Editing Williamsburg County, South Carolina

{{Short description|County in South Carolina, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county  = Williamsburg County
 | state        = South Carolina
 | seal                 = Williamsburg County Seal.jpg
 | founded              = 1785
 | seat wl           = Kingstree
 | named for            = [[William III of England|William of Orange]]
 | largest city wl   = Kingstree
 | city type         = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 937.05
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 934.17
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.88
 | area percentage      = 0.31
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 31026
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 29891 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | coordinates          = {{coord|33.63|-79.72|type:adm2nd_region:US-SC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}
 | web                  = www.williamsburgcounty.sc.gov 
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | ex image             = Kingstree courthouse 1311.JPG
 | ex image cap         = Williamsburg County Courthouse
 | district             = 6th
 | logo                 = Williamsburg County Logo.png }}

'''Williamsburg County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[South Carolina]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] its population was 31,026.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> The [[county seat]] and largest community is [[Kingstree, South Carolina|Kingstree]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> After a previous incarnation of Williamsburg County, the current county was created in 1804.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/SC_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=South Carolina: Individual County Chronologies|website=South Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library|date=2009|access-date=March 21, 2015|archive-date=January 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103154824/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/SC_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
{{main|Early history of Williamsburg, South Carolina}}
On January 7, 1867, the [[Kingstree jail fire]] killed 22 imprisoned freedmen.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 16, 1867 |title=DOMESTIC NEWS.; Death and Obsequies of Hon. Arthur P. Hayne. The District Suffrage Law as Passed. The Burning of the Kingstree, S. C., Jail--Heartrending Scenes Attending the Death of the inmates--Ineffectual Attempts to Save Them. (Published 1867) |language=en |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1867/01/16/archives/domestic-news-death-and-obsequies-of-hon-arthur-p-hayne-the.html |access-date=August 6, 2023}}</ref> Also in 1867, the United States military oversaw the registering of voters in the county in preparation for the election of a new "reconstruction" government. In the Williamsburg District, there were 800 whites and 1,725 African-Americans who were eligible to vote under the new system.<ref>Reconstruction in South Carolina, 1865-1877 by John Schreiner Reynolds pg. 74</ref>  A convention was held to organize a new constitutions for the state of South Carolina, the Williamsburg District was represented by William Darrington who was a white reverend from the Williamsburg District who had opposed slavery before the war as well as C.M. Olsen and [[Stephen A. Swails]], who were both African-American.<ref>Reconstruction in South Carolina, 1865-1877 by John Schreiner Reynolds, pg. 78</ref>  Darrington led a prayer at the opening of the convention on February 14, 1868.<ref>PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA By J. WOODRUFF pg. 361</ref>

In 1868, the state constitution abolished the parishes and designated judicial districts formally as counties thus transforming the "Williamsburg District" into "Williamsburg County."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/counties-districts-and-parishes/|title=Counties, districts, and parishes}}</ref>

In 1868, an election was held in which all men older than 21 years of age who had never been convicted of committing a felony nor were "prohibited on account of service under Confederate Government" were allowed to vote. This was a form of direct democratic election which had been set up by the reconstruction government of South Carolina. Almost all voters in this election were African American. No one who fought for the Confederacy was allowed to vote in the election. Many African-American officials were elected. [[Stephen Atkins Swails|Stephen A. Swails]] was an educated black man from Pennsylvania who had fought in the U.S. military in the [[54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment]] during the civil war, and who was elected to represent Williamsburg County in the South Carolina State Senate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6417951|title = Black Civil-War Soldier Gets Overdue Honors|website = NPR.org}}</ref><ref>History of Williamsburg: Something about the People of Williamsburg County, South Carolina, from the First Settlement by Europeans about 1705 Until 1923 by William Willis Boddie pg. 447-448</ref>  F.H. Frost, J. Pendergrass and Fortune Guilds were three black men chosen to represent Williamsburg County in the South Carolina State House of Representatives. F. H. Frost was a black man elected as school commissioner. F.H. Swails was a black man elected as an auditor of Williamsburg County. C. Rasted and F.H. Frost were two black men who were elected as the assessors for Williamsburg County's county government. W.W. Ward was a white abolitionist from Massachusetts who was elected to be the sheriff of Williamsburg County, F.C. Cooper was a white abolitionist Quaker from Pennsylvania who was elected to be the clerk of the court of Williamsburg County and C.H. Pettingil, a Union Army officer from Boston, Massachusetts and former member of the [[Massachusetts Abolition Society]] who was elected as Williamsburg County's state constable representing the county in South Carolina's state government. In all of these elections local whites from South Carolina who had, by coincidence, not fought in the confederate military did run, however every single one of them lost. Every single man elected from Williamsburg County in this election was a member of the Republican Party.<ref>History of Williamsburg: Something about the People of Williamsburg County, South Carolina, from the First Settlement by Europeans about 1705 Until 1923 by William Willis Boddie pg. 440</ref>

