Fountain Inn, South Carolina

Fountain Inn, South Carolina
City

Location of Fountain Inn, South Carolina
Coordinates: 34°41′36″N 82°11′55″W / 34.69333°N 82.19861°WCoordinates: 34°41′36″N 82°11′55″W / 34.69333°N 82.19861°W
Country United States
State South Carolina
Counties Greenville, Laurens
Area
 • Total 5.5 sq mi (14.3 km2)
 • Land 5.5 sq mi (14.3 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 866 ft (264 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 6,017
 • Density 1,091.6/sq mi (421.5/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 29644
Area code(s) 864
FIPS code 45-27070[1]
GNIS feature ID 1222514[2]
Website http://www.fountaininn.org/

Fountain Inn is a city in Greenville and Laurens counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 6,017 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The Cannon Building, Fairview Presbyterian Church, Fountain Inn High School, Fountain Inn Principal's House and Teacherage, McDowell House, Robert Quillen Office and Library, Tullyton, and F. W. Welborn House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3][4][5]

Geography

The southern part of the city is in Laurens County, while the bulk of the city is in Greenville County. The city's nickname is "The diamond tip of the Golden Strip". The city took its name from an Inn and fountain that were along the old stage coach route.[6] The stage coach drivers called the stop Fountain Inn and it stuck. A small garden fountain is installed at City Hall and there is a marker on the north side of town showing the former location of the old inn. There are several festivals in Fountain Inn which include: Aunt Het Day, based on syndicated cartoon columnist Robert Quillen, that brings in several hundred visitors as Main Street is closed and filled with many unique vendors.

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 6,017 people. The population density was 1,091.6 people per square mile (421.6/km²). There were 2,465 housing units at an average density of 447.2 per square mile (172.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.49% White, 29.31% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.41% of the population.

There were 2,289 households out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 19.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.7 males.

The median income for a family was $45,417. Males had a median income of $33,281 versus $24,353 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,297. About 6.8% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Fountain Inn is governed by a Mayor, a City Council, and several boards and commissions. The current officeholders are:

City Council

Board of Zoning Appeals/Variance Board

Planning Commission

Crime

The City of Fountain Inn has one of the lowest crime rates in Greenville County and has the best record in closing case files of towns of similar sizes and geographic area. The Fountain Inn Police Department has annual reports and information regarding current records and statistical surveys of the area.

Education

Only 79% of the residents have a high school diploma or equivalent, 26.2% with Bachelor's degree and 4.1% holding a Master's, Professional or Doctorate.

Notable people

Fountain Inn was the adopted home of journalist and humorist Robert Quillen, one of the "leading purveyors of village nostalgia" during the early decades of the twentieth century.[7]

Fountain Inn was the home town of late one legged tap dancer Clayton "Peg Leg" Bates..

Fountain Inn is the home town of Travelle Wharton who is an American football player who currently plays offensive lineman. He played for the Carolina Panthers of the NFL from 2004 through 2011. He joined the Cincinnati Bengals for the 2012 season. He played college football at the University of South Carolina.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
  4. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 1/30/12 through 2/03/12. National Park Service. 2012-02-10.
  5. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 6/27/11 through 7/01/11. National Park Service. 2011-07-08.
  6. ↑ "Communities". Laurens County Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  7. ↑ John Hammond Moore, ed., The Voice of Small-Town America: The Selected Writings of Robert Quillen, 1920-1948 (Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2008), xi.

External links