Manning, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Manning is a city in South Carolina
and the county seat
of Clarendon County in the Southeastern United States
, located in the center of the county, just to the east of Interstate 95
and at the intersection of U.S. 301
and U.S. 521
. The population was estimated to be 3,943 as of 2008, down 2% from its 4,025 population as of the 2000 census. It was named after South Carolina governor John Laurence Manning.
The city is named for John Laurence Manning, who was elected to both chambers in the General Assembly
, and was chosen by the Assembly to serve as governor from 1852 to 1854.
George Allen Huggins was the first intendant (mayor) of Manning. Manning's Post Office was established in 1856 and Thomas S. Coogler was the first Postmaster. Manning's first library, the Hannah Levi Memorial Library, was completed in 1910. It eventually became known as the Manning Library and was the only public library in the county. It became a county library in 1976 and continued to operate until the opening of the Harvin Clarendon County Library in 1984. The building now houses the Clarendon County Archives and History Center.
A large portion of the original town, including the court house, was destroyed in 1865 during what is known as "Potter's Raid". Manning was later struck by a downtown fire in 1895 and a tornado in 1915.
Railroads, abundant timber and diverse agriculture allowed Manning to flourish during the late 19th century and into the 20th century. In 1933, Highway 4 was changed to U.S. Route 301
and thanks in part to the efforts of Manning resident W. P. Legg, Manning and Clarendon County became a preferred route of the Washington to Florida motorist. Manning is in the I-95
corridor and attracts retirees looking for various recreational activities and mild climates.
Civil Rights History
As early as 1960 Manning was one of many towns across the South for the staging of peaceful Civil Rights demonstrations and sit-ins. Unlike some other areas the demonstrations in Manning occurred without significant incident and helped belie the local media's message that black Carolinian's accepted the status quo.
In 1969 Pansy Ridgeway became the first woman to be elected mayor of Manning. She served as mayor of Manning from 1970–96 and was the third woman elected mayor in South Carolina and the first woman elected president of the South Carolina Municipal Association.
, and the council consists of six members who are elected from each of six districts.
Manning is represented in the South Carolina Senate
by John C. Land III
, who was born in Manning. It is part of South Carolina's 6th congressional district
which since January 1993
has been represented by Jim Clyburn
.
and to The Manning Times, a newspaper for Manning and the county for over 125 years. In March 2010, the newspaper's entire staff of about six employees left to start a competing paper, the Clarendon Citizen.
and Laurence Manning Academy. It is also the location of the F.E. DuBose Campus of Central Carolina Technical College
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 4,025 people, 1,550 households, and 1,063 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,671.1 people per square mile (644.8/km²). There were 1,727 housing units at an average density of 717.0 per square mile (276.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.36% African American, 35.80% White, 0.62% Asian, 0.25% Native American, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races
, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.
There were 1,550 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% were married couples
living together, 29.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 80.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,483, and the median income for a family was $26,269. Males had a median income of $26,135 versus $19,086 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,502. About 23.8% of families and 30.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.5% of those under age 18 and 20.3% 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...
and 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 Clarendon County in the Southeastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, located in the center of the county, just to the east of Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in South Carolina
Interstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In South Carolina, I-95 runs approximately parallel to the Atlantic Ocean shore although about inland, from Hardeeville in the south to Dillon in the northeast.-Route...
and at the intersection of U.S. 301
U.S. Route 301
U.S. Route 301 is a spur of U.S. Route 1 running through the South Atlantic States. It currently runs 1,099 miles from Glasgow, Delaware at U.S. Route 40 to Sarasota, Florida. It passes through the states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida...
and U.S. 521
U.S. Route 521
U.S. Route 521 is an north–south United States highway that runs for from Georgetown, South Carolina to Charlotte, North Carolina.-South Carolina:...
. The population was estimated to be 3,943 as of 2008, down 2% from its 4,025 population as of the 2000 census. It was named after South Carolina governor John Laurence Manning.
