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Sumter, South Carolina
Downtown Sumter 2010.jpg
Official seal of Sumter, South Carolina
Seal
Nickname(s): 
"Gamecock City"
Motto(s): 
"Uncommon Patriotism, Progressive Spirit"
Location of Sumter in South Carolina
Location of Sumter in South Carolina
Country United States
state South Carolina
county Sumter
Incorporated 1845
Named for Thomas Sumter
Area
 • Total 32.83 sq mi (85.02 km2)
 • Land 32.63 sq mi (84.51 km2)
 • Water 0.20 sq mi (0.51 km2)
Elevation
171 ft (52 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 40,524
 • Estimate 
(2019)
39,642
 • Rank 8th in South Carolina
 • Density 1,214.86/sq mi (469.06/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
29150, 29151, 29153, 29154
Area code(s) 803, 839
FIPS code 45-70405
GNIS feature ID 1251074

Sumter ( SUM-tər) is a city in and the county seat of Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. Known as the Sumter Metropolitan Statistical Area, the namesake county adjoins Clarendon and Lee to form the core of Sumter-Lee-Clarendon Tri-county (or East Midlands) area of South Carolina that includes three counties straddling the border of the Sandhills (or Midlands), Pee Dee, and Lowcountry regions. The population was 39,643 at the 2000 census, and it rose to 40,524 at the 2010 census.

History

Incorporated as Sumterville in 1845, the city's name was shortened to Sumter in 1855. It has grown and prospered from its early beginnings as a plantation settlement. The city and county of Sumter bear the name of General Thomas Sumter, the "Fighting Gamecock" of the American Revolutionary War.

During the Civil War the town was an important supply and railroad repair center for the Confederacy. After the war, Sumter grew and prospered, using its large railroad network to supply cotton, timber, and by the start of the 20th century, tobacco to the region.

During the 20th century, Sumter grew into a major industrial center. Starting with the opening of Shaw Air Force Base (now home to the 9th Air Force, 20th Fighter Wing, and United States Army Central) in 1941, industry grew, especially after World War II. Sumter became increasingly known for textiles, manufacturing, biotech industries, a thriving retail environment and medical center of its region in addition to agricultural products, which makes it a hub for business in the east central portion of South Carolina.

The J. Clinton Brogdon House, Carnegie Public Library, Heriot-Moise House, Charles T. Mason House, Myrtle Moor, O'Donnell House, Rip Raps Plantation, Salem Black River Presbyterian Church, Henry Lee Scarborough House, Stateburg Historic District, Sumter County Courthouse, Sumter Historic District, Sumter Town Hall-Opera House, Temple Sinai, Elizabeth White House, and Singleton's Graveyard are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Known as the Gamecock City, Sumter lies near the geographic center of the state of South Carolina at 33°55′37″N 80°21′49″W / 33.92694°N 80.36361°W / 33.92694; -80.36361 (33.926942, −80.363541). Sumter is 100 miles west of Myrtle Beach's Grand Strand and 175 miles east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Columbia, the state capital, lies approximately 45 miles to the west, and Charleston is approximately 100 miles to the south. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.8 square miles (69.3 km²), of which 26.6 square miles (68.9 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.4 km²) (0.60%) is water.

Climate data for Sumter, South Carolina
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 85
(29)
86
(30)
96
(36)
97
(36)
102
(39)
108
(42)
108
(42)
106
(41)
104
(40)
102
(39)
89
(32)
86
(30)
108
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 56
(13)
59
(15)
68
(20)
76
(24)
83
(28)
88
(31)
91
(33)
90
(32)
84
(29)
76
(24)
67
(19)
58
(14)
75
(24)
Average low °F (°C) 35
(2)
37
(3)
44
(7)
51
(11)
60
(16)
67
(19)
71
(22)
70
(21)
64
(18)
53
(12)
44
(7)
37
(3)
53
(12)
Record low °F (°C) 0
(−18)
4
(−16)
11
(−12)
26
(−3)
36
(2)
39
(4)
50
(10)
50
(10)
39
(4)
26
(−3)
15
(−9)
4
(−16)
0
(−18)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.25
(83)
2.68
(68)
3.29
(84)
2.7
(69)
3.13
(80)
4.2
(110)
4.96
(126)
4.84
(123)
3.33
(85)
2.88
(73)
2.49
(63)
2.94
(75)
40.69
(1,039)
Source: The Weather Channel

