Lake City, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Lake City is a city in Florence County
, South Carolina
, United States
. The population was 6,478 at the 2000 census (8,728 total pop. of Lake City Urban Cluster). Located in central South Carolina, it is south of Florence
and included as part of the Florence
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
In 1856, the Northeastern Railroad
built its main line through the area. This brought new growth to the community and on March 4, 1874, after requests from residents, a city charter was granted to the new town of Graham. On December 24, 1883, the town changed its name to Lake City, after the swimming lakes just north of town. This was at the request of the locally-serving Lynches Lake Post Office, since there was another post office in South Carolina known as that.
This small town had a population of 300 in 1893, and by 1898 the area had become the leading strawberry cropland in South Carolina.
Lake City was the site of a notorious lynching
on February 22, 1898, that resulted in the mob murders of the city's black postmaster
and his infant daughter.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), of which, 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²) of it is land and 0.21% is water.
of 2000, there were 6,478 people, 2,409 households, and 1,705 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,365.0 people per square mile (526.6/km²). There were 2,704 housing units at an average density of 569.8 per square mile (219.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.43% African American, 27.18% White, 0.08% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.28% from other races
, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.
There were 2,409 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% were married couples
living together, 30.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,534, and the median income for a family was $32,111. Males had a median income of $26,316 versus $19,679 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,452. About 26.9% of families and 31.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.0% of those under age 18 and 25.3% of those age 65 or over.
Florence County, South Carolina
Florence is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was recorded to be 125,761; in 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 131,097. Its county seat is Florence. The county's population is about 60% urban and it comprises part of...
, 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 6,478 at the 2000 census (8,728 total pop. of Lake City Urban Cluster). Located in central South Carolina, it is south of Florence
Florence, South Carolina
-Municipal government and politics:The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits...
and included as part of the Florence
Florence, South Carolina
-Municipal government and politics:The City of Florence has a council-manager form of government. The mayor and city council are elected every four years, with no term limits...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Florence, South Carolina metropolitan area
As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and used by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes only, the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area, is an area consisting of two counties in the Pee Dee region of northeastern South Carolina, anchored by the city of Florence...
.
History
The Lake City area was originally part of Williamsburg Township, which was first settled by a group of Scotch-Irish in 1736. It was first called Graham's Crossroads and then Graham, after Aaron Graham, a land owner around the crossroads that now form Church and Main Streets in Lake City.In 1856, the Northeastern Railroad
Northeastern Railroad (South Carolina)
The Northeastern Railroad was a railroad that served South Carolina in the second half of the 19th century.Chartered in 1851, it was completed in 1856 and ran from Charleston, South Carolina, to Florence, South Carolina....
built its main line through the area. This brought new growth to the community and on March 4, 1874, after requests from residents, a city charter was granted to the new town of Graham. On December 24, 1883, the town changed its name to Lake City, after the swimming lakes just north of town. This was at the request of the locally-serving Lynches Lake Post Office, since there was another post office in South Carolina known as that.
This small town had a population of 300 in 1893, and by 1898 the area had become the leading strawberry cropland in South Carolina.
Lake City was the site of a notorious lynching
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
on February 22, 1898, that resulted in the mob murders of the city's black postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
and his infant daughter.
Economy
Today, Lake City's economy is dominated by tobacco. It even has its own two-day festival in September. This was established in 1898, and has grown to become one of the two largest markets in South Carolina today. By 1932, the town also supported the largest bean market in the world.Geography
Lake City is located at 33°52′4"N 79°45′22"W (33.867697, -79.756153).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 city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), of which, 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²) of it is land and 0.21% 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 6,478 people, 2,409 households, and 1,705 families residing in the city. 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 1,365.0 people per square mile (526.6/km²). There were 2,704 housing units at an average density of 569.8 per square mile (219.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.43% African American, 27.18% White, 0.08% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.28% 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 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.
There were 2,409 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% 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, 30.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.4 males.
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 city was $14,452. About 26.9% of families and 31.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.0% of those under age 18 and 25.3% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Ronald McNairRonald McNairRonald Ervin McNair, Ph.D. was a physicist and NASA astronaut. McNair died during the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-51-L.-Background:...
, (October 21, 1950 - January 28, 1986) , a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, was one of the astronautAstronautAn astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
s killed during the launch of the space shuttle ChallengerSpace Shuttle ChallengerSpace Shuttle Challenger was NASA's second Space Shuttle orbiter to be put into service, Columbia having been the first. The shuttle was built by Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division in Downey, California...
, mission STS-51-LSTS-51-LSTS-51-L was the twenty-fifth flight of the American Space Shuttle program, which marked the first time an ordinary civilian, schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe, had flown aboard the Space Shuttle. The mission used Space Shuttle Challenger, which lifted off from the Launch Complex 39-B on 28 January...
.
- Birthplace of: Derrick BurgessDerrick BurgessDerrick Lee Burgess is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mississippi....
- 2005 NFL player (Oakland Raiders, born: Aug 12, 1978).
- D.T. Cromer (David Thomas Cromer) was born on March 19, 1971 in Lake City, South Carolina. He made his Major League debut on April 5, 2000 for the Cincinnati Reds. Cromer played for the Cincinnati Reds for his entire 2 year career.
- Tripp CromerTripp CromerRoy Bunyan "Tripp" Cromer III was a Major League Baseball utility player. He is an alumnus of the University of South Carolina. His younger brother, D. T. was also a Major League Baseball player....
(Roy Bunyan Cromer) was born on November 21, 1967 in Lake City, South Carolina. He made his Major League debut on September 7, 1993 for the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1995, his rookie year, he hit .226 with 5 home runs and 18 RBI. Cromer played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros over the course of his 7 year career.
- Darla MooreDarla MooreDarla Dee Moore is a partner of the private investment firm Rainwater, Inc, and is married to Richard Rainwater, who founded the firm....
, a partner of the private investment firm Rainwater, Inc, and is married to Richard Rainwater, who founded the firm. She is a pioneering woman in the banking industry and a benefactor to many institutions in her home state of South Carolina. At the University of South CarolinaUniversity of South CarolinaThe University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, the Moore School of Business is named after her.