Wedgefield, South Carolina

Wedgefield is an unincorporated community in the High Hills of Santee area in western Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. Wedgefield is also a Census Designated Place (CDP). Wedgefield was so named because its location was likened to a "wedge" into the High Hills of Santee.[2] In the 18th and 19th centuries it was the location of many plantations, notably those of the Singleton family, which produced First Lady of the United States, Angelica Singleton Van Buren.[3] Today the plantations are gone except for their cemeteries and Wedgefield is today noted as the location of a state park, a state forest and other recreational places. When the railroad came through in the 19th century, the commercial center of Wedgefield developed at the intersection of the railroad, Kings Highway (South Carolina Highway 261) and Wedgefield Road (South Carolina Highway 763). It has its own post office with the Zip Code of 29168.

Wedgefield, South Carolina
unincorporated community
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Carolina
CountySumter
Area
 • Total73.23 sq mi (189.7 km2)
 • Land71.9 sq mi (186 km2)
 • Water0.33 sq mi (0.9 km2)
Elevation
249 ft (76 m)
Population
 (2000)[1]
 • Total3,376
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip Code
29168

Wedgefield had a population of 3,376 in 2000 on a Zip Code-based estimate. Housing units were 1,343. Land area is 71.9 square miles (186 km2) while water area is 0.33 square miles.[1]

Places of interest
  • High Hills Outdoor Center of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation is located at 2070 SC 261 South. in Wedgefield.[4] It is the center for the High Hills of Santee Passage of the Palmetto Trail.
  • Manchester State Forest, which extends into Clarendon County, is based in Wedgefield off SC 261 south at 6740 Headquarters Road.[5]
  • Poinsett State Park is located off SC 261 south at 6660 Poinsett Park Road, Wedgefield[6]

Transportation

South Carolina Highway 261, Kings Highway, is the main north–south road in Wedgefield. It runs north to Stateburg and south to Pinewood. Wedgefield Road (South Carolina Highway 763) begins in Wedgefield and runs east to Sumter.[7][8] CSX Transportation, formerly the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad runs into Wedgefield from Sumter just north of Wedgefield Road and continues to the west. There is no passenger service to Wedgefield.

Cemeteries

Cemeteries in the Wedgefield area include:[9]

Notable people
Portrait of Sarah Angelica Singleton Van Buren by Henry Inman (1842)

Media

WIBZ is licensed to Wedgefield.

References
  1. "Wedgefield, South Carolina (SC) ~ population data, races, housing & economy".
  2. "Places in Sumter District, South Carolina".
  3. "SCDAH".
  4. "Palmetto Conservation Foundation".
  5. "SCFC Manchester State Forest".
  6. SC Parks listing for Poinsett State Park
  7. "Maps of Sumter County, South Carolina".
  8. Another map of Sumter County
  9. "Place List: wedgefield: Singleton and Related Families".

Coordinates 33.893° N80.518°W

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