Sumter, South Carolina
Sumter is a city of 43,053 people in Sumter County, South Carolina, founded in 1845.
Why visit Sumter
Townapedia lists 14 museums and landmarks, 19 parks and trails, 73 places to eat, 18 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Beacon Cinemas, Lincoln High School, Temple Sinai and Birnie Center.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; January lows average 33°F.
Weather in Sumter
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Sumter
Sumter is a city in and the county seat of Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. The city makes up the Sumter, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. Sumter County, along with Clarendon and Lee counties, form the core of Sumter–Lee–Clarendon tri-county (or East Midlands) area of South Carolina that includes three counties straddling the border of the Sandhills (or Midlands), Pee Dee, and Lowcountry regions. The population was 43,463 at the 2020 census, making it the 9th-most populous city in the state.
From the Wikipedia article Sumter, South Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks14
Lincoln High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Historic school building in Sumter, South Carolina, United States
Temple Sinai
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Building in South Carolina, United States
Carnegie Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Carnegie library in Sumter, South Carolina
Charles T. Mason House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
In Sumter, South Carolina, listed on the NRHP in Sumter County, South Carolina
Elizabeth White House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Historic house in South Carolina, United States
Henry Lee Scarborough House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Historic house in South Carolina, United States
Heriot-Moise House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.2 mi
Historic house in South Carolina, United States
O'Donnell House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Historic house in South Carolina, United States
Sumter County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Courthouse in South Carolina, United States
Sumter Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Historic district in South Carolina, United States
Sumter Town Hall-Opera House
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Town hall and theater in Sumter, South Carolina, United States
2 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds19
Julia Lester Dillon Park
Park · 2.4 mi
Baseball and soccer fields, football field, one mile track, playground, dog park, picnic shelter, Cypress Trail
Patriot Park Sports Complex
Park · 1.9 mi
Baseball and soccer fields, nature trails, pond, pet friendly
Swan Lake Bland Garden
Park · 2.0 mi
Gazebo and Cypress Boardwalk through Iris Gardens
7 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes73
Ward's Bar-b-q
Restaurant · Regional, Barbecue, Southern, Sandwich · 0.7 mi
1087 Alice Drive, Sumter
We-Su 10:30-19:30
Golden Corral
Restaurant · American, Buffet · 1.2 mi
2385 Walmart Blvd, Sumter
61 more on the map.
History
Incorporated as Sumterville in 1845, the city's name was shortened to Sumter in 1855. It has grown and prospered from its early beginnings as a plantation settlement. The city and county of Sumter bear the name of General Thomas Sumter, the "Fighting Gamecock" of the American Revolutionary War.
During the Civil War, the town was an important supply and railroad repair center for the Confederacy. After the war, Sumter grew and prospered, using its large railroad network to supply cotton, timber, and by the start of the 20th century, tobacco to the region.
During the 20th century, Sumter grew into a major industrial center. Still a unique business founded in 1923, Palmetto Pigeon Plant has grown into one of the largest producers of squab, poussin (chicken), cornish game hen, and silkie chickens in the world. Starting with the opening of Shaw Air Force Base (now home to the 9th Air Force, 20th Fighter Wing, and United States Army Central) in 1941, industry grew, especially after World War II. Sumter became increasingly known for textiles, manufacturing, biotech industries, special chemistry (Branch of Swiss-based Ems-Chemie), thriving retail environment, and medical center of its region in addition to agricultural products, which makes it a hub for business in the east-central portion of South Carolina.
From the History section of Sumter, South Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay18
Affordable Suites of America Sumter
Motel and hotel · 1.1 mi
1945 Gion Street, Sumter
Churches and places of worship56
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Place of worship · Jehovahs Witness · 2.8 mi
2280 Thomas Sumter Highway, Sumter
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Place of worship · Jehovahs Witness · 4.1 mi
99 Oswego Highway, Sumter
Clinton Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Church · African Methodist Episcopal Zion · 3.9 mi
Shopping24
Simpson's Hardware & Sports
Hardware store · 1.2 mi
40 West Wesmark Boulevard, Sumter
Gas and EV charging14
Schools, colleges and libraries48
Healthcare6
Map of Sumter
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°F | 33°F | 3.8 in | 0.3 in |
| Feb | 58°F | 35°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 66°F | 41°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 75°F | 50°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 81°F | 58°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 87°F | 66°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 90°F | 70°F | 5.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 88°F | 68°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 83°F | 63°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 74°F | 51°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 65°F | 40°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 57°F | 35°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Sumter Hcn (2 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
Sumter County has had 23 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
Sumter Municipal Airport (SUM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- Columbia 30 mi west, about 48 min by car
- Dentsville 33 mi west, about 54 min by car
- Forest Acres 34 mi west, about 54 min by car
- Cayce 37 mi west, about 59 min by car
- Florence 38 mi northeast, about 1 h by car
- West Columbia 41 mi west, about 1 h by car
- St. Andrews 41 mi west, about 1 h by car
- Orangeburg 41 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Seven Oaks 43 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Oak Grove 43 mi west, about 1 h 15 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
- Lincoln High School, Sumter, SC, US, Jud McCranie, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Temple Sinai from Church St and Hampton St, Charlesinsumter, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sumter courthouse 1369, The original uploader was Pollinator at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Carnegie Public Library Sumter, SC, Doug Short, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Heriot-Moise House Aerial, Charlesinsumter, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sumter mainstreet, Prince Grobhelm, CC BY-SA 3.0
- O'Donnell House, Doug Short, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Opera House clock tower, Blackoffee, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Charles T. Mason House Driveway, Charlesinsumter, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ElizabethWhiteHouse.IMG 7570, Mlsmith1962, CC BY-SA 3.0
- HLScarboroughHouse.IMG 7569, Mlsmith1962, CC BY-SA 3.0
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