Walterboro, South Carolina

{{Moresources|section|date=February 2023}}

Walterboro (original spelling: Walterborough) was founded in 1783, as a summer retreat for local planters looking to escape their malaria-ridden, Lowcountry plantations. The original settlement was located on a hilly area, covered with pine and hickory trees and called Hickory Valley. Two of the earliest settlers were brothers, Paul and Jacob Walter. The brothers were prosperous, plantation owners, in nearby Jacksonboro. Paul's small daughter Mary, was taken ill with malaria; a common disease among the families who had plantations in the marshy areas of the Lowcountry, due to the ground's suitability for rice production. To prevent Mary from succumbing to the deadly microbe, the Walter brothers went looking for a healthier location in which to live during the summer months, and came to settle the town; with its later being named in their honor.

In 1817, Walterboro was designated as the third county seat of Colleton County, and has remained such through present-day. This designation was followed by, the construction of a county courthouse and county jail in 1821. The courthouse was designed by well-known architect Robert Mills.

The town quickly spread from the original Hickory Valley location, after its population experienced a significant increase; this being fueled successively by, the town becoming the county seat in 1821, and the establishment of a railroad line that connected the city with Columbia and Charleston in the 1880s.

In 1832, the Irish Catholic community in rural southern Waltersboro (at one point termed Thompson's Crossroads) established a parish called St. James the Greater Catholic Church, dedicated by Bishop John England. The community later was known as Catholic Hill. After the church was burned down in 1856, and the emancipation of the slaves roughly a decade later, the White community largely left the area. The Black Catholic community maintained their religion for decades without a priest, before a new church was built for them in the 1890s. They became notable in the media in the 21st century, and a documentary on the community was released in 2020.{{Cite web|title=Documentary features Catholic Hill|url=https://walterborolive.com/stories/documentary-features-catholic-hill,32671|access-date=2021-07-09|website=Walterboro Live|date=August 13, 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=|date=2018-10-25|title=Catholic Hill|url=https://cchaps.com/2018/10/25/catholic-hill/|access-date=2021-07-09|website=Colleton County Historical and Preservation Society|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2012-05-02|title=St. James the Greater Catholic Church|url=https://www.scpictureproject.org/colleton-county/st-james-the-greater-catholic-church.html|access-date=2021-07-09|website=SC Picture Project|language=en-US}}{{Citation|last=Wingard|first=George|title=We Came A Long Way By Faith: Catholic Hill and St. James the Greater Catholic Church|date=2020-05-06|url=https://vimeo.com/415619367|access-date=2021-07-09}}

An airfield was established in the 1930s. In 1942, Walterboro became home to the Walterboro Army Airfield, a sub-base of Columbia Army Air Base, and part of the national network of army air training facilities erected across the U.S. during World War II. The base was established for the purpose of providing advanced air-combat training, to fighter and bomber groups. It also hosted the largest camouflage school in the United States, as well as, a 250-person prisoner of war camp.

In 1944, the airfield changed command and became an advanced combat training base for individual fighters, primarily the black trainees graduating from Tuskegee Army Airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama. Over 500 of the famed Tuskegee Airmen trained at Walterboro Army Airfield, between April 1944 and October 1945, including individuals training as replacement pilots for the 332nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, along with the entire 447th Bombardment Group. The base closed in October 1945, returning to its origins as a local airfield.

The establishment of Interstate 95 in the 1960s, made the town a prime overnight stop on the road to Florida or New York.

Presently, Walterboro is dotted with historic homes dating back to 1820, and a downtown area that has kept many of its historic buildings. The city has become increasingly known as an antiquing destination, and is a popular day-trip from Charleston and Beaufort.

