Central, South Carolina

Central, South Carolina
Town
Top, left to right: Downtown Central, Southern Wesleyan University, Central Roller Mills, Central High School
Location of Central within South Carolina
Coordinates: 34°43′26″N82°46′47″W / 34.72389°N 82.77972°W / 34.72389; -82.77972
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Pickens
Incorporated	1875 [1]
Government
• Mayor	Andrew J. Beckner [2]
Area [3]
• Total	3.07 sq mi (7.94 km2)
• Land	3.06 sq mi (7.93 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation [4]	906 ft (276 m)
Population  (2020) [5]
• Total	5,296
• Density	1,713.59/sq mi (661.56/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	29630
Area code	864
FIPS code	45-13015 [6]
GNIS feature ID	1247236 [4]
Website	cityofcentral.org

Central is a town in Pickens County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,159, roughly 3,000 of whom were considered permanent residents. ^[7] Contrary to its name, it is not near South Carolina's center. It received its name from being halfway or the central point between Atlanta and Charlotte along the former Atlanta and Richmond Air-Line Railway line. Southern Wesleyan University's main campus is east of downtown Central.

History

Central was founded by the Atlanta and Richmond Air Line Railway in a railroad boom that began in 1873. ^[8] The town's name represents the fact that it is midway between Atlanta and Charlotte. ^[1] Central was incorporated as a town on March 17, 1875. ^[1]

In 1897, Southern Railway moved its headquarters from Central to Greenville; trains no longer stopped to change engines, and soon all shops and offices were closed. ^[1] The establishment of Issaqueena Mill and, in 1906, ^[9] Wesleyan Methodist Bible Institute (now Southern Wesleyan University) brought people back to the town. ^[1]

Two buildings on Church Street in Central are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Central High School and Morgan House. The Central Roller Mills on Madden Bridge Road was listed in 2013.

Geography

Central is located at 34°43′26″N82°46′47″W / 34.723781°N 82.779754°W / 34.723781; -82.779754 . ^[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has an area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), all of it land.

Downtown Central is bisected by a rail line. A significant number of late 19th- to early 20th-century commercial buildings remain, most of which are single-story and retain a good amount of historical integrity. As of 2006,^{[ citation needed ]} a downtown streetscape project is underway that is designed to improve the area's aesthetics. There are also many modest pre-World War II homes near the downtown. Central has several large apartment complexes, including The Reserve, which primarily house students from nearby Clemson University (who can use Clemson Area Transit to get there), as well as from Southern Wesleyan University.

The Central Heritage Society has a museum and information on many historic buildings and homes in the area.

Attractions

In addition to Southern Wesleyan University, the town is home to Grand Central Station, a disc golf course that hosts Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) tournaments.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	184		—
1890	396		115.2%
1900	349		−11.9%
1910	886		153.9%
1920	898		1.4%
1930	1,440		60.4%
1940	1,496		3.9%
1950	1,263		−15.6%
1960	1,473		16.6%
1970	1,550		5.2%
1980	1,914		23.5%
1990	2,438		27.4%
2000	3,522		44.5%
2010	5,159		46.5%
2020	5,247		1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [11] [5]

Central is part of the Greenville – Mauldin – Easley metropolitan area.

2000 census

As of the census ^[6] of 2000, there were 3,522 people, 1,560 households, and 617 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,463.4 inhabitants per square mile (565.0/km²). There were 1,832 housing units at an average density of 761.2 per square mile (293.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 79.70% White, 15.25% African American, 1.79% Asian, 0.03% Native American, 2.13% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.32% of the population.

There were 1,560 households, of which 17.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.1% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 60.4% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 15.1% under the age of 18, 37.4% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 12.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24. For every 100 females, there were 116.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,869, and the median income for a family was $39,524. Males had a median income of $26,855 versus $22,207 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,394. About 11.3% of families and 29.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

Central's population has grown rapidly since 2000, mostly due to the construction of apartment complexes for students attending Clemson University, Southern Wesleyan and Tri-County Technical College.

2020 census

Central racial composition ^[12]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	3,375	64.32%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	911	17.36%
Native American	18	0.34%
Asian	305	5.81%
Other/Mixed	251	4.78%
Hispanic or Latino	387	7.38%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,247 people, 2,483 households, and 796 families residing in the town.

Education

Public education is provided by the School District of Pickens County (Pickens 01), including D. W. Daniel High School, a 2005 National Blue Ribbon School.

The Central Clemson Regional Branch library, part of the Pickens County Library System, serves as the community's public library.

Central shares educational facilities and transportation services with the adjacent city of Clemson.

Southern Wesleyan University

Central is home to Southern Wesleyan University's main campus. Southern Wesleyan University is a SACS-accredited four-year Christian university ^[13] founded in 1906. The main campus houses over 600 traditional undergraduate students. It has three main housing buildings, two fine arts centers, a dining hall, a library, a gym, and many class buildings. The campus is also home to FWC Alive, a Wesleyan church that offers a traditional worship service and a contemporary worship service.

Library

Central has a public library, a branch of the Pickens County Library System. ^[14]

Town government

The town has a council form of government, with six elected council members and a mayor serving as the presiding officer. Members of council are elected to four-year terms. Day-to-day operations are governed by a town administrator.

Notable people

• Lindsey Graham, senior United States senator from South Carolina, born and raised in Central. Recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal
• DeAndre Hopkins, NFL wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans, born and raised in Central
• Jarvis Jenkins, former NFL defensive lineman, born and raised in Central
• Shaq Lawson, NFL defensive end for the Buffalo Bills was born and raised in Central
• DeShawn Williams, NFL defensive lineman for the Denver Broncos
• Furman L. Smith, Medal of Honor recipient, who as part of the 34th Infantry Division fought and died during World War II, is buried in Central.
• Timothy L. Smith, noted historian and educator, born in Central

References

1. History of Central Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine from the Central Heritage Society website
2. Mayor's Corner Archived December 17, 2006, at the Wayback Machine from Central's official website
3. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Central, South Carolina
5. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
7. "Home | Town of Central". City of Central, SC.
8. "404 | Town of Central". City of Central, SC. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2016.{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
9. History, Mission & Vision from Southern Wesleyan University
10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
13. "Southern Wesleyan University". scicu.org. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
14. "Locations & Hours". Greenville County Library System. Retrieved June 13, 2019.

External links

• City of Central
• Central Historic Marker from hmdb.org