History
In 1855 the Legislature appointed a group of commissioners to select and purchase a tract of land for "the Village of Manning" in the newly formed Clarendon County. According to the Watchmen, a local newspaper of the time, "the Legislature (had) granted a bill of divorce between Clarendon and Claremont (Sumter)." Ignoring superstition, thirteen men were named as commissioners to select and acquire from six to sixty acres on which to lay out the new courthouse village: R. C. Baker, L. F. Rhame, J. C. Brock, W. W. Owens, Joseph Sprott, J. C. Burgess, M. T. Brogdon, J. J. Nelson, Samuel A. Burgess, J. J. McFadden, Jesse Hill, R. R. Haynsworth, and P. S. Worsham. Five other commissioners, R. I. Manning, L. F. Rhame, J. B. Brogdon, J. J. Conyers, and William A. Burgess, were named for erecting the courthouse and jail from a state appropriation of $18,000.00, plus whatever funds might be realized from the sale of lots. The site for the village was presented to the state by Captain Joseph Copley Burgess and the Plat of Manning was prepared and filed in Sumter County Courthouse. (Captain Burgess had also donated land for the courthouse and jail in Manning.) On the second Monday of the following October, the new district officers were elected, and Clarendon began its separate existence from Sumter District with Manning as its county seat.The city is named for John Laurence Manning, who was elected to both chambers in the General Assembly
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
, and was chosen by the Assembly to serve as governor from 1852 to 1854.
George Allen Huggins was the first intendant (mayor) of Manning. Manning's Post Office was established in 1856 and Thomas S. Coogler was the first Postmaster. Manning's first library, the Hannah Levi Memorial Library, was completed in 1910. It eventually became known as the Manning Library and was the only public library in the county. It became a county library in 1976 and continued to operate until the opening of the Harvin Clarendon County Library in 1984. The building now houses the Clarendon County Archives and History Center.
A large portion of the original town, including the court house, was destroyed in 1865 during what is known as "Potter's Raid". Manning was later struck by a downtown fire in 1895 and a tornado in 1915.
Railroads, abundant timber and diverse agriculture allowed Manning to flourish during the late 19th century and into the 20th century. In 1933, Highway 4 was changed to U.S. Route 301
U.S. Route 301
U.S. Route 301 is a spur of U.S. Route 1 running through the South Atlantic States. It currently runs 1,099 miles from Glasgow, Delaware at U.S. Route 40 to Sarasota, Florida. It passes through the states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida...
and thanks in part to the efforts of Manning resident W. P. Legg, Manning and Clarendon County became a preferred route of the Washington to Florida motorist. Manning is in the I-95
Interstate 95
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,...
corridor and attracts retirees looking for various recreational activities and mild climates.
Civil Rights History
As early as 1960 Manning was one of many towns across the South for the staging of peaceful Civil Rights demonstrations and sit-ins. Unlike some other areas the demonstrations in Manning occurred without significant incident and helped belie the local media's message that black Carolinian's accepted the status quo.
In 1969 Pansy Ridgeway became the first woman to be elected mayor of Manning. She served as mayor of Manning from 1970–96 and was the third woman elected mayor in South Carolina and the first woman elected president of the South Carolina Municipal Association.
Government
The city government consists of a mayor and a city council. The mayor is elected at-largeAt-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
, and the council consists of six members who are elected from each of six districts.
Manning is represented in the South Carolina Senate
South Carolina Senate
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
by John C. Land III
John C. Land III
John C. Land III is a Democratic member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 36th District since 1976. Previously he was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1975 through 1976....
, who was born in Manning. It is part of South Carolina's 6th congressional district
South Carolina's 6th congressional district
The 6th Congressional District of South Carolina is a congressional district in central South Carolina. It includes all of Bamberg, Clarendon, Colleton, Marion and Williamsburg counties and parts of Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Lee, Orangeburg, Richland and...
which since January 1993
103rd United States Congress
- House of Representatives :- Leadership :- Senate :* President: Dan Quayle , until January 20, 1993** Al Gore , from January 20, 1993* President pro tempore: Robert Byrd - Majority leadership :* Majority Leader: George Mitchell...
has been represented by Jim Clyburn
Jim Clyburn
James Enos "Jim" Clyburn is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993, and the Assistant Democratic Leader since 2011. He was previously House Majority Whip, serving in that post from 2007 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
.
