Barnwell, South Carolina
16 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1919 and the latest in 1982. It stands in the Barnwell census division. It lies in ZIP code area 29812. It stands on Barnwell Hill. The Survey maps it on the Barnwell quadrangle. 4,652 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 217 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Barnwell
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
Banksia Halllisted 1974
Bethlehem Baptist Churchlisted 1979
Church of the Holy Apostles Rectorylisted 1972
Church of the Holy Apostles, Episcopallisted 1972
Old Presbyterian Churchlisted 1972
Surveyed buildings and structures 1 record
- Salkehatchie Bridge, State Route No. 64 spanning Salkehatchie River, Barnwellfederal building survey, 10 photographs
Population over time
2 figuresBarnwell fell from 4,750 to 4,652 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.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 4,750 | |
| 2020 | 4,652 | -98 (-2%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
9 surveys from 16 printed sheetsMatched 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.
- 1919 USGS Allendale quadrangle1:62500, 4 printings
- 1943 USGS Allendale quadrangle1:62500
- 1954 USGS Augusta quadrangle1:250000
- 1957 USGS Augusta quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1958 USGS Augusta quadrangle1:250000
- 1961 USGS Augusta quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1962 USGS Augusta quadrangle1:250000
- 1979 USGS Barnwell quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
- 1982 USGS Barnwell quadrangle1:100000
Photographs
1 photograph,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.
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Fires near this place
276 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 276 fires within 5 miles of Barnwell between 1992 and 2020, burning about 1,121 acres in total. 6 started naturally. 23 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 |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 100 |
| Debris and open burning | 95 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 24 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 23 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 17 |
| Smoking | 7 |
| Natural | 6 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 2 |
| Fireworks | 1 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 September 1999 | Natural | 15 acres | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
| 7 September 1997 | Misuse of fire by a minor | under an acre | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
| 5 September 2009 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
| 4 September 2007 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 3.5 acres | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
| 3 September 2017 | Debris and open burning | 7.0 acres | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
| 29 September 1993 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
| 23 September 2019 | Misuse of fire by a minor | 1.0 acres | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
| 23 September 2010 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
1 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Barnwell: 1 unknown. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway 27 Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | Sedimentary |
Storms near this place
60 of 65 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Barnwell in 65 storm reports between 1995 and 2025: 38 thunderstorm wind, 18 hail, 4 lightning, 2 tornado. The reports record 1 injury. 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.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2005 | Lightning | Barnwell | 1 hurt | Emergency Manager reported one person was injured by lightning. |
| August 2023 | Lightning | Barnwell | $2,000,000 | Hagood Avenue Baptist Church in the town of Barnwell was struck by lightning and caught fire. The fire caused extensive damage to the church. |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | $500,000 | Trees and powerlines down in Barnwell. |
| April 2011 | Lightning | Barnwell | $80,000 | The People-Sentinel reported a home was destroyed by fire that was started by a lightning strike. |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | $50,000 | Winds blew down many trees and powerlines throughout county. |
| June 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | $25,000 | Emergency Manager reported an intense microburst destroyed a 40'X 60' building, took down many trees (one split a home), took siding off a few homes, and twisted metal fences. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | $8,000 | Sheriff reported trees and powerlines down in the Barnwell area along with street flooding. |
| November 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | $6,000 | Sheriff reported trees down in the Barnwell area. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | $6,000 | Emergency Manager reported 2 mobile homes were moved off their foundations and had minor damage to them. A few trees and numerous large branches were also down. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | $5,000 | Sheriff reported a couple of trees down from Hwy 3 and Pineneedle road to near Galilee and South Toby Creek roads. |
| January 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | $4,000 | Sheriff reported a few trees down southwest of Barnwell. |
| April 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | $3,000 | DOT reported several trees down between Barnwell and Williston. |
| January 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | $2,000 | Sheriff reported trees down near Mt. Olive Circle. |
| June 2006 | Lightning | Barnwell | $2,000 | Lightning struck the Barnwell Communications Center doing about 2 thousand dollars in damage to equipment. |
