Belton

Belton, South Carolina
—  City  —
Belton Depot in 1987
Location in Anderson County, South Carolina
Coordinates: 34°31′32″N 82°29′46″W / 34.52556°N 82.49611°W / 34.52556; -82.49611Coordinates: 34°31′32″N 82°29′46″W / 34.52556°N 82.49611°W / 34.52556; -82.49611
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Anderson
Area
• Total	3.9 sq mi (10.0 km2)
• Land	3.9 sq mi (10.0 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	902 ft (269.7 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	4,461
• Density	1,158.8/sq mi (447.4/km2)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	29627
Area code(s)	864
FIPS code	45-05365[1]
GNIS feature ID	1246736[2]
Website	www.cityofbeltonsc.com

Belton is a city in eastern Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,134 at the 2010 census.

Geography

Belton is located at 34°31′32″N 82°29′46″W / 34.52556°N 82.49611°W / 34.52556; -82.49611 (34.525630, -82.496129)^[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.8 square miles (9.8 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 4,461 people, 1,948 households, and 1,275 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,158.2 people per square mile (447.4/km²). There were 2,129 housing units at an average density of 552.7 per square mile (213.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.52% White, 17.51% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79% of the population.

There were 1,948 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 82.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,191, and the median income for a family was $36,531. Males had a median income of $30,100 versus $22,470 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,970. About 15.2% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

History

In 1845 a group was created to connect the Piedmont region of South Carolina by rail to the existing rail system which then ran from Columbia to Charleston. The expanded rail line ran through what was to become Belton, with a spur line which ran to the nearby town of Anderson. Because of the population explosion that occurred by the time the railroad had been completed in 1853, the state incorporated the town in 1855, with the boundaries being located within a half mile radius from the new railroad depot.

The city was given the name of Belton after the first president of the Columbia and Greenville Railroad from Newberry, John Belton O'Neal.^[4]

The city prospered not only due to the railroad junction, but also because of the areas cotton crop, which lead to the establishment of cotton mills.

In 1908, a municipal water system was established. A 155 feet (47.2 m) reinforced concrete tower with a 165,000 US gallons (625 m³) capacity was built. Known as the Belton Standpipe, the tower is still in use today. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 5, 1987.^[5] The standpipe was also the inspiration for the yearly Belton Standpipe Festival, originally held in 1987 as a fund raising event.

Noteworthy Residents

Viola Thompson Griffin, former member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, from which the 1992 the movie A League of Their Own is based on, resides in Belton.

Schools

The town of Belton is part of the Anderson County School District Two. Public schools in Belton include -

• Belton-Honea Path High School grades 9-12
• Belton Middle School grades 6-8
• Belton Elementary School grades 3-5
• Wright Elementary School grades K-6
• Marshall Primary School grades 4K-2

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
4. ^ "Names in South Carolina". http://src1.cas.sc.edu/dept2/iss/SCNames/index.php?action=showPage&book=1&volume=10&page=7. 
5. ^ "SCDAH - Belton Standpipe". 2007-09-16. http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/anderson/S10817704006/index.htm. 

External links

• City of Belton
• Belton Area Partnership
• Anderson County School District Two
• Belton/Historic Belton Historical Marker
• Greenville & Columbia RR / Belton Historical Marker

v d e Municipalities and communities of Anderson County, South Carolina, US County seat: Anderson Cities Anderson Belton Clemson‡ Easley‡ Towns Honea Path‡ Iva Pelzer Pendleton Starr West Pelzer Williamston CDPs Centerville Fair Play‡ Homeland Park Northlake Piedmont‡ Powdersville Townville‡ Unincorporated community Sandy Springs Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties