Calhoun Falls is a town in Abbeville County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,724 at the 2020 census, down from 2,004 at the 2010 census.

The town derives its name from James Edward Colhoun (or Calhoun).

Geography

The Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area is located nearby. Lake Richard B. Russell, which straddles the Georgia-South Carolina border, is approximately west of Calhoun Falls. Calhoun Falls State Park, a South Carolina state park, is within ; and Bobby Brown State Park, a Georgia state park, is within .

Calhoun Falls is situated at the junction of two major South Carolina state highways: South Carolina Highway 72 and South Carolina Highway 81. The former links the town with Elberton, Georgia, Athens, Georgia, and ultimately Atlanta to the west; and Abbeville, Greenwood, and ultimately metro Charlotte to the east. The latter links the town with Anderson to the north and McCormick to the south. Highway 72 has recently been re-routed around downtown Calhoun Falls as a four-lane 45-mph bypass.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 2.14%, is water.

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Demographics

2020 census

{| class="wikitable"

|+Calhoun Falls racial composition

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

|-

|White (non-Hispanic)

|661

|38.27%

|-

|Black or African American (non-Hispanic)

|951

|55.07%

|-

|Native American

|8

|0.46%

|-

|Asian

|4

|0.23%

|-

|Other/Mixed

|70

|4.05%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino

|33

|1.91%

|}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,727 people, 742 households, and 417 families residing in the town.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, There are two public schools in Calhoun Falls: John C. Calhoun Elementary School and Calhoun Falls Charter School. The latter was founded in 2008. Before this, the only school in town was Calhoun Falls High School, which closed because of budget cuts. Calhoun Falls Charter School was started by the local town leaders and is in the same building as the former Calhoun Falls High School.

Calhoun Falls has a public library, a branch of the Abbeville County Library System.

Notable people

  • Kelly Bryant, quarterback for Missouri Tigers
  • Martavis Bryant, Washington Commanders wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL)
  • Neil Chrisley, Major League Baseball outfielder

See also

  • Georgia–Carolina Memorial Bridge

References

  • The Facebook page for the Town of Calhoun Falls
  • South Carolina Route 72 Case Study, a Federal Highway Administration article on the impact of the Highway 72 project in and around Calhoun Falls.
  • Calhoun Falls State Park