Due West, South Carolina

Due West
Town
Aerial view of Due West
Aerial view of Due West
Location of Due West, South Carolina
Location of Due West, South Carolina
Coordinates: 34°19′56″N 82°23′14″W
Country United States
State South Carolina
County Abbeville
Area
 • Total 1.64 sq mi (4.25 km2)
 • Land 1.64 sq mi (4.24 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
 699 ft (213 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,219
 • Density 745.57/sq mi (287.80/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
29639
Area code 864
FIPS code 45-21040
GNIS feature ID 1247568
Website duewestsc.com

Due West is a town in Abbeville County, South Carolina. The population was 1,247 at the 2010 census. It is the home of Erskine College and Dixie High School.

History

Some say the name is a mispronunciation of "DeWitt's Corner", while others believe the town was due west on a pioneer trail.

The Treaty of Dewitt's Corner, a historic peace negotiation in May 1777 with the Cherokee Indians, was signed in Due West. As a result of the treaty, the Cherokee peoples broke into two factions. One of them, the Chickamauga Cherokee, continued fighting area settlers for another 17 years.

The Erskine College-Due West Historic District, Lindsay Cemetery, and Young Place are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Due West is located at 34°19′56″N 82°23′14″W (34.332110, -82.387131).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km2), of which 0.004 square miles (0.01 km2), or 0.32%, is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. Note %±
1850 330 —
1870 400 —
1880 449 12.3%
1890 644 43.4%
1900 631 −2.0%
1910 672 6.5%
1920 702 4.5%
1930 620 −11.7%
1940 593 −4.4%
1950 1,033 74.2%
1960 1,166 12.9%
1970 1,380 18.4%
1980 1,366 −1.0%
1990 1,220 −10.7%
2000 1,209 −0.9%
2010 1,247 3.1%
2020 1,219 −2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,209 people, 307 households, and 194 families residing in the town. The population density was 738.4 inhabitants per square mile (285.1/km2). There were 342 housing units at an average density of 208.9 per square mile (80.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 79.24% White, 18.61% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.

There were 307 households, out of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 11.3% under the age of 18, 40.7% from 18 to 24, 14.5% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 75.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,375, and the median income for a family was $53,000. Males had a median income of $35,917 versus $27,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,758. About 9.5% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Due West is the home of Erskine College, a private Christian liberal arts college affiliated with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and Dixie High School, serving grades 8–12. Elementary students in Due West attend Cherokee Trail Elementary in Donalds.

Due West is also home to Erskine Theological Seminary.

Notable people