Dillon, South Carolina

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This article is about the city. For the county, see Dillon County, South Carolina.
Dillon, South Carolina
City
Downtown Dillon from the Amtrak station in June 2013.
Downtown Dillon from the Amtrak station in June 2013.
Motto(s): 
"Your First Stop in SC"
Location of Dillon in South Carolina
Location of Dillon in South Carolina
Coordinates: 34°25′4″N 79°22′5″W / 34.41778°N 79.36806°W / 34.41778; -79.36806Coordinates: 34°25′4″N 79°22′5″W / 34.41778°N 79.36806°W / 34.41778; -79.36806
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Carolina
CountyDillon
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager Form of Government
 • Mayor Pro TemporeDr. Phil Wallace
Area
[4]
 • Total5.32 sq mi (13.79 km2)
 • Land5.29 sq mi (13.71 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation
112 ft (34 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total6,788
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
6,311
 • Density1,192.33/sq mi (460.38/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
29536
Area code(s)843, 854
FIPS code45-19420[1]
GNIS feature ID1222024[2]
Websitewww.cityofdillonsc.us

Dillon is a city in Dillon County in eastern South Carolina, United States. It is the county seat and largest city of Dillon County. [5] It was established on December 22, 1888. Both the name of the city and county comes from James W. Dillon, an early settler and key figure in bringing a railroad through the area. The population was 6,788 in the 2010 U.S. census.[6]

History[]

Dillon County Courthouse, James W. Dillon House, and Dillon Downtown Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]

Geography[]

Dillon is located near the center of Dillon County in the Pee Dee region of northeastern South Carolina. The Little Pee Dee River, a tributary of the Pee Dee River, runs just east of the city.

U.S. Routes 301 and 501 pass through the city as Second Avenue, leading northeast 7 miles (11 km) to Interstate 95 at South of the Border along the North Carolina line, and southwest 6.5 miles (10.5 km) to Latta. Interstate 95 passes northeast of the city, with access from Exits 190 and 193. I-95 leads northeast 25 miles (40 km) to Lumberton, North Carolina, and southwest 28 miles (45 km) to Florence. South Carolina Highway 9 passes through the center of town, leading northwest 26 miles (42 km) to Bennettsville and southeast 13 miles (21 km) to Lake View. South Carolina Highway 57 follows SC 9 through Dillon but leads north 14 miles (23 km) to the North Carolina border and south 17 miles (27 km) to Mullins. SC 9 and 57 follow Main Street southeast out of town. South Carolina Highway 34 follows Main Street northwest out of town, leading west 33 miles (53 km) to Darlington.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Dillon has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.6 km2), of which 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2), or 0.21%, is water.[6] The Little Pee Dee River flows southwards 2 miles (3 km) east of the center of town.

Economy[]

In the spring of 2018, Dillon Inland Port was constructed, furthering economic growth based on the Port of Charleston.[8]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
189082—
19001,0151,137.8%
19101,75773.1%
19202,20525.5%
19302,73123.9%
19403,86741.6%
19505,17133.7%
19606,17319.4%
19706,3913.5%
19807,06010.5%
19906,829−3.3%
20006,316−7.5%
20106,7887.5%
2019 (est.)6,311[3]−7.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

The population grew 7.5 percent from the 2000 to 2010. The city is 53.1% Black or African American, 42.8% White or Caucasian persons, 1.6% American Indian or Alaska Native persons, 1.2% persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 1.2% persons reporting two or more races.

There was a recorded 2,454 households, averaging between two and three (2.57) people per household, as well as 2,916 housing units within the city. Of the 2,916 housing units 13.7% were multi-unit structures. The average value of a housing unit was $101,800 for owner occupied units. The census also showed that the population density of Dillon was 1,299.1 persons per square mile. The land area of the city of Dillon was 5.23 square miles. The median household income was found to be $30,455 with a rate of 30.4% of people living in poverty.[10]

Government[]

Dillon's government is a city manager-council type.

The current mayor is Corey Jackson, who is being investigated for eleven counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.[11]

Wellness center[]

The city of Dillon offers a public wellness center, located at 1647 Commerce Drive. The $4.1 million facility was built in 2008. It is a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) building that offers exercise equipment, a sauna, gymnasium, walking track, and meeting rooms. It also offers rooms for rental. The exercise facilities can be used for a fee of $5, or memberships are available at monthly rates.[12]

Education[]

Public education in Dillon is administered by Dillon District Four Schools.[13] The district operates East Elementary, South Elementary, Stewart Heights Elementary, Lake View Elementary, Gordon Elementary, Dillon Middle School, Dillon High School, Lake View High School.

Dillon Christian School is a private institution.

Northeastern Technical College offers secondary education.

Dillon has a public library, a branch of the Dillon County Library.[14]

Transportation[]

Highways[]

Downtown Dillon is the intersection of US 301, US 501, SC 9, SC 34 and SC 57. I-95 has two exits to Dillon, and it is planned that I-73 will serve Dillon as part of a future southward expansion.

Rail[]

Amtrak, the national rail passenger carrier, provides daily service from Dillon with the Palmetto, which runs between Savannah, Georgia, and New York City on the South End Subdivision. Trains stop at the Dillon station, originally opened for passenger use by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1904. A second line known as the Andrews Subdivision, formerly owned by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad runs through Dillon, but only carries freight. CSX owns both railroad lines which cross Dillon.

Media[]

The Dillon Herald is the city of Dillon's newspaper. The paper was established in 1894 and is the oldest "continuously operated" business in Dillon County.[15]

Dillon Observer is an online newspaper in Dillon, South Carolina. Dillon Observer was established in 2020.

Notable people[]

References[]

  1. ^ "U.S. Census website". 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. ^ Jump up to: a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  5. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Dillon city, South Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  7. ^ https://nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/sc/Dillon/state.html
  8. ^ "SC Ports Breaks Ground on Inland Port Dillon".
  9. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census Quickfacts". Archived from the original on 2011-11-04.
  11. ^ "SLED investigation into current Dillon mayor's sex charges remains open after 16+ months". September 2020.
  12. ^ "Dillon City Home Inspections | the Home Inspectors Service".
  13. ^ "Homepage". Dillon School District Four. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  14. ^ "South Carolina libraries and archives". SCIWAY. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  15. ^ "The Dillon Herald".
  16. ^ Gabe Friedman. "11 Facts About Jewish South Carolina from Politicians to the Hebrew Hammer". forward.com. Retrieved September 15, 2014.

External links[]

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