006 and is scheduled to be held April 16, 2011. The festival commemorates the founding of the town and is sponsored by the Blacksburg Business Association,Inc.
- The Ed Brown Championship Rodeo is held the first Friday and Saturday in August every year. The rodeo, started in 1968, features bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, ladies barrel racing, bull riding and other events.
- The Anniversary of the Battle of Kings MountainBattle of Kings MountainThe Battle of Kings Mountain was a decisive battle between the Patriot and Loyalist militias in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War...
is held annually on October 7-8th at the Kings Mountain National Military Park and honors those that fell at the Battle of Kings Mountain during the Revolutionary War.
Local media:
- The Blacksburg Times—Is the town's newspaper and is published once weekly on Thursday.
- The Cherokee Chronicle—Newspaper serving Cherokee County is published Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- The Gaffney Ledger—Newspaper of the City of Gaffney located 10 miles southwest of Blacksburg. Published Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Major transportation routes
-
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I-85Interstate 85 in South CarolinaIn the U.S. state of South Carolina, Interstate 85 runs northeast-southwest through Greenville and Spartanburg. It follows the general corridor of U.S. Route 29...
--Exits 106, 104, 102, & 100 serve the town. There is an SC Welcome Center at milemarker 103. -
US 29--2 Lanes. Runs through the downtown area and serves as main street (Cherokee Street) -
SC 5--4 Lanes. SC 5 North ends at the south end of the bridge over I-85 at exit 102. SC 5 South ends just southeast of Rock Hill, SC. -
SC 198--4 Lanes. SC 198 West ends in Shelby, NC. SC 198 East ends at the north end of the bridge over I-85 at exit 102.
Schools:
There are four public schools located in Blacksburg. The schools are Blacksburg Primary School, Blacksburg Elementary School, Blacksburg Middle School, and Blacksburg High School.
Geography
Blacksburg is located at 35°7′14"N 81°30′59"W (35.120676, -81.516291).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 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land.
There is also a mountain summit located within the town of Blacksburg named Whitaker Mountain
Whitaker Mountain
Whitaker Mountain is a mountain summit in Cherokee County in the state of South Carolina and is one of the three mountain peaks in Cherokee County. Whitaker Mountain climbs to an elevation of around 1,169 feet above sea level. Whitaker Mountain is located within the town of Blacksburg, South...
that sets at an elevation of around 1,169 ft.
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 1,880 people, 785 households, and 503 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 1,018.8 people per square mile (392.4/km²). There were 911 housing units at an average density of 493.7 per square mile (190.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 74.52% White, 23.56% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.
There were 785 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% 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, 19.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 80.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,453, and the median income for a family was $35,208. Males had a median income of $27,384 versus $21,207 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 $16,833. About 13.7% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 29.4% of those age 65 or over.