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Dillon, South Carolina
Downtown Dillon from the Amtrak station in June 2013.
Downtown Dillon from the Amtrak station in June 2013.
Motto(s): 
"Your First Stop in SC"
Location of Dillon in South Carolina
Location of Dillon in South Carolina
Country United States
State South Carolina
County Dillon
Named for James W. Dillon
Government
 • Type Council-Manager Form of Government
Area
 • Total 5.32 sq mi (13.79 km2)
 • Land 5.29 sq mi (13.71 km2)
 • Water 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation
112 ft (34 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 6,788
 • Estimate 
(2019)
6,311
 • Density 1,192.33/sq mi (460.38/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
29536
Area code(s) 843, 854
FIPS code 45-19420
GNIS feature ID 1222024

Dillon is a city in Dillon County in eastern South Carolina, United States. It is the county seat and largest city of Dillon County. It was established on December 22, 1888. Both the name of the city and county comes from James W. Dillon, an early settler and key figure in bringing a railroad through the area. The population was 6,788 in the 2010 U.S. census.

Geography

Dillon is located near the center of Dillon County in the Pee Dee region of northeastern South Carolina. The Little Pee Dee River, a tributary of the Pee Dee River, runs just east of the city.

U.S. Routes 301 and 501 pass through the city as Second Avenue, leading northeast 7 miles (11 km) to Interstate 95 at South of the Border along the North Carolina line, and southwest 6.5 miles (10.5 km) to Latta. Interstate 95 passes northeast of the city, with access from Exits 190 and 193. I-95 leads northeast 25 miles (40 km) to Lumberton, North Carolina, and southwest 28 miles (45 km) to Florence. South Carolina Highway 9 passes through the center of town, leading northwest 26 miles (42 km) to Bennettsville and southeast 13 miles (21 km) to Lake View. South Carolina Highway 57 follows SC 9 through Dillon but leads north 14 miles (23 km) to the North Carolina border and south 17 miles (27 km) to Mullins. SC 9 and 57 follow Main Street southeast out of town. South Carolina Highway 34 follows Main Street northwest out of town, leading west 33 miles (53 km) to Darlington.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Dillon has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.6 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2), or 0.21%, is water. The Little Pee Dee River flows southwards 2 miles (3 km) east of the center of town.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 82
1900 1,015 1,137.8%
1910 1,757 73.1%
1920 2,205 25.5%
1930 2,731 23.9%
1940 3,867 41.6%
1950 5,171 33.7%
1960 6,173 19.4%
1970 6,391 3.5%
1980 7,060 10.5%
1990 6,829 −3.3%
2000 6,316 −7.5%
2010 6,788 7.5%
2019 (est.) 6,311 −7.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Dillon racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 2,475 38.77%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 3,418 53.54%
Native American 62 0.97%
Asian 40 0.63%
Other/Mixed 216 3.38%
Hispanic or Latino 173 2.71%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,384 people, 2,159 households, and 1,364 families residing in the city.

2010 census

The population grew 7.5 percent from the 2000 to 2010. The city is 53.1% Black or African American, 42.8% White or Caucasian persons, 1.6% American Indian or Alaska Native persons, 1.2% persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 1.2% persons reporting two or more races.

There was a recorded 2,454 households, averaging between two and three (2.57) people per household, as well as 2,916 housing units within the city. Of the 2,916 housing units 13.7% were multi-unit structures. The average value of a housing unit was $101,800 for owner occupied units. The census also showed that the population density of Dillon was 1,299.1 persons per square mile. The land area of the city of Dillon was 5.23 square miles. The median household income was found to be $30,455 with a rate of 30.4% of people living in poverty.

Attractions

  • South of the Border
  • Dillon Marriage Chapel
  • Dillon County Courthouse
  • James W. Dillon Home
  • Dillon Downtown Historic District
  • Dillon Motor Speedway

Attracts

  • Kenneth Wayne Webster

Wellness center

The city of Dillon offers a public wellness center, located at 1647 Commerce Drive. The $4.1 million facility was built in 2008. It is a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) building that offers exercise equipment, a sauna, gymnasium, walking track, and meetings rooms. It also offers rooms for rental. The exercise facilities can be used for a fee of $5, or memberships are available at monthly rates.

Transportation

Highways

Downtown Dillon is the intersection of US 301, US 501, SC 9, SC 34 and SC 57. I-95 has two exits to Dillon, and it is planned that I-73 will serve Dillon as part of a future southward expansion.

Rail

Amtrak, the national rail passenger carrier, provides daily service from Dillon with the Palmetto, which runs between Savannah, Georgia, and New York City on the South End Subdivision. Trains stop at the Dillon station, originally opened for passenger use by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1904. A second line known as the Andrews Subdivision, formerly owned by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad runs through Dillon, but only carries freight. CSX owns both railroad lines which cross Dillon.

Neighborhoods

Economy

In the spring of 2018, Dillon Inland Port was constructed, furthering economic growth based on the Port of Charleston.

Education

Public education in Dillon is administered by Dillon District Four Schools. The district operates East Elementary, South Elementary, Stewart Heights Elementary, Lake View Elementary, Gordon Elementary, Dillon Middle School, Dillon High School and Lake View High School.

Dillon Christian School is a private institution.

Northeastern Technical College offers secondary education.

Dillon has a public library, a branch of the Dillon County Library.

Notable people

  • Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve from 2006 to 2014
  • Alfred W. Bethea, farmer and businessman, member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1961 to 1966; American Independent Party gubernatorial nominee in 1970
  • John Chavis, defensive coordinator, Texas A&M
  • Johnny Davis, two-time PKA kickboxing world champion
  • Derrick Hamilton, football player
  • Rufus R. Jones, professional wrestler
  • Willie Jones, Major League Baseball player
  • Kenneth Manning, professor of rhetoric and of the history of science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Kevin Steele, current University of Miami defensive coordinator
  • Lieutenant General Jack C. Stultz, former Chief, Army Reserve; former Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Command
  • Robin Tallon, former member of Congress

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Dillon (Carolina del Sur) para niños

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