Lexington, South Carolina | |
---|---|
Motto: "Town of Progress" | |
Coordinates: 33°58′52″N81°13′51″W / 33.98111°N 81.23083°W | |
Country | United States |
State | South Carolina |
County | Lexington County |
Named for | Battles of Lexington and Concord [a] |
Government | |
• Type | Mayor-Council |
• Body | Lexington Town Council |
• Mayor | Hazel Livingston |
Area | |
• Total | 12.12 sq mi (31.38 km2) |
• Land | 11.97 sq mi (31.00 km2) |
• Water | 0.14 sq mi (0.38 km2) |
Elevation | 394 ft (120 m) |
Population | |
• Total | 23,568 |
• Rank | 22nd |
• Density | 1,968.92/sq mi (760.19/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
ZIP codes | 29071, 29072, 29073 |
Area code(s) | 803, 839 |
FIPS code | 45-41335 [4] |
GNIS feature ID | 1246349 [2] |
Website | www |
Lexington is the most populous town in and the county seat of Lexington County, South Carolina, United States. [5] It is a suburb of the state capital, Columbia. The population was 23,568 at the 2020 Census, [6] and it is the second-most populous municipality in the greater Columbia area. The 2022 estimated population is 24,626. [7] According to the Central Midlands Council of Governments, the greater Lexington area [b] had an estimated population of 111,549 in 2020 and is considered the fastest-growing area in the Midlands. [8]
In 1735, the colonial government of King George II established 11 townships in backcountry South Carolina to encourage settlement and to provide a buffer between Native American tribes to the west and colonial plantations in the Lowcountry. The townships included one named Saxe Gotha, which flourished with major crops of corn, wheat, tobacco, hemp, and flax as well as beeswax and livestock, and its residents were primarily of German and Swiss heritage. [9] Two major Native American trails existed in the area: the Cherokee Path, primary route of English and Scots traders from Charlestown to Native Americans in the Appalachian Mountains, and the Occaneechi Path, which connected natives from the Chesapeake Bay region to North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. [9]
In 1785, the name Saxe Gotha was replaced with Lexington County in commemoration of the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. In 1781, the Battle of Muddy Springs was fought to the south of the present-day town and the Battle of Tarrar Springs was fought within the present-day town limits. [10]
Until 1820, Granby was the county seat of Lexington County, but chronic flooding forced the local government to move the courthouse to its present location in Lexington. The area was known by locals as the "Lexington Courthouse" and was not incorporated as the Town of Lexington until 1861. [11] [9]
During Sherman's March to the Sea in the American Civil War, much of the town of Lexington was destroyed by Union forces as they protected William Sherman's western flank as Union troops attacked Columbia. Most of the town of Lexington, including the courthouse, were torched and burned. Like much of the South after the Civil War, Lexington struggled economically, but local farms and the lumber industry helped stabilize the economy after Reconstruction. Many current brick buildings were built in the aftermath of severe fires in 1894 and 1916. [12] By the 1890s, the Columbia to Augusta Railroad and the Lexington Textile Mill prompted the town to grow.
With the advent of the automobile in the 1920s and its mass production in the 1940s and 1950s, Lexington continued to grow as a suburb of Columbia. Additionally, the creation of Lake Murray in 1930 encouraged many to move to Lexington. Between the 1990 Census and the 2000 Census, Lexington's population increased by 198%, and by 83% between the 2000 census and the 2010 census.
The "move over law", a law that requires drivers to change lanes when there is a stopped emergency vehicle on the side of the road, originated in Lexington. James D. Garcia, a paramedic, was struck and injured at an accident scene on January 28, 1994, after attempting to assist a driver that had slid off of the road. The South Carolina Highway Patrol listed Garcia at fault, leading to his work to create this law. The South Carolina General Assembly passed the "move over law" (SC 56–5–1538) 1996 and was revised in 2002 to increase the ease of enforcement and fines. [13] [14] A version of the "move over law" is now in effect in all fifty U.S. states and the District of Columbia; Hawaii was the last to pass legislation in 2012. [15]
On August 16, 1994, Lexington was struck by an F-3 tornado, generated from the remnants of Tropical Storm Beryl, resulting in over 40 injuries and $50 million in damages. From the same tropical storm, 21 other tornados were reported throughout the state, including six in Lexington County. [16]
A Murphy Express gas station on Augusta Highway in Lexington sold a $400 million winning Powerball ticket on September 18, 2013. At the time, it was the fifth largest winning ticket of any United States lottery. [17] [18] [19]
In 2015, remnants from Hurricane Joaquin brought historic flooding to South Carolina. In Lexington, extreme flooding resulted in the destruction of Gibson Park Dam, which led to the subsequent failure of the Old Mill Dam. Gibson Park Dam (pictured right) was reconstructed and opened to the public in 2021; Old Mill Dam was reconstructed in 2022. The flooding additionally resulted in the destruction of several roads and businesses in the town. [20] [21]
Buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places include: [22]
Lexington has a mayor-council government, consisting of seven council members, including the mayor. Lexington's style of government takes the form of a weak-mayor administration; each member of the council and the mayor has one vote in relation to town matters. The mayor does not have any veto authority or any formal power outside of the council. Each member of the council is elected at-large and serves a term of four years. [23]
On December 4, 2023, Hazel Livingston, who had served as Mayor Pro-Tem since 2004, was sworn in as the first woman mayor of Lexington, South Carolina. [24]
On November 5, 2013, incumbent Lexington mayor Randy Halfacre lost a reelection bid to Councilman Steve MacDougall by 18 votes. [25] A recount was initiated but the results remained the same. [26] Steve MacDougall served as mayor for 10 years until 2023.
