Clover, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Clover is a town in York County
, South Carolina
, United States
located in the greater Charlotte
, North Carolina
metropolitan area. As of July 2009, the population was at 5,158 within the town limits.
Clover is twinned with the Northern Irish town of Larne
, located on the East Coast of County Antrim
.
. Prior to Clover's founding, Bethany and Bethel, communities located a few miles west and east, respectively, were primary population centers in northern York District, with well-established Presbyterian churches, post offices and stores.
The pivotal American Revolutionary War
battle of Kings Mountain
occurred about approximately eight miles to the west on October 7, 1780.
The village of Clover began as a railway stop midway between York, South Carolina
, and Gastonia, North Carolina
, when the first railroad tracks were laid through the northern section of the county, leading to Gastonia.
Before the Civil War, the Kings Mountain Railway had operated as far north as Yorkville from Chester, but the tracks were destroyed during the war. In 1873, the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railway was officially chartered, and the new railroad company acquired the former Kings Mountain rights of way. By 1875, new, narrower gauge tracks constituted the old route, and the following year tracks were laid between Yorkville and the new mill town of Gastonia. The eventual location of the village was mid-point between the two towns and a railway stopping point for taking on water, for the early steam engines.
According to lore, the overflow of water from the railway's water tank fertilized a patch of clover
, and the stop was called "the clover patch." The town was incorporated in 1887.
It later became the home of several cotton mills, many of which operated until after World War II
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which, 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) of it is land and 0.36% is water.
U.S. Highway 321 comprises Clover's Main Street, which runs roughly north and south, and the town square lies at its intersection with state highway 55.
Henry's Knob
, a mountain
near the town of Clover is the site of a former open-pit mining
operation for the world's largest deposit of kyanite
. The mountain stands at 1120 ft above sea level. According to United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) records, the mine is listed as a Superfund
Alternative Site for acid mine drainage
and groundwater contamination.
of 2000, there were 4,014 people, 1,517 households, and 1,099 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,433.5 people per square mile (553.5/km²). There were 1,635 housing units at an average density of 583.9 per square mile (225.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 75.96% White, 21.03% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.30% from other races
, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.94% of the population.
There were 1,517 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples
living together, 19.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,335, and the median income for a family was $43,276. Males had a median income of $33,945 versus $19,840 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,774. About 13.4% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
, Oakridge Middle School
, Knox Street School, and Clover High School
.
York County, South Carolina
York County is a county located in the north-central section of the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to the 2010 census, the county's population was 226,073. It is the second largest county in the Charlotte metropolitan area...
, 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...
located in the greater Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
metropolitan area. As of July 2009, the population was at 5,158 within the town limits.
Clover is twinned with the Northern Irish town of Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
, located on the East Coast of County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
.
History
Clover was founded in the late 19th century, in the vicinity of an earlier settlement called New Centre, which waned during the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Prior to Clover's founding, Bethany and Bethel, communities located a few miles west and east, respectively, were primary population centers in northern York District, with well-established Presbyterian churches, post offices and stores.
The pivotal American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
battle of Kings Mountain
Battle of Kings Mountain
The Battle of Kings Mountain was a decisive battle between the Patriot and Loyalist militias in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War...
occurred about approximately eight miles to the west on October 7, 1780.
The village of Clover began as a railway stop midway between York, South Carolina
York, South Carolina
York is a small city in York County, South Carolina, United States. The city of York is also the county seat of York County. The population was approximately 6,985 at the 2000 census and the 2009 population estimate for the city...
, and Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
, when the first railroad tracks were laid through the northern section of the county, leading to Gastonia.
Before the Civil War, the Kings Mountain Railway had operated as far north as Yorkville from Chester, but the tracks were destroyed during the war. In 1873, the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railway was officially chartered, and the new railroad company acquired the former Kings Mountain rights of way. By 1875, new, narrower gauge tracks constituted the old route, and the following year tracks were laid between Yorkville and the new mill town of Gastonia. The eventual location of the village was mid-point between the two towns and a railway stopping point for taking on water, for the early steam engines.
According to lore, the overflow of water from the railway's water tank fertilized a patch of clover
Clover
Clover , or trefoil, is a genus of about 300 species of plants in the leguminous pea family Fabaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution; the highest diversity is found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, but many species also occur in South America and Africa, including at high altitudes...
, and the stop was called "the clover patch." The town was incorporated in 1887.
It later became the home of several cotton mills, many of which operated until after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Geography and climate
Clover is located at 35°6′44"N 81°13′37"W (35.112194, -81.226848).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 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which, 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) of it is land and 0.36% is water.
U.S. Highway 321 comprises Clover's Main Street, which runs roughly north and south, and the town square lies at its intersection with state highway 55.
Henry's Knob
Henry's Knob
Henry's Knob is a mountain and Superfund Alternative Site in York County South Carolina at above sea level. It is near the North Carolina border and the town of Clover, South Carolina. The mountain was the site of an open-pit kyanite mine, which was under operation from 1947 to 1970...
, a mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
near the town of Clover is the site of a former open-pit mining
Open-pit mining
Open-pit mining or opencast mining refers to a method of extracting rock or minerals from the earth by their removal from an open pit or borrow....
operation for the world's largest deposit of kyanite
Kyanite
Kyanite, whose name derives from the Greek word kuanos sometimes referred to as "kyanos", meaning deep blue, is a typically blue silicate mineral, commonly found in aluminium-rich metamorphic pegmatites and/or sedimentary rock. Kyanite in metamorphic rocks generally indicates pressures higher than...
. The mountain stands at 1120 ft above sea level. According to United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA) records, the mine is listed as a Superfund
Superfund
Superfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 , a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances...
Alternative Site for acid mine drainage
Acid mine drainage
Acid mine drainage , or acid rock drainage , refers to the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines. However, other areas where the earth has been disturbed may also contribute acid rock drainage to the environment...
and groundwater contamination.
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 4,014 people, 1,517 households, and 1,099 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 1,433.5 people per square mile (553.5/km²). There were 1,635 housing units at an average density of 583.9 per square mile (225.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 75.96% White, 21.03% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.30% 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 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.94% of the population.
There were 1,517 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% 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, 19.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,335, and the median income for a family was $43,276. Males had a median income of $33,945 versus $19,840 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 $16,774. About 13.4% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
The schools located in the Clover School District include Bethel Elementary School, Bethany Elementary School, Griggs Road Elementary School, Kinard Elementary School, Crowders Creek Elementary School, Larne Elementary School (named after Clover's Sister City, Larne, Northern Ireland), Clover Middle SchoolClover Middle School
Clover Middle School is one of two middle schools in the Clover School District. CMS is adjacent to the Clover School District Auditorium and Clover High School.- Place :...
, Oakridge Middle School
Oakridge Middle School
Oakridge Middle School is one of two middle schools in the Clover School District. The state-of-the-art facility opened to students in August 2009. After Larne Elementary School and Oakridge Middle opened in 2009, the school district eradicated the junior high concept and created the middle...
, Knox Street School, and Clover High School
Clover High School
Clover High School is a public high school, located in Clover, South Carolina, about from Charlotte, North Carolina. It is the only high school in the Clover School District and has a 2009-2010 estimated student population of 1,900...
.