Winnsboro is a town in

Fairfield County, South Carolina Fairfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 20,948. Its county seat is Winnsboro. Fairfield County is part of the Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. History 18t ...

, United States. The population was 3,550 at the 2010 census. The population was 3,215 at the 2020 census. A population decrease of approximately 9.5% for the same 10 year period. It is the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

of Fairfield County. Winnsboro is part of the

Columbia, South Carolina metropolitan area As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes only, the Columbia metropolitan statistical area, is an area consisting of six counties in central South Carolina, anchored by the ...

. Winnsboro is a suburb of a

Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the List of capitals in the United States, capital of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is List of municipalities in South Carolina, the second-largest ...

History

Based on archeological evidence, this area of the Piedmont was occupied by various cultures of

indigenous peoples Indigenous peoples are culturally distinct ethnic groups whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular geographic region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those original people ...

from as early as the Archaic period, about 1500 BC.

Blair Mound Blair Mound is a historic archaeological site located near Winnsboro, Fairfield County, South Carolina. Blair Mound is an earthen mound structure in the form of a low, oval hummock. It measures approximately and is just over high, with evide ...

is a nearby archeological site and earthwork likely occupied 1300-1400 AD, as part of the late Mississippian culture in the region. Several years before the Revolutionary War, Richard Winn from

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

moved to what is now Fairfield County in the upland or

Piedmont it, Piemontese , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demographics1_title2 ...

area of South Carolina. His lands included the present site of Winnsboro. As early as 1777, the settlement was known as "Winnsborough" since he was the major landowner. His brothers John and Minor Winn joined him there, adding to family founders. The village was laid out and chartered in 1785 upon petition of Richard and John Winn, and John Vanderhorst. The brothers Richard, John and Minor Winn all served in the Revolutionary War. Richard became a general, and was said to have fought in more battles than any Whig in South Carolina. John gained the rank of colonel. See

, for more. The area was developed for the cultivation of

short-staple cotton The history of agriculture in the United States covers the period from the first English settlers to the present day. In Colonial America, agriculture was the primary livelihood for 90% of the population, and most towns were shipping points for th ...

after Eli Whitney's invention of the cotton gin in 1793, which made processing of this type of cotton profitable. Previously it was considered too labor-intensive. Short-staple cotton was widely cultivated on plantations in upland areas throughout the Deep South, through an interior area that became known as the Black Belt. The increased demand for

slave labor Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

resulted in the forced migration of more than one million African-American slaves into the area through sales in the domestic slave market. By the time of the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

, the county's population was majority black and majority slave.

Textile mill Textile Manufacturing or Textile Engineering is a major industry. It is largely based on the conversion of fibre into yarn, then yarn into fabric. These are then dyed or printed, fabricated into cloth which is then converted into useful goods ...

s were constructed in the area beginning in the late 19th century, and originally only whites were allowed to work in the mills. "Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues", an industrial folk song of the 1930s with lyrics typical of the blues, refers to working in a cotton mill in this city. The song arose after the textile mill had been converted to a tire manufacturing plant, reflecting the widespread expansion of the auto industry. The song has been sung by Lead Belly,

Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, notably ...

, and other artists. It was the basis of one of the ballads by modernist composer/pianist

Frederic Rzewski Frederic Anthony Rzewski ( ; April 13, 1938 – June 26, 2021) was an American composer and pianist, considered to be one of the most important American composer-pianists of his time. His major compositions, which often incorporate social an ...

in his ''Four North American Ballads'' for solo piano, completed in 1979. Kathryn Woodard, "The Pianist's Body at Work: Mediating Sound and Meaning in Frederic Rzewski's Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues"
''Sonic Meditations,'' 2008, at Academia website, accessed 13 November 2014 Places listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

for Winnsboro range from an Archaic period archeological site, to structures and districts spanning the European-American/African-American history of the city, as in the following list: Albion, Balwearie,

, Dr. Walter Brice House and Office, Concord Presbyterian Church, Furman Institution Faculty Residence, Hunstanton, Ketchin Building, Bob Lemmon House, Liberty Universalist Church and Feasterville Academy Historic District, McMeekin Rock Shelter, Mount Olivet Presbyterian Church, New Hope A.R.P. Church and Session House, Old Stone House, Rockton and Rion Railroad Historic District, Rural Point, Shivar Springs Bottling Company Cisterns, The Oaks, Tocaland, White Oak Historic District, and the Winnsboro Historic District. Though not listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Winnsboro Town Clock built in 1837 is the oldest continuously running clock in the United States.

