Colleton County, South Carolina

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

Colleton County is a county in the Lowcountry region of the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,604.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its county seat is Walterboro.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county is named after Sir John Colleton, 1st Baronet,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> one of the eight Lords Proprietor of the Province of Carolina. After two previous incarnations, the current Colleton County was created in 1800.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

In 1682, Colleton was created as one of the three original proprietary counties, located in the southwestern coastal portion of the new South Carolina Colony and bordering on the Combahee River.

In 1706, the county was divided between the new Saint Bartholomew and Saint Paul parishes. This area was developed for large plantations devoted to rice and indigo cultivation as commodity crops. The planters depended on the labor of African slaves transported to Charleston for that purpose. In the coastal areas, black slaves soon outnumbered white colonists, as they did across the colony by 1708.

In 1734, most of the coastal portion of Saint Paul's Parish was separated to form the new Saint John's Colleton Parish. In 1769, the three parishes were absorbed into the Charleston Judicial District, the southwestern portion of which was referred to as Saint Bartholomew's.

In 1800, the new Colleton District was formed from the western half of the Charleston District. In 1816, it annexed a small portion of the northwestern Charleston District.

In 1868, under the Reconstruction era new state constitution, South Carolina districts were reorganized as counties. Officials were to be elected by the resident voters rather than by state officials, as was done previously, thus giving more democratic power to local residents.

In 1897, the northeastern portion of the county was separated to form the new Dorchester County, with its seat at St. George.

In 1911, the portion of the county east of the Edisto River was annexed by Charleston County. In 1919 and again in 1920, tiny portions of northwestern Colleton County were annexed to Bamberg County.

In March 1975, the town of Edisto Beach was annexed to Colleton County from Charleston County, thus bringing the county to its present size.

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 (6.78%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is the fifth-largest county in South Carolina by land area and fourth-largest by total area.

National protected area

State and local protected areas/sites

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands">Template:Cite web</ref>
Colleton State Park
Crosby Oxypolis Heritage Preserve<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
Givhans Ferry State Park (part)
Lowcountry Raptors
Old Walterboro Train Depot
Pon-Pon Chapel of Ease
South Fenwick Island<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
St. Helena Sound Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial
Walterboro Historic District

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Orangeburg County – north
Dorchester County – northeast
Charleston County – east
Beaufort County – south
Hampton County – west
Allendale County – west
Bamberg County – northwest

Major highways

Major infrastructure

Lowcountry Regional Airport

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

Colleton County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	21,816	56.51%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	13,401	34.71%
Native American	302	0.78%
Asian	186	0.48%
Pacific Islander	16	0.04%
Other/Mixed	1,503	3.89%
Hispanic or Latino	1,380	3.57%

As of the 2020 census, there were 38,604 people, 15,075 households, and 9,565 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 38,892 people, 15,131 households, and 10,449 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 19,901 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 57.0% white, 39.0% black or African American, 0.8% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.8% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

Of the 15,131 households, 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.9% were non-families, and 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 40.7 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $33,263 and the median income for a family was $40,955. Males had a median income of $36,622 versus $25,898 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,842. About 17.7% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 17.2% 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 38,264 people, 14,470 households, and 10,490 families living in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 18,129 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 55.52% White, 42.18% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 1.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,470 households, out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.10% were married couples living together, 16.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,733, and the median income for a family was $34,169. Males had a median income of $28,518 versus $19,228 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,831. About 17.30% of families and 21.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.70% of those under age 18 and 19.10% of those age 65 or over.

According to the 2000 census, the Colleton County population was nearly 75% rural, with the exception of the Walterboro Urban Cluster (2000 pop.: 10,064). The total county population was also designated as the Walterboro, SC Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Ancestry/ethnicity

As of 2019, the largest self-identified ancestry/ethnicity groups in Colleton County were:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ancestry/ethnicity	Percent (2019)
African-American Template:Flagicon	39.0%
English Template:Flagicon	32.3%
German Template:Flagicon	6.5%
Irish Template:Flagicon	5.2%

Law and government

Law enforcement

In 2019, County Sheriff R.A. Strickland was charged with domestic violence after punching a woman in his home.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:As of, the current sheriff is Guerry L. "Buddy" Hill Jr.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Politics

As a part of the “Solid South," Colleton County was heavily Democratic throughout its early history. More recently, it has become a Republican-leaning swing county that has backed the national winner in every presidential election since 1984, with the exception of 2020.

Economy

In 2022, the GDP of Colleton County was $1.1 billion (approx. $29,203 per capita).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its real GDP was $933.3 million in chained 2017 dollars ($24,010 per capita).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2022 through 2024, the unemployment rate has fluctuated between 2.6-4.3%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Some of the largest employers include Colleton County School District, Cracker Barrel, Food Lion, and Walmart.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Colleton County, South Carolina<ref name=":0" />
Industry	Employment Counts	Employment Percentage (%)	Average Annual Wage ($)
Accommodation and Food Services	1,325	14.1	21,840
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	629	6.7	35,568
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting	435	4.6	51,272
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	135	1.4	34,580
Construction	537	5.7	59,748
Finance and Insurance	234	2.5	66,404
Health Care and Social Assistance	1,456	15.5	47,216
Information	152	1.6	79,196
Management of Companies and Enterprises	4	0.0	459,680
Manufacturing	776	8.3	52,832
Other Services (except Public Administration)	173	1.8	35,932
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	264	2.8	55,328
Public Administration	1,056	11.3	52,156
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	109	1.2	49,036
Retail Trade	1,606	17.1	31,096
Transportation and Warehousing	195	2.1	80,548
Utilities	59	0.6	89,960
Wholesale Trade	228	2.4	124,904
Total	9,373	100.0%	45,898

Education

Colleton County School District operates public schools, including Colleton County High School.
Degrees can be earned at the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie in Walterboro.

Communities

Cities

Walterboro (county seat and largest community)

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Commons category

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