In 2015, Lexington's town council voted in a 5-1 motion to impose a 2% hospitality tax on all prepared food items. As a result, any prepared food item sold in the town, such as fast food or restaurant food items, has a total tax of 9%. The council vote garnered criticism after a county-wide tax referendum failed the year before; if passed the county would have increased sales tax by 1% for traffic improvements. [27] The tax generates over two million dollars annually, and the town uses the funds for road and traffic improvement, including the addition of turn lanes, the upgrading of traffic lights, and the improving of intersections. [27] The largest project completed was the conversion of South Carolina Highway 6 and Church Street to one-way streets in downtown Lexington in 2019. [28] Future projects include the building of an overpass over Interstate 20. [29]
On July 2, 2020, the town council passed a town ordinance requiring citizens to wear face masks in public to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in South Carolina. [30] Councilman Todd Carnes drew criticism after stating three time in the council meeting that the government has "infinite power" to create laws such as these, but opposed enacting a face mask ordinance because "science does not indicate that it helps." [31]
Name | Title | Since |
---|---|---|
Hazel Livingston | Mayor | December 2023 |
Ron Williams | Mayor Pro-tem | December 2023 |
Will Allen | Council Member | December 2023 |
Todd Carnes | Council Member | March 2014 |
Jeannie Michaels | Council Member | December 2023 |
Gavin James Smith | Council Member | May 2023 |
Todd Lyle | Council Member | November 2018 |
Lexington is located in northeastern Lexington County at 33°58′52″N81°13′51″W / 33.98111°N 81.23083°W (33.980975, -81.230839). [33]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 12.0 square miles (31.0 km2), of which 11.9 square miles (30.7 km2) are land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km2), or 1.21%, are water. [34] The town is drained on the north by Fourteenmile Creek and on the south by Twelvemile Creek, both northeast-flowing tributaries of the Saluda River.
Lexington is 12 miles (19 km) west of Columbia, South Carolina's state capital and second-largest city. [35]
The lowest recorded temperature in Lexington was −2 °F (−19 °C) in February 1899. The warmest recorded temperature was 111 °F (44 °C) in June 2012. [36] July averages the most yearly precipitation. [37] Lexington averages 48 in (1.2 m) of rain per year; Lexington averages 1.6 in (4.1 cm) of snow per year. [38]
Climate data for Columbia, South Carolina (Columbia Airport), 1981–2010 normals | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 84 (29) | 84 (29) | 93 (34) | 96 (36) | 101 (38) | 107 (42) | 109 (43) | 107 (42) | 106 (41) | 101 (38) | 90 (32) | 83 (28) | 109 (43) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 56.0 (13.3) | 61 (16) | 68 (20) | 76 (24) | 84 (29) | 90 (32) | 93 (34) | 91 (33) | 85 (29) | 76 (24) | 67 (19) | 58 (14) | 75 (24) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 30 (−1) | 33 (1) | 41 (5) | 50 (10) | 60 (16) | 68 (20) | 72 (22) | 71 (22) | 64 (18) | 52 (11) | 42 (6) | 32 (0) | 51 (11) |
Record low °F (°C) | −1 (−18) | −4 (−20) | 4 (−16) | 26 (−3) | 34 (1) | 44 (7) | 54 (12) | 53 (12) | 40 (4) | 23 (−5) | 12 (−11) | 4 (−16) | −4 (−20) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.58 (91) | 3.74 (95) | 3.73 (95) | 2.62 (67) | 2.97 (75) | 4.69 (119) | 5.46 (139) | 5.26 (134) | 3.54 (90) | 3.17 (81) | 2.74 (70) | 3.22 (82) | 44.56 (1,132) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.8 (2.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 1.6 (4.1) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.9 | 9.1 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 7.7 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 10.5 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 7.3 | 9.0 | 106.8 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 1.0 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 173.6 | 183.6 | 238.7 | 270.0 | 291.4 | 279.0 | 285.2 | 263.5 | 240.0 | 235.6 | 195.0 | 173.6 | 2,829.2 |
Source: NOAA (extremes 1887–present), [39] |
In 2022, retail sale within the town accounted for nearly $2.5 billion. [40] In 2020, the medium household income was $74,996 and the percentage of residents living below the poverty line was 9.11%. [40] According to the Town's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, [41] the top employers in the city are:
