# **Liberty County Overview**

# **General Description**

Liberty County is primarily a rural coastal county of 302,412 people.
There are ten incorporated communities in the county: Apple Valley,
Bayport, Blue Water, Central City, Deep River, Fisherville, Gold Mine,
Harvest Junction, Jasper, and Kingston.

**Population**

The population of the county has been recorded by the United States
Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, as follows:

**1999 1990 1980 1970 1960**

302,412 284,912 247,251 219,641 184,073

**Government**

[Liberty County Government]{.underline}

The governing body of Liberty County is the Board of Supervisors,
consisting of five supervisors. The members of the board are elected at
large for staggered four‑year terms and serve on a part‑time basis. The
board elects a president to direct meetings. It also selects a county
manager to serve at its pleasure. The Columbia State Constitution
specifies that counties elect the following 11 county officials
(although the law makes allowances for county size):

-   Five supervisors,

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-   Sheriff,

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-   Recorder of deeds,

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-   Clerk of courts,

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-   District attorney,

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-   Treasurer, and

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-   Controller.

Other officials are provided for by statute. The County Courthouse is
located in the Palmer Building at X and 19th Streets.

[Central City Government]{.underline}

The government of Central City is the council‑manager form with seven
council members making up the legislative body. The council is elected
at large on a nonpartisan ballot for four‑year terms. It elects one of
its own members as mayor to preside over meetings and to vote on matters
before the council, but the mayor has no veto power. The manager, who is
the chief administrative officer of the city, is selected by the council
and serves at its pleasure. The manager carries out the ordinances of
the council, makes recommendations to the council, prepares and executes
the annual budget, negotiates with labor unions, and appoints and
removes department heads and other administrative personnel. The manager
has no vote in council meetings. City Hall is located at Z and 21st
Streets.

**Transportation**

[Highways]{.underline}

The county is divided north/south by Interstates 107 and 102 and
east/west by State Highway 5. State Highway 69 intersects with
Interstate 102 at Kingston; runs north to Harvest Junction and south
through Jasper to the Coastal Highway. The Coastal Highway (State
Route 1) parallels the coast and intersects Interstate 107 at
Fisherville. State Routes 3 and 19 run north from the Coastal Highway
inland.

[Railroads]{.underline}

The Great Atlantic and Pacific Railroad operates two lines within
Liberty County. The line running east/west, paralleling State Highway 5
and US 10, is both a passenger and a freight route. There are three
passenger trains per day scheduled through Central City, 7:30 a.m.,
noon, and 5 p.m. There are four freight trains scheduled during the late
evening and mid‑morning hours. The line running from Tower Beach to
Fisherville and through Jasper is strictly a freight line, hauling
mining machinery and material.

[Airport]{.underline}

The Liberty County Regional Airport is centrally located within the
state and is capable of handling large passenger and cargo planes. With
runways of 8,000 feet and 4,000 feet, Regional Airport has the
capability of serving all but the largest commercial aircraft in use.

The main lines serving Liberty County are Linx Airlines and Atlantic
Airlines. Direct flights are available to Washington, D.C.; New York;
Atlanta; Memphis; St. Louis; New Orleans; and Mobile.

During 1990, there were approximately 15,000 departures from Regional
Airport with 210,796 passengers boarding flights. Additionally, 200,000
pounds of mail and 2,750,000 pounds of freight were handled at the
facility.

**Liberty Coliseum and Convention Center**

The Convention Center was completed in 1985 and accommodates the
Lightning semiprofessional basketball team, the Pounders
semiprofessional hockey team, and the Liberty Regional Concert
Orchestra. The Convention Center has 95,000 square feet of usable floor
space with 350 exhibit booths and meeting space for 8,000 people. For
sporting events, it can be arranged to seat 12,000 people and has
parking facilities for 3,000 cars. The Convention Center is located at
the intersection of State Route 69 and Interstate 102, one mile east of
Kingston.

**Coastal Liberty County**

The coastal areas of Liberty County were settled in 1752 by Welsh
colonists who were attracted to the plentiful fishing and hunting
grounds. Fisherville was their first permanent community established by
charter in 1756. The town grew as more colonists arrived to settle in
Columbia. In those times Fisherville served as an important port and
trading post for colonists who went up the Turtle River to settle the
inland areas of the new colony.

