Whitmire is located in Newberry County, South Carolina, along the Enoree River. The population was 1,512 at the 2000 census. Geography Location of Whitmire, South Carolina Whitmire is located at 34°30?8?N, 81°36?51?W (34.502227, -81.614162)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.3 km² (1.3 mi²), all land. Demographics As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,512 people, 650 households, and 404 families residing in the town. The population density was 463.3/km² (1,203.0/mi²). There were 776 housing units at an average density of 237.8/km² (617.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 78.51% White, 20.50% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population. There were 650 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.94. In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 82.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was $22,007, and the median income for a family was $30,833. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $18,258 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,429. About 16.3% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over. Enoree River The Enoree River is a tributary of the Broad River, 85 mi (137 km) long, in northwestern South Carolina in the United States. Via the Broad and Congaree Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Santee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean. The Enoree rises in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Greenville County about 2 mi (3 km) northwest of the town of Travelers Rest, and flows generally southeastwardly across the Piedmont region, through or along the boundaries of Spartanburg, Laurens, Union and Newberry Counties, past the communities of Taylors and Whitmire and through the Sumter National Forest. It flows into the Broad River from the west in Newberry County, 15 mi (24 km) northeast of the town of Newberry. Variant names and spellings: Collins River, Ennoree River, Ganoree Whitmires 'Annals of Newberry'  by John A. Chapman, A.M. pages 545-46 Continuing our route along the Laurens and Newberry line, we come after awhile to the new and flourishing town of Whitmires, which takes its name from the old and respectable family of Whitmires, which was amongst the earliest seltlers of that part of the county; that is to say, one hundred anti twenty-five to a hundred and fifty years ago. Whitmires is on the Georgia, Carolina and Northern Road, and is a flourishing business place with eight or ten stores (the first store was opened by Spearman & Tidmarsh, November, 1890), a school and divine service twice each month. As yet there is no church building, but I am assured that there soon will he. In August, 1890, the Georgia, Carolina and Northern Railroad was completed through this section, thus giving it connection with the great world North and South and West. The town is about central between Newberry. Clinton and Union, being about eighteen miles from each. About six miles from Whitmires, in the direction towards Newberry, lives the Hun. John W. Scott, on the same lands which his grandfather settled when lie came from Ireland about one hundred years ago. How many of us can say that we live upon and own the lands upon which our fathers settled when they came to Carolina from the old world, or across the country from the colonies of Virginia and Pennsylvania? During the unpleasantness of from 1860 to l865, Whitmires, and the neighborhood, was not backward in duty and in furnishing the full quota of men required in the country’s defence. Their names are all recorded elsewhere in this book. And it would give this writer great pleasure to make note of any special acts of heroism or daring performed by any one. But when every Confederate soldier, from the very fact of his being a Confederate soldier, was expected to be without fear, it becomes very difficult to find one who was the bravest of the brave. The country above Beth Eden is broken and rolling, but the soil is fertile and productive, and there is no reason why the inhabitants of that part of the county should not be prosperous and happy, as, indeed, I am well assured that the most of them are. Hew is it possible for people to be other wise who are blessed with a genial climate and fertile soil, and who are God-fearing and religious? The town was incorporated in 1891, and the sale of intoxicants as beverages was prohibited by the Act of Incorporation. The first City Council was composed of John P. Fant, Mayor; Aldermen; H. E. Todd, Dr. R. R. Jeter, Charles Tidmarsh and B. F. Morrow. The first election was held in January, 1892.