Bennettsville, South Carolina
Bennettsville is a city of 7,751 people in Marlboro County, South Carolina, founded in 1819.
Why visit Bennettsville
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 3 places to eat and 1 place to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Bennettsville Historic District, Appin and Marlboro Country Club.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 92°F; January lows average 34°F.
Weather in Bennettsville
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Bennettsville
Bennettsville is a city located in the U.S. state of South Carolina on the Great Pee Dee River. As the county seat of Marlboro County, Bennettsville is noted for its historic homes and buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries, including the Bennettsville Historic District which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From the Wikipedia article Bennettsville, South Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks5
Bennettsville Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Historic district in South Carolina, United States
Appin
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Farmhouse near Bennettsville, South Carolina
Jennings-Brown House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Bennettsville, South Carolina
Magnolia House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Private residence
Marlboro County Historical Museum
Museum · 0.9 mi
123 South Marlboro Street, Bennettsville
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes3
Where to stay1
History
The city of Bennettsville was founded in 1819 on the Great Pee Dee River and named after Thomas Bennett, Jr., then governor of South Carolina. The area was developed for short-staple cotton cultivation, dependent on the labor of enslaved African Americans. Many were brought to the upland area from the Lowcountry, carrying their Gullah culture with them. Others were transported from the Upper South by slave traders. This shift to cotton cultivation in the uplands was based on the development of the cotton gin, which made short-staple cotton, cotton with relatively short fibers, profitable. The advent of the gin in turn led to development of large cotton plantations throughout the Deep South.
In the same year, the S.C. General Assembly authorized the relocation of the courthouse from the eastern bank of the Great Pee Dee River to a more central location, selecting a 3-acre (12,000 m2) apple orchard located on a bluff above Crooked Creek. The new courthouse was designed by South Carolina architect Robert Mills. Streets were developed radiating from the courthouse square, one of the state's largest. In 1852, the Mills building was replaced.
From the History section of Bennettsville, South Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship18
Saint Michael United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 0.8 mi
116 Cheraw Street, Bennettsville
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries8
Marlboro County High
School · 1.5 mi
951 Fayetteville Avenue Extension, Bennettsville
Map of Bennettsville
40 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°F | 34°F | 3.4 in |
| Feb | 60°F | 37°F | 3.2 in |
| Mar | 67°F | 43°F | 3.0 in |
| Apr | 76°F | 51°F | 2.9 in |
| May | 83°F | 59°F | 3.0 in |
| Jun | 89°F | 67°F | 4.4 in |
| Jul | 92°F | 71°F | 4.2 in |
| Aug | 90°F | 69°F | 3.7 in |
| Sep | 84°F | 64°F | 4.7 in |
| Oct | 75°F | 52°F | 2.7 in |
| Nov | 66°F | 42°F | 3.2 in |
| Dec | 58°F | 36°F | 3.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Mccoll 3 Nnw (9 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Marlboro County has had 22 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-05: Hurricane Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2023-08-31: Hurricane Idalia (Hurricane)
- 2022-11-21: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2022-09-29: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Marlboro County Jetport (H.E. Avent Field) (BTN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Laurinburg 15 mi northeast, about 24 min by car
- Hamlet 18 mi north, about 29 min by car
- East Rockingham 20 mi north, about 32 min by car
- Maxton 20 mi east, about 33 min by car
- Cordova 21 mi north, about 34 min by car
- Rockingham 22 mi north, about 35 min by car
- Pembroke 28 mi east, about 45 min by car
- Red Springs 31 mi northeast, about 50 min by car
- Florence 32 mi south, about 51 min by car
- Wadesboro 32 mi northwest, about 52 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Marlboro Courthouse, Calvin Beale, Public domain
- Jennings Brown House, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Magnolia House, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Appin, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.