Bishopville, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Bishopville is a city in Lee County, South Carolina
, United States
. The population was 3,670 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Lee County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), of which, 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.26%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,670 people, 1,438 households, and 907 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,554.8 people per square mile (600.4/km²). There were 1,616 housing units at an average density of 684.6 per square mile (264.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.83% African American, 32.83% White, 0.11% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.22% from other races
, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.
There were 1,438 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.8% were married couples
living together, 29.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 78.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,400, and the median income for a family was $37,660. Males had a median income of $31,005 versus $18,635 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,140. About 23.7% of families and 28.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.7% of those under age 18 and 27.3% of those age 65 or over.
The tavern owned by Singleton and his wife sat at the intersection of what was once known as Mecklenburg Road, now named Church Street, and McCallum Ferry Road, now known as Main Street. During that time, the tavern was a stopping place for the stage coach between Georgetown
and Charlotte
. (Now this intersection involves Highway 15, which at one point was the premier north-south route from New York to Miami.) In 1798, William Singleton died, leaving his wife owner of the tavern until her death in 1820. One year later the land was sold to Jacques Bishop. During this time period the area around present-day Bishopville was said to be composed of mostly wilderness, with only a few scattered, primitive houses.
Although voting for the creation of Lee County and for making Bishopville its county seat occurred in 1892, there was a delay in enacting these votes until February 1902, when it was ruled that Bishopville had met all requirements to be a county seat. This led to the marking of county boundaries, which were along Lynches River, Black River, Scape Ore Swamp, Sparrow Swamp, Long Branch, and Screeches Branch, as well as the development of a courthouse and jail. As surveyed in the parent counties, the main limits followed old roads and artificial limits.
It wasn’t until December 15, 1902 that Bishopville received the good news of their success. To celebrate, the town hosted speeches and the shooting of the old cannon many times repeatedly. This same old cannon is located on the concrete base in front of Lee County’s Courthouse in Bishopville.
Lee County has historically been a leader in cotton production in the state and is the home of the South Carolina Cotton Museum.
's Topiary
Garden is the home to one of the most breath-taking attractions in South Carolina. Located at 145 Broad Acres Road in Bishopville, South Carolina, this 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) garden is visited annually by many tourists. Fryar and his carefully sculptured topiary garden has been featured many times on television specials and in dozens of magazines. His garden offers 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) of trees and shrubs formed into fanciful spirals, 3-dimensional pieces, pom poms, and other extraordinary shapes that always seem to render visitors awestruck.
Fryar is known nationally for live topiary sculptures. He’s also won many awards as well as being named as South Carolina Ambassador for Economic Development by Mark Sanford in 2003. Fryar revealed that all he wanted to do was have a nice yard and win yard of the month from his hometown of Bishopville, SC.
Emmett Acres Alpaca Farm South Carolina's top breeder of Peruvian and Chilean alpacas. Founded in 1999 by Monty and Randall Gooding on 19 acres (76,890.3 m²), this beautiful farm has continued to produce alpacas of the highest quality and color. This beautiful fiber is second to none in the world. The farm is open to visitors by appointment. Visit the web site at www.alpacas-4-u.com or call 803-428-2161 or 803-428-7222 for reservations.
Lee State Park is one of the best known parks in Lee County. Located at 487 Loop Road in Bishopville, this park hosts just about everything from river fishing, boating, nature trails, show ring, and stables. The park also offers educational programs like pine needle basket weaving and owl prowls. Year-round, daylight hours, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers built the Park during the Great Depression. This attractive park is approximately 2839 acres (11.5 km²) of land . This park offers picnicking in shelters and camping. Picnic tables and serene environments are stationed around the 5.6 miles (9 km) of Lynches River that's owned by Lee State Park.
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 3,670 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 Lee County.
Geography
Bishopville is located at 34°13′8"N 80°14′56"W (34.219027, -80.248877).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 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), of which, 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.26%) 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 3,670 people, 1,438 households, and 907 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 1,554.8 people per square mile (600.4/km²). There were 1,616 housing units at an average density of 684.6 per square mile (264.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.83% African American, 32.83% White, 0.11% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.22% 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 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.
There were 1,438 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.8% 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, 29.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 78.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,400, and the median income for a family was $37,660. Males had a median income of $31,005 versus $18,635 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 city was $16,140. About 23.7% of families and 28.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.7% of those under age 18 and 27.3% of those age 65 or over.
Early history
For more than a decade before Bishopville got its name in the honor of Jacques Bishop, it was known as Singleton’s Crossroads. The 465 acres (1.9 km²) of land was granted to Jacob Chamber by the state of South Carolina in 1786. Daniel Carter later purchased the property and it was once again sold to William Singleton in 1790. This was where the name Singleton’s Crossroads originated.The tavern owned by Singleton and his wife sat at the intersection of what was once known as Mecklenburg Road, now named Church Street, and McCallum Ferry Road, now known as Main Street. During that time, the tavern was a stopping place for the stage coach between Georgetown
Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, in the Low Country. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina,...
and Charlotte
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...
. (Now this intersection involves Highway 15, which at one point was the premier north-south route from New York to Miami.) In 1798, William Singleton died, leaving his wife owner of the tavern until her death in 1820. One year later the land was sold to Jacques Bishop. During this time period the area around present-day Bishopville was said to be composed of mostly wilderness, with only a few scattered, primitive houses.