Soon after the American Revolution tragedy struck the area in the form
of the \"Great Storm of 1780\" which all but wiped out the established
settlements. Based on historical records, experts believe that this
storm was at least a category 3 hurricane. As a result of this storm
many survivors left the area for higher ground, particularly to the
community of Albertville which is now Central City. Those who remained
established two new communities on the barrier islands. Bayport, founded
by merchant Joshua Masland in 1781 and Buffets Landing in 1784 led by
fisherman James Buffet.

These three communities, Fisherville, Bayport, and Buffets Landing
remained quiet fishing villages until the late 1880s when Bayport was
\"discovered\" by railroad baron Robert Van Deusen. He and other wealthy
industrialists from Central City bought up huge tracts of land on
eastern Masland Island for seashore summer homes. To more easily access
the area Van Deusen built a spur of his Great Atlantic and Pacific
Railroad to Fisherville and began regular ferry service to Bayport in
1891. They built opulent ocean front homes and established the exclusive
Bayport Yacht and Golf club. Bayport became the summer playground for
Columbia\'s wealthy.

The \"Great Storm of 1934\" ended this era of Bayport\'s history. This
storm, with sustained winds of 130 mph and a 12 foot storm surge,
destroyed homes in Bayport and the railroad line. Because of the extent
of the Great Depression most of the private property in the area was
taken over by the Cities of Bayport and Fisherville due to unpaid taxes.

All of these events contributed to make Bayport what it is today. Former
engineer and then Bayport Mayor Bernard Marshall established a master
plan for the city in 1938. He laid out the street grid envisioning a
\"\..... community of cottages for the common man. The beauty and
grandeur of the sea should be available to all.\" Marshall took
advantage of New Deal era public works projects to begin street
construction. World War II slowed these efforts but at the end of the
war development began.

Through the 1950s Bayport\'s potential as a summer resort was hampered
because it was only accessible by ferry or private boat. During this
time it remained primarily a fishing village with clusters of small
summer homes and a few Inns. Most of the year round residents were
retirees.

The Bayport Boom began in 1959 when it was announced that the
construction of Interstate 107 would include a 4-lane causeway
connecting Bayport to the mainland. This meant that Central City would
be less than an hour away by car. The causeway opened in 1963 and
construction was at an all time high. Between 1963 and 1970, 12 new
ocean front high rise hotels, dozens of motels and hundreds of homes and
apartments were built. This prosperity changed again because of another
hurricane.

Hurricane Emily struck in September of 1973 with almost the same force
as \"Great Storm of 1934.\" Particularly hard hit were the high rise
hotels along the beach. Six of the hotels were so badly damages that
they had to be torn down. As a result this storm and new Federal and
State regulations on coastal construction, in 1974 the Bayport City
Council passed new building codes restricting building height to 4
stories and all new housing had to be elevated 10 feet above ground
level. This new interest in Hurricane protection was heightened, and the
codes strengthened in 1978 when Bayport came into full compliance with
the National Flood Insurance Program. Although a relatively minor
hurricane, Edward in 1991 caused little damage to Bayport.

**Coastal Liberty County (continued)**

Today Bayport remains the most popular beach resort in the State of
Columbia. It\'s year round population of 15,400 triples during the
summer. Many residents commute to Central City taking advantage of the
express bus service started by Liberty County Transit in 1984. All of
this plus good schools, plentiful shopping and its natural beauty makes
Bayport your year round seaside town!

**Employment**

**Residence‑Based Employment [1999]{.underline} [1998]{.underline}
[1997]{.underline} [1996]{.underline} [1995]{.underline}**

1\. Civilian Labor Force 98,490 98,430 98,890 96,930 96,290

2\. Unemployed 10,045 8,366 8,207 7,657 8,569

Percent of civilian labor

force 10.2 8.5 8.3 7.9 8.9

3\. Employed 88,445 90,064 90,683 89,273 87,721

a\. Nonagricultural wage/

salary workers 64,595 65,712 66,813 65,353 63,786

b\. Other nonagricultural

workers 12,520 13,012 12,540 12,570 12,555

c\. Agricultural workers 11,330 11,340 11,330 11,350 11,380

**Establishment‑Based Employment**

1\. Manufacturing (total) 12,382 12,608 12,695 12,498 12,280

2\. Non-manufacturing 77,000 77,900 78,000 77,000 76,000

a\. Mining 4,924 4,896 4,890 4,950 4,940

b\. Construction 3,939 3,930 3,936 3,990 3,900

c\. Transportation and 4,432 4,550 4,540 4,600 4,486

utilities

d\. Wholesale and retail 19,698 19,760 19,770 19,840 19,665

e\. Finance, insurance, & 4,136 4,030 4,050 4,045 4,131

real estate

f\. Service and misc. 19,993 19,773 19,770 19,820 19,690

g\. Government 25,547 26,004 25,970 25,420 24,905

**Major Employers**

The following is a partial listing of the county\'s major employers,
their products or services, and their number of employees:

