Duncan, South Carolina
Duncan is a town of 4,310 people in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
Why visit Duncan
Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 11 parks and trails, 47 places to eat, 15 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include McMakin's Tavern, New Hope Farm, Beech Springs Landing and Cooley Family Landing.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; January lows average 32°F.
Weather in Duncan
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Duncan
Duncan is a town in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Duncan had a population of 4,041.
From the Wikipedia article Duncan, South Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks4
McMakin's Tavern
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Historic tavern in South Carolina, United States
New Hope Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
Building in Wellford, South Carolina, United States
The Ultimate Driving Museum
Museum · 2.3 mi
190 Manatee Court, Greer
Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-16:00; Su closed
BMW Performance Center
Monument and historic site · 2.5 mi
1155 Highway 101 South, Greer
Parks, trails and playgrounds11
Cooley Family Landing
Park
Kayak and canoe river access
590 South Spencer Street, Duncan
sunrise-sunset
Restaurants and cafes47
Cracker Barrel
Diner · American · 2.4 mi
1525 East Main Street, Duncan
Mo-Th, Su 06:00-22:00; Fr, Sa 06:00-23:00
Thai Garden
Restaurant · Thai · 2.6 mi
1580 East Main Street, Duncan
Su off
El Molcajete
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.7 mi
1212 East Main Street, Duncan
Game Day Barbecue
Restaurant · Barbecue · 1.0 mi
165 West Main Street, Duncan
KFC
Restaurant · 2.4 mi
1540 East Main Street, Duncan
Fr-Su 10:00-22:30; Mo-Th 10:00+
35 more on the map.
History
In 1811, a post office was established on what is now S.C. Highway 290. A tiny settlement formed around it, and both the post office and community were named New Hope. In 1854, the town changed its name to Vernonville or Vernonsville in honor of local physician J.J. Vernon.
In the mid-1850s, plans were under way to put a railroad line through Duncan, but the impending Civil War disrupted them. It was not until 1873 that the Atlanta and Richmond Railroad laid a line through the town.
Shortly after the Civil War, Leroy Duncan came to town and bought land. During celebrations for the new railroad line, he promised townspeople he would provide land for city streets if they would agree to rename the town after him. In 1881, the name change became official.
Duncan became the site of a footnote in Spartanburg County's African-American history when the Rock Hill Negro School opened in Duncan in 1881.
Within two years of its name change, Duncan had a population of 200, along with several general stores, saw and flour mills and a cotton gin. The town received its charter in 1889.
The Hughes Hotel, opened in 1892, became a focal point of the town and drew travelers from the Greenville-Spartanburg road.
From the History section of Duncan, South Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay15
Churches and places of worship21
New Trinity Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 2.6 mi
1130 Old Spartanburg Highway, Wellford
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging15
Schools, colleges and libraries23
Healthcare2
Map of Duncan
144 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53°F | 32°F | 4.1 in | 1.6 in |
| Feb | 57°F | 35°F | 3.8 in | 1.0 in |
| Mar | 64°F | 41°F | 4.5 in | 0.6 in |
| Apr | 73°F | 49°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 80°F | 58°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 87°F | 66°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 90°F | 69°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 88°F | 68°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 83°F | 62°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 73°F | 50°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 63°F | 40°F | 3.8 in | 0.1 in |
| Dec | 55°F | 35°F | 4.6 in | 0.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Greer Gsn Hcn 72312 (5 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
Spartanburg County has had 23 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-29: Hurricane Helene (Hurricane)
- 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)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- Greer 5 mi west, about 8 min by car
- Five Forks 9 mi southwest, about 15 min by car
- Arcadia 9 mi east, about 14 min by car
- Taylors 10 mi west, about 16 min by car
- Wade Hampton 11 mi west, about 18 min by car
- Spartanburg 12 mi east, about 20 min by car
- Boiling Springs 12 mi northeast, about 20 min by car
- Arkwright 12 mi east, about 19 min by car
- Greenville 14 mi southwest, about 22 min by car
- Mauldin 14 mi southwest, about 22 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
Loading what members have shared...
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
- New Hope Farm, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- McMakins Tavern, Kwdavids, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.