Woodruff, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Woodruff, South Carolina
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Location of Woodruff, South Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Spartanburg |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.69 sq mi (12.15 km2) |
| • Land | 4.66 sq mi (12.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2) |
| Elevation | 787 ft (240 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 4,090 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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4,418 |
| • Density | 948.07/sq mi (366.06/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
29388
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| Area code(s) | 864 |
| FIPS code | 45-79090 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1251504 |
| Website | www.cityofwoodruff.com |
Woodruff is a city in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States, located in upstate South Carolina. The population was 4,101 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Woodruff is located at 34°44′26″N 82°1′57″W / 34.74056°N 82.03250°W (34.740530, -82.032580).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2), of which 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2), or 0.54%, is water.
History
The earliest history of this area begins with the membership of the Church of Christ on Jamey's Creek dated September 18, 1787. The church was named for Jamey's Creek, now called Jimmie's Creek, which heads off McArthur Street behind the Woodruff State Branch Bank on North Main Street. The early members traveled some distance to attend this church. They were from the communities of Cavins, Enoree, Crescent, Switzer and even others in Laurens County. Most of the early settlers had come from Virginia and North Carolina. They were primarily veterans of the Revolution and their families.
Joseph Woodruff received a grant of 200 acres (81 ha), which would later become the site of the city of Woodruff. He came to this area from the Yadkin River valley in North Carolina after his service in the Revolution. The first census of Spartanburg District, in 1790, shows who his neighbors were. All of these people were farmers. There were a few country stores in those days, and these were supplied by "Wagoner's".
One of Joseph Woodruff's sons, Thomas, remained in the area and dreamed of founding a town, but he did not live to see Woodruff incorporated. His two sons, Dr. Charles Pinckney Woodruff and Captain A. B. Woodruff, were most instrumental in carrying out their father's wishes. Therefore, the town was named in Thomas Woodruff's honor.
There was no town nor industry until after the town was chartered in 1874. Men from the rural areas came into Woodruff to establish businesses and the town began to grow. The two Woodruff brothers worked vigorously to get the railroad to run through the town. The railroad was completed in 1885. This caused a rapid growth of business.
The oldest standing home in Woodruff today is located on Main Street. The house was built in the 1830s by Harrison Patillo Woodruff, son of Thomas. "Squire Jim" Westmoreland bought his home in 1874 when he came to Woodruff to establish a mercantile business.
The Old Woodruff High School, First Presbyterian Church of Woodruff, and Hurricane Tavern are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 254 | — | |
| 1890 | 380 | 49.6% | |
| 1900 | 596 | 56.8% | |
| 1910 | 1,880 | 215.4% | |
| 1920 | 2,396 | 27.4% | |
| 1930 | 3,175 | 32.5% | |
| 1940 | 3,508 | 10.5% | |
| 1950 | 3,831 | 9.2% | |
| 1960 | 3,679 | −4.0% | |
| 1970 | 4,690 | 27.5% | |
| 1980 | 5,171 | 10.3% | |
| 1990 | 4,365 | −15.6% | |
| 2000 | 4,229 | −3.1% | |
| 2010 | 4,090 | −3.3% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 4,418 | 8.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,553 | 60.61% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 939 | 22.29% |
| Native American | 11 | 0.26% |
| Asian | 28 | 0.66% |
| Other/Mixed | 233 | 5.53% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 448 | 10.64% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,212 people, 1,577 households, and 891 families residing in the city.
Education
Spartanburg School District Four, is the district that serves Woodruff, and other nearby areas. With roughly 2800 students. The district superintendent is Dr. W. Rallie Liston. The district has one of the best high schools in the state. SCSD4 has four schools. Woodruff Primary School (3K-2nd Grades) Woodruff Elementary School (3rd-5th Grades) Woodruff Middle School (6th-8th Grades) Woodruff High School (9th-12th Grades)
Throughout its history, Woodruff High has experienced a large amount of success in athletics, most notably football. Under the leadership of Coach W. L. Varner, Woodruff High athletics has numerous state titles.
Woodruff is also home to the Project Fun Homeschool Co-op which serves students in Spartanburg, Greenville, Laurens and Union counties.
Woodruff has a lending library, a branch of the Spartanburg County Public Library.
Notable people
- Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson, Former Major league baseball player, current T.V. broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox
- Sammy Taylor, major league baseball player from 1958 to 1963 with the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds.
- Tony Rice (American football), quarterback for University of Notre Dame (1986-1988, 1988 NCAA Football National Champions), Canadian Football League and World League of American Football.
- Wilson Casey, Trivia Guinness World Record holder, professional entertainer/speaker, nationally syndicated newspaper columnist in 500+ newspapers, most-read writer from the Carolinas with 50 versions of published books, works, and calendars.
- Willie Varner (1926-2009), National High School Sports Hall of Fame
See also
In Spanish: Woodruff (Carolina del Sur) para niños