Geography

Winnsboro is located east of the center of Fairfield County at (34.377069, -81.087959). U.S. Route 321 and

South Carolina Highway 34 South Carolina Highway 34 (SC 34) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As one of the longer state highways, it traverses the state east-west from Greenwood to Dillon, connecting the cities of Newberry, Win ...

bypass the town on the west side. US 321 Business passes through the center of town on Congress Street. US 321 leads north to Chester and south to Columbia. SC 34 leads southeast to Ridgeway and west to

Newberry Newberry is a surname, a variant of Newbury. Notable people with the surname include: * Booker Newberry III (born 1956), American singer and keyboardist * Brennan Newberry (born, 1990), American professional stock car racing driver * Brian Newb ...

. SC 200 leads northeast to Great Falls. The unincorporated community of Winnsboro Mills borders the south side of Winnsboro. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

, the town of Winnsboro has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

Fairfield County Courthouse, Congress & Washington Streets, Winnsboro (Fairfield County, South Carolina)

Tocaland, Secondary Road 344 near Highway 34, Winnsboro vicinity (Fairfield County, South Carolina)

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, there were 3,215 people, 1,329 households, and 878 families residing in the town.

2010 census

As of the

2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servi ...

, there were 3,550 people, 1,497 households, and 931 families residing in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 60.3%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 36.1%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...

, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 1.0% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 2.0% of the population.

2000 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2000, there were 3,564 people, 1,454 households, and 984 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was 1,109.6 people per square mile (428.9/km²). There were 1,597 housing units at an average density of 492.4 per square mile (190.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 40.29%

, 58.46%

, 0.31% Asian, 0.33% from

, and 0.61% from two or more races.

of any race were 1.31% of the population. There were 1,454 households, out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples living together, 25.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.04. In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.1 males. The median income for a household in the town was $25,094, and the median income for a family was $29,550. Males had a median income of $29,275 versus $18,925 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $14,135. About 23.6% of families and 24.4% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 33.9% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Mayor of Winnsboro is John McMeekin. Town Council Members: Danny Miller - District #1, Janice Bartell-Prather - District #2, Demetrius Chatman - District #3, Jae Burroughs - District #4. The Town Manager is Jason Taylor.

Education

Fairfield Institute, a school for African Americans run by a missionary from New Jersey was in Winnsboro from 1869 to 1888 when it closed and merged with Brainerd Institute in Chester, South Carolina. Its principal, Rev. Willard Richardson returned to New Jersey with his family. Joseph Winthrop Holley and Kelly Miller attended the school. Winnsboro has a public library, a branch of the Fairfield County Library. Winnsboro is served by the Fairfield County Public School system. Currently, Fairfield County schools hold a ranking C+, based on the most recent ratings. The school district has 2,414 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1. According to state test scores, 25.1% of students are at least proficient in math and 31% in reading. The district on-time graduation rate, according to the South Carolina Department of Education School Report Card, is 78.1%, while the South Carolina state average is 83.3%. For Fiscal Year 2021-2022, the revenue per pupil (student) is $25,790, which is the highest in the state of South Carolina.

Crime

Based on data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, Winnsboro is ranked 87% higher than the national average for violent crime, 26% higher than the national average for property crime, and 36% higher than the national average for total crime. The rate of crime in Winnsboro is 39.24 per 1,000 residents. The chance of being a victim of crime in Winnsboro may be as high as 1 in 17 in the central neighborhoods, or as low as 1 in 40 in the west part of the city. A crime occurs every 20 hours and 53 minutes (on average) in Winnsboro.

Poverty

The average household income in Winnsboro is $40,553. The poverty rate is 31.86%. The median rental cost is $734 per month, and the median home value is $116,000.

Notable people

* D. Wyatt Aiken (1828–1887), U.S. congressman from South Carolina * Mike Anderson,

Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays it ...

running back, formerly of the Denver Broncos where he was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for the 2000 season *

Webster Anderson Webster Anderson (July 15, 1933 – August 30, 2003) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War. Anderson joined the Army from his birth city ...

