Hampton County, South Carolina

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Hampton County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,561.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its county seat is Hampton.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> It was named for Confederate Civil War general Wade Hampton, who in the late 1870s, with the ending of Reconstruction, was elected as governor of South Carolina.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

History

The county is named for Wade Hampton III, one of the country's leading slaveowners and a Lieutenant General for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. After the war, he led the Redeemers and Red Shirts on a campaign to reestablish Democratic rule South Carolina. At the end of the Reconstruction era he became Governor and then U.S. Senator from South Carolina.

The county had a peak of population in 1910, when agriculture was still the mainstay of the economy. Thousands of African Americans left after that for urban areas, especially in the North, in the Great Migration. The mechanization of agriculture reduced farm jobs.

Geography

Template:Maplink According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.49%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

National protected area

Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge (part)

State and local protected areas

Hamilton Ridge Wildlife Management Area<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands">Template:Cite web</ref>
James W Webb Wildlife Center and Game Management Area<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Lake Warren State Park
Palachucola Wildlife Management Area<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
Webb Wildlife Center<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Bamberg County – north
Colleton County – east
Beaufort County – southeast
Jasper County – south
Effingham County, Georgia – southwest
Screven County, Georgia – west
Allendale County – northwest

Major highways

Major infrastructure

Yemassee Station

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

Hampton County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	7,802	42.03%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	9,536	51.38%
Native American	41	0.22%
Asian	100	0.54%
Pacific Islander	17	0.09%
Other/Mixed	399	2.15%
Hispanic or Latino	666	3.59%

As of the 2020 census, there were 18,561 people, 6,993 households, and 4,148 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 21,090 people, 7,598 households, and 5,211 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 9,140 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 53.9% black or African American, 42.7% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 6.4% were Irish, 6.3% were American, 5.6% were German, and 5.3% were English.<ref name="census-dp2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 7,598 households, 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.4% were non-families, and 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.15. The median age was 38.4 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $34,846 and the median income for a family was $43,234. Males had a median income of $31,935 versus $26,826 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,262. About 17.2% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 census

At the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 21,386 people, 7,444 households, and 5,315 families living in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 8,582 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 55.67% Black or African American, 42.89% White, 0.20% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. 2.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,444 households, out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.90% were married couples living together, 18.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.60% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 103.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,771, and the median income for a family was $34,559. Males had a median income of $29,440 versus $20,418 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,129. About 17.80% of families and 21.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.60% of those under age 18 and 21.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Like most majority African American counties, Hampton is a Democratic stronghold, having not been won by a Republican presidential candidate since Nixon in 1972. The margin has been narrowing in recent elections, however, with Kamala Harris' 2024 performance being the worst by a Democrat since 1984.

Economy

In 2022, the GDP was $542.4 million (about $29,930 per capita),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the real GDP was $431.3 million (about $23,798 per capita) in chained 2017 dollars.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2022 through 2023, the average unemployment rate has been 2.8-2.9%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Some of the largest employers in the county include the United States Department of Justice, Food Lion, The Habit Burger Grill, Hampton Regional Medical Center, and Le Creuset.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Hampton County, South Carolina - Q3 2023<ref name=":0" />
Industry	Employment Counts	Employment Percentage (%)	Average Annual Wage ($)
Accommodation and Food Services	357	8.6	17,940
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	63	1.5	31,772
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting	323	7.8	67,860
Construction	239	5.8	56,888
Finance and Insurance	77	1.9	40,768
Health Care and Social Assistance	679	16.4	40,300
Manufacturing	448	10.8	58,968
Other Services (except Public Administration)	151	3.6	36,504
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	114	2.7	70,356
Public Administration	595	14.3	52,780
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	19	0.5	43,368
Retail Trade	538	13.0	25,272
Transportation and Warehousing	186	4.5	63,544
Utilities	23	0.6	84,968
Wholesale Trade	336	8.1	62,296
Total	4,148	100.0%	46,987

Communities

Towns

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Brunson
Estill
Furman
Gifford
Hampton (county seat and largest community)
Luray
Scotia
Varnville
Yemassee (partly in Beaufort County)

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Unincorporated communities

References

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External links

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Template:Geographic Location Template:Hampton County, South Carolina Template:South Carolina Lowcountry Template:South Carolina Template:Authority control