Dillon County, South Carolina

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Dillon County, South Carolina

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• Coordinator is Mary Richardson

History/Timeline

Dillon County Brand

Dillon County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the county's population was 32,062. The county seat is Dillon. Dillon County and Dillon, South Carolina were named for James W. Dillon (1826-1913), an Irishman who settled there and led a campaign to bring the railroad into the community. ^[1]

Latta, Dillon Co. Museum train.

William Dillon, father of the county of the county (Dillon family of Ireland). was an apprentice at a young age to an uncle (London shipbuilder). He made several voyages to America on his uncle's ships. On his last voyage he landed at Jamestown, and settled in Marion County, South Carolina.^[2]

This area known as Dillon County has been in many political divisions.

1682, 1683 The Lords Proprietors created Craven County/District. It was a vast region covering the upper portion of the South Carolina state. It was not really a county, it was a District. i.e. there was no Courthouse for Craven District. Residents of this area filed their legal documents down in Charles Town (later called Charleston).^[1]

Craven County/District served as administrative functons of early formed areas. ^[1]

1706 Dillon County area next was assigned to the Anglican Parish of Saint James Santee.^[1]

1721 - Dillon became part of Parishes of Prince George Winyaw^[1]

1734- Saint James Santee was subdivided into:^[1]

Prince George Winyaw in 1721

Prince Frederick in 1734

Pre-1785 records could be retrieved from Archives (SCDAJ in Columbia

1769-1785 Dillon area was next part of Georgetown District court until it was divided into counties. ^[1]

Sept 1780 Capt. Clayburn Hinson , Patriot, of the Cheraws District Regiment of Militia was assigned to "draft cattle wherevery they could be found". Some loyalists from North Carolina stopped them and a skirmish resulted within the bounds of Dillon County. This skirmish was known as Rouse's Ferry.^[3]

Oct 1780 According to memories of William Easterling, of the battle with the Tories on Bear Swamp between Drowning Creek and Little Pee Dee River. Colonel Brown, Lt. Col. Richardson, Adjutant Robert Raiford and Capt. Anderson was in charge of the Whigs and Capt. Barfield (leading the Tories). The Tories were defeated." When the guard fired, another sentinel standing near the cattle, was hit, and the shooting continued.. All was confusion. The Whigs formed a line, began firing, then the Tories retreated, led by Capt Barfield.. However after his being shot, Capt. Jesse Barefield escaped down the Little PeeDee River with other men, to Georgetown to defend it from the attack by Col. Francis Marion (Capt Jesse Barefield despised Col. Marion).^[4]

Dillon county skirmishes in American Revolution

Apr 27, 1781 Hulin's Mill on Caftish Creek, Col. Abel Kolb and his men under Lt. Col. Lemuel Benton, Capt. Joseph Dabbs, and Capt. John Cox, surprised Loyalists under John Deer and Osborne Lane. John Deer was killed and Osborne was wounded, but escaped into Catfish Swamp. ^[5]

Aug, 1781 Bass's Mill engagement - Moses Bass owned a tavern on Naked Creek island near his mill. A gunfight began after Loyalists learned of the Patriots' advance dinner reservations at the tavern. When Col. Murphy arrived the ambush began. Major Jesse Barefield and Loyalists retreated to the doorway, when the Patriot soldiers shouted the power is out. Barefield and men resumed the attack, with Col. Murphy and Patriots escaping down the hill to the woods across the creek. Two patriots were killed, Col. Murphy's men and Loyalists were killed, as well as Lt. Col. Murphy's men lost their horses. Naked Creek was known as Mill Creek and is today labeled on maps as Marsh Creek is boundary line between Marion and Dillon counties.^[6]

1785 - Dillon belonged to Liberty County (which is rarely found except on the 1800 Federal census.)^[1]

1798 The name was officially changed to Marion District honoring General Francis Marion of American Revolution fame^[1]

Slavery Slavery on the Move

1843 Railroads were brought in by James W Dillon, Irish immigrant and settler. The Wilson Short Cut Railroad was constructed and soon connected to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. This linked Dillon County to the national railway network, contributing to Dillon County's prosperity. ^[1]

1856- James W. Dillon, son of William opened a store without capital or credit, established a small business in upper Marion County. His business prospered, and he helped a town which named itself for his name. From Marion County the state formed one of the richest counties which named itself for Dillon. Dillon County is known to be one of the smallest counties of South Carolina.

