Gaffney, South Carolina

Gaffney, South Carolina
City

The Gaffney Commercial Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Nickname(s): "Peach Capital of South Carolina"

Location of Gaffney, South Carolina
Coordinates: 35°4′19″N 81°39′11″W / 35.07194°N 81.65306°WCoordinates: 35°4′19″N 81°39′11″W / 35.07194°N 81.65306°W
Country United States
State South Carolina
County Cherokee
Government
 • Mayor Henry Jolly
Area
 • Total 7.9 sq mi (20.4 km2)
 • Land 7.9 sq mi (20.4 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation 804 ft (245 m)
Population (2012)[1]
 • Total 12,449
 • Density 1,571.4/sq mi (608.5/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 29340-29341-29342
Area code(s) 864
FIPS code 45-28060
GNIS feature ID 1247855[2]
Website cityofgaffney-sc.gov

Gaffney is a city in and the county seat of Cherokee County, South Carolina, United States,[3] in the upstate region of South Carolina. Gaffney is known as the Peach Capital of South Carolina. The population was 12,414 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Gaffney, South Carolina, Micropolitan Statistical Area (population 55,662 according to year 2012 estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau), an MSA which includes all of Cherokee County and which is further included in the greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina Combined Statistical Area (population 1,384,996 according to year 2012 U.S. Census Bureau estimates).

History

Michael A. Gaffney, born in Granard, Ireland, in 1775, emigrated to America in 1797, arriving in New York and moving to Charleston, South Carolina a few years later. Gaffney moved again in 1804 to the South Carolina Upcountry (The Upstate) and established a tavern and lodging house at what became known as "Gaffney's Cross Roads." The location was perfect for growth because of the two major roads which met here, one from the mountains of North Carolina to Charleston and the other from Charlotte into Georgia. Michael Gaffney died here on September 6, 1854.

In 1872, the area became known as "Gaffney City." Gaffney became the county seat of Cherokee County which was formed out of parts of York, Union, and Spartanburg Counties in 1897. Gaffney became a major center for the textile industry in South Carolina, which was the backbone of the county's economy up until the 1980s.

Despite the small amount of population growth, businesses and companies continue to locate within the city limits, especially along the bustling Floyd Baker Boulevard and Highway 105 and many other areas within the city limits. However, most population growth recently has occurred outside of the city limits.

Uptown Gaffney began to languish after I-85 was built in the county as industries located near the new highway. Recent renovations in downtown Gaffney have prompted more businesses to locate there, but there is still a great deal that is planned for the central part of the city. Many plans have been announced for the downtown area, including a large 20-acre (81,000 m2) park that is currently being developed on the grounds of a recently demolished mill (Gaffney Manufacturing Co.). A plaza has been completed beside city hall and includes a refurbished fountain and extensive landscaping. Highlights to the upgrade of the city's park system include a skatepark, two passive parks, and several children's playgrounds.

In 2008 the Cherokee County History & Arts Museum opened on College Drive in the historic Central Elementary School Building. The Museum is operated by the Cherokee Historical & Preservation Society, Inc. and is located on the mustering ground of the SC militia (1812–1914). Located just blocks from downtown Gaffney and in one of the city's three nationally registered historic sites, the museum offers new cultural opportunities for locals and visitors, while having a positive economic impact for the downtown area. Annual events include a pottery show, car show, and ghost walk.

The city has recently hired an architectural firm to renovate the old Gaffney Post Office located at the intersection of Frederick and Granard Streets into a Visitor's Center and Art Gallery.

There are also plans for a large cultural center to be placed in the downtown area. In 2009 Darren Mason was elected president of Gaffney Downtown Business Assoc. and has worked closely with city officials in revitalizing the Historic Downtown area which consists of about 6 blocks. New matching fund programs have been key to restoring old buildings by painting and using attractive awnings to spruce up the old look of main street.

A farmers' market, Gaffney Station Farmers' Market, has been established in a city parking lot directly across from the old post office downtown. The farmers' market operates on Wednesdays and Saturdays June through October. There are also plans to create a more permanent site for the farmer's market at that site. The City of Gaffney plans to build a partial replica of the old train depot that was once located there. The partial replica will house a portion of the farmer's market, and also act as a landmark that calls back to the days of the old depot.

The city recently concluded Spring Session '08 of a popular concert series entitled Shindig at the Gaffney Cabin. Bands perform on a weekly basis: Fridays during the Spring Session (May) and Thursdays during the Fall Session (late August through September). Concerts are held on Thursdays during Fall Sessions so as not to conflict with Gaffney Indian football games on Friday nights. The City will hold more of those concerts in 2009, this time from April to June 2009, and again from August to October of the same year.

Two serial killers have at different times attacked residents of Gaffney. In 1968 Lee Roy Martin, known as the Gaffney Strangler, killed four women. In 2009, a series of shootings led to five deaths.[4]

The Archeological Site 38CK1, Archeological Site 38CK44, Archeological Site 38CK45, Carnegie Free Library, Coopersville Ironworks Site (38CK2) and Susan Furnace Site (38CK67), Cowpens Furnace Site (38CK73), Winnie Davis Hall, Ellen Furnace Site (38CK68), Gaffney Commercial Historic District, Gaffney Residential Historic District, Irene Mill Finishing Plant, Jefferies House, Limestone Springs Historic District, Magness-Humphries House, Nesbitt's Limestone Quarry (38CK69), and Settlemyer House are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[5]

2009 spree killings

Main article: Patrick Tracy Burris

The city of Gaffney and surrounding Cherokee County came into the national spotlight during the summer of 2009 when a spree killer began killing residents of the rural town.[6]

The first victim, a prominent peach farmer from western Cherokee County, was killed on June 27. On July 1, the killer was responsible for the death of an 83-year-old woman and her 50-year-old daughter. The two were found bound and shot to death in the elder woman's home near Gaffney. On July 2, 46-year-old Stephen Tyler was shot and killed in his appliance and furniture store; his teenage daughter, Abby, was critically wounded; she died of her injuries two days later.[7]

The news spread quickly from the local newspaper to national and international media outlets including CNN, ABC News, The Wall Street Journal, and the BBC.

