Chester County, South Carolina

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

Chester County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 32,294.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its county seat is Chester.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref>Chester County is included in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The county was founded in 1785 and was named after Chester, Pennsylvania. The largest community and county seat is Chester. The county is also included in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

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 (0.94%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

National protected area

Sumter National Forest (part)

State and local protected areas

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

York County – north
Lancaster County – east
Fairfield County – south
Union County – west

Major highways

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

Chester County racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	18,591	57.57%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	11,287	34.95%
Native American	145	0.45%
Asian	146	0.45%
Pacific Islander	14	0.04%
Other/Mixed	1,316	4.08%
Hispanic or Latino	795	2.46%

As of the 2020 census, there were 32,294 people, 12,653 households, and 8,042 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 33,140 people, 12,876 households, and 9,073 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 14,701 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 59.8% white, 37.4% black or African American, 0.4% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 19.9% were American, 7.5% were Irish, 5.6% were English, and 5.1% were German.<ref name="census-dp2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 12,876 households, 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 19.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.5% were non-families, and 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04. The median age was 40.3 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $32,743 and the median income for a family was $42,074. Males had a median income of $39,008 versus $27,701 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,687. About 18.6% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.0% of those under age 18 and 18.0% 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 34,068 people, 12,880 households, and 9,338 families living in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 14,374 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 59.93% White, 38.65% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,880 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.80% were married couples living together, 18.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% 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 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,425, and the median income for a family was $38,087. Males had a median income of $30,329 versus $21,570 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,709. About 11.90% of families and 15.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.20% of those under age 18 and 14.90% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Law enforcement

In 2021, Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood was found guilty of conspiracy, wire fraud, deprivation of rights and federal program theft, and sentenced to one year in prison.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Politics

Economy

Chester County's economy has an industrial and agricultural base with large areas used for timber production. There are several sawmills in the county and others near it. Forest land ownership is majority family landowners who manage their properties for a variety of uses. Agriculture is also a big segment of the economy with crops consisting of cotton, wheat, oats, rye, beef and dairy cattle, hay, corn, peaches, other vegetables, peanuts, soybeans, and pecans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2022, the GDP of Chester County was $1.4 billion (about $43,999 per capita).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In chained 2017 dollars, its real GDP was $1.1 billion (about $35,382 per capita).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Throughout 2022 to 2024, the unemployment rate has fluctuated between 3.1% and 5.6%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:As of, some of the largest employers in the county include Chester County School District, E & J Gallo Winery, and Walmart.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Chester County, South Carolina<ref name=":0" />
Industry	Employment Counts	Employment Percentage (%)	Average Annual Wage ($)
Accommodation and Food Services	570	6.2	19,136
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	126	1.4	35,048
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting	111	1.2	50,908
Construction	685	7.5	63,908
Finance and Insurance	125	1.4	50,076
Health Care and Social Assistance	781	8.5	46,072
Manufacturing	3,449	37.5	64,584
Other Services (except Public Administration)	180	2.0	30,264
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	211	2.3	103,532
Public Administration	652	7.1	46,748
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	16	0.2	41,704
Retail Trade	875	9.5	26,520
Transportation and Warehousing	369	4.0	53,300
Utilities	120	1.3	74,048
Wholesale Trade	921	10.0	67,392
Total	9,191	100.0%	54,620

Media

Chester Vision or CSN
Chester News & Reporter
WRBK, 90.3 FM, a noncommercial station that primarily features classic oldies

Communities

City

Chester (county seat and largest community)

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

John Adair, (1757–1840), born in Chester County (although at the time it was believed to be part of Anson County, North Carolina),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> became a member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and the 8th governor of Kentucky<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896">Template:Cite book</ref>
Thomas Griffin and Meeks Griffin, were wrongly executed in South Carolina by electric chair in 1915. They were framed in Chester County in 1913 and pardoned in 2009.

References

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External links

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Template:Geographic location Template:Chester County, South Carolina Template:South Carolina Template:Charlotte/Metrolina Template:Authority control