[Employees]{.underline} [Product]{.underline}

Blue Water Nuclear Facility 1,039 Electricity

Central City Hospital 650 Medical Facility

Faith Hospital 620 Medical Facility

Columbia Veterans, Hospital 564 Medical Facility

Liberty National Bank 629 Financial

Dupont Chemical 4,243 Missile Fuel

Huge Mining Company 5,010 Coal

Lance Glass Company 250 Glass/Bottles

Colonial Baking Company 206 Baking

Great Grapes Winery 201 Wine

Happy Times Nursing Home 198 Elderly Care

Columbia State Prison 500 State Prison

Columbia State University 870 Educational

Farmers A&M College 559 Educational

Palumbo Plastics Company 217 Plastics

Fay Fertilizer Company 250 Fertilizer

Dorsey Drug Company 510 Medicine

Columbia Telecommunications 203 Telephone

**Educational Facilities**

The county encompasses six school districts including Liberty County
School District, Central City Municipal Separate School District,
Fisherville Municipal Separate School District, Harvest Junction
Municipal Separate School District, Kingston Municipal Separate School
District, and the Bayport Municipal School District.

Columbia State University, located in Central City, has an annual
enrollment of 15,000 students. Farmers A&M College, also located in
Central City, has an annual enrollment of 5,500 students.

The county\'s public school enrollment from 1988‑89 to 1992‑93 is as
follows:

