Hampton, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Hampton is a town in Hampton County, South Carolina
, United States
. The population was 2,837 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Hampton County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²), of which, 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²) of it is land and 0.22% is water.
Festival
held in the third week of June. The weeklong festival features such events as a watermelon judging contest and a watermelon eating contest. The main event of the festival is the parade
held on Saturday that runs from Varnville
to Hampton. As of 2011, the Watermelon Festival is the state of South Carolina's longest, continually-running festival. The festival has never been skipped or canceled since its start.
of 2000, there were 2,837 people (2,795 in 2004 estimate), 1,178 households, and 775 families residing in the town. The population density
was 626.1 people per square mile (241.8/km²). There were 1,339 housing units at an average density of 295.5 per square mile (114.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 55.30% White, 42.44% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.78% from other races
, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.
There were 1,178 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples
living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,650, and the median income for a family was $40,688. Males had a median income of $31,625 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,326. About 15.2% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.
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 2,837 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Hampton County.
Geography
Hampton is located at 32°52′3"N 81°6′42"W (32.867514, -81.111554).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 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²), of which, 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²) of it is land and 0.22% is water.
Culture
Since 1943, Hampton has hosted the annual Hampton County WatermelonWatermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
Festival
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
held in the third week of June. The weeklong festival features such events as a watermelon judging contest and a watermelon eating contest. The main event of the festival is the parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
held on Saturday that runs from Varnville
Varnville, South Carolina
Varnville is a town in Hampton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,074 as of the 2000 census. The town is often twinned with Hampton, as the two communities are relatively close to another and often share civic and cultural events....
to Hampton. As of 2011, the Watermelon Festival is the state of South Carolina's longest, continually-running festival. The festival has never been skipped or canceled since its start.
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 2,837 people (2,795 in 2004 estimate), 1,178 households, and 775 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 626.1 people per square mile (241.8/km²). There were 1,339 housing units at an average density of 295.5 per square mile (114.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 55.30% White, 42.44% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.78% 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 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.
There were 1,178 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% 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, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,650, and the median income for a family was $40,688. Males had a median income of $31,625 versus $21,250 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 $17,326. About 15.2% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
- Patrick Henry Academy
- Ben Hazel Primary School
- North District Middle School
- Wade Hampton High School