The City of Dillon is located at (34.417765, -79.367975). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.5 km sq (4.8 square miles). 12.5 km sq (4.8 mi sq) of it is land and 0.21% is water. Dillon lies in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. The Little Pee Dee River, a tributary of the Pee Dee, runs through the edge of the city. Dillon gained prosperity when the town's founding fathers allowed the railroad to come through it. Little Rock (a miniscule neighboring town) was the original choice but, its residents believed the railroad would do more harm than good. Dillon had the good fortune of being located along a frequently-used railway line, and was at one time a prosperous town, as evidenced by its large and ornate courthouse. Its economy was based on the profitable tobacco- and cotton-production and sales industries, a source of income that has slowly shrunk over the years as production and transport systems for these commodities have become more efficient and less centralized. Now, outside of service industry and state jobs, gainful employment is scarce in Dillon. Despite this, the city infrastructure is well-maintained and there is a large, modern hosital and medical complex--Formerly Saint Eugene Hospital, now Mcleod Medical center of Dillon. The City of Dillon's population has remained at about 7,000 since the early 1970s. Dillon is home to the United states's 2nd largest Yarn producing factory Formerly Dillon Yarn. In Early 2007 the factory was sold by Titan Industries to yarn powerhouse Unifi. In 2001, Harbor Freight Tools, a California-based tool retailer, built a large distribution center near Dillon, bringing many much-needed jobs to the city. Interstate 95 and South Carolina Highway 9 intersect at Exit 193, with Highway 9 passing through the heart of downtown and becoming part of Main Street for a few miles. Exit 193 is the Exit most used by travelers to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a popular vacation spot. Exit 190, Dillon's second I-95 exit, was recently named after the Honorable William James "Bill" McLeod, Sr., a WWII veteran, former state Representative, and retired Family Court judge, who has earned the near-universal respect of the residents of Dillon. Dillon High School has about 1000 students. Its mascot is the Dillon Wildcat, and its colors are black and gold. Football is the most popular sport; in the early 1990s the Wildcats' performance was lackluster at best, but the arrival of former assistant sixth grade PE coach Jackie Hayes, in 1992, launched a football juggernaut. Shortly after taking over the varsity football team at Dillon High School, Jackie Hayes was elected the State Representative for Dillon County. Current (as of 2006) chair of the Federal Reserve Board Ben Bernanke is a graduate of Dillon High School. A recent humor/novelty book named Dillon as one of the worst places in the U.S. to live. However, the book is referring solely to South of the Border, a local roadside tourist attraction, which is actually located in Hamer, South Carolina, a few miles north of Dillon. Dillon was recently chosen as the site for a new Super walmart. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dillon%2C_South_Carolina