Fort Mill, South Carolina

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Fort Mill, South Carolina
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Fort Mill in the state of South Carolina.


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = South Carolina
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name2 = Lancaster, York

government_footnotes =
government_type = Mayor-council
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Danny P. Funderburk, since 1/2008
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Established
established_date = 1873

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 12.0
area_land_km2 = 11.8
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_total_sq_mi = 4.6
area_land_sq_mi = 4.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 7587
population_density_km2 = 642.0
population_density_sq_mi = 1662.7

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 193
elevation_ft = 633
latd = 35 |latm = 0 |lats = 21 |latNS = N
longd = 80 |longm = 56 |longs = 49 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 29708, 29715, 29716
area_code = 803
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 45-26890GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1247805GR|3
website = www.fortmillsc.org
footnotes =

Fort Mill is a town in Lancaster and York counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina, and a suburb of the city of Charlotte, North Carolina. The population was 7,587, per the 2000 census. The greater Fort Mill area is the home of several nationally notable businesses, including Jim Bakker's defunct Heritage USA (now reopened in part as Heritage International Ministries), part of Carowinds theme park, Muzak, and Springs Industries. It is also home to Knights Stadium, the home of the AAA Charlotte Knights since 1990. The town also serves as the headquarters of Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. The town of Fort Mill was also the site of the last Confederate Government Cabinet meeting (1865). Fort Mill's Confederate Park contains the nation's only monument to slaves fighting on the Confederate side of the American Civil War. Although the municipality of Fort Mill only had a population of 7,587 in the last census, the town is located in the middle of the larger Fort Mill Township, which has a population of approximately 35,000.Town of Fort Mill official website, accessed September 27, 2007. [http://www.fortmillsc.org/OurTown.aspx] ] The current mayor is Danny P. Funderburk, who was sworn in January 14, 2008.

Geography and Climate

Fort Mill is located at coor dms|35|0|21|N|80|56|49|W|city (35.005747, -80.947020)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.6 square miles (12.00 km²), of which, 4.6 square miles (11.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (1.30%) is water. Interstate 77 passes through the western portions of the town, and exit 85 is signed "South Carolina Highway 160/Fort Mill." SC 160 is the main east-west street in Fort Mill.

The Town of Fort Mill will be holding a final public hearing in October on a proposed annexation that will effectively double the town's physical size. Fort Mill has three golf courses. The city also maintains three parks, Harris Street Park, Steele Street Park, and Doby Bridge Park. All three parks have picnic shelters, children's playgrounds, and restrooms. Doby Bridge and Harris Street Parks have lighted baseball fields, Steele Street and Harris Street Parks have basketball courts, and Steele Street Park has a small water park. The town also maintains a banquet hall rentable through the parks and recreation department.

Fort Mill is located in a humid subtropical climate, Cfa in the Köppen climate classification. This means that the city experiences four distinct seasons, although the variation between the seasons is not as pronounced as in other parts of the United States. Generally, daily maximum temperatures in the summer are between 90 and 95°F (32 and 35°C), with nighttime low temperatures of approximately 70°F (21°C). In winter daily maximum temperatures average between 50 and 55°F (10 and 13°C) while nighttime low temperatures are near 32°F (0°C). Occasional readings as high as 105°F (41°C) or as low as 20°F (-9°C) do occur. Summers are generally humid and prone to thunderstorms, while winters are rainy. Snow does occur nearly every winter, but usually does not accumulate or persist as ground cover. Fort Mill experiences rainfall related to tropical cyclones but is generally too far inland to experience damaging winds from same. There is a lake called lake Wylie.

Government

The government of Fort Mill takes place within the framework of a mayor-council system. Currently, the town council of Fort Mill consists of six board members, two of whom serve from at-large districts, while the remainder of the council represent each of four wards. Elections are held in accordance with United States election regulations every two years, and council members serve staggered four year terms. The town council currently meets the second Monday of each month. The town of Fort Mill currently has five boards and commissions. These are the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Planning Commission, the Historical Review Board, the Elections Commission, and the Housing Authority Board. Members of boards and commissions are appointed on a volunteer basis.

Fort Mill is the primary community within the Fort Mill School District, which also serves children from the nearby community of Tega Cay. The Fort Mill school district is considered one of the best school districts in the state of South Carolina.

Fort Mill is currently represented by the following legislators:
*US Senate: Senior Senator Lindsey Graham (R) and Junior Senator Jim DeMint (R)
*US House: John Spratt (D), as part of South Carolina's 5th congressional district
*South Carolina Senate: Chauncey K. Gregory (R) as part of South Carolina Senate District 16
*South Carolina House of Representatives: J. "Mick" Michael Mulvaney (R) as part of South Carolina House District 45

The northern portions of Fort Mill Township are represented in the South Carolina House by Carl L. Gullick (R) as part of South Carolina House District 48.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,587 people, 2,914 households, and 2,141 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,662.7 people per square mile (642.4/km²). There were 3,063 housing units at an average density of 671.3/sq mi (259.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 81.69% Caucasian, 15.99% Black, 0.20% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.70% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.

There were 2,914 households out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town the population was spread out with 31.1% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,627, and the median income for a family was $56,538. Males had a median income of $42,469 versus $27,253 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,519. About 8.1% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.fortmillsc.org Town of Fort Mill]