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Bamberg, South Carolina

15 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1919 and the latest in 1982. It stands in the Bamberg census division. It lies in ZIP code area 29003. The Survey maps it on the Bamberg quadrangle. 3,076 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 167 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Bamberg within Bamberg County

On record in Bamberg

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 5 records

Surveyed buildings and structures 3 records

Population over time

2 figures

Bamberg fell from 3,607 to 3,076 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20103,607
20203,076-531 (-15%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

10 surveys from 15 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Photographs

5 photographs,

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Coffee Pot Diner, SC Route 301 at Route 601, Bamberg, Bamberg County, SC
Coffee Pot Diner, SC Route 301 at Route 601, Bamberg, Bamberg County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Woodlands (Ruins), U.S. Route 78, Bamberg, Bamberg County, SC
Woodlands (Ruins), U.S. Route 78, Bamberg, Bamberg County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Murdock House, Ehrhardt, Bamberg County, SC
Murdock House, Ehrhardt, Bamberg County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Confederate Memorial Pavilion, Rivers Bridge State Park, Ehrhardt, Bamberg County, SC
Confederate Memorial Pavilion, Rivers Bridge State Park, Ehrhardt, Bamberg County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Bamberg Cotton Mill, Main Street, Bamberg, Bamberg County, SC
Bamberg Cotton Mill, Main Street, Bamberg, Bamberg County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Fires near this place

214 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 214 fires within 5 miles of Bamberg between 1992 and 2020, burning about 713 acres in total. 5 started naturally. 12 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning100
Missing data/not specified/undetermined72
Equipment and vehicle use14
Arson/incendiarism12
Misuse of fire by a minor6
Natural5
Smoking2
Other causes2
Power generation/transmission/distribution1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
8 September 2011Debris and open burning2.0 acresSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
6 September 2009Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
28 September 1996Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
27 September 1996Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
25 September 2019Debris and open burning30 acresSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
23 September 2002Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
2 September 2018Naturalunder an acreSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
19 September 1999Debris and open burningunder an acreSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Bamberg County

Mines and quarries near this place

1 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Bamberg: 1 past producer. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Calcium. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Kirkland PitCalciumPast Producer