# | Employer | # of Employees |
---|---|---|
1 | Lexington School District 1 | 1,083 |
2 | Lexington County | 905 |
3 | Walmart | 367 |
4 | Town of Lexington | 180 |
5 | Publix | 160 |
6 | Lowe's | 150 |
7 | Home Depot | 150 |
8 | Avtec | 135 |
9 | Target | 120 |
10 | Kohl's | 107 |
Public transportation in Lexington is provided by the COMET, or officially the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA). The bus system is the main public transit system for the greater Columbia area. [42]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1880 | 262 | — | |
1890 | 342 | 30.5% | |
1900 | 806 | 135.7% | |
1910 | 709 | −12.0% | |
1920 | 894 | 26.1% | |
1930 | 1,152 | 28.9% | |
1940 | 1,033 | −10.3% | |
1950 | 1,081 | 4.6% | |
1960 | 1,127 | 4.3% | |
1970 | 969 | −14.0% | |
1980 | 2,131 | 119.9% | |
1990 | 3,289 | 54.3% | |
2000 | 9,793 | 197.8% | |
2010 | 17,870 | 82.5% | |
2020 | 23,568 | 31.9% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [45] [3] |
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic) | 16,841 | 71.46% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,666 | 11.31% |
Native American | 49 | 0.21% |
Asian | 1,581 | 6.71% |
Pacific Islander | 23 | 0.1% |
Other/Mixed | 1,005 | 4.26% |
Hispanic or Latino | 1,403 | 5.95% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 23,568 people, 7,907 households, and 5,270 families residing in the town.
As of the census of 2010, there were 17,870 people, 8,101 households, and 2,558 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,724.4 inhabitants per square mile (665.8/km2). There were 4,025 housing units at an average density of 708.7/sq mi (273.6/km2). Since 2000, the town population grew from nearly 10,000 inhabitants to 25,000, a 166% increase. Since 2005, 3,200 new homes have been built within the town limits, as well as 130 new businesses. [47]
In the 2010 census, the racial makeup of the town was 83.88% White, 12.48% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 2.05% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.91% of the population.
There were 3,644 households, out of which 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 39.6% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,865, and the median income for a family was $65,694. Males had a median income of $44,883 versus $29,020 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,416. About 5.2% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.
Public education in Lexington is administered by Lexington County School District One, which has an enrollment of over 27,000 students and employees 3,900 faculty and staff. [48]
Elementary schools | Enrollment |
---|---|
Pleasant Hill Elementary School | 948 |
Midway Elementary School | 947 |
Meadow Glen Elementary School | 908 |
Carolina Springs Elementary School | 800 |
Lake Murray Elementary School | 759 |
Saxe Gotha Elementary School | 752 |
Rocky Creek Elementary | 730 |
Deerfield Elementary School | 723 |
Oak Grove Elementary School | 715 |
White Knoll Elementary | 711 |
New Providence Elementary School | 672 |
Lexington Elementary School | 644 |
Red Bank Elementary School | 579 |
Middle schools | Enrollment |
Pleasant Hill Middle School | 1,208 |
Meadow Glen Middle School | 1,029 |
Lakeside Middle School [d] | 992 |
Carolina Springs Middle | 930 |
Beechwood Middle School | 850 |
White Knoll Middle School | 787 |
High schools | Enrollment |
Lexington High School | 2,105 |
River Bluff High School | 2,047 |
White Knoll High School | 1,955 |
Lexington Technology Center | [e] |
Adult education | Enrollment |
Rosenwald Community Learning Center | 100 |
Lexington has a branch of the Lexington County Public Library. [49]
Municipalities within 15 miles (24 km) of the center of Lexington, listed clockwise:
Columbia is the capital city of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 census, it is the second-most populous city in South Carolina. The city serves as the county seat of Richland County, and a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. It is the center of the Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 858,302 in 2023, and is the 70th-most populous metropolitan statistical area in the United States. The name Columbia is a poetic term used for the United States, derived from the name of Christopher Columbus, who explored for the Spanish Crown. Columbia is often abbreviated as Cola, leading to its nickname as "Soda City".