[Year]{.underline} [Enrollment]{.underline}

1998-99 26,589

1997-98 26,390

1996-97 26,291

1995-96 26,112

1994-95 25,999

**Population Distribution for Liberty County**

[City]{.underline} [Population]{.underline}

Apple Valley 5,500

Bayport 15,500

Blue Water 4,500

Central City 149,000

Deep River 14,000

Fisherville 23,000

Gold Mine 6,500

Harvest Junction 21,000

Jasper 5,000

Kingston 17,000

Unincorporated Areas 41,412

**Total 302,412**

**School Names and Locations in Liberty County**

[Name]{.underline} [Location]{.underline} [Enrollment]{.underline}

U.S. Grant High School T and 14th Streets, Central City 1300

Harris High School I and 11th Streets, Central City 1200

Hoover High School LL and 22nd Streets, Central City 800

McNamara High School I-107 and 18th Streets, Central City 1000

J.D. Lerew Jr. High I and 11th Streets, Central City 1000

Central City Jr. High AA and 19th Streets, Central City 850

St. Xavier Jr. High CC and 3rd Streets, Central City 1300

McGraw Elementary School HH and 11th Streets, Central City 450

Thomas Elementary School T and 2nd Streets, Central City 500

Harvest Valley Day School HH and 33rd Streets, Central City 800

Eisenhower Elem. School 0 and 37th Streets, Central City 800

Holy Cross Elem. School OO and 18th Streets, Central City 300

Wilson Elementary School L and 3rd Streets, Central City 200

Kennedy Elementary School S and 38th Streets, Central City 456

Collins Elementary School CC and 30th Streets, Central City 500

Truman Elementary School Q and 21st Streets, Central City 400

Bayport High School Marine Blvd and 5th Avenue, Bayport 450

Bayport Middle School Marine Blvd and 5th Avenue, Bayport 450

Bayport Elementary School Marine Blvd and 5th Avenue, Bayport 900

Kingston Area High School SR 69 at SR 26, Kingston 900

Simmons Jr. High School HH and 14th Streets, Kingston 900

Goldfinger Elem. School O and 33rd Streets, Kingston 500

Graham Elementary School II and 35th Streets, Kingston 400

McMinn Elementary School D and 16th Streets, Kingston 200

Jeff. Davis High School I-107 at 32nd Streets, Fisherville 1000

Brooks Jr. High School O and 11th Streets, Fisherville 1000

Learned Elementary School O and 28th Streets, Fisherville 400

Roosevelt Elem. School L and 12th Streets, Fisherville 400

Coolidge Elem. School S and 23rd Streets, Fisherville 500

Hanover High School US 10 at SR 100, Harvest Junction 900

Watts Jr. High School T and 10th Streets, Harvest Junction 450

Kidd Elementary School C and 8th Streets, Harvest Junction 600

Nye Jr. High School State Route 5 East, Gold Mine 450

Price Elementary School State Route 5 East, Gold Mine 283

Liberty High School I-102 at SR 5, Apple Valley 1200

King Jr. High School G and 10th Streets, Apple Valley 950

Simon Elementary School C and 17th Streets, Apple Valley 400

Apple Valley Elem. School B and 12th Streets, Apple Valley 550

Blue Water Elem. School C and 3rd Streets, Blue Water 500

Liberty Middle School C and 16th Streets, Blue Water 450

**Day Care Centers in Liberty County**

[Center Name]{.underline} [Location]{.underline}
[Enrollment]{.underline}

Upper Valley KK and 26th Streets, Central City 100‑125

Midland U and 2nd Streets, Central City 50‑75

Grassline L and 7th Streets,Central City 150‑250

Overbrook G and 11th Streets, Central City 100‑130

Leemore W and 27th Streets, Central City 100‑130

Sunnyside H and 4th Streets, Central City 70‑90

Happy Valley S and 4th Streets, Central City 100‑130

Funny Farm FF and 30th Streets, Central City 100‑130

Penn Brook G and 6th Streets, Central City 50‑70

Scidmore F and 7th Streets, Central City 15‑25

Alice\'s F and 20th Streets, Central City 100‑130

Lima Route 69, Kingston 100‑130

ABC Route 69, Harvest Junction 100‑130

Hickory D Street, Harvest Junction 100‑130

Dickory 1200 A Street, Jasper 15‑30

Dock 1430 B Street, Gold Mine 25‑30

School Day 100 A Street, Fisherville 100‑130

Great Care 650 C Street, Deep River 100‑120

Sunny Brook 1950 X Street, Apple Valley 20‑30

Garden Hooks 1555 D Street, Blue Water 10‑13

Garden Top 149 K Street, Fisherville 150‑250

Smithwich 1600 A Street, Fisherville 150‑250

Dunmore 425 AA Street, Fisherville 75‑100

Topside 1100 G Street, Kingston 50‑75

Garden Grove 600 B Street, Harvest Junction 100‑130

Kindercare Ferry Blvd and 5th Avenue, Bayport 100-125

Gentlecare Ocean Blvd and 13th Avenue, Bayport 75-85

## 

## Other Facilities and Locations

Average

**Nursing Homes** [Location]{.underline} [Patient Load]{.underline}

Lower Allen B and 23rd Streets, Central City 250

Happy Times N and 1st Streets, Central City 100

Hill Top J and 33rd Streets, Central City 250

Riverside EE and 29th Streets, Central City 200

Liberty S and 29th Streets, Central City 150

Columbia O and 11th Streets, Central City 150

Green MM and 27th Streets, Central City 100

Garden Run T and 35th Streets, Central City 250

Turkey Hill AA and 14th Streets, Fisherville 100

Harvest Junction F and 12th Streets, Harvest Junction 100

Kingston Center B and 3rd Streets, Kingston 150

Sunshine C and 11th Streets, Deep River 150

Oceanside Ocean Blvd and 7th Avenue, Bayport 175

Gillmore Bay Blvd and 10th Avenue, Bayport 100

**Hospitals** [Location]{.underline} [Beds]{.underline}

Central City East of D Street, between 31st and 34th 199

Faith Hospital S and 14th Streets, Central City 110

Levine Hospital MM and 17th Streets, Central City 43

Fisherville General S and 1st Streets, Fisherville 100

