Elgin, South Carolina
23 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1935 and the latest in 1986. It stands in the Elgin census division. It lies in ZIP code area 29045. The Survey maps it on the Elgin quadrangle. 1,634 people lived here at the 2020 count.
Population over time
3 figuresElgin grew from 806 to 1,634 between 2000 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 806 | |
| 2010 | 1,311 | +505 (+63%) |
| 2020 | 1,634 | +323 (+25%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
13 surveys from 23 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.
- 1935 USGS Killian quadrangle1:48000
- 1935 USGS Killian quadrangle1:62500
- 1937 USGS Killian quadrangle1:62500, 4 printings
- 1941 USGS Spartanburg quadrangle1:250000
- 1942 USGS Camden quadrangle1:125000
- 1953 USGS Blaney quadrangle1:24000
- 1953 USGS Spartanburg quadrangle1:250000, 4 printings
- 1960 USGS Spartanburg quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1963 USGS Spartanburg quadrangle1:250000
- 1964 USGS Spartanburg quadrangle1:250000
- 1971 USGS Elgin quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
- 1986 USGS Camden quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
- 1986 USGS Camden South quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
487 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 487 fires within 5 miles of Elgin between 1992 and 2020, burning about 1,780 acres in total. 6 started naturally. 32 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 | 222 |
| Debris and open burning | 152 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 32 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 29 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 25 |
| Smoking | 18 |
| Natural | 6 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 2 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 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 1997 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
| 27 September 2019 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
| 27 September 2017 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.5 acres | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
| 21 September 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.5 acres | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
| 20 September 2015 | Debris and open burning | 25 acres | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
| 18 September 2019 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
| 16 September 2005 | Smoking | under an acre | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
| 16 September 2000 | Debris and open burning | 10 acres | South Carolina Forestry Commission | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
10 of 14 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 14 workings within 5 miles of Elgin: 6 unknowns, 6 producers, 2 past producers. 6 still produce. What was taken out: Clay, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Silica, Stone, Crushed/Broken. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blaney Sand Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction, Silica | Producer | 1981 | |
| Camden Pit | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Watson Mine | Gold | Unknown | Strataform | |
| Cherokee Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Kershaw County Sand Company | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | 1981 | |
| Lugoff Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Unknown | Sedimentary | |
| Lugoff Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Coleman Mine | Clay | Unknown | Sedimentary | |
| Coleman Mine | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Duncan Lakes Mine | Clay | Unknown | Sedimentary |
Storms near this place
48 since 1995Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Elgin in 48 storm reports between 1995 and 2025: 28 thunderstorm wind, 15 hail, 2 flash flood, 1 tornado. The reports record 2 injuries. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 2008 | Tornado (EF2) | Elgin | 2 hurt | An EF2 tornado went through the Elgin community doing heavy damage to many homes including partial to total roofs gone and destroying 4 mobile homes. None of the mobiles were tied down and crumbled from rolling. Numerous trees and powerlines were down and there were 2 injuries. |
| March 2012 | Lightning | Elgin | $400,000 | Lightning struck a home in the Haigs creek subdivision outside of Elgin completely destroying the large home. Fire Chief Gene Faulkenberry estimated damage at $400k. |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | $24,000 | Public reported widespread structural damage. Outstorage buildings were blown apart, roof damage to a house and a front porch moved. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | $8,000 | Electric Company reported several trees and powerlines down with outages. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | $6,000 | Fairfield Electric COOP reported trees down on powerlines on Sheffield Drive in Elgin. |
| May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | $5,000 | no account filed |
