Beech Island, South Carolina
Unincorporated community in South Carolina, US
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Beech Island is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States.[4] It was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 1,421.[5]
Beech Island, South Carolina | |
|---|---|
  Beech Island | |
| Coordinates: 33°25′53″N 81°52′47″W[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Aiken |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.02 sq mi (12.99 km2) |
| • Land | 4.92 sq mi (12.74 km2) |
| • Water | 0.097 sq mi (0.25 km2) |
| Elevation | 226 ft (69 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,421 |
| • Density | 289/sq mi (111.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 29842 |
| Area codes | 803, 839 |
| FIPS code | 45-04915 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2812928[1] |
History
According to tradition, the community was first named "Beech Highland" on account of its lofty elevation, and over time the H was dropped, causing the present name to be adopted.[6]
Beech Island was primarily an agricultural community before the 1950s. Cotton, wheat, corn, and soybean were the major crops. This changed with the construction of Urquhart Station Power Station and the nearby Savannah River Nuclear Project. New highways were built to accommodate the workers commuting to the Nuclear Project. Commerce grew and the community began to change. In the 1960s Kimberly-Clark built a large manufacturing facility on what was once farmland, creating more jobs. The boom, however, was short-lived.[citation needed]
Beech Island's most famous resident was James Brown, who lived there for the last few decades of his life on a 60-acre (24 ha) estate.[7] Brown is buried in a crypt on a family member's property in Beech Island.[8]
The Cedars, Fort Moore-Savano Town Site, Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site, Oakland Plantation, and Zubly Cemetery are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[9][10]
Beech Island is also home to most of the television transmitters that serve the media market of Augusta, Georgia.[citation needed]
Demographics
2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2020[12] | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 694 | 48.84% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 548 | 38.56% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 7 | 0.49% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 7 | 0.49% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 0.21% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 5 | 0.35% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 81 | 5.70% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 76 | 5.35% |
| Total | 1,421 | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Education
It is in the Aiken County Public School District.[13]
Beech Island is zoned to Redcliffe Elementary School, Jackson Middle School, and Silver Bluff High School.[14] Silver Bluff High opened in 1981 as a consolidated high school for Beech Island, Jackson, and New Ellenton.[15]
