Darlington is named after the Darlington Oak, a red oak tree that dots the area along with the Spanish moss, which adds to the characteristic natural, Southern charm of the region.
Darlington is the county seat of Darlington County South Carolina, where the cars are fast and life is slow
Darlington is named after the Darlington Oak, a red oak tree that dots the area along with the Spanish moss, which adds to the characteristic natural, Southern charm of the region.
Darlington is the county seat of Darlington County South Carolina, where the cars are fast and life is slow. With a population of 6,289, as of the 2010 census, Darlington reflects the rich heritage of the cotton and tobacco industries in the South. Darlington had the largest tobacco market in South Carolina at the turn of the twentieth century. The tobacco market no longer exists in Darlington, but cotton still continues to play a major role in Darlington's economy.
Apartments and homes in Darlington reflect the historic nature of the town. There are no hi rise apartments in town, with the tallest buildings only three or four stories high. For premier apartments and condo rentals, renters should use an apartments locator to find apartment options in the surrounding area. Rental homes in Darlington can be located relatively easily for those who are flexible about the type of property to be rented. There are no real difficulties, as far as timing goes except for the weeks surrounding NASCAR weekends, to encounter when looking to rent a home in Darlington. Renting an apartment can take longer because of the qualification process for income-sensitive housing. When arranging to sign a rental agreement, potential renters should be prepared to show proof of income and a good credit rating.
For those with limited income, renting an apartment in Darlington is possible with various income-sensitive options available. Rentals with all utilities paid are extremely limited and found mostly with private home rentals. Renters will find a 2 bedroom apartment for rent with the greatest ease of all rental options available.
There are five districts in Darlington which reflect the historical orientation of the town. Some are strictly residential and some are more industrial and commercial, while other districts are a combination of the two.
West Broad Street Historic District: This district sits at the intersection of West Broad Street and Edwards Avenue between Darlington Avenue and Railroad Avenue to the north and south. Dargan Street creates the eastern border while the western border of the district ends just before Coker Street. This area includes homes built between 1890 and 1928. The 34 featured homes are large Victorian and Queen Anne properties. The district also includes 13 smaller single-family homes and brick bungalows.
Cashua Street and Spring Street Historic District: This district runs approximately a mile along Cashua Street between Oak Street and Warley Street and on Spring Street from Cashua Street to North Ervin Street. The district includes 39 homes. The two-story homes along Cashua are larger than those on Spring Street which are smaller, one story homes.
St. John's Historic District: Two streets to the west, St. John's Historic District begins at Main Street with Orange Street to the south and Swift Creek to the north. Wells Street marks the western edge. It is a five block area with oak tree lined streets. The 55 buildings in the district include the St. John's Elementary school and Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church as well as homes that range from one-story bungalows to large two-story residences.
Downtown Historic District: The Downtown District is the area where Orange Street and Cashua Street meet up with Pearl Street and Ward Street at the Public Square. The 21 commercial buildings illustrate the history and commercial growth of Darlington from approximately 1870 to 1935.
Industrial Historic District: The 13 properties that line the South Carolina Western Railway Line and Charleston, Sumter and Northern Railway Line along Broad Street from Main Street to roughly Old Florence Road reflect Darlington's history with tobacco and cotton.
Apartment Complexes in Darlington
Swift Creek Villa Apartments: Located less than a mile northwest of the St. John's Historic District, Swift Creek Villa Apartments features 1 and 3 bedroom apartments and 32 units that are two bedroom rented as part of the Family LMSA housing program.
Darlington Downtown Lofts: This apartment community is at the edge of the Historic Downtown District on Orange Street with the majority of units renting at rates lower than the rent/income ceiling. There are fifteen one bedroom apartments, twelve 2 bedroom apartments, and one 3 bedroom apartment in the Darlington Downtown Lofts community.
Small town Southern living in Darlington is centered around four things: the schools (especially high school sports activities), historical ties, tourism, and auto racing. The reality is that tourism is usually tied to either the history of Darlington or NASCAR racing.
Darlington has 2 elementary schools, 3 middle schools and the high schools for Darlington include Darlington High School and Mayo High School for Math, Science and Technology.
Darlington's historical orientation is evident through the town's participation in the South Carolina Cotton Trail, the South Carolina Tobacco Trail, and the Darlington Antiques Trail. In addition to exploring the historic districts of Darlington, those with interests in history and antiques can visit So-lina Auction Market which has drawn auction crowds from throughout the East Coast for over forty years. B&C Variety Antiques occupies what was once Doc's Place, an ice cream parlor that was a local favorite, and Scarlett's Antiques provides additional opportunities to hunt for treasures. For sports fans, All Star Sports Cards provides an opportunity to find memorabilia for a wide range of sports, and Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum has a large collection of cars driven by stock car racing's elite. Darlington is also the home of the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame.
The Lady in Black is the major draw for Darlington. She's not an apparition or similar element of local lore. The Lady in Black is the nickname for Darlington Raceway, home of the Southern 500 which is one of the biggest races in NASCAR. The town swells by tens of thousands each spring as racing enthusiasts flock to Darlington to see which drivers the Lady in Black will claim and which drivers will survive a brush with the wall and the infamous Darlington stripe.
Darlington is a small town with traditional amenities such as grocery stores, drugstores, gas stations, and retail outlets. For larger shopping centers, Florence, a 15 minute drive away, provides more options. Columbia, South Carolina is approximately 75 miles to the west with a more urban, college town feel. Myrtle Beach is nearly the same distance to the east for Darlington residents to escape to the sea, surf, and famous boardwalk area.
