"The Village of Manning" was formed in Clarendon County in 1855. Named for John Laurence Manning who was elected to both chambers in the General Assembly and served as governor 1852-1854, Manning was incorporated on May 13, 1976 and the city currently operates under a Council form of government. Captain Burgess donated land for the courthouse and jail and Manning became the county seat for Clarendon County.

Completed in 1910, the Manning Library became a county library in 1976 and continued to operate until the opening of the Harvin Clarendon County Library in 1984. A large portion of the original town, including the court house, was destroyed in 1865 during what is known as "Potter's Raid". Manning was later struck by two further tragedies: a downtown fire in 1895 and a tornado in 1915. In 1933, Highway 4 was changed to U.S. 301 and thanks in part to the efforts of Manning resident W. P. Legg, Manning and Clarendon County became a preferred route of the Washington to Florida motorist. Manning remains a popular attraction today for motorists traveling the I-95 corridor and is rapidly becoming one of the favorite locations for retirees looking for various recreational activities and mild climates. The City of Manning is centrally located in Clarendon County, and is home to more than 4,000 of South Carolina's friendliest people. Manning's proximity to Lake Marion makes it one of the state's favorite recreational areas for all types of water activities. Lake Marion is famous for it's striped bass and is home for the annual Striped Bass Festival.

The city Sumter as well as the county are named after General Thomas Sumter, the "Fighting Gamecock" of the American Revolutionary War. Regarded as a military genius, General Sumter was one of the models for Mel Gibson's character in the 2000 movie, "The Patriot." After the war, General Thomas Sumter continued in the service of the nation as a member of the United States Congress. He retired at 76 to his "Home House" in the High Hills of Santee, where he continued to actively manage his business affairs until his death in 1832 at age 98, and the last surviving general of the Revolutionary War.

The city and county of Sumter have a long and colorful history stretching back over 300 years. In the 1740s, the first English-speaking settlers arrived and began establishing settlements along the Wateree River. The "Carolina Backcountry," as it was known became a predominantly agricultural area called Craven County, and then Claremont County. Present-day Sumter County was established on January 1, 1800. - When the state capital was moved from Charleston in 1789, Stateburg, missed being elected the new capital by one vote. The City of Sumter is the seat of Sumter County and the largest city, and the eighth-largest metropolitan area in the state of South Carolina. Incorporated as Sumterville in 1845, the city has grown and prospered from its early beginnings as a plantation settlement.

Lake Moultrie is the third largest lake in South Carolina. Created in the 1940s by a state utility project to dam the Cooper River, it covers more than 60,000 acres (240 km2). It provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including fishing.

Lake Moultrie is located in Berkeley County, South Carolina. It is fed by the Cooper River through Lake Marion and a diversion canal.

Nearby towns include Moncks Corner, Bonneau, Cross, and St. Stephen.

Lake Marion is the largest lake in South Carolina, centrally located and with territory within five counties. The lake is referred to as South Carolina's inland sea. It has a 315-mile shoreline and covers nearly 110,000 acres of rolling farmlands, former marshes, and river valley landscape.

The Santee River was dammed in the 1940s to supply hydroelectric power, as part of the rural electrification efforts initiated under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal during the Great Depression. This created Lake Marion, one of the fifty largest lakes in the United States, whether natural or man-made reservoirs. At current capacity it is only about a third of the area of what, if filled to capacity, would be the fifteenth largest lake in area. Lake Marion was created by the construction of the Santee Dam in November 1941, part of the state-owned electric and water utility Santee Cooper's Hydroelectric and Navigation Project. The project also included construction of the Pinopolis Dam (Cooper River Dam) to create Lake Moultrie, immediately downstream, and a diversion canal seven and a half miles long to connect the two.

The lake is named for the American Revolutionary War General Francis Marion, known legendarily as the "Swamp Fox". His former home of Pond Bluff was one of those flooded when the lake was created.

The lake is located in five South Carolina counties: Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg, and Sumter.

Also known as The Garden City, Orangburg is the principal city in and the county seat of Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States. The population of the city was 13,964 according to the 2010 United States Census. The city is located 37 miles southeast of Columbia, on the north fork of the Edisto River. Two historically black institutions of higher education are located in Orangeburg: Claflin University (a liberal arts college) and South Carolina State University (a public university).

Orangeburg, named for William, the Prince of Orange, the son-in-law of King George, II, of England, was first settled in 1704 by an Indian trader, George Sterling.

The City of Orangeburg is located 37 miles southeast of the South Carolina State Capitol Building in Columbia, in the south central area of the state. The land area of the city is 8.3 square miles, and the population was 12,903 according to the 2018 census. The city is the county seat of Orangeburg County.

For your child to enter a school he or she must be at least five years old by September 1 of the current school year, have a valid birth certificate and a vaccination certificate. The immunizations may be performed by their doctor of Health Department and will be accepted if it includes the following:

Four (4) doses of any combination of DTP, DT, DTP-Hib, DTaP, Td, or Tdap vaccine with at least one (1) dose received on or after the fourth birthday.

Three (3) doses of any combination of oral or inactivated Polio vaccine with at least one (1) dose received on or after the fourth birthday.

Two (2) doses of Rubeola (Measles) vaccine with both doses received on or after the first birthday & separated by at least one month.

One (1) dose of Rubella (German Measles) vaccine received on or after the first birthday.

One (1) dose of Mumps vaccine received on or after the first birthday.

Three (3) doses of Hepatitis B vaccine.

