Located off the shore of Lake Murray and only ten miles from Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, Irmo was a sleepy little town of 500 people in the early 1970's. Today with more than 12,000 residents Irmo is one of the country's most sought after places to live.

The Cherokee Indians first roamed the waterways and woodlands of this area while following the Cherokee Trail. Later German and Swiss immigrants were the first Westerners to settle the area bounded by the Broad and Saluda Rivers and extending to the Newberry county line. Germans, using land grants from the King of England, settled the Dutch Fork area in the mid 18th century. Self-sufficient farms were established in spite of the rocky, red clay that was unsuitable for plantation farming.

The origin of Irmo tells the story of the railroad's influence.  Irmo was incorporated in 1890 and flourished along the tracks of the Columbia, Newberry and Laurens railroads on the high ridge between the rivers. The town was named by combining the first two letters of the names of two railroad company men - C.J. Iredell and H.C. Moseley.

A quarter of a century later, the largest earthen dam in the world (at that time) was built across the Saluda River, forming Lake Murray. The dam, along with the construction of I-26 adjacent to Irmo in the late 1950's, made possible the continuing rapid growth of the greater Irmo area. The beautiful Lake Murray provides much sought after real estate along its 528 miles of shoreline and provides a recreational paradise for the residents of Irmo - truly the "Gateway to Lake Murray".

Population

Town

Lexington

Richland

Classification

of Irmo

Percent

County

County

Persons

11,039

182,428

313,569

- Families

4,298

- Households

3,742

- (1) Person

572

15%

- (2) People

1,387

37%

- (3) People

989

26%

- (4) People

472

13%

- (5) People

136

4%

- (6) People

25

1%

Urban

11,039

Rural

0

Gender

- Male

5,476

50%

- Female

5,563

50%

Race

- White

8,315

75%

- Black

2,207

20%

- Hispanic

209

2%

- Asian

178

2%

- Other

130

1%

Per Capita Income

$15,312

$14,921

$14,003

Median Family Income

$44,349

- Under 30K

642

15%

- 30K to 100K

2,716

63%

- Above 100K

940

22%

Median House Income

$42,281

$32,914

$28,848

- Under 20K

335

9%

- 20K to 45K

1,523

41%

- 45K to 100K

1,643

44%

- Above 100K

241

6%

Education (over 25 yrs)

- H.S. Graduate

95%

77%

79%

- College Graduate

50%

21%

28%

Business Overview

Approximately 7,349 Irmo residents are employed (16 years and older). The following are the top five

occupations:

- Administrative

21%

- Professional

16%

- Managerial

24%

- Sales

17%

- Service / Repair

6%

Business Patterns

The issuance of a business license does not accurately identify where the owner or their employees

reside. Its purpose is to identify the type of business, location and estimated gross revenue. Irmo's

largest percentage of business licenses are in:

- Construction

42%

- Real Estate

14%

- Service

19%

- Retail

11%

Future Growth

Irmo, with its resident's young (30 median age), highly educated (50%), and well-to-do ($42,281 median

household income) has a bright future. Irmo's geographic location on I-26, near I-20, and close to Lake

Murray, will ensure continued growth. Many people in the Midlands move to the Irmo area for it's above

average school system, quality of life, and enjoyable lifestyle.