South Carolina – Page 12 – Building a better South

August 15, 2014

Old store, Clarendon County, S.C.

An old country store on the side of the road in eastern Clarendon County still proclaims the message that “JESUS SAVES.” But as photographer Linda W. Brown of nearby Kingstree, S.C., observes, the Almighty apparently was not able to save the store from closing.

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. Some other statistics:

High school graduation rate of those 25 or older: 76.3 percent.
Bachelor’s degree graduates: 13.8 percent
Median household income: $33,267
Poverty rate: 22.8 percent

More QuickFacts from the U.S. Census.

August 13, 2014

Country church, Clarendon County, S.C.

Field of ripe grain, Clarendon County, S.C.

Ripe grain spreads out in front of this rural Clarendon County church, reminding us that we need both bread and faith to survive, writes photographer Linda W. Brown of nearby Kingstree, S.C.

High school graduation rate of those 25 or older: 76.3 percent.
Bachelor’s degree graduates: 13.8 percent
Median household income: $33,267
Poverty rate: 22.8 percent

More QuickFacts from the U.S. Census.

August 10, 2014August 11, 2014

Moo, Clarendon County, S.C.

A herd of cows grazes placidly spring pastureland in 2013 in rural Clarendon County, S.C., writes photographer Linda W. Brown of Kingstree, S.C.

August 3, 2014August 3, 2014

Empty stores, Lane, S.C.

The southern Williamsburg County town of Lane, S.C., once was a thriving railroad town, photographer and retired editor Linda W. Brown of Kingstree writes. Now, however, few businesses remain. A number of store fronts are open to the elements; others are boarded up.

More on Williamsburg County.

August 1, 2014August 2, 2014

Eroding history, Williamsburg County, S.C.

Old farmhouse being dismantled, Williamsburg County, S.C.

This old house in the Cedar Swamp community of Williamsburg County, S.C., has served many purposes over the years, writes photographer and retired editor Linda W. Brown of Kingstree, S.C.

The building started out as a farmhouse but in later years it was a venue for community parties and dances. Now it is slowly being dismantled.

More on Williamsburg County.

July 28, 2014July 30, 2014

Chimney, Williamsburg County, S.C.

The back portion and the chimney are all that are left of this farmhouse that once stood on Cedar Swamp Road in Williamsburg County, S.C., photographer and retired editor Linda W. Brown writes.

More on Williamsburg County.

July 26, 2014

Rusty roof, Williamsburg County, S.C.

Along Thurgood Marshall Road, near Kingstree, S.C. — Along Thurgood Marshall Highway, near Kingstree, S.C.

The rusty roof of an empty, old farmhouse overlooks fields that are still planted each year, photographer and retired editor Linda Brown writes from Kingstree, S.C.

The house is on Thurgood Marshall Highway, a few miles outside of Kingstree in Williamsburg County.

More on Williamsburg County.

July 24, 2014July 24, 2014

Lawnmower graveyard, Williamsburg County, S.C.

Lawnmowers, rusting equipment and an old boat have a final resting place on Simms Reach Road in Williamsburg County, S.C., photographer and retired editor Linda W. Brown writes. It’s not hard to find locations like this anywhere in the Southern Crescent, which stretches from Tidewater Virginia, across the eastern Carolinas through Georgia to the Mississippi Delta.

More about Williamsburg County.

July 22, 2014July 22, 2014

Dry field, Williamsburg County, S.C.

Dry weather has had an effect on this field of corn in rural Williamsburg County. Farmers are all too often at the mercy of the weather when it comes to the success or failure of their crops, observes retired editor and photographer Linda W. Brown of Kingstreet, S.C.

More about Williamsburg County.

July 20, 2014

Changing times, Williamsburg County, S.C.

A vine-covered tobacco barn in the middle of a cotton field signals changing times in agriculture in the South and in the Cedar Swamp community of Williamsburg County, S.C., where this barn is located.