One (1) dose of Varicella vaccine received on or after the first birthday or positive history of disease for all children admitted to kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh grades, and eighth grades. Two (2) doses of varicella vaccine, separated by at least one month, are required for unimmunized children 13 years of age and older who have no positive history of disease.

Includes: Mayesville, Pinewood, Sumter

When it comes to the weather, temperatures in the summer average in the high 80s while lows in the winter average around 40 degrees. Although summers are hot, you will find plenty of ways to cool off on the many waterways. In addition, because snow is a rare occurrence, you can look forward to enjoying your favorite outdoor activities (like golf, fishing, and gardening) throughout the four seasons.

The four seasons

SPRING

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES: 58° F (14.4° C) to 72° F (22.2° C) 

Spring is the most spectacular time of the year. From early March into early June, enjoy the vibrant colors of azaleas, dogwoods and other flowers in bloom.

SUMMER

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES: 78° F (25.6° C) to 82° F (27.8° C) 

The region's warm, sultry summers are punctuated by cooling coastal breezes and passing afternoon thunderstorms - all of which invite visitors to slow down, sip something refreshing and relax for a while.

AUTUMN

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES: 58° F (14.4° C) to 76° F (24.4° C) 

Autumn in the region brings with it days of bright sunshine, clear blue skies, golden marshes and perfectly crisp evenings

WINTER

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES: 47° F (8.3° C) to 52° F (11.1° C) 

Typically mild, winters in the region are cool with periods of rain and the chance of snow flurries come late December or early January.

Manning & Sumter, South Carolina gets 48 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.

Manning & Sumter averages 0 inches of snow per year.  The US average is 28 inches of snow per year.

On average, there are 209 sunny days per year in Manning & Sumter. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Summer High: the July high is around 90 degrees

Winter Low: the January low is 39 degrees

Sperling's Comfort Index for Manning & Sumter is an 85 out of 100

A higher score indicates a more comfortable year-round climate. The US average for the comfort index is 54. Our index is based on the total number of days annually within the comfort range of 70-80 degrees, and we also applied a penalty for days of excessive humidity.

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Manning & Sumter get some kind of precipitation, on average, 106 days per year. Precipitation is rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground. For precipitation to be counted, you have to get at least .01 inches on the ground to measure.

VOTER REGISTRATION

Registration offices are generally open during regular business hours Monday through Friday‑ but are closed 30 days before an election. Special provisions are made for members of the Armed Forces, Merchant Marines, Red Cross, and United States service organizations who are serving outside the counties of their residence, and for members and employees of any Department of the United States Government who are serving outside the country, you must be 18 years or older to register. No length of residency is required. However, you must show proof of residency when you go to register. Your driver’s license will serve as proof. For information contact the Board of Voter Registration in your area.

AUTOMOBILES

You need to get your state automobile tags and a South Carolina title within 10 days of your arrival, and your Driver's License sometimes 90 days after your arrival. You must secure the following: fill out Form 400, fill out Form 402 (liability insurance certificate), and Form 406 which shows you do not owe any back taxes on your motor vehicle (County Tax Department in the County Courthouse). The Driver's License Examiners offices are located at 135 Wimberly Dr. Ladson, 572-7854, and Iron Bridge Drive in Mt. Pleasant, 884-9760; and at the Police Station in Charleston on Lockwood Blvd. 727-6477. If you have a valid out-of-state license, you will only need to take the written exam.

PETS

While the State doesn't maintain laws for pet licensing, most municipalities do. You should familiarize yourself with the laws concerning the licensing, vaccination, and restraint of your pets. You can get this information from your local Animal Control Office or a veterinarian.

LOCAL TAXES

In South Carolina, counties are authorized to levy property taxes on taxable real estate and personal property. Each county sets its millage rate and to this rate is added the rate set by the local municipality or special service district to arrive at the total millage rate.

RETAIL SALES TAX

South Carolina levies a five percent retail sales tax. Exemptions from the tax include production machinery, repair parts, industrial electricity, and materials, which will become an integral part of the finished product of a manufacturer. Also, any items which change the physical or chemical characteristics of a finished product are exempt. The entire proceeds of this tax are pledged to the construction and operation of South Carolina's public

schools. Charleston County adds 2.5% Sales Tax.

PERSONAL INCOME TAXES

There are no municipal income taxes. A state income tax is imposed upon every individual residing in South Carolina. The tax levied, collected, and paid annually concerning net income of the taxpayer and income earned within the jurisdiction of the state of every non‑resident having a business and/or agency in the state from the sale, rental, or income from property within the state.

ELECTRICITY AND GAS 

You will need to get in touch with your local electric and gas utility company for these services to be turned on at your residence. In most areas, a deposit is required unless you bring a letter showing one year of credit history from your previous electric company or active duty service.

Manning Utility Department

411 North Brooks Street
Manning, South Carolina, 29102

803-435-2725 Fax803-435-4608

Mathis Gas Company

Homeward Way
Summerton, South Carolina, 29148

803-478-2025

Black River Electric Cooperative

1121 North Pike West Sumter, SC

South Carolina Electric & Gas

545 Bultman Drive Sumter, SC

Sumter Water Department

21 North Main Street Sumter, SC

WATER 

Sumter Water Department     (803) 436-2541 

Water utility company in Clarendon County    (803) 473-3031 

Manning Utility Department     (803) 435-2725 

SEWERAGE 

Most subdivisions have sewerage. This service is provided in a variety of ways, some are provided by

the municipal government as a tax service, some by municipal governments that add a sewerage fee to the water bill and some by private companies which bill the user directly. Any subdivision which has on‑site sewerage is approved by the State Health Department. Therefore such service is considered adequate.