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 1,356
1860 1,119 −17.5%
1870 1,807 61.5%
1880 2,011 11.3%
1890 3,865 92.2%
1900 5,673 46.8%
1910 8,109 42.9%
1920 9,508 17.3%
1930 11,780 23.9%
1940 15,874 34.8%
1950 20,185 27.2%
1960 23,062 14.3%
1970 24,435 6.0%
1980 24,921 2.0%
1990 41,943 68.3%
2000 39,643 −5.5%
2010 40,524 2.2%
2019 (est.) 39,642 −2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Sumter Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White 17,428 40.1%
Black or African American 21,001 48.32%
Native American 97 0.22%
Asian 891 2.05%
Pacific Islander 40 0.09%
Other/Mixed 1,899 4.37%
Hispanic or Latino 2,107 4.85%

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 43,463 people, 15,605 households, and 9,925 families residing in the city.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, 40,541 people, 16,232 households, and 10,049 families resided in the city. The population density was 575.6/km² (1,491.2/mi²). The 16,032 housing units averaged 232.8/km² (603.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 47.07% Caucasian, 47.03% Black, 0.23% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.12% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.37% of the population.

Of the 14,564 households,h 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 not families. About 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 distributed as 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 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.

Shaw Air Force Base

Sumter is home to Shaw Air Force Base, headquarters of the United States Army Central, 9th Air Force, the 20th Fighter Wing and many other tenant units. Since World War II it has been a major source of federal and civilian employment in the area.

Shaw's fighter planes consist of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, which is a versatile multi-role fighter. F-16's dispatched from Shaw were the primary fighters used in the Gulf War. In response to the city's service, Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower through Barack Obama have visited Sumter to express their gratitude. The base was named in honor of 1st Lieutenant Ervin David Shaw, one of the first Americans to fly combat missions in World War I.

Mass transit

The Santee-Wateree Regional Transit Authority (SWRTA), is the agency responsible for operating mass transit in greater Sumter area.The transit department is in connection with Shaw Air force Base. SWRTA operates express shuttles, and bus service serving Sumter and the communities within the county. The authority was established in October 2002 after SCANA released ownership of public transportation back to the City of Sumter. Since 2003, SWRTA provides transportation for more than 10,000 passengers, has expanded route services and introduced 15 new ADA accessible buses offering a safer, more comfortable means of transportation. In recent years, SWRTA has added natural gas powered buses to its small fleet, and has plans to expand.

Swan Lake/Iris Gardens

Swan Lake/Iris Gardens is the only public park in the United States containing all eight known species of swan. The beautiful black waters of Swan Lake form the setting for the spectacular Iris Gardens. The lake is dotted with colorful islands, and wildlife is abundant. The only public park in the United States to feature all eight swan species, Swan Lake-Iris Gardens is also home to some of the nation's most intensive plantings of Japanese iris, which bloom yearly in mid to late May and last until the beginning of June. The garden also boasts many other floral attractions, including colorful camellias, azaleas, day lilies, and Japanese magnolias. A Braille Trail enables the sight-impaired to enjoy the scents and sensations of the gardens, and a Butterfly Garden and Chocolate Garden both delight the senses.

This area was first developed in 1927 as a private fishing retreat by Hamilton Carr Bland, a local businessman. At the same time he was developing the 30 acres (12 ha) of swamp on what is now the north side of West Liberty Street, he was landscaping the grounds of his home with Japanese iris. They failed miserably, and after consulting expert horticulturists from as far away as New York, he ordered his gardener to dig up the bulbs and dump them at the swamp. The following spring, they burst into bloom. The accidental garden, referred to by Southern Living magazine as a "lovely mistake," has since been developed into one of the finest botanical gardens in the United States.

The park is host to numerous events and festivals throughout the year. The annual "Iris Festival", South Carolina's oldest festival, is held at Swan Lake/Iris Gardens every Memorial Day weekend in May. The gardens come alive with color during the Christmas season with the nighttime Fantasy of Lights display, featuring more than 1,000,000 varicolored sparkling lights in an array of colors and shapes. It also hosts an annual Earth Day celebration.

Sports

Riley Park is a 2,000 seat stadium primarily used for baseball, and was the home of Sumter Braves, a Single A Atlanta Braves affiliate that competed in the South Atlantic League. Riley Park was home to the Braves from 1985 until 1990, when the team left Sumter for Macon, Georgia. Notable Sumter Braves who went on to Major League success include Tom Glavine, David Justice, Kevin Brown (right-handed pitcher), Mark Wohlers, Ryan Klesko, and Vinny Castilla. The Braves were replaced by the Sumter Flyers in 1991, a Single A Montreal Expos affiliate. The Flyers, however, left Sumter after one season. No professional baseball team has competed in Sumter since the end of the 1991 season.