Out of upper Marion County was cut one of the richest counties in the state, which also took his name. Dillon is one of the smallest counties in the state, with an area of 405 square miles. Its population of 25,278 is divided as follows; white-12,580, African American-12,936.

Dillon County residents primarily engaged in cotton and tobacco farming and in timber harvesting.

• CIVIL WAR

LIST OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS

McMillan House.

James Dillon House.

John Hayes Farm.

1890-1930 Latta Historic District Latta, Dillon county, South Carolina is a national historic district which includes 47 buildings in a primarily residential section of Latta. Thse buildings were built between 1890 and 1930.

Latta public library.

Latta Historic dist.

The houses are mostly one- to two-story frame residences having the late Victorian era details. In addition, the district has examples of local usage of neo-classical details and more sophisticated examples of the Neo-Classical style. Early 20th century bungalows illustrate the development of the area during the early century. The district also contains the Latta Public Library, the Latta Methodist Church, the Latta Baptist Church, and a few commercial buildings, such as the Fairey Agency and Dr. L.H. Edwards dentist office.^[7]

Latta Museum

Latta, Dillon Co. Museum train.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984

Dec 14, 1909 residents of Dillon area voted for creation of the county. Twelve to fifteen years of residents’ persistence and continuous striving to have it approved for the new county. Their efforts paid off.^[1]

1910 Dillon County was formed from part of Marion County. ^[1] A resident of Dillon county remembered the Main Street block was exhuberant. Fireworks were set off. There was some clapping, hurrahs, roman candles, and firing of pistols. The county went wild..

^[8][1]Its population increased from 22,615 in 1910 to 32,062 in 2010.^[2]

1925- land Dillon County produced 30,000 bales of cotton and 12,000 tons of cotton seed which sold for $3,029,309 on just 63,000 Acres land.^[2]

Cotton Press.

Dillon County lands produce abundant crops and her farmers are prosperous. With hard work, the price of the land is within the reach of an energetic man who knows how to farm. Its main crops are considered cotton and tobacco, ^[2]

1925- The county successfully produced the dreaded tobacco: 5,811,000 pounds tobacco on a small amount of land- 7,800 acres. This land sold for $126.00/acre Dillon accrued a value of $4,641,403 for that tobacco.. {{blue|Thousands of acres of Dillon County lands will produce a bale of cotton or 1,200 pounds of tobacco/acre. However we know the dangerous effects on mankind by the Tobacco^[2]

Smith Tobacco Barn.

Dillon county land also produces wheat crops year after year, averaging 35-40 bushels/acre. {USA average for wheat - 12 bushels.) Its land is well cultivated good soil.^[2]

Also corn and oats are produced in the county on this land averaging 60-80 bushels of corn and oats/acre. A large pecan orchard is averages 350 pounds of soft shell pecans to the acre.^[2]

A double-track railroad provides Dillon county a 40-hour freight service to New York with express within 18 hours.^[2]

Dillon county soil yields good pasture lands, sufficient to provide cattle grazing 9 months/year . The county does not have much dairy industry. Instead Dillon county is received by express Dillon's dairying industry is almost negligible. Milk is expressed 400 miles through Dillon from Richmond, Virginia, to Charleston. Dillon county is 131 miles from Charleston.^[2]

Dillan Co. Collage.

Although Dillon county is an agricultural economy, it does have some industry. Dillon has cotton mills, an oil mill, a roller mill, and many smaller industries. Trucking is increasing, soon eh volume with will support a large canning factory. ^[2]

South Carolina is considering opening a second inland port at Greer. The SCPA site at Greer in Dillon County. inland-port-greer, Dillon Co., SCPA site for Dillon ^[9]

Inland Port in Dillon

Government Offices

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

Current Dillon Co. Courthouse.

Geography

http://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/dillon_county_sc.html

Size -407 square miles (1,050 km2) composed of 405 square miles (1,050 km2) land with 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.4%) water.

Dillon County is the fifth-smallest county in South Carolina by area.

Dillon is one of the smallest counties in the state, with an area of 405 square miles.

Population of 25,278 is divided as follows; white: 12,580, African American: 12,936.

Location on the Pee Dee River up near the border of North Carolina and South Carolina.

Climate - Near the coast,the winters are mild

Growing Season -seasons long, farmers easily make (2) money crops on the same land in the same year.

http://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/dillon_county_sc.html

Adjacent counties

• Robeson County, North Carolina - north

Dillon within SC map.