Walterboro is geographically located slightly north to the center of Colleton County at {{coord|32|54|15|N|80|39|58|W|type:city}} (32.904289, −80.666238).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} Interstate 95 passes west of the city, leading northeast {{convert|110|mi}} to Florence, and southwest {{convert|67|mi}} to Savannah, Georgia. The southern terminus of U.S. Route 15 is situated in the center of Walterboro; leading northward, running roughly parallel to I-95, reaching St. George in {{convert|21|mi}}. U.S. Route 17 Alt leads east from US 15, {{convert|32|mi}} to Summerville, within the Charleston vicinity, and southwest {{convert|21|mi}} to Yemassee. South Carolina Highway 64 leads northwest, past Exit 57 on I-95, {{convert|25|mi}} to Ehrhardt, and southeast {{convert|16|mi}} to Jacksonboro.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Walterboro has a total area of {{convert|16.8|sqkm|order=flip}}, consisting solely of landmass.

{{Weather box

| location = Walterboro, South Carolina (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1903–1920 and 1936–present)

| single line = Y

| Jan record high F = 85

| Feb record high F = 88

| Mar record high F = 98

| Apr record high F = 95

| May record high F = 103

| Jun record high F = 106

| Jul record high F = 106

| Aug record high F = 107

| Sep record high F = 105

| Oct record high F = 100

| Nov record high F = 91

| Dec record high F = 85

| year record high F = 107

|Jan avg record high F = 75.3

|Feb avg record high F = 78.0

|Mar avg record high F = 83.9

|Apr avg record high F = 87.6

|May avg record high F = 93.0

|Jun avg record high F = 96.7

|Jul avg record high F = 98.2

|Aug avg record high F = 97.0

|Sep avg record high F = 93.2

|Oct avg record high F = 87.5

|Nov avg record high F = 81.8

|Dec avg record high F = 76.7

|year avg record high F = 99.3

| Jan high F = 58.1

| Feb high F = 62.0

| Mar high F = 68.7

| Apr high F = 76.1

| May high F = 82.8

| Jun high F = 87.4

| Jul high F = 90.5

| Aug high F = 88.9

| Sep high F = 84.2

| Oct high F = 76.4

| Nov high F = 67.7

| Dec high F = 61.1

| year high F = 75.3

| Jan mean F = 46.7

| Feb mean F = 49.8

| Mar mean F = 56.5

| Apr mean F = 63.3

| May mean F = 71.2

| Jun mean F = 77.5

| Jul mean F = 80.8

| Aug mean F = 79.5

| Sep mean F = 74.6

| Oct mean F = 64.7

| Nov mean F = 55.0

| Dec mean F = 49.5

| year mean F = 64.1

| Jan low F = 35.2

| Feb low F = 37.6

| Mar low F = 44.2

| Apr low F = 50.4

| May low F = 59.6

| Jun low F = 67.6

| Jul low F = 71.1

| Aug low F = 70.1

| Sep low F = 65.0

| Oct low F = 53.1

| Nov low F = 42.3

| Dec low F = 37.9

| year low F = 52.8

|Jan avg record low F = 20.8

|Feb avg record low F = 24.3

|Mar avg record low F = 28.5

|Apr avg record low F = 35.9

|May avg record low F = 46.6

|Jun avg record low F = 59.2

|Jul avg record low F = 64.9

|Aug avg record low F = 64.2

|Sep avg record low F = 54.0

|Oct avg record low F = 38.2

|Nov avg record low F = 28.3

|Dec avg record low F = 24.5

|year avg record low F = 19.2

| Jan record low F = 0

| Feb record low F = 9

| Mar record low F = 15

| Apr record low F = 26

| May record low F = 31

| Jun record low F = 44

| Jul record low F = 54

| Aug record low F = 55

| Sep record low F = 37

| Oct record low F = 24

| Nov record low F = 11

| Dec record low F = 5

| year record low F = 0

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 4.01

| Feb precipitation inch = 3.74

| Mar precipitation inch = 3.50

| Apr precipitation inch = 3.56

| May precipitation inch = 3.59

| Jun precipitation inch = 5.63

| Jul precipitation inch = 5.21

| Aug precipitation inch = 7.17

| Sep precipitation inch = 4.60

| Oct precipitation inch = 3.68

| Nov precipitation inch = 3.08

| Dec precipitation inch = 3.65

| year precipitation inch = 51.42

| Jan precipitation days = 8.4

| Feb precipitation days = 7.9

| Mar precipitation days = 8.0

| Apr precipitation days = 6.9

| May precipitation days = 7.0

| Jun precipitation days = 10.1

| Jul precipitation days = 10.5

| Aug precipitation days = 11.8

| Sep precipitation days = 8.1

| Oct precipitation days = 6.1

| Nov precipitation days = 6.2

| Dec precipitation days = 7.9

| year precipitation days = 98.9

