Lydia Plantation · National Register of Historic Places
Lydia’s story
170 years in pictures
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1856Lydia is settled
LydiaSC
With 190 residents, this town was settled in 1856.
Lydia Plantation · Photo: Jud McCranie · CC BY-SA 4.0
Is Lydia a good place to live?
Lydia’s median age is 70.9 years, above both the South Carolina town median (38.9 years) and the median of U.S. towns (40.5 years). No town among the 170 in South Carolina we compare has a higher share of homes lived in by their owners than Lydia. Lydia Plantation is on the National Register of Historic Places. Lydia has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
190 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Lydia: who provides what
Lydia is unincorporated, so Darlington County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerPee Dee Electric CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterDarlington County W&sa (Sc1620001) water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers90% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesDarlington CountyDarlington County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn South Carolina you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereDarlington Board of Voter RegistrationDarlington County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2024
ZIP codes29550, 29069, 2907929550 62% · 29069 24% · 29079 14%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Lydia.
Work & commute
Lydia has 0.2 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
The median commute is under 21 miles. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in Lydia dropped by 26, to 37. Lydia: 0.5% of working residents work locally. The top destinations are Hartsville (15%), Florence (15%) and Darlington (8%).
0%work in town
| Lydia | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 18% | 17% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.5% | 6.1% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Lydia0%
Hartsville15%
Florence15%
Darlington8%
Columbia2%
21 mi
median commute distance
37
jobs based in Lydia
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
92°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter35–58°
Spring50–75°
Summer69–90°
Fall52–75°
Nov 4
typical first frost
Mar 29
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
Lydia stands out in South Carolina and nationally, with more of its adults who have obesity
86% of adults had a checkup this year in Lydia. Against the South Carolina average, Lydia comes out ahead on 4 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 21. Two figures for adults in the town: 20% have diabetes, 49% have high blood pressure.
| Lydia | South Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 48% | 37% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 15% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 49% | 40% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 86% | 80% | 79% |
32 measures vs. South Carolina
4 better7 too close to call21 worse
| What stands out | Lydia | SC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 12.1% | 15.7% |
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7.5% | 8.6% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 15.1% | 8.9% |
Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center
4.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Lydia faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Lydia after 3 declared disasters, most recently in 2016. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 51% of U.S. communities. Of the losses FEMA expects in the town, 30% come from inland flooding and 21% from hurricanes.
49risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesTornadoes
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
$241Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in September
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Lydia
15pages on Lydia
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Lydia
About 0 of every 100 Lydia residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across South Carolina.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Lydia for work
Where Lydia’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
37jobs based in Lydia
0%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Lydia
Census-designated place in South Carolina, United States
Lydia (formerly Mount Elon) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Darlington County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the CDP was 642. It is the location of Lydia Plantation, which is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Lydia is in western Darlington County, just east of the Lee County line. U.S. Route 15 passes through the community, leading northeast 7 miles (11 km) to Hartsville and southwest 10 miles (16 km) to Bishopville. South Carolina Highway 34 leads east 14 miles (23 km) to Darlington, the county seat.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 213 ft
- ZIP code
- 29079
Questions about Lydia
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Lydia, SC a good place to live?
Lydia has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.