Harvest Junction C and 3rd Streets, Harvest Junction 100

Columbia Veterans J and 7th Streets, Central City 100

## 

## Other Facilities and Locations

**Mobile Home Parks** [Location]{.underline} [Number of
Homes]{.underline}

Roaring River MHP Interstate 107, Central City 75

Route 5 East MHP Route 5, 2 miles east of Central City 100

Columbia Central MHP U and 15th Streets, Central City 125

Columbia East MHP MM and 6th Streets, Central City 500

Columbia West MHP E and 21st Streets, Central City 150

Columbia North MHP X and 2nd Streets, Central City 75

Cedar Rapids MHP R and 29th Streets, Central City 100

Swatera Creek MHP M and 7th Streets, Central City 100

Hospital Pines MHP F and 35th Streets, Central City 150

Whispering Oaks MHP JJ and 27th Streets, Central City 120

Kings MHP K and 18th Streets, Central City 75

Queens MHP J and 18th Streets, Central City 75

Liberty Court MHP W and 10th Streets, Central City 100

Liberty Court #2 MHP V and 10th Streets, Central City 125

Liberty Court #3 MHP U and 10th Streets, Central City 150

Happy Acres MHP E and 24th Streets, Central City 125

Hillside MHP SR 69 at Sr 26, Kingston 75

Mellborn Creek MHP A and 10th Streets, Kingston 150

McCain Creek #2 MHP 1112 Sullivan Court, Harvest Junction 75

Willows Center MHP US 10 at SR 100, Harvest Junction 100

Eden Sparrows MHP 345 Homer Drive, Harvest Junction 125

Swimmers MHP Interstate 107 West, Blue Water 75

Quicksand MHP Jasper Pike at SR 69, Jasper 120

Mr. Stever\'s MHP State Route 5 West, Gold Mine 120

Waterview Estates Ocean Blvd and 16th Avenue, Bayport 200

Oceanside Estates Ocean Blvd and 9th Avenue, Bayport 125

Bayview Estates Ferry Blvd and 15th Avenue, Bayport 50

Swanson\'s MHP Marine Blvd and 15th Avenue, Bayport 100

Harrison\'s MHP State Route 1 West, Fisherville 100

Willmore\'s MHP State Route 1 East, Fisherville 125

Slamon\'s MHP Interstate 107 North, Fisherville 75

Smiling Fish\'s MHP A and 8th Streets, Fisherville 75

Winner\'s Circle MHP F and 6th Streets, Fisherville 110

Palmer\'s South MHP Orchard Pike at SR 18, Deep River 100

Jack\'s Mountain MHP Orchard Pike at Turtle River, Deep River 75

High Point MHP B and 7th Streets, Deep River 75

Hobbs Village MHP 134 Elm Street, Deep River 50

Wellborn Village MHP State Route 3 South, Apple Valley 50

Rockside Manor MHP Orchard Pike at SR 5, Apple Valley 75

**Central City Population Densities**

**Location Population**

**Single Family**

1\. NN east to SS street, 24th north to O street 6,425

2\. II east to SS street, 32nd north to 26th street 3,175

3\. DD east to HH street, 41st north to 32nd street 2,250

4\. I‑107 east to N street, 39th north to 26th street 3,425

5\. A east to F street, 24th north to O street 8,175

6\. FF east to NN street, 9th north to O street 4,200

7\. A east to I‑107, 30th street north to 26th street
[1,750]{.underline}

29,400

**Multi‑residential**

1\. A east to I‑107, 39th north to 30th street 7,550

2\. J east to BB street, 10th north to O street 14,325

3\. N east to X street, 41st north to 26th street 12,775

4\. FF east to NN street, 20th north to 9th street [8,250]{.underline}

42,900

**Residential/Commercial**

1\. X east to DD street, 41st north to 26th street 14,650

2\. R east to BB street, 20th north to 10th street 17,850

32,500

**Residential/Commercial/Industrial**

1\. R east to BB street, 24th north to 20th street 9,525

2\. FF east to NN street, 24th north to 20th street [7,775]{.underline}

17,300

**Commercial**

1\. FF east to J street, 24th north to O street 6,550

2\. BB east to FF street, 24th north to O street [8,775]{.underline}

15,325

**Industrial**

1\. J east to Q street, 24th north to 10th street 5,500

2\. A east to SS street, 26th north to 24th street [4,500]{.underline}

10,000

**Urban Renewal**

1\. DD east to II street, 32nd north to 26th street [1,575]{.underline}

1,575

Central City Construction Types

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  [Construction]{.underline}   [Description]{.underline}

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  Single Family         Predominantly wood frame with some un-reinforced
  Dwellings             masonry structures. NO significant later support
                        at the foundations; cripple stud foundations.

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  Multi-Family          Predominantly wood frame for the smaller units.
  Dwellings             For larger units in the older part of the city,
                        mainly un-reinforced masonry. Larger units in the
                        newer part of the city are either reinforced
                        concrete or steel frame.

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  Industrial Buildings  In the older parts of the city, un-reinforced
                        masonry. In the newer, parts, a mix of reinforced
                        concrete, steel frame and tilt-up wall
                        structures.

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  Commercial Buildings  In the older parts of the city, low rise
                        commercial buildings either un-reinforced masonry
                        or wood frame. High rise buildings in these areas
                        are un-reinforced masonry. In newer parts of the
                        city, low-rise buildings are reinforced concrete
                        or steel frame.

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