Estill, South Carolina

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Estill is a town in Hampton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,425 at the 2000 census (3,637 total Estill Urban Cluster pop.).

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Estill is located at 32°45′16″N, 81°14′18″W (32.754396, -81.238395)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.2 km² (3.5 mi²), all land. Elevation: 114 feet[1]

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,425 people, 884 households, and 624 families residing in the town. The population density was 264.5/km² (685.8/mi²). There were 991 housing units at an average density of 108.1/km² (280.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 18.06% White, 79.42% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.90% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.26% of the population.

There were 884 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.7% were married couples living together, 29.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the town the population was spread out with 33.7% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $19,484, and the median income for a family was $23,452. Males had a median income of $25,526 versus $17,273 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,682. About 33.4% of families and 37.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.7% of those under age 18 and 36.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

The current Town of Estill traces its roots back to Lawtonville, SC, located 1 mile to the West. Settled by Benjamin Thornstacle D'Ion Lawton[2]. In 1775, Pipe Creek Church of Regular Baptists was established as part of the Charleston Association of Baptists and later, the Savannah River Association. These organizations were forerunners of today's Southern Baptist Convention. Pipe Creek Church eventually became Lawtonville Baptist Church and was an important part of Lawtonville, SC. Lacking a railroad, Lawtonville was never a large important center of commerce. Nonetheless, during the Civil War, 15,000 soldiers (part of the Unions 15th Corp travelled from Savannah to North Carolina and this included fighting through present day Hampton County with engagements in Lawtonville which was largely leveled. Lawtonville Baptist Church was reduced to its stone steps and its cemetery in January, 1865.

After 1900, a railroad was built approximately 1 mile East of Lawtonville and the town largely moved to the site of the new railroad. Named for Colonel James Holbrook Estill (who brought the railroad to the new town site), Estill, SC was incorporated on September 8, 1905. [3]. Later the railroad through Estill became the well known Seaboard Air Line, then the Seaboard Coast Line which also marketed itself as the "Family Line System"[4], and today is CXS (a merger between the Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line in 1986)[5]. Thanks to the railroad, passenger and commerce greatly assisted in the development of Estill for many years.