| April 1999 | Hail | Barnwell | $1,000 | Spotter and damage survey confirmed hail damage to pickup truck. |
| April 1999 | Tornado (F0) | Barnwell | $1,000 | Spotter and damage survey confirmed an F0 tornado took down trees and powerlines. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | $500 | Highway Patrol reported a tree down in the road at SC 3 and US 278. |
| April 2025 | Flash Flood | Barnwell | - | Emergency Manager reported flash flooding throughout the city of Barnwell. EM observed 4.8 inches of rain at their home and stated that many city streets flooded as storm drains could not handle that amount. Time estimated by EM. |
| May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | EM reported multiple trees down on Hwy. 64 in Barwell heading towards Olar. |
| May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Barnwell County Dispatch reported widespread trees and powerlines down across the county. |
| June 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Barnwell Co dispatch reported trees and power lines down across the county. Time estimated. |
| September 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Barnwell Co SC EM reported several trees down. |
| July 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | DOT reported large branches down from Barnwell to the Savannah River Site. |
| March 2012 | Hail | Barnwell | - | Sheriff dispatch reported quarter size hail in Barnwell. |
| May 2011 | Hail | Barnwell | - | Public reported quarter size hail just south of Barnwell. |
| April 2009 | Hail | Barnwell | - | Sheriff reported 1 inch hail on the south side of town near the intersection of hwys 278, 3, and 310. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Sheriff Dispatch reported trees and power lines down in the town of Barnwell. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Emergency manager reported a couple of trees down on Longbranch Road. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Barnwell | - | EM reported nickel size hail about halfway between Barnwell and Hilda on highway 70. |
| April 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Highway dept. reported trees down on hwy 64. |
| June 2007 | Hail | Barnwell | - | Savannah River Site reported nickel size hail. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | DOT reported several trees down on hwy 57. |
| July 2007 | Flood | Barnwell | - | Savannah River Site reported water flowing over road B and road 7 after several inches of rain fell over the area. |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Sheriff reported trees down on Green Branch and Blease Creek roads. |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Public reported large limbs down and minor flooding across roads. |
| February 2005 | Hail | Barnwell | - | Savannah River Site reported golf ball size hail. |
| May 2005 | Hail | Barnwell | - | Post Office reported penny size hail on hwy 70. |
| June 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Sheriff reported trees down east of Barnwell on hwy 64. |
| September 2004 | Tornado (F0) | Barnwell | - | An F0 took down some trees and powerlines and damaged some signs in Barnwell. |
| November 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Sheriff reported trees down on Lake Drive. |
| July 2003 | Flash Flood | Barnwell | - | Toby creek flooded the bridge at hwy 64 closing the road. |
| June 2003 | Hail | Barnwell | - | Sheriff reported nickel size hail northwest of Barnwell on hwy 278. |
| May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Sheriff reported trees down west of Barnwell. |
| May 2002 | Hail | Barnwell | - | Sheriff reported golf ball size hail in Barnwell. |
| May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Sheriff reported trees down northeast of Barnwell. |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Sheriff reported numerous trees down in Barnwell. |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Sheriff reported trees down. |
| June 2001 | Hail | Barnwell | - | EM reported nickel size hail in Barnwell. |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Savannah River Site reported trees down and a guard shack overturned. |
| August 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Electric coop reported trees and powerlines down in Barnwell. |
| August 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Savannah River Site recorded a gust to 89 mph. |
| March 1999 | Hail | Barnwell | - | Law Enforcement at the Savannah River Site reported 3/4 inch hail. |
| March 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Sheriff reported trees down. |
| July 1999 | Hail | Barnwell | - | Sheriff reported nickel size hail. |
| April 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Highway Patrol reported trees down along highway 278. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Sheriff reported large branches down on highways 78 and 781. |
| May 1998 | Hail | Barnwell | - | Sheriff reported 1 inch hail on highway 278. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | Savannah River Site reported trees down and tin roof blown off building. |
| April 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Barnwell | - | no account filed |
| April 1997 | Hail | Barnwell | - | no account filed |
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 | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hells Half Acre | 0.5 miles | 16 | |
| Happy Bottom | 0.8 miles | 16 | |
| Yale (historical) | 2.9 miles | 16 | |
| Hagoods Mill | 3.2 miles | 16 | |
| Yenome | 4.3 miles | 16 | |
| Ashleigh | 4.4 miles | 16 | |
| Snelling | 5.2 miles | 16 | |
| Long Branch | 5.5 miles | 16 |
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 Barnwell | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q586262 | The 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 1244965. 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.








