Society Hill, South Carolina

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Society Hill is a town in Darlington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 700 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town was the birthplace of Gashouse Gang member Pat Crawford.

Society Hill was also home to W. Gentry Jones, part safety director, part philosopher, widely known for his impudence and colorful take on people and life - both used largely for no other purpose but to entertain himself. Gentry grew up and attended school in Society Hill, graduating from Rosenwald High School in 1980 with a class ranking of #50 out of 52 classmates. He left Society Hill at the first opportunity and according to him "will not return except to drive through and in so doing always make sure to have enough gas to get to the next town without stopping." Having been present at two homicides before his eighteenth birthday, he is glad to be "from" Society Hill. He said the homicides along with smoking, poor driving, and a general disregard for all things reasonable mostly explain why the population has dwindled from a fat 900 in the mid 1960's to the 700 referenced in the 2000 census. Gentry is a graduate of Southern Wesleyan University in Central, South Carolina. He has a daughter, Nikki, who is now married. She and her husband Jeff are living happily in South Carolina. Mr. Jones lives with his lovely wife Rosemary and Son Sean William Edward in the beautiful state of North Carolina.

Society Hill is a well-known speed trap.

[edit] Geography

Location of Society Hill, South Carolina

Society Hill is located at 34°30′50″N, 79°51′4″W (34.513827, -79.851005)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.6 km² (2.2 mi²), all land. Society Hill's nearest landmark is the Pee Dee River which separates Darlington County from Marlboro and Chesterfield County.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 700 people, 269 households, and 203 families residing in the town. The population density was 124.0/km² (320.4/mi²). There were 317 housing units at an average density of 56.1/km² (145.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 44.43% White, 54.00% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.86% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population.

There were 269 households out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,057, and the median income for a family was $37,875. Males had a median income of $25,662 versus $18,516 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,005. About 13.3% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.