| March 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | $4,000 | Dispatch reported trees down in Elgin and areas east toward Camden. |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | $4,000 | Sheriff reported trees down along Sessions Road near Twenty Five Mile Creek. |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | $3,000 | Sheriff reported several trees down across Tee Pee Trail Road. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | $2,000 | Fairfield Electric COOP reported trees down on Keels Ct. in Elgin. |
| August 2024 | Flash Flood | Elgin | $1,000 | Tookie Doo Lane impassable due to flash flooding of Flat Branch across the roadway. |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | $1,000 | Thunderstorm winds blew down trees, powerlines, and caused other minor damage in Elgin and in Camden. |
| February 2024 | Hail | Elgin | $100 | NWS employee reported pea size hail near Elgin. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | Kershaw County Fire reported multiple trees down northeast of Elgin in several locations. Time estimated by radar. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | Kershaw County FD reported a tree down at the intersection of Smyrna Road and Ashley Creek. Time estimated based on radar. |
| September 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | Kershaw County dispatch reported a tree down at Wildwood Lane and Rabon Circle. Time estimated by radar. |
| June 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | SCHP reported trees down on Veterans Row and Sessions Rd just north of Elgin. Time estimated. |
| May 2020 | Hail | Elgin | - | Spotter reported nickel size hail. |
| April 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | Trained spotter observed a 66 mph wind gust. Tree limbs down. |
| April 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | Public reported multiple trees down throughout a property near Elgin, in Kershaw Co SC, and shared photos. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | Numerous trees reported down in the town of Elgin. Time estimated. |
| July 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | SCHP reported trees down on Bookman Rd in Kershaw Co. |
| May 2016 | Flood | Elgin | - | County Sheriff reported street flooding on Smyrna Road. |
| September 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | Reported tree down along Hwy. 1 near the Richland County line. |
| April 2011 | Hail | Elgin | - | Public reported nickel size hail. |
| June 2011 | Hail | Elgin | - | Pbulic reported 1 inch hail near Lugoff. |
| May 2008 | Hail | Elgin | - | Public reported half dollar size hail in Elgin. |
| March 2008 | Hail | Elgin | - | SKYWARN spotter reported quarter size hail. |
| April 2007 | Hail | Elgin | - | Public reported nickel size hail NNW of Elgin. |
| June 2007 | Hail | Elgin | - | Public reported 3/4 inch hail in Elgin. |
| July 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | Fairfield Electric reported several trees and powerlines down in Elgin with power outages. |
| May 2005 | Hail | Elgin | - | Public called in a report of 1 inch hail. |
| June 2005 | Hail | Elgin | - | Public reported 1inch hail near I-20. |
| July 2004 | Hail | Elgin | - | Highway Patrol reported penny size hail on I-20 between Pontiac and Elgin. |
| July 2004 | Hail | Elgin | - | Highway Patrol reported golfball size hail on I-20 near Elgin. |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | Sheriff reported trees down in the Elgin area. |
| June 2001 | Hail | Elgin | - | Sheriff reported 3/4 inch hail in Elgin. |
| March 2000 | Hail | Elgin | - | Elgin Fire Dept. reported 3/4 inch hail during storm. |
| April 2000 | Hail | Elgin | - | Sheriff reported 1.75 inch hail in Elgin area. |
| April 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | Sheriff reported trees down. |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | Post Office reported a few trees down around the Elgin area. |
| September 2000 | Flash Flood | Elgin | - | EPD reported flash flooding in low lying areas and across roads in the Elgin and Lugoff areas. |
| July 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | Fairfield Electric reported trees down on powerlines with power outages. |
| August 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | EPD reported trees down. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | EPD reported trees down. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | Fire Dept. reported couple of trees down on highway 48. |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | no account filed |
| May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elgin | - | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Farms | 0.5 miles | 23 | |
| White Hills | 0.5 miles | 23 | |
| Jeffers Place | 0.8 miles | 23 | |
| Pine Valley | 0.8 miles | 23 | |
| Blaney West | 0.8 miles | 23 | |
| Tupelo Hills | 1.0 miles | 23 | |
| Tupelo Creek | 1.0 miles | 23 | |
| Elgin Acres | 1.1 miles | 23 |
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 Elgin | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q2252941 | 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 1247650. 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.