Although voting for the creation of Lee County and for making Bishopville its county seat occurred in 1892, there was a delay in enacting these votes until February 1902, when it was ruled that Bishopville had met all requirements to be a county seat. This led to the marking of county boundaries, which were along Lynches River, Black River, Scape Ore Swamp, Sparrow Swamp, Long Branch, and Screeches Branch, as well as the development of a courthouse and jail. As surveyed in the parent counties, the main limits followed old roads and artificial limits.
It wasn’t until December 15, 1902 that Bishopville received the good news of their success. To celebrate, the town hosted speeches and the shooting of the old cannon many times repeatedly. This same old cannon is located on the concrete base in front of Lee County’s Courthouse in Bishopville.
Lee County has historically been a leader in cotton production in the state and is the home of the South Carolina Cotton Museum.
Monster
This town is known for the alleged sightings of a reptile-like monster in and near a swamp called Scape Ore Swamp. It has supposedly frightened people and damaged some cars. At one point there was a one million dollar reward for anyone who could find and present "Lizard Man."Parks and outdoor attractions
Pearl FryarPearl Fryar
Pearl Fryar is an African-American topiary artist living in Bishopville, South Carolina.Born in Clinton, North Carolina, Pearl was the son of a sharecropper. Since the early 1980s, Pearl Fryar has been creating fantastic topiary at his garden in Bishopville, South Carolina. Living sculptures,...
's Topiary
Topiary
Topiary is the horticultural practice of training live perennial plants, by clipping the foliage and twigs of trees, shrubs and subshrubs to develop and maintain clearly defined shapes, perhaps geometric or fanciful; and the term also refers to plants which have been shaped in this way. It can be...
Garden is the home to one of the most breath-taking attractions in South Carolina. Located at 145 Broad Acres Road in Bishopville, South Carolina, this 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) garden is visited annually by many tourists. Fryar and his carefully sculptured topiary garden has been featured many times on television specials and in dozens of magazines. His garden offers 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) of trees and shrubs formed into fanciful spirals, 3-dimensional pieces, pom poms, and other extraordinary shapes that always seem to render visitors awestruck.
Fryar is known nationally for live topiary sculptures. He’s also won many awards as well as being named as South Carolina Ambassador for Economic Development by Mark Sanford in 2003. Fryar revealed that all he wanted to do was have a nice yard and win yard of the month from his hometown of Bishopville, SC.
Emmett Acres Alpaca Farm South Carolina's top breeder of Peruvian and Chilean alpacas. Founded in 1999 by Monty and Randall Gooding on 19 acres (76,890.3 m²), this beautiful farm has continued to produce alpacas of the highest quality and color. This beautiful fiber is second to none in the world. The farm is open to visitors by appointment. Visit the web site at www.alpacas-4-u.com or call 803-428-2161 or 803-428-7222 for reservations.
Lee State Park is one of the best known parks in Lee County. Located at 487 Loop Road in Bishopville, this park hosts just about everything from river fishing, boating, nature trails, show ring, and stables. The park also offers educational programs like pine needle basket weaving and owl prowls. Year-round, daylight hours, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers built the Park during the Great Depression. This attractive park is approximately 2839 acres (11.5 km²) of land . This park offers picnicking in shelters and camping. Picnic tables and serene environments are stationed around the 5.6 miles (9 km) of Lynches River that's owned by Lee State Park.
Notable natives
- Bishopville is where college football legend, and 1945 Heisman TrophyHeisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner, "Mr. Inside" Felix "Doc" BlanchardDoc BlanchardFelix Anthony "Doc" Blanchard is best known as the college football player who became the first ever junior to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and was the first ever football player to win the James E. Sullivan Award, all in 1945. He played football for the United States Military Academy at...
was born. The Interstate 20Interstate 20Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
/ U.S. Route 15U.S. Route 15U.S. Route 15 is a -long United States highway, designated along South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. The route is signed north–south, from U.S. Route 17 Alternate in Walterboro, South Carolina to Interstate 86 and NY 17 in Painted Post, New York.US...
interchange near Bishopville is named the Felix "Doc" Blanchard Interchange. The sportsman and pilot will also be commemorated with three bronze statues, scheduled to be unveiled near the public library in December 2009. These statues will depict Blanchard in separate phases of his life. This would appear to conflict with the linked Wiki entry for Blanchard indicating he was born in McColl, SC.
- Pearl FryarPearl FryarPearl Fryar is an African-American topiary artist living in Bishopville, South Carolina.Born in Clinton, North Carolina, Pearl was the son of a sharecropper. Since the early 1980s, Pearl Fryar has been creating fantastic topiary at his garden in Bishopville, South Carolina. Living sculptures,...
- Tommy GaineyTommy GaineyTommy Gainey , also known as "Two Gloves", is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour.-Early pro career:Gainey was born in Darlington, South Carolina. He attended the Central Carolina Technical College just outside of Darlington...
professional golfer on the PGA TOUR. - Silas DeMarySilas DeMarySilas DeMary is an offensive lineman/defensive lineman for the Cleveland Gladiators, an Arena Football League team.-High school career:...
a player for the Cleveland Gladiators, an Arena Football League team.
Further reading
- The Ten Creepiest Creatures In America, written by Allan Zullo, ISBN 0-8167-4288-X, Re.: "Lizard Man".
External links
- "A Man Named Pearl" Award-winning documentary about artist Pearl Fryar.