On July 6, police responding to an emergency call of a burglary in progress in Gaston County, North Carolina shot and killed a suspect who drew a gun on them, injuring one officer. Ballistic tests and checks on the suspect's SUV indicated this to be the wanted killer, later identified as Patrick Tracy Burris.[7][8]

Geography

Gaffney is located at 35°4′18″N 81°39′00″W / 35.07167°N 81.65000°W (35.071667, -81.650000).[9] It is located 55 miles (89 km) from Charlotte, North Carolina and 50 miles (80 km) from Greenville, South Carolina. It is served by the Charlotte, N.C. and Greenville, S.C major airports. These airports are almost equidistant from Gaffney, with Greenville being closer. It is also approximately 190 miles (310 km) northeast of Atlanta, Georgia. The other closest city is Spartanburg, S.C. which is 21 miles (34 km) south on I-85. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20 km2), of which, 7.9 square miles (20 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880400—
18901,631307.8%
19003,937141.4%
19104,76721.1%
19205,0656.3%
19306,82734.8%
19407,63611.9%
19508,1236.4%
196010,43528.5%
197013,25327.0%
198013,4531.5%
199013,145−2.3%
200012,968−1.3%
201012,414−4.3%
Est. 201212,4490.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
2012 Estimate[11]

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,968 people, 5,304 households, and 3,336 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,649.7 people per square mile (637.0/km²). There were 5,765 housing units at an average density of 733.4 per square mile (283.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 50.48% White, 47.19% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.98% of the population.

There were 5,304 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.1% were married couples living together, 21.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 82.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,480, and the median income for a family was $38,449. Males had a median income of $30,145 versus $22,167 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,755. About 13.3% of families and 26.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 18.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

  • Wayne Ramsey (District 1)
  • Thomas R. Reid (District 2)
  • S. Bernard Smith (District 3)
  • Dennis Ramsey (District 4)
  • Boone Peeler (District 5)
  • Billy Love (District 6)

Education

Gaffney is served by the Cherokee County School District, which is one unified school district.

  • Heritage Christian School
  • Village School of Gaffney
  • Gaffney Christian Academy

The Gaffney High School football team is also well-known regionally. The program boasts 16 State Championships and alumni such as the Washington Redskins' Rocky McIntosh and University of South Carolina All-American and Minnesota Vikings' Sidney Rice. In the 2005–2006 school year the school was chosen as Palmetto's Finest, the highest honor for high schools in the state. The school has succeeded greatly in increasing test scores across the board and increasing the graduation rate.

Media

Infrastructure

Transportation

Gaffney is located on the Interstate 85 corridor, linking it to Atlanta and Charlotte, and Interstate 26, which is in nearby Spartanburg, linking Gaffney to Asheville and the Mid-Atlantic.

Public transit is available through the Gaffney Cab Company for a relatively low fare.

The Gaffney Peachoid

The Upstate region is served by two airports. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (IATA: GSP, ICAO: KGSP), also known as GSP International Airport, and Charlotte Douglas International (CLT). Recent studies have proved that an airport is strongly needed in the county. Cherokee County is the only county in South Carolina without an airport. Requests are now being made to the federal government to support the construction of the new airport. Studies are also determining where the airport, if built, should be built.

The Gaffney Peachoid

Travelers know Gaffney from the Peachoid water tower making note that Gaffney is the peach capital of South Carolina, located along Interstate 85 near exit 92. The Peachoid is a water tower shaped like a peach which some think of as an erotic sculpture upon first view. It serves both artistic and practical functions.

Notable people

Notable figures who were born in, lived in, or are otherwise associated with Gaffney.

In popular culture

Congressman Frank Underwood, the protagonist in the Netflix series House of Cards, is a native of the city and its representative in the United States House of Representatives (specifically, South Carolina's 5th congressional district); through this office, he is the Democratic House Majority Whip. He goes back to visit Gaffney in "Chapter 3" after a Gaffney teenager crashes her car near the famed Peachoid water tower after texting while driving (although the scenes were filmed in Havre de Grace, Maryland).[13][14]

References

  1. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ↑ "Americas | US community fears serial killer". BBC News. July 5, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  5. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
  6. ↑ Associated Press. "S.C. police at N.C. shooting near serial killings". Washington Times. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Robbery Suspect Fatally Shot By Police In N.C., Is The Suspect In S.C. Serial Killings". cbs13.com. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  8. ↑ thestate.com, Police ID serial killer suspect slain in N.C., 6 July 2009, retrieved 7 July 2009
  9. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  12. ↑ Green Design Advocate Neil Chambers Launches National Book Tour https://www.winthrop.edu/news-events/article.aspx?id=19549
  13. ↑ Chris Jancelewicz (26 February 2013). "House Of Cards Season 1, Episode 3 Recap: Just Peachoid". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  14. ↑ Stephen Largen (19 March 2013). "Upstate town's giant peach is ripe for fame on Netflix drama 'House of Cards'". The Post and Courier (Charleston, South Carolina). Retrieved 22 February 2014.

External links