During this time, State Senator Stephen A. Swails also served as the mayor of Kingstree from 1868 until 1878. While mayor, Swails published and edited a newspaper called the ''Williamsburg Republican'', he also started a law firm. Swails became the most prominent member of the South Carolina senate, the president pro tempore, placing him in control of all bills that passed through the state legislature. Committed to universal education, he played a critical part in transforming The South Carolina College from a school for planter elite into the integrated [[University of South Carolina]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nps.gov/people/stephen-swails.htm| title = Stephen Swails (U.S. National Park Service)}}</ref>

On September 17, 2023, a [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35 stealth fighter]] jet crashed in rural Williamsburg County after the plane malfunctioned and the pilot ejected and parachuted to safety.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Associated Press |first= |date=September 18, 2023 |title=Authorities locate debris of F-35 fighter jet that crashed in South Carolina |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/18/us-stealth-f-35-fighter-jet-crash-south-carolina-update |access-date=September 25, 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q502210|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Williamsburg County}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|937.05|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|934.17|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.88|sqmi}} (0.31%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_45.txt |access-date=September 10, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===State and local protected areas===
* [[Moore Farms Botanical Garden]] (part)
* [[Wee Tee State Forest]] (part)
* [[Wee Tee Wildlife Management Area]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=SCDNR Public Lands |url=https://www2.dnr.sc.gov/ManagedLands/ManagedLand/County |access-date=April 1, 2023 |website=www2.dnr.sc.gov}}</ref>

===Major water bodies===
* [[Black Mingo Creek|Black Mingo Swamp]]
* [[Black River (South Carolina)|Black River]]
* [[Great Pee Dee River]]
* [[Lake Swamp (South Carolina)|Lake Swamp]]
* [[Muddy Creek (South Carolina)|Muddy Creek]]
* [[Santee River]]
* [[Singleton Swamp (South Carolina)|Singleton Swamp]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Florence County, South Carolina|Florence County]] – north
* [[Marion County, South Carolina|Marion County]] – northeast
* [[Georgetown County, South Carolina|Georgetown County]] – east
* [[Berkeley County, South Carolina|Berkeley County]] – south
* [[Clarendon County, South Carolina|Clarendon County]] – west

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=SC|US|52}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US|378}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US|521}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US-Bus|521|dab1=Andrews}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|41}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC-Bus|41|dab1=Andrews}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|51}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|261}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|375}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|377}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|512}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|513}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|527}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC-Conn|527|dab1=Kingstree}}

===Major infrastructure===
* [[Kingstree station|Kingstree Station]]
* [[Williamsburg Regional Airport]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1810= 6871
|1820= 8716
|1830= 9018
|1840= 10327
|1850= 12447
|1860= 15489
|1870= 15489
|1880= 24110
|1890= 27777
|1900= 31685
|1910= 37626
|1920= 38539
|1930= 34914
|1940= 41011
|1950= 43807
|1960= 40932
|1970= 34243
|1980= 38226
|1990= 36815
|2000= 37217
|2010= 34423
|2020= 31026
|estyear=2023
|estimate=29891
|estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/sc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45089.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 25, 2013}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/williamsburgcountysouthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Williamsburg County, South Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 22, 2024}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Williamsburg County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US45089&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 7, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|9,986
|32.19%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|19,579
|63.11%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|85
|0.27%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|147
|0.47%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|1
|0.0%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|609
|1.96%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|619
|2.0%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 31,026 people, 12,686 households, and 8,066 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 34,423&nbsp;people, 13,007&nbsp;households, and 8,854&nbsp;families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US45089
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=March 11, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213030213/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US45089
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|36.8|PD/sqmi}}. There were 15,359 housing units at an average density of {{convert|16.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US45089
  |access-date=March 11, 2016
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191556/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US45089
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 65.8% black or African American, 31.8% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.0% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, and 4.6% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US45089
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=March 11, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031755/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US45089
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 13,007&nbsp;households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 23.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.9% were non-families, and 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.13. The median age was 40.2 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $24,191 and the median income for a family was $33,705. Males had a median income of $37,678 versus $22,303 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,513. About 26.5% of families and 32.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 45.6% of those under age 18 and 27.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US45089
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=March 11, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022951/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US45089
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 37,217 people, 13,714 households, and 10,052 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|40|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 15,552 housing units at an average density of {{convert|17|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 66.26% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 32.74% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.16% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.20% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.16% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 13,714 households, out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.30% were married couples living together, 22.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 87.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,214, and the median income for a family was $30,379. Males had a median income of $26,680 versus $18,202 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $12,794. About 23.70% of families and 27.90% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 36.10% of those under age 18 and 25.90% of those age 65 or over.

