Whitmire is a town in Newberry County, South Carolina, United States, along the Enoree River. The population was 1,390 at the 2020 census. The town was named for George Fredrick Whitmire, who came from Stuttgart, Germany.
History
The earliest settler in what is now Whitmire was John Duncan, who built a house along the creek that now bears his name. The George Frederick Whitmire family arrived prior to the 1790s (1790 Census) and established a tavern and post office. The arrival of the Georgia, Carolina and Northern Railway in 1890 led to the town's rapid growth. Whitmire incorporated in 1891.
In 1902, William Coleman and several associates established a large textile factory known as the Glenn-Lowery Mill, which included 900 looms and 33,000 spindles. By 1911, the mill had nearly doubled in size. Later owners continued to expand the mill, and it would remain a major source of revenue for Whitmire throughout the 20th century. The town is concentrated around the intersection of U.S. Route 176 and South Carolina Highway 72, northwest of Columbia and southeast of Spartanburg. The town's eastern boundary lies along the Enoree River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.3 km<sup>2</sup>), all land.
Demographics
As of the census
Education
Whitmire has a public library, a branch of the Newberry County Library System.
Notable people
- Billy O'Dell, (1933–2018), was a professional baseball player known for his time with San Francisco Giants
- Donnie Shell, (b 1952) is a former professional Football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
References
External links
- Official website