Riley continues to be the home of the P-15s, an American Legion baseball team with a long history of success. The P-15s have won 15 state titles including in 1940, 1950, 1952, 1962, 1977, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2011. They advanced to the 2006 American Legion World Series in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where they finished fourth nationally. The P-15s made a return trip to the American Legion World Series hosted by Shelby, NC in 2008 and 2009.

Palmetto Tennis Center is a new state-of-the-art tennis court in Palmetto Park. The tennis center has 24 official size tennis courts. It hosts numerous youth, collegiate, and professional tournaments each year. Sumter Memorial Stadium is home to Sumter High School's Gamecocks, Marvin Montgomery Field at Donald L. Crolley Memorial Stadium is home to the Crestwood High School Knights, and Dr. J. Frank Baker Stadium is home to the Lakewood High School Gators.

In the 1950s, Sumter was very strong in table tennis state champions, and in 1951, produced an All-American Table Tennis Tournament national men's champion Oliver Hoyt Stubbs.

New York Yankees former second baseman Bobby Richardson is from Sumter. The town built and named a youth baseball park in his honor. Sumter is also the home of pro basketball star Ray Allen, who had an 18-year career in the NBA.

Jordan Blackmon Montgomery (born December 27, 1992), nicknamed "Gumby", is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2017. Before his professional career, Montgomery played college baseball for the South Carolina Gamecocks of the University of South Carolina.

Education

There is one school district—Sumter School District—which serves both the City of Sumter and Sumter County. Sumter is home to Crestwood High School, Lakewood High School, and Sumter High School. The schools in this district have each received national recognition as Blue Ribbon Schools, producing students who annually earn large scholarship awards, and employing award-winning teachers and administrators. Each public school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the State Department of Education. The area also includes the private institutions of Thomas Sumter Academy, Wilson Hall, Sumter Christian School, St. Anne Catholic School, St. Francis Xavier High School, Berea Junior Academy, and Westside Christian Academy.

Higher education

Sumter is home to several collegiate institutions. The area is served by Morris College (a private, four-year HBCU liberal arts college); Central Carolina Technical College (a public two-year technical college); the University of South Carolina Sumter; and Troy University.

Library

Sumter has a public library system that includes three branches of the Sumter County Library network.

Notable people

Artists
Athletics/Competition
  • Ray Allen, professional basketball player, 10-time NBA All-Star.
  • Art Baker, collegiate football coach.
  • Justin Bethel, NFL defensive back.
  • Ronnie Burgess, NFL defensive back.
  • Pete Chilcutt, played basketball for University of North Carolina and NBA from 1991 to 2000.
  • Buck Flowers (Allen Ralph Flowers Jr., football player.
  • Nicole Gamble, track and field triple jump champion.
  • Terry Kinard, NFL player, first-round draft pick of New York Giants, played in 1986 Super Bowl.
  • Wayne Mass, Edmunds High School player, All American at Clemson & then played in the NFL.
  • Bob Montgomery, former lightweight boxing champion.
  • Jordan Montgomery, Major League Baseball pitcher.
  • Ja Morant, professional basketball player, was the 2nd overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies.
  • Cleveland Pinkney, professional football player, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers and Detroit Lions.
  • Matt Price, former pitcher that won back to back College World Series titles with the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. Holds the record for most wins in the College World Series. Played in the Baltimore Orioles' farm system.
  • Jason Ratcliff, NASCAR crew chief for Matt Kenseth at Joe Gibbs Racing.
  • Bobby Richardson, second baseman, three-time World Series champion with New York Yankees, baseball coach at South Carolina.
  • Wally Richardson, former starting quarterback for Penn State.
  • Freddie Solomon, NFL wide receiver, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.
  • John Stefero, former catcher for the Baltimore Orioles.
  • Oliver Hoyt Stubbs, 1951, All-American Table Tennis Tournament national men's singles champion.
  • Derrick Witherspoon. NFL, running back & return specialist.
Aviation & Space
Beauty Pageant Winners
  • Shawn Weatherly, Miss South Carolina USA, Miss USA, and Miss Universe (1980).
Business
  • Samuel R. Allen, chairman and CEO of John Deere.
  • Thomas Wilson (Industrialist), born in Scotland & becoming a prominent businessman, he was the wealthiest man in S. C. when he died.

See also

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

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