(1933 – 2003), U.S. Army soldier who received the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

, the highest US military award, for his actions in the Vietnam War *

John Bratton John Bratton (March 7, 1831 – January 12, 1898) was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, as well as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He rose from private to brigadier general and led a regimen ...

(1838-1898), Confederate general during the American Civil War; U.S. congressman from South Carolina * Walter B. Brown (1920-1998), former vice-president of Southern Railway (now

Norfolk Southern The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad in the United States formed in 1982 with the merger of Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. With headquarters in Atlanta, the company operates 19,420 route miles (31, ...

); political figure in South Carolina legislative government * William Porcher DuBose (1836-1918), priest, theologian, educator in the Episcopal Church, and Civil War veteran *

William Ellison William Ellison Jr. ( April 1790 – December 5, 1861), born April Ellison, was a USA cotton gin maker and blacksmith in South Carolina, and former African-American slave who achieved considerable success as a slaveowner before the Ameri ...

(1790-1861), Jr., born a

mixed-race Mixed race people are people of more than one race or ethnicity. A variety of terms have been used both historically and presently for mixed race people in a variety of contexts, including ''multiethnic'', ''polyethnic'', occasionally ''bi-eth ...

slave April on the plantation of William Ellison (likely his father) near Winnsboro; he was apprenticed as a cotton gin maker and allowed to buy his freedom in 1816. He had his own business and also became a major planter in Sumter County, where he owned 1000 acres by 1860 and numerous slaves to work that land. * Gordon Glisson (1930-1997), champion jockey in thoroughbred horse racing * Justin Hobgood, NASCAR driver * James Hooker, singer/songwriter * Ellis Johnson, college football coach * David Leventritt (1845–1926), New York City lawyer and judge, born in Winnsboro * Donnie Levister,

NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and ...

driver *

James G. Martin James Grubbs Martin (born December 11, 1935) is an American organic chemist and politician who served as the 70th governor of North Carolina from 1985 to 1993. He was the third Republican elected to the office after Reconstruction, and the ...

, 70th governor of North Carolina (1985-1993) * John Hugh Means (1812-1862), 64th governor of South Carolina (1850–1852); signed South Carolina Ordinance of Secession in 1860; killed at

Second Battle of Manassas The Second Battle of Bull Run or Battle of Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, in Prince William County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of the Northern Virginia Campaign waged by Confederat ...

during Civil War * James Francis Miller (1830-1902), politician who represented Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1883-1886 * Kelly Miller (1863-1939), African-American mathematician, sociologist, essayist, newspaper columnist, and author * James Milling, professional football player *

Thomas J. Robertson Thomas James Robertson (August 3, 1823October 13, 1897) was a United States senator from South Carolina. Born near Winnsboro, he completed preparatory studies and graduated from South Carolina College (now the University of South Carolina) at ...

(1823-1897), U.S. senator from South Carolina * Orlando Ruff, defensive lineman for the

New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the te ...

* Alex Sanders, former Court of Appeals judge, Lt. Governor candidate, College of Charleston president, and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate; resides in Charleston; related to Thomas family of Ridgeway *

Miriam Stevenson Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson (born July 4, 1933) is an American television host, actress, former model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 1954. She was the first American to win the title, and had previously been crowned Miss USA 1 ...

Miss South Carolina The Miss South Carolina competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of South Carolina in the Miss America pageant. The pageant was first held in Myrtle Beach and moved to Greenville starting in 1958 and remained in ...

1953,

Miss South Carolina USA The Miss South Carolina USA competition, previously known as Miss South Carolina Universe, is the pageant that selects the representative for the state South Carolina in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The ...

1954, Miss USA 1954, Miss Universe 1954 * Tyler Thigpen, Buffalo Bills quarterback * Joseph A. Woodward (1806-1885), congressman from South Carolina; son of William Woodward

References

External links

Town of Winnsboro official website101 Congress Street - Winnsboro Town Hall and Clock
{{authority control Towns in Fairfield County, South Carolina Towns in South Carolina County seats in South Carolina Columbia metropolitan area (South Carolina)