Saluda County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,862. Its county seat is Saluda. The county was formed from northern and eastern portions of Edgefield County.
Richland County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 416,147, making it the second-most populous county in South Carolina, behind only Greenville County. The county seat and largest community is Columbia, the state capital. The county was established on March 12, 1785. Richland County is part of the Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2020, the center of population of South Carolina was located in Richland County, in the city of Columbia. The county is also the location of the geographic center of South Carolina, southeast of Columbia.
Orangeburg County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 84,223. Its county seat is Orangeburg. The county was created in 1769.
Lexington County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 293,991. Its county seat and largest community is Lexington. The county was chartered in 1785 and was named in commemoration of Lexington, Massachusetts, the site of the Battle of Lexington in the American Revolutionary War. Lexington County is the sixth-most populous county in South Carolina by population and is part of the Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located in the Midlands region of South Carolina.
Clarendon County is a county located below the fall line in the Coastal Plain region of U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 31,144. Its county seat is Manning.
Pendleton is a town in Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,489 at the 2020 census. It is a sister city of Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
Manning is a city in and the county seat of Clarendon County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,245 as of the 2010 census, with an estimated population in 2018 of 3,941. It was named after former South Carolina governor John Laurence Manning.
Simpsonville is a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States. It is part of the Greenville, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 23,354 at the 2020 census, up from 18,238 in the 2010 census. Simpsonville is part of the "Golden Strip", along with Mauldin and Fountain Inn, an area which is noted for having low unemployment due to a diversity of industries including H.B. Fuller, KEMET, Sealed Air and Milliken. It is the 23rd-most populous city in South Carolina.
North Myrtle Beach is a city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. It was created in 1968 from four existing municipalities, and is located about 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Myrtle Beach. It serves as one of the primary tourist destinations along the Grand Strand.
Cayce is a city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, along the Congaree River. The population was 12,528 at the 2010 census and rose to 13,789 in the 2020 United States Census, and it is the third-most populated municipality in Lexington County. The city is primarily in Lexington County, with additional, predominantly rural land to the east in Richland County. Cayce is part of the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area and is within South Carolina's Midlands region.
Chapin, popularly known as the "Capital of Lake Murray", is a small lake town located at the northern tip of Lexington County, South Carolina, United States. Lake Murray separates Chapin from the rest of Lexington County. The population of Chapin was 1,445 according to the 2010 census, and an estimated 1,633 in 2019.
Gaston is a town in Lexington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,645 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.
West Columbia, formerly Brookland, is a city and commuter town in the suburban eastern sections of Lexington County, South Carolina, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population was 14,988, and the 2019 population estimate was 17,998. West Columbia is bordered to the east by Columbia, the state capital, across the Congaree River. It is near Columbia's city center or downtown district as well as the South Carolina State House and the Congaree Vista, known locally as "the Vista". The city is bordered to the south by its sister suburb, Cayce. A small portion of the city borders the town of Lexington to the east. West Columbia is part of the greater Columbia, SC metropolitan statistical area.
Sumter is a city in and the county seat of Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. The city makes up the Sumter, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. Sumter County, along with Clarendon and Lee counties, form the core of Sumter–Lee–Clarendon tri-county area of South Carolina that includes three counties straddling the border of the Sandhills, Pee Dee, and Lowcountry regions. The population was 43,463 at the 2020 census, making it the 9th-most populous city in the state.
Summerville is a town in the U.S. state of South Carolina situated mostly in Dorchester County, with small portions in Berkeley and Charleston counties. Summerville is seventh biggest city in the state. The town lies approximately five miles from the Ashley River. It is part of the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. Summerville's population at the 2020 census was 50,915.
Fountain Inn is a city in Greenville and Laurens counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 10,416 at the 2020 census, up from 7,799 in 2010. It is part of the Greenville-Mauldin-Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Batesburg-Leesville is a town located in Lexington and Saluda counties, South Carolina, United States. The town's population was 5,362 as of the 2010 census and an estimated 5,415 in 2019.
Irmo is a town in Lexington and Richland counties, South Carolina, United States and a suburb of Columbia. It is part of the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located 12 miles (19 km) northwest of the city center. The population of Irmo was 11,569 at the 2020 census.
The Midlands region of South Carolina is the middle area of the state. The region's main center is Columbia, the state's capital. The Midlands is so named because it is halfway point between the Upstate and the Lowcountry. The main area code is 803.
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