Every working recorded in Bamberg County

Storms near this place

60 of 68 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Bamberg in 68 storm reports between 1994 and 2024: 46 thunderstorm wind, 16 hail, 3 flash flood, 3 tornado. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
January 2024Tornado (EF2)Bamberg$1,800,000A National Weather storm survey team confirmed an EF2 tornado, with peak winds of|125 mph, in Bamberg SC. The tornado began 1.75 miles south of the City of Bamberg|along US Hwy 601, near Cry Baby Road.||Moving north, the tornado then proceeded to flip a mobile home and cause substantial|EF2 damage to a barrel plant at the intersection of US Hwy 601 and US Hwy 301. Door|and window failure contributed to the collapse of the middle section of the building|and partial collapse of the front section. The collapsed portions of the building were|tossed across Chevrolet St into a water tower.||The tornado continued north-northeast along US-301 causing widespread EF1 roof and|tree damage before moving into downtown Bamberg.||As the tornado entered downtown Bamberg, it strengthened to EF2 intensity and|caused substantial structural damage to a series of 2-3 story historic buildings just|south of the intersection of US Hwy 78 and US Hwy 301. The newer roof section of a|building on the west side of US Hwy 301 was thrown completely off onto the adjacent|structure. There was a complete collapse of the upper stories of two buildings on the|east side of US Hwy 301 with the corner torn off another. Preexisting missing portions|of the roof and gaps in the exterior wall of the former City Hall likely contributed to its|collapse due to wind intrusion. ||The tornado then moved north and quickly weakened as it crossed US Hwy 78 before|dissipating 0.4 miles north of downtown Bamberg along US Hwy 301.||The National Weather Service would like to thank wind engineers from the Insurance|Institute for Business and Home Safety for their expertise assisting with surveying|some of the structural damage.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindBamberg$80,000Times Democrat reported trees down in Bamberg. One fell on a home causing moderate damage and another destroyed a barbershop.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindBamberg$20,000Sheriff reported numerous trees down in Bamberg.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindBamberg$16,000Sheriff reported trees and powerlines down arcoss northern portions of the county.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindBamberg$14,000The Highway Patrol reported several trees down in Bamberg. Media also reported a pet shelter had its roof partially torn off.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindBamberg$12,000Sheriff reported many trees and powerlines down in Bamberg with widespread outages in town.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindBamberg$12,000Dispatch reported trees down countrywide.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindBamberg$12,000Sheriff reported trees down in the area of Charleston Augusta Highway as well as Govan and Voorhees.
July 1998Thunderstorm WindBamberg$12,000A home off Hunters Chapel Road had minor damage to the porch and roof and moderate damage to the carport. Trees were also down and debris from the carport was found 30 yds away.
September 2024Flash FloodBamberg$10,000Bamberg County Government reported significant flooding along Hwy 301 in the town of Bamberg.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindBamberg$5,000Trees blown down and a transformer knocked out by winds.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindBamberg$4,000DOT reported a few trees down in the Bamberg area and over to Denmark.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindBamberg$4,000Sheriff reported trees down in Bamberg.
May 2009Flash FloodBamberg$4,000Sheriff reported several roads flooded with 1 to 3 feet of water in Bamberg and the surrounding area.
March 2012Thunderstorm WindBamberg$3,000Several trees down in Bamberg.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindBamberg$2,000Storm survey found several trees down along SC49 northwest of Bamberg.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindBamberg$2,000DOT reported trees down on hwy 645.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Reported power lines down in the road along North Street in the Town of Bamberg.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Reported trees down on Orange Grove Road.
September 2014HailBamberg-Bamberg Fire Dept. reported quarter size hail in the town of Bamberg.
March 2012HailBamberg-Sheriff dispatch reported nickel to qaurter size hail along Hwy 301 southwest of Bamberg.
March 2012HailBamberg-The public reported lots of nickel size hail in Bamberg.
March 2012HailBamberg-Sheriff reported quarter size hail in Bamberg.
May 2012HailBamberg-Bamberg police reported quarter size hail on the north side of town.
May 2011HailBamberg-Sheriff reported quarter size hail near Bamberg.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Emergency Manager reported trees down in Bamberg and Ehrhardt.
April 2008Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Sheriff reported trees down on hwy 301 just south of the Orangeburg county line.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Paw Paw Country Club reported trees down in the area.
June 2008HailBamberg-Sheriff reported nickel size hail on highway 78.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindBamberg-EM reported many trees down in the Canaan Community and on Hudson and Canaan roads.
April 2007Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Sheriff reported numerous trees down in and around the Bamberg area.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindBamberg-DOT reported several trees down SC Hwy 81.
January 2006Tornado (F0)Bamberg-Sheriff reported a small tornado touched down on Jay Street and took down a grove of trees.
April 2006Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Utility reported trees down on power lines
May 2006Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Sheriff reported powerlines down on hwy 362.
May 2006Tornado (F0)Bamberg-Storm survey found trees and powerlines down south of Midway off hwy 78. Utility company was present repairing powerlines.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Public reported trees down in Bamberg.
July 2006HailBamberg-Public reported 1.75 inch hail.
August 2006Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Sheriff reported trees down on SC Hwy 362 southeast of Bamberg.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Sheriff reported trees down.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Sheriff reported trees down on hwy 601.
May 2003Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Edisto Electric reported trees and powerlines down on Edisto River Road.
July 2003HailBamberg-Public reported 3/4 inch hail.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Sheriff reported trees down on hwy 78 and also near Ehrhardt.
August 2003Flash FloodBamberg-Police and Sheriff reported roads flooded in Olar and on Hwy 301 near Bamberg.
May 2002HailBamberg-Emergency manager reported dime size hail in Bamberg.
May 2002HailBamberg-Sheriff reported dime size hail.
March 2001Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Sheriff reported trees down on hwy 301 north of Bamberg.
August 2001Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Rivers Bridge State Park reported trees down.
June 2000Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Post Office reported trees down along hwy 21.
June 2000Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Hwy Maint reported trees down on hwy 301 s of Bamberg.
August 2000Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Police reported numerous trees down in the Bamberg area.
July 1999Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Newspaper reported trees down. One fell on propane tanks and ingnited a large blaze.
July 1999HailBamberg-Sheriff reported 3/4 inch hail in town of Bamberg.
August 1999Thunderstorm WindBamberg-EPD reported trees down around Bamberg.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Highway Maintenance Dept reported trees down along SC highway 20 from Bamberg to the Orangeburg county line.
May 1998HailBamberg-SKYWARN spotter reported 3/4 inch hail.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindBamberg-A cluster of thunderstorms produced several downed trees in Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, and Sumter counties.
August 1995Thunderstorm WindBamberg-Trees and power lines down.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindBamberg-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Bamberg County

Newspapers printed here

10,509 digitised pages

1 paper published in this town, digitised by the Library of Congress and free to read: 1,440 issues, 10,509 pages. Every page is searchable, so a name or a street can be looked for directly in what the town printed about itself at the time.

NewspaperPublished
The Bamberg Herald1891 to 1972

What the paper printed

13,375 words

Front pages of the local paper, read from the Library of Congress scans: 5 issues spread across its run from 1899 to 1927, 13,375 words in total. Each is reproduced on its own page, exactly as the recogniser returned it.

These pages read less well than anything else here, and the number is worth stating: about three words in four come through cleanly, against nine in ten for the building records. An 1896 broadsheet sets eight-point type in seven columns on microfilm, which is the hardest thing in this archive to read by machine. We tested our own recognisers against the Library's and they were not better, so the Library's text is what appears, with the wholly unreadable columns removed. Read it as a guide to what the paper covered, and follow the link to the scan before quoting anything.

IssuePaper Length
1899-07-13The Bamberg Herald1,947 words
1899-10-12The Bamberg Herald2,707 words
1899-11-23The Bamberg Herald2,834 words
1899-12-28The Bamberg Herald2,334 words
1927-12-29The Bamberg Herald3,553 words

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Bobcat Landing2.9 miles15
Midway3.1 miles18
Ott (historical)3.3 miles15
Loraine (historical)4.5 miles15
Sato5.2 miles15
Finland5.7 miles15
Denmark6.0 miles15
Luther (historical)6.5 miles15

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on BambergAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q805942The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1244955. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.