==Law and government==
===Law enforcement===
In 2015, Sheriff Michael Johnson was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and sentenced to 30 months imprisonment. Johnson, with a co-conspirator, filed false reports of identity theft in order to raise individuals' [[credit score]]s, in exchange for up to a thousand dollars in payment.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Michaele Duke|title=Williamsburg sheriff indicted on federal charges|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/georgetown/news/williamsburg-sheriff-indicted-on-federal-charges/article_14a8bfca-c995-5981-84bd-b49990da24b8.html|access-date=November 9, 2021|website=Post and Courier|language=en|date=February 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Williamsburg County Sheriff, Columbia Man Sentenced for Fraud — FBI|url=https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/columbia/news/press-releases/williamsburg-county-sheriff-columbia-man-sentenced-for-fraud|access-date=November 9, 2021|website=www.fbi.gov|language=en|date=March 25, 2015}}</ref>

On March 12, 2025, Governor McMasters suspended Sheriff Stephen Renard Gardner after being indicted on multiple financial crimes by the State Attorney General's Office on charges including "criminal conspiracy, misconduct in office and money laundering (value $20,000 or greater but less than $100,000)".<ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=Submitted |date=2025-03-12 |title=Gov. Henry McMaster Suspends Williamsburg County Sheriff Stephen Gardner, Appoints Clemson Wright, Jr. as Interim |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/kingstree/news/gov-henry-mcmaster-suspends-williamsburg-county-sheriff-stephen-gardner-appoints-clemson-wright-jr-as-interim/article_6b52078a-ffab-11ef-90a7-6f459bda498e.html |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}}</ref>

===Politics===
Prior to 1948, Williamsburg County was a Democratic Party stronghold similar to the rest of the [[Solid South]], with Democratic presidential candidates receiving near-unanimous margins of victory in most years. The twenty years from 1948 to 1968 were a highly transitional time for the politics of South Carolina & Williamsburg County, largely in part due to the Democratic Party's increasing support for African-American civil rights & enfranchisement. Dixiecrats managed to carry the county twice, while Republicans managed to carry the county three times in this timespan, while increased black registration led to Democrat [[Hubert Humphrey]] winning the county in 1968. Since 1968, the majority African-American county has only backed a Republican once in [[1972 United States presidential election|1972]], when [[Richard Nixon]] won the county as he swept every county statewide in the midst of a 49-state national landslide.

{{PresHead|place=Williamsburg County, South Carolina|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 14, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|5,524|8,634|172|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|5,532|10,289|164|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|4,864|9,953|237|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|4,824|11,335|145|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|5,004|11,279|160|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|4,795|9,044|79|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|4,524|6,723|84|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,957|6,987|413|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|5,289|8,077|911|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|5,914|7,343|67|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|6,492|7,586|50|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|5,110|8,135|99|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|5,275|8,745|35|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,729|5,213|73|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|3,029|5,106|2,652|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|4,810|2,248|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,324|1,513|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1956|Dixiecrat|330|683|2,739|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,576|1,320|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|23|126|1,840|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|27|1,118|146|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|34|1,089|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|6|1,284|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|9|1,244|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|22|825|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|4|672|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|12|895|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|57|1,213|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|6|729|18|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|187|1,476|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresFoot|1900|Democratic|323|1,256|0|South Carolina}}

== Economy ==
In 2022, the [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] was $856 million (about $28,639 per capita),<ref>{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |date=2001-01-01 |title=Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Williamsburg County, SC |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDPALL45089 |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}</ref> and the [[Real gross domestic product|real GDP]] was $703.7 million (about $23,541 per capita) in [[Chained dollars|chained 2017 dollars]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |date=2001-01-01 |title=Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Williamsburg County, SC |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/REALGDPALL45089 |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}</ref>

