Saluda County, South Carolina

Saluda County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 18,862.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its county seat is Saluda.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county was formed from northern and eastern portions of Edgefield County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Saluda County is part of the Columbia metropolitan statistical area.

History

The county was founded in 1895 with portions of Edgefield County, and was named after the nearby Saluda River. The largest community and county seat is Saluda.

Geography

Template:Maplink According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert (1.93%) are covered by water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Saluda County is largely in the Saluda River basin with a small portion of western Saluda in the Savannah River basin.

National protected area

• Sumter National Forest (part)

Major water bodies

• Lake Murray
• Saluda River

Adjacent counties

• Newberry County – north
• Lexington County – east
• Aiken County – south
• Edgefield County – southwest
• Greenwood County – northwest
• McCormick County – west

Major highways

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Major infrastructure

• Saluda County Airport<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

2020 census

Saluda County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	11,264	59.72%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	4,028	21.36%
Native American	44	0.23%
Asian	35	0.19%
Other/mixed	479	2.54%
Hispanic or Latino	3,012	15.97%

As of the 2020 census, 18,862 people, 7,094 households, and 5,132 families resided in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, 19,875 people, 7,527 households, and 5,393 families were 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. The 9,289 housing units had an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 61.1% White, 26.3% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 0.2% Asian, 10.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 14.4% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 17.8% were American, 14.7% were German, 8.6% were English, and 8.2% were Irish.<ref name="census-dp2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 7,527 households, 32.5% had children under 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.4% were not families, and 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 39.6 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $40,508 and for a family was $45,173. Males had a median income of $31,264 versus $28,344 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,717. About 11.7% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under 18 and 15.0% of those 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 census

At the 2000 census,<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> 19,181 people, 7,127 households, and 5,295 families lived in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. The 8,543 housing units had an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 65.80% White, 29.99% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 3.30% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. About 7.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 7,127 households, 31.8% had children under 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were not families. About 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county, the age distribution was 24.9% under 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,774, and for a family was $41,603. Males had a median income of $29,221 versus $21,395 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,328. About 12.00% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under 18 and 16.3% of those 65 or over.

Law and government

Law enforcement

In 2012, Saluda County Sheriff Jason Booth pled guilty to charges of misuse of office after using an inmate to make improvements at his home.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Politics

Saluda County has been a Republican stronghold since 1984, increasingly so in recent elections. The 2024 election saw the strongest Republican support in the county since Nixon's 1972 landslide.

Economy

In 2022, the gross domestic product (GDP) was $572.2 million (about $29,921 per capita),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the real GDP was $495.6 million (about $25,918 per capita) in chained 2017 dollars.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As of April 2024, some of the top employers of the county include Food Lion.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Saluda County, South Carolina - Q3 2023<ref name=":0" />

Industry	Employment counts	Percentage (%)	Average annual wage ($)
Accommodation and Food Services	208	4.6	14,872
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	42	0.9	37,076
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting	443	9.9	53,040
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	62	1.4	26,208
Construction	136	3.0	44,980
Finance and Insurance	48	1.1	58,448
Health Care and Social Assistance	591	13.2	39,780
Manufacturing	1,921	42.9	49,868
Other Services (except Public Administration)	68	1.5	47,060
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	107	2.4	47,892
Public Administration	336	7.5	44,044
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	24	0.5	38,948
Retail Trade	295	6.6	28,652
Transportation and Warehousing	67	1.5	54,912
Utilities	33	0.7	69,680
Wholesale Trade	96	2.1	52,572
Total	4,477	100.0%	45,016

Communities

Towns

• Batesburg-Leesville (mostly in Lexington County)
• Monetta (mostly in Aiken County)
• Ridge Spring
• Saluda (county seat and largest community)
• Ward

Unincorporated communities

• Mount Willing<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

School districts covering sections of the county include:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

• Saluda County School District
• Aiken County School District
• Lexington School District 3

Notable person

• William B. Travis, Texas lieutenant colonel leading defense in the Battle of the Alamo

See also

• List of counties in South Carolina
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Saluda County, South Carolina

External links

• Template:Osmrelation
• Template:Official website
• Saluda County Chamber of Commerce