Sumter, South Carolina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sumter (IPA: /ˈsʌmp.tə/ or /ˈsʌmp.tɚ/) is a city in and the county seat of Sumter CountyGR6, South Carolina, United States. Its population was 39,643 at the 2000 U.S. Census. It is the principal city of the Sumter, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.
It should not be confused with Fort Sumter, which is in Charleston harbor, almost 100 miles away.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Sumter is located at (33.926942, -80.363541)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 69.3 km² (26.8 mi²). 68.9 km² (26.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (0.60%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 39,643 people, 14,564 households, and 10,049 families residing in the city. The population density was 575.6/km² (1,491.2/mi²). There were 16,032 housing units at an average density of 232.8/km² (603.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.58% White, 26.31% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.12% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.37% of the population.
There were 14,564 households out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 19.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,590, and the median income for a family was $38,668. Males had a median income of $27,078 versus $22,002 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,949. About 13.0% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
Sumter was incorporated in 1845 as Sumterville, and the name was shortened to Sumter in 1855. The city is named after General Thomas Sumter, who was known as the "Fighting Gamecock", who commanded troops in the American Revolutionary War and served in the United States Congress. Sumter started as a plantation settlement town, and grew over the years to be more industrialized. Today, industry in Sumter is mostly manufacturing, military, and medical related.
[edit] Government
Sumter is served by a six-member city council, whose members are elected to represent a ward. A city manager is employed by council to run the day-to-day business of the city, and serves at the pleasure of council. Sumter has the distinction of being the first city in the United States to successfully implement this form of government, known as council-manager government. A mayor is elected at-large to a four year (renewable) term, and may vote with council only in the event of a tie vote. PIE!!
[edit] Other attractions
[edit] Higher education
The area is served by Morris College, a private liberal arts four-year college, Central Carolina Technical College, a public two-year technical college, the Sumter campus of The University of South Carolina System, that offers two-year and four-year degrees, St Leo University & Webster University with campuses located at Shaw Air Force Base.
[edit] Shaw Air Force Base
Sumter is home to Shaw Air Force Base, headquarters of the 9th Air Force and the 20th Fighter Wing. Since World War II it has been one of the major sources of employment in the area. Shaw's fighter planes mainly consist of F-16 Fighting Falcons, which are versatile multi-role fighters. F-16's dispatched from Shaw were the primary fighters used in the Persian Gulf War. In response to the city's service, President George H. W. Bush came to Sumter to express his gratitude. Shaw is named after 2nd Lieutenant Robert Henderson Shaw, who was shot down and killed in action after a reconnaissance mission in World War I.
[edit] Sumter High School
Sumter is home to the third largest school in the state (Sumter High School), whose current student population is 2,300. Sumter High is currently operated by the smallest school district in the state (Sumter District 17). The current building has been in use since 1983 and has undergone additions in 1987 and 2003; the 2003 additions opened to student in fall 2005 for the Class of 2006. Current feeder middle schools to Sumter High are Chestnut Oaks Middle, Alice Drive Middle and Bates Middle Schools. The SHS mascot is the Gamecock, a reference to the city and county's namesake, Gen. Sumter. The school colors are blue and gold.
In 1935 it was named Edmunds High School in memory of Superintendent Samuel Henry Edmunds. The colors were purple and white. This color combination represented the merging of the two Junior High schools; McLaurin Junior High whose colors were red and white, and Alice Drive Middle with colors blue and white. In 1971, the name was again changed to Sumter High School and the colors became the current blue and gold.
SHS's current principal is Rutledge Dingle.
[edit] Swan Lake Iris Gardens
Sumter is home to the only public park in the United States with all eight species of swans (Swan Lake Iris Gardens). The City of Sumter hosts the "Iris Festival" which is centered around Swan Lake/Iris Gardens in May and is open to the public. Traditionally, the festival is held Memorial weekend. The park is also the host during the holiday season to the "Swan Lake Fantasy of Lights", a large light display open to the public.
[edit] Notable people from Sumter
- Stephen Colbert, a four-time Emmy Award-winning American comedian, actor, writer, and satirist, was born in Sumter. He is best known for his work as a regular correspondent for The Daily Show, and, since 2005, as the star of its spin-off, The Colbert Report. Colbert was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in 2006.
- Bill Pinkney of the Drifters, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, was born in Sumter County and currently lives in Sumter.
- Bobby Richardson, baseball great of New York Yankees fame from the hey-day of the 60's is from Sumter and still resides there.
- Shawn Weatherly, Miss USA and Miss Universe 1980. She played the part of Jill Riley on season one of Baywatch.
- Rob Crosby, singer/songwriter whose hits include "She Told Me Yes" and "Love Will Bring Her Around".
- Archie Jordan, two-time grammy nominated songwriter whose hits and their performing artists include "It Was Almost Like A Song" (co-wrote for Ronnie Milsap, #18 pop, #1 country), "What A Difference You've Made In My Life" (wrote for Ronnie Milsap, #1 country), "Happy Birthday, Dear Heartache", (wrote for Barbara Mandrell, #1 country), and numerous others.
- George Edward "Tuck" Haynesworth, born and raised in Sumter, is widely credited with firing the first hostile shot of the American Civil War when he fired a handgun at the "Star of the West", an unarmed commercial steamer, as it entered Charleston harbor January 9th, 1861. Haynesworth was one of several cadets from The Citadel posted on the harbor to keep Union ships from resupplying troops at Ft. Sumter.
- Angelica Van Buren, acting First Lady of the United States during the presidency of Martin Van Buren, was a Sumter native.
- Ray Davis ("Stingray") was a founding member of The Parliaments which later became Parliament and Funkadelic and he was briefly part of The Temptations.
- Freddie Solomon, NFL wide receiver formerly of the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers, attended Sumter High School. Freddie has two Super Bowl rings to his credit. His parents still reside in Sumter.
- Terry Kinard, a first round draft pick of the New York Giants, played in the 1986 Super Bowl and had an 8 year NFL career. He attended Sumter High School. Terry was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
- Virginia Capers, Actress. Born in Sumter September 22, 1925.
- Jim Clyburn, politician, currently a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Wally Richardson, former starting quarterback for Penn State and a member of the school's undefeated (regular season) 1991 squad, is a Sumter native.
[edit] External links
- Sumter official website
- Morris College website
- Central Carolina Technical College website
- University of South Carolina Sumter website
- Shaw AFB web site
- [1]
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