As of April 2024, some of the top employers of the county include [[United States Department of Justice]], [[Food Lion]], [[Tupperware]], and [[Williamsburg Technical College]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |date=April 19, 2024 |title=Williamsburg County |url=https://lmi.dew.sc.gov/lmi%20site/Documents/CommunityProfiles/04000089.pdf |journal=Community Profiles |publisher=S.C. Department of Employment & Workforce - Business Intelligence Department |publication-place=Columbia, SC |issue=04000089}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Williamsburg County, South Carolina - Q3 2023<ref name=":0" />
! style="text-align:left;" | Industry
! style="text-align:right;" | Employment Counts
! style="text-align:right;" | Employment Percentage (%)
! style="text-align:right;" | Average Annual Wage ($)
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Accommodation and Food Services || style="text-align:right;" | 279 || style="text-align:right;" | 4.1 || style="text-align:right;" | 17,264
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services || style="text-align:right;" | 99 || style="text-align:right;" | 1.5 || style="text-align:right;" | 27,872
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting || style="text-align:right;" | 125 || style="text-align:right;" | 1.8 || style="text-align:right;" | 42,432
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Construction || style="text-align:right;" | 372 || style="text-align:right;" | 5.5 || style="text-align:right;" | 47,008
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Educational Services || style="text-align:right;" | 662 || style="text-align:right;" | 9.7 || style="text-align:right;" | 43,524
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Finance and Insurance || style="text-align:right;" | 116 || style="text-align:right;" | 1.7 || style="text-align:right;" | 53,508
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Health Care and Social Assistance || style="text-align:right;" | 717 || style="text-align:right;" | 10.5 || style="text-align:right;" | 33,644
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Manufacturing || style="text-align:right;" | 2,056 || style="text-align:right;" | 30.2 || style="text-align:right;" | 60,944
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Other Services (except Public Administration) || style="text-align:right;" | 168 || style="text-align:right;" | 2.5 || style="text-align:right;" | 34,476
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services || style="text-align:right;" | 83 || style="text-align:right;" | 1.2 || style="text-align:right;" | 155,324
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Public Administration || style="text-align:right;" | 908 || style="text-align:right;" | 13.3 || style="text-align:right;" | 53,820
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing || style="text-align:right;" | 27 || style="text-align:right;" | 0.4 || style="text-align:right;" | 37,856
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Retail Trade || style="text-align:right;" | 804 || style="text-align:right;" | 11.8 || style="text-align:right;" | 30,316
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Transportation and Warehousing || style="text-align:right;" | 178 || style="text-align:right;" | 2.6 || style="text-align:right;" | 52,780
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Wholesale Trade || style="text-align:right;" | 210 || style="text-align:right;" | 3.1 || style="text-align:right;" | 44,148
|-
| style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" | '''Total''' || style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | '''6,804''' || style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | '''100.0%''' || style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | '''47,975'''
|}

== Communities ==

===City===
* [[Kingstree, South Carolina|Kingstree]] (county seat and largest community)

===Towns===
* [[Andrews, South Carolina|Andrews]] (mostly in Georgetown County)
* [[Greeleyville, South Carolina|Greeleyville]]
* [[Hemingway, South Carolina|Hemingway]]
* [[Lane, South Carolina|Lane]]
* [[Stuckey, South Carolina|Stuckey]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Cades, South Carolina|Cades]]
* [[Gourdin, South Carolina|Gourdin]]
* [[Hebron, South Carolina|Hebron]]
* [[Indiantown, South Carolina|Indiantown]]
* [[Nesmith, South Carolina|Nesmith]]
* [[Outland, South Carolina|Outland]]
* [[Rhems, South Carolina|Rhems]]
* [[Salters, South Carolina|Salters]]
* [[Trio, South Carolina|Trio]]
* [[Piney Forest, South Carolina|Piney Forest]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of counties in South Carolina]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Williamsburg County, South Carolina]]
* [[Chaloklowa Chickasaw]], state-recognized group that resides in the county

==References==
{{reflist|35em}}

==Further reading==
* ''History of Williamsburg'' by William Willis Boddie, 1923
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027094044/http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/1786/1sfox10.txt ''The Life of Francis Marion''] by William Gilmore Simms (Project Gutenberg), March 1997

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{osmrelation|2532523}}
* {{Official website|https://www.williamsburgcounty.sc.gov/}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Williamsburg County, South Carolina
|North     = [[Florence County, South Carolina|Florence County]]
|Northeast = [[Marion County, South Carolina|Marion County]]
|East      = [[Georgetown County, South Carolina|Georgetown County]]
|South     = [[Berkeley County, South Carolina|Berkeley County]]
|West      = [[Clarendon County, South Carolina|Clarendon County]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{Williamsburg County, South Carolina}}
{{South Carolina}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Williamsburg County, South Carolina| ]]
[[Category:1804 establishments in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1804]]
[[Category:Black Belt (U.S. region)]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in South Carolina]]