Andy Brack – Page 15 – Building a better South

September 21, 2014September 21, 2014

Shed, Williamsburg County, S.C.

An equipment shed sits on the back of a plowed field in rural Williamsburg County. writes Kingstree, S.C., photographer Linda W. Brown.

Williamsburg County, which is about 75 miles north of Charleston, S.C., has a population of just under 34,000 people. Population peaked in 1950 at 43,807, but has dropped slowly since then.

Williamsburg County on Wikipedia.

QuickFacts from the U.S. Census.

September 19, 2014September 20, 2014

Grain bins, Clarendon County, S.C.

Grain bins in rural Clarendon County, S.C.

Look around rural areas of South Carolina and you’re almost more likely to see grain bins than structures like tobacco barns, writes photographer Linda W. Brown of Kingstree, S.C.

These bins are in rural Clarendon County, which has 34,357 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 population estimate. About half of the county’s residence are white; the other half are black.

More QuickFacts from the U.S. Census.

September 17, 2014September 16, 2014

Another empty store, Colleton County, S.C.

Here’s another empty store just down the road from one we profiled a couple of days back. It, too, is in Colleton County, S.C., just east of Walterboro on S.C. Highway 64.

Walterboro is the seat of government in Colleton County, a Southern Crescent county split by Interstate 95,. The county is home to 38,153 people, 21 percent of whom live at or below the federal poverty level.

Quickfacts on Colleton County from the U.S. Census Bureau.

September 15, 2014September 16, 2014

Swap meet, Colleton County, S.C.

Creative advertising, Colleton County, S.C.

If you’re looking for a “swap meet” — a gathering of folks who want to trade stuff that others might like — look no further than rural Colleton County east of Walterboro, S.C., on S. C. Highway 64. According to this clever advertisement “vehicle,” there’ll be a swap meet here on November 1.

Quickfacts on Colleton County from the U.S. Census Bureau.

September 13, 2014September 16, 2014

Empty station, Colleton County, S.C.

You can see where gas pumps once lived outside this now-empty and deteriorating cinder block store in the Neyles community a few miles east of Walterboro, S.C.

Quickfacts on Colleton County from the U.S. Census Bureau.

September 11, 2014

Country church, Clarendon County, S.C.

This simple country church sits among the pines in rural Clarendon County, S.C. Kingstree photographer Linda W. Brown writes, “There is a newer church building across the road, so this particular building may be used for other functions now, but I’m glad that it’s still standing.”

Clarendon County has 34,357 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 population estimate. About half of the county’s residence are white; the other half are black.

More QuickFacts from the U.S. Census.

September 7, 2014

Empty porch, Kingstree, S.C.

This chair sits on the porch of a house in the Kingstree, S.C., neighborhood of the photographer, Linda W. Brown. She writes, “Although no one has lived in the house for several years and the house is in serious decline, the chair appears to be waiting for someone to come along and ‘set a spell.'”

Kingstree is the county seat for Williamsburg County, which is about 75 miles north of Charleston, S.C. Just under 34,000 people live in the county. Population peaked in 1950 at 43,807, but has dropped slowly since then.

About two-thirds of county residents are black, with almost all of those remaining being white. Only 2 percent of those in the county are of Hispanic descent. Some 32.8 percent of residents live in poverty, according to the Census. Of the county’s 1,921 firms, 36.5 percent are black-owned — a percentage that is three times South Carolina’s average.

Williamsburg County on Wikipedia.

QuickFacts from the U.S. Census.

September 5, 2014September 4, 2014

In the beginning, Williamsburg County, S.C.

Genesis store, Williamsburg County, S.C.

Overlooking nothing but fields, the Genesis Variety Store & Diner in northeastern Williamsburg County, S.C., posts its menu beside the front door, with breakfast including grits, country ham sandwiches and waffles, writes Kingstree photographer Linda W. Brown. Later in the day, the store offers barbecue, cheeseburgers, hot dogs and onion rings among its tasty offerings.

More on Williamsburg County.

September 3, 2014September 4, 2014

Martin’s Grocery, Laurens County, Ga.

VanishingSouthGeorgia.com photographer Brian Brown recently sent along this 2010 photo of Martin’s Grocery in rural Laurens County, Ga.

Some 23.6 percent of residents of Laurens County (population 48,434) live in poverty, according to Census data

August 30, 2014

Farmhouse, Worth County, Ga.

VanishingSouthGeorgia.com photographer Brian Brown sent along this photo of a decaying farmhouse from Worth County, Ga. Click here to see a lot of other neat photos of the South Georgia county.

Worth County is located between Albany and Tifton in the central part of South Georgia. The county is home to Peter Pan Peanut Butter. Every jar made is produced in the county seat, Sylvester.

The county had about 21,300 people in 2013, according to the Census with whites representing 68.7 percent and blacks being 29.6 percent. Some 22 percent of people live below poverty levels, according to Census figures.