Bethune, South Carolina

2025-11-03T23:17:12Z

96.45.100.108:

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Bethune, South Carolina
|settlement_type = [[Town]]
|motto =
|image_skyline = Bethune_SC.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Downtown Bethune
|image_map = SCMap-doton-Bethune.PNG
|mapsize = 250px
|map_caption = Location of Bethune, South Carolina

|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = South Carolina
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in South Carolina|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Kershaw County, South Carolina|Kershaw]]

|established_title =
|established_date =
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name =

|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='45'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2 = 2.85
|area_land_km2 = 2.85
|area_water_km2 = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi = 1.10
|area_land_sq_mi = 1.10
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.00

|population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_total = 315
|population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
|population_density_km2 = 110.34
|population_density_sq_mi = 285.84

|timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft = 279
|coordinates = {{coord|34|24|51|N|80|20|55|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>

|postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code = 29009
|area_codes = [[Area codes 843 and 854|843, 854]]
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 45-06040<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = 2405256<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2405256}}</ref>
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
'''Bethune''' is a small town in [[Kershaw County, South Carolina|Kershaw County]], [[South Carolina]], United States. The population was 334 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4506040| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Bethune town, South Carolina| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American FactFinder| accessdate=April 17, 2019| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213041556/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4506040| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> It is part of the [[Columbia, South Carolina]] [[Columbia, South Carolina metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Europeans first moved into the area in the early 1800s, finding members of the Kadapaw tribe living in the area. Originally, the settlers named the town "Lynchwood", and in 1828 they established a post office. After the railroads came to the area, the town was officially chartered in 1900 and the name changed to honor Daniel Murdock Bethune.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bethune, South Carolina |url=http://www.sciway.net/city/bethune.html |publisher=SCIWAY.net |accessdate=April 30, 2012}}</ref>

==Geography==
Bethune is located in northeastern Kershaw County {{convert|20|mi}} northeast of [[Camden, South Carolina|Camden]], the [[county seat]], and {{convert|35|mi}} southwest of [[Cheraw, South Carolina|Cheraw]] along [[U.S. Route 1]]. [[South Carolina Highway 341]] (Main Street) crosses US 1 in the center of town; it leads northwest {{convert|17|mi}} to [[Kershaw, South Carolina|Kershaw]] and south {{convert|16|mi}} to [[Bishopville, South Carolina|Bishopville]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town of Bethune has a total area of {{convert|2.85|km2|order=flip}}, all land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

The [[Lynches River]] passes east of the town, and its tributary the Little Lynches River passes to the southwest. The rivers and the town are part of the watershed of the [[Great Pee Dee River]].

The MAC-Hunter Astronomical Observatory, a cooperative project of South Carolina amateur astronomers in the Midlands Astronomy Club, is sited south of town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.machunter.org/|website=MAC-Hunter Astronomical Observatory|title=The MAC-Hunter Astronomical Observing Site|accessdate=September 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.midlandsastronomyclub.org/|title=Midlands Astronomy Club, Inc.|accessdate=September 12, 2018}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 317
|1920= 299
|1930= 522
|1940= 620
|1950= 639
|1960= 579
|1970= 506
|1980= 481
|1990= 405
|2000= 352
|2010= 334
|2020= 315
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:45&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 352 people, 165 households, and 104 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|309.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 193 housing units at an average density of {{convert|169.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 89.77% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 9.66% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.28% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.28% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]]. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.84% of the population.

There were 165 households, out of which 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.72.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.3% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,083, and the median income for a family was $40,972. Males had a median income of $37,250 versus $26,406 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $18,879. About 5.3% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Bethune has a [[public library]], a branch of the Kershaw County Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.greenvillelibrary.org/locations-and-hours | title=Locations & Hours | publisher=Greenville County Library System | accessdate=June 8, 2019}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
The Bethune Chicken Strut is an annual festival that takes place every April. The festival includes a parade on Main Street, a classic car show, carnival rides and live musical performances. The festival began in the early 1980s.

The Bethune Christmas Parade is one of many parades that takes place during the Christmas season in Kershaw County.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
An unofficial [[Facebook]] page for the community of [https://www.facebook.com/Bethune29009/ Bethune]

{{Kershaw County, South Carolina}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Kershaw County, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Towns in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Columbia metropolitan area (South Carolina)]]

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Bethune, South Carolina