Mullins, South Carolina

Mullins is a city in Marion County, South Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,029. Incorporated on March 4, 1872, Mullins was named after Col. William S. Mullins, who served as a representative for Marion County in the South Carolina State Legislature from 1852 to 1866.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Government
- 3.1 Mayor
- 3.2 Council Members
4 History of Mullins
5 Mullins Fire Department
6 Historic places
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Geography

Mullins is located at 34°12′19″N, 79°15′19″W (34.205239, -79.255309)^[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.9 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 5,029 people, 2,001 households, and 1,324 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,647.8 people per square mile (636.6/km²). There were 2,312 housing units at an average density of 757.6/sq mi (292.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.58% African American, 36.59% White, 0.28% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.

There were 2,001 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.1% were married couples living together, 29.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 73.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 65.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $20,154, and the median income for a family was $25,218. Males had a median income of $26,233 versus $16,572 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,183. About 25.3% of families and 28.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 44.2% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

The city is run by an elected Mayor-council government system.

[edit] Mayor

Kenneth McDonald

[edit] Council Members

Wayne Collins, Jo A. Sanders, Patricia Phillips, Terry B. Strickland, Terry Davis.

[edit] History of Mullins

On March 4, 1872, the charter was approved for the town of Mullins. The same year the Macedonia Methodist church was established, the first church within city limits. By 1878, the city of Mullins had a population of seventy-five people, a total of twelve families. There were only three stores and four unpaved streets: Railroad, Main, Smith, and Gapway Streets.

In 1894, the growth and sale of tobacco sparked the further development of the city of Mullins. In 1895, tobacco was sold for $17.13 a pound, a good price. Mullins became the largest distributor of tobacco in the country, known as “South Carolinas Largest, The world’s best tobacco market.” In the late 1920’s the tobacco festival was started and is still celebrated today.

Mullins’ first school was established in 1872, which was attended by boys and girls from the town, nearby rural areas, and neighboring counties. The first schoolhouse was built in 1904; a brick, two story building on Academy Street. A second schoolhouse was built in 1913, on the corner of Main and Academy streets. Mullins High School was built in 1923 on North Park Street where it stood until burning in 1976. It was rebuilt on Millers Road, outside of the city limits. McCormick Elementary School was built on Sandy Bluff Road in 1956. The Palmetto School for Negroes was built on O'Neal Street in 1919 and, after integration, became Palmetto Middle School as it remains today.

In 1970 all schools were combined into a totally integrated school system.

In 1910, the public library was established. The current library, located at the corner of N. Main and Wine Streets, was built in 1940.

[edit] Mullins Fire Department

One of the greatest fears of the people of Mullins was that of fire. When a fire broke out, neighbors were called by cries for help or by farm bells as homeowners watched all of their possessions being engulfed by flames. The first Mullins Fire Department was established in the early 1920’s. The first fire wagon was a regular farm wagon with a ladder and twenty to thirty buckets hanging from the sides. The wagon was pulled by man power and the equipment was operated by the first men who arrived to help. The first truck powered by gas was a 1923 Ford pickup purchased in 1959.

[edit] Historic places

Neal and Dixon's Warehouse

South Carolina Tobacco Museum – Winner of the 1999 Heritage Tourism Award, the museum is housed in the 1901 Mullins depot.

Anderson Brothers Bank – The Mullins hometown bank. Established in 1929 by B.B. and E.L. Anderson, who had operated a depository out of their warehouse.