• Columbus County, North Carolina - north
• Horry County - east
• Marion County - south
• Florence County - southwest
• Marlboro County - west

Protected areas

• Little Pee Dee River
• Latta District

Demographics

In 2000, there were 30,722 people living in the county with a population density of 76 people/sq. mi. The racial makeup of the county was 47% White, 49% Black or African American, 2.21% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 1.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2010 there were there were 32,062 people with a population density of 79.2 people/sq. mi. The median income for a household in the county was $26,630, and the median income for a family was $32,690. Males had a median income of $26,908 versus $18,007 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,272. About 19.40% of families and 24.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.30% of those under age 18 and 26.60% of those age 65 or over.^[10]

• Dillon, SC has the 2nd largest yarn producing factory in the United States

Highways

• I-95
• US 301
• US 501
• SC 34
• SC 38
• SC 41
• SC 57
• SC 917

• Alfred W Bethea was a farmer from Dillon County, who served as a Democrat in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1961 to 1966. In 1970, he left his party to run unsuccessfully as the nominee of the American Independent Party for governor of South Carolina. He supported George Wallace.

• McLeod Medical Center provides health care for Dillon Co.. since 1943. It now contains 4 state-of-the-art operating rooms with pre- and post-operative patient care areas. The physicians' office building known as McLeod Medical Center Professional Building has space 4 four medical practices, the Wellness Center, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy.^[11]

Schools

• Public school system has 3 districts among the communities of Dillon, Lake View and Latta. *The private Dillon Christian School also offers grades K-12

• Dillon County technology Center offers specialized instruction in several different fields.

• Northeastern Technical College is a satellite campus located in Dillon County for evening classes for higher education.

Cities

• Dillon (county seat

Towns/Communities

• Lake View
• Latta

Communities

• Floydale
• Fork
• Hamer
• Kemper
• Little Rock
• Minturn

County Resources

Reststop (S of North Carolina).

• South of the Border Reststop It is named this due to being South of Rowland, North Carolina border to South Carolina. Theme is faux Mexican Style. Contains restaurants, gas stations, video arcade, motel, and truck stop.

• Little Pee Dee State Park has picnicking, fishing in the 54-acre Lake Norton or in the Little Pee Dee River, bird watching, biking, Camping, boating, geocaching.

• Fishing
• Twin Lakes Country Club has an 18 hole golf course, swimming pool and clubhouse.

Dillon Motor Speedway.

• Dillon, SC Dillon Motor Speedway
  • Dillon Motor Speedway on Facebook

Latta Museum, Dillon county, SC

Latta Hist Dist Mudeum.

Latta, Dillon Co. Museum train.

Notables

• Composer Carlisle Floyd was born in the Dillon County town of Latta, opera compose from Latta
• James W. Dillon (1826-1913) brought in the railroad
• Kathryn Frost, Major General, United States Army from Latta
• Chuck Jackson, R&B and soul singer and recording artist, from Latta
• John L. McLucas, United States Secretary of the Air Force, from Latta.

Census

1890 --- 82 —

1900 --- 1,015 1,137.8%

1910 --- 1,757 73.1%

1920 --- 2,205 25.5%

1930 --- 2,731 23.9%

1940 --- 3,867 41.6%

1950 --- 5,171 33.7%

1960 --- 6,173 19.4%

1970 --- 6,391 3.5%

1980 --- 7,060 10.5%

1990 --- 6,829 −3.3%

2000 --- 6,316 −7.5%

2010 --- 6,788 7.5%

Est. 2016 --- 6,604

Cemeteries

• FindaGrave cemeteries
• Rootsweb cemeteries
• Wahee Cemetery, Pee Dee

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12} http://sciway3.net/proctor/dillon/dillon_history.html
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9} http://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/dillon_county_sc.html
3. ↑ http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_rouses_ferry.html
4. ↑ http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_bear_swamp.html
5. ↑ http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_hulins_mill.html
6. ↑ http://www.carolana.com/SC/Revolution/revolution_basss_mill.html
7. ↑ Latta Historic District
8. ↑ http://sciway3.net/proctor/dillon/dillon_history.html
9. ↑ globaltrademag.com
10. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dillon_County,_South_Carolina
11. ↑ http://dilloncounty.sc.gov/Pages/default.aspx

• http://dilloncounty.sc.gov/history/Pages/index.aspx
• http://dilloncounty.sc.gov/Pages/default.aspx