| source = NOAA{{cite web |url= https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=chs |title= NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=April 23, 2023 }}{{cite web |url= https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00388922&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |title= Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=April 23, 2023 }}

}}

{{US Census population

|1870= 636

|1880= 691

|1890= 1171

|1900= 1491

|1910= 1677

|1920= 1853

|1930= 2592

|1940= 3373

|1950= 4616

|1960= 5417

|1970= 6257

|1980= 6209

|1990= 5492

|2000= 5153

|2010= 5398

|2020= 5544

|align-fn=center

|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]{{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=Oct 15, 2022}}

}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,544 people, 2,569 households, and 1,265 families residing in the city.

As of, the 2010 U.S. census, there were 5,401 people living in the city. The population density was {{convert|832.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,571 housing units, at an average density of {{convert|475.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was: 44.1% Non-Hispanic White, 50.5% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino, of any race, constituted 2.9% of the population.

There were 2,231 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 years living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 23.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,135, and the median income for a family was $32,549. Males had a median income of $27,488 versus $20,351 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,223. About 20.6% of families and 30.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.1% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2016 the largest self-reported ancestries/ethnicities in Walterboro, South Carolina were:

Walterboro is in the Colleton County School District.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45029_colleton/DC20SD_C45029.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Colleton County, SC|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2023-03-03}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45029_colleton/DC20SD_C45029_SD2MS.txt Text list]

Walterboro has several public and private schools in its surrounding area. There are five public elementary schools (Bells Elementary, Cottageville Elementary, Hendersonville Elementary, Forest Hills Elementary, and Northside Elementary, one public middle school (Colleton County Middle School), and one public high school (Colleton County High School). There are two private K-12 schools: Colleton Preparatory Academy and North Walterboro Christian Academy. The University of South Carolina Salkehatchie is the city's local university and Clemson University has a county extension office in the city.

Walterboro has a public library branch of the Colleton County Library System.{{cite web | url=https://www.sciway.net/lib/counties.html | title=South Carolina libraries and archives | publisher=SCIWAY | access-date=June 8, 2019}}

{{div col}}

• William Jones Boone, bishop
• Bonnie Lynn Fields, actress
• Nick Grant, rapper
• George B. Hartzog Jr., NPS Director
• Norman Hand, American football player
• Brother Stair, minister and evangelicalist
• Craig Mack, rapper
• Peden McLeod, attorney and politician
• Dean Meminger, basketball player and coach
• John Peurifoy, diplomat
• Mary Shaffer, artist
• Young Scooter, rapper
• Marvin Herman Shoob, judge
• Darwin Walker, American football player
• Bill Workman, politician
• Kamiyah Mobley, kidnapping victim

{{div col end}}

Walterboro is accessible from Interstate 95 (access at exits 53 and 57), where lodging, dining, and gas station facilities make it a popular stopping point for travelers. Other roads of importance include U.S. Highway 15, Alternate U.S. Highway 17, and several state highways. The Lowcountry Regional Airport provides general aviation services to Walterboro and Colleton County.

• Old Colleton County Jail

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.walterborosc.org/}}

{{Colleton County, South Carolina}}

{{South Carolina Lowcountry}}

{{South Carolina county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in South Carolina

Category:Cities in Colleton County, South Carolina

Category:County seats in South Carolina

Category:Populated places established in 1783

Category:1783 establishments in South Carolina