Media
Manning is home to WYMBWYMB
WYMB is a radio station broadcasting a Classic rock format. Licensed to Manning, South Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media. It is simulcast with WMXT in Florence, South Carolina....
and to The Manning Times, a newspaper for Manning and the county for over 125 years. In March 2010, the newspaper's entire staff of about six employees left to start a competing paper, the Clarendon Citizen.
Education
Manning is home to two high schools, Manning High SchoolManning High School
Manning High School is one of two high schools in Manning, South Carolina. It is part of the Clarendon County's Clarendon County School District 2 and serves grades 9-12. Manning High School has approximately 870 students instructed by 39 teachers. The student body is predominantly black and a...
and Laurence Manning Academy. It is also the location of the F.E. DuBose Campus of Central Carolina Technical College
Geography
Manning is located at 33°41′38"N 80°12′55"W (33.693998, -80.215408).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), all of it land.
Adjacent counties
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 4,025 people, 1,550 households, and 1,063 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 1,671.1 people per square mile (644.8/km²). There were 1,727 housing units at an average density of 717.0 per square mile (276.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.36% African American, 35.80% White, 0.62% Asian, 0.25% Native American, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.40% 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 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.
There were 1,550 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% 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, 29.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 80.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,483, and the median income for a family was $26,269. Males had a median income of $26,135 versus $19,086 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 $11,502. About 23.8% of families and 30.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.5% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Fred BennettFred BennettFred Bennett is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
, defensive back for the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati BengalsThe Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... - David GaillardDavid du Bose GaillardDavid du Bose Gaillard was a U.S. Army engineer instrumental in the construction of the Panama Canal.-Biography:He was born in Manning, South Carolina. Gaillard graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1884. In 1907 he was placed in charge of construction of the central...
, engineer of the central portion of the Panama CanalPanama CanalThe Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
, after whom the Gaillard CutGaillard CutThe Gaillard Cut, or Culebra Cut, is an artificial valley that cuts through the continental divide in Panama. The cut forms part of the Panama Canal, linking Lake Gatún, and thereby the Atlantic Ocean, to the Gulf of Panama and hence the Pacific Ocean...
is named. He died before the work was finished. - Alvin GreeneAlvin GreeneAlvin Michael Greene is a Democrat from South Carolina. He was the Democratic Party's nominee in the 2010 United States Senate election in South Carolina. He was defeated by incumbent Republican Sen. Jim DeMint by a margin of 61.46% to 27.65%, with the remaining votes going to third-party and...
, Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee for Senator - Marian McKnightMarian McKnightMarian McKnight is a former American beauty pageant winner.She earned the 1957 Miss America title with a Marilyn Monroe act in the talent portion, and later worked with Monroe's ex-husband, Joe DiMaggio, for a Virginia supplier of military bases...
, "Miss America 1957" - Glenn MurrayGlenn Murray (baseball)Glenn Murray is a former outfielder from Manning, S.C., who made his Major League Baseball debut in 1996 with the Philadelphia Phillies...
, who played pro baseball as outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies, starting 1996 - Peggy ParishPeggy ParishPeggy Parish of Manning, South Carolina , was the author of the children's story series Amelia Bedelia. The series was continued, after her sudden death from an aneurysm, by her nephew Herman Parish...
originating author of the Amelia BedeliaAmelia BedeliaThis article is about the protagonist in the childrens book series of the same name. For the first book in the series, see Amelia Bedelia ...
series of children's books - John RichbourgJohn R.John R. was an American radio disc jockey who attained fame in the 1950s and 1960s for playing rhythm and blues music on Nashville radio station WLAC...
, disc jockey on the Nashville clear channel AM radio station WLACWLACWLAC is a clear channel radio station based in Nashville, Tennessee, operating at 1510 kHz on the AM dial.-Early history:Its first broadcast took place on November 24, 1926. The call letters were chosen to contain an acronym for the first owner of the station, the Life and Casualty Insurance... - Rob ThomasRob Thomas (musician)Robert Kelly "Rob" Thomas is an American rock recording artist and songwriter. He is the primary songwriter and lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty. Thomas also records and performs as a solo artist...
Lead singer for alternative band Matchbox Twenty