Allendale County, South Carolina
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county
Allendale County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,039,<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> making it the least populous county in South Carolina. Its county seat is Allendale.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref>
History
[edit]Allendale County was formed in 1919 from southwestern portions of Barnwell County, along the Savannah River, and part of Hampton County, just to its south. It is the location of the Topper Site, an archeological excavation providing possible evidence of a pre-Clovis culture dating back 50,000 years. The site is near a source of chert on private land in Martin owned by Clariant Corporation, a Swiss chemical company with a plant there. The site, named after John Topper, a nt who discovered it, has been under excavation by archeologists from the University of South Carolina for about one month a year since 1999, after an initial exploratory dig in the mid-1980s.
Allendale County was born out of a desire for convenience. Having a new county circumvented the need to travel to the courthouse in Barnwell or Hampton. The original Allendale County Courthouse burned down in May 1998, with reconstruction begun in August 2002.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the Civil Rights movement, the Courthouse almost became a site for a sit-in protest after African-American citizens charged officials with deliberately delaying the voter registration of Black residents.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Geography
[edit]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 (1.05%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Savannah River forms the county's western border with Georgia.
Allendale is Template:Convert from Augusta, Georgia; Template:Convert from Savannah, Georgia; Template:Convert from Columbia; and Template:Convert from Charleston. Before interstate highways were built, Allendale had several motels, primarily serving travelers in-between Northeastern states and Florida. Traffic that formerly traveled US 301 through Allendale now uses Interstate 95.
Major water bodies
[edit]Adjacent counties
[edit]- Bamberg County – northeast
- Colleton County – east
- Hampton County – southeast
- Screven County, Georgia – southwest
- Burke County, Georgia – west
- Barnwell County – northwest
Major highways
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Major infrastructure
[edit]- Savannah River Site (part)
Demographics
[edit]2020 census
[edit]| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,985 | 24.69% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,646 | 70.23% |
| Native American | 45 | 0.56% |
| Asian | 17 | 0.21% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 151 | 1.88% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 194 | 2.41% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 8,039 people, 3,281 households, and 1,389 families residing in the county. The median age was 51.4 for women and 44.5 for men. About 23.7% of households had children living with them. Renters make up 35.6% of households.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Available housing was more than the number of households, totaling 4,040 housing units,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> all of which are classified as rural.<ref>U.S. Census Bureau. "URBAN AND RURAL." Decennial Census, DEC Demographic and Housing Characteristics, Table H2, 2020, https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.H2?g=050XX00US45005&y=2020&d=DEC Demographic and Housing Characteristics. Accessed on May 8, 2024.</ref> The median household size was 2 (with a mean of 2.2).<ref>U.S. Census Bureau. "HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE." Decennial Census, DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171), Table P2, 2020, https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?g=050XX00US45005. Accessed on May 8, 2024.</ref>
2010 census
[edit]At the 2010 census, there were 10,419 people, 3,706 households, and 2,333 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,486 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 73.6% Black or African American, 23.7% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, and 5.6% were American.<ref name="census-dp2">Template:Cite web</ref>
Of the 3,706 households, 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.5% were married couples living together, 26.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.0% were non-families, and 33.7% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.14. The median age was 38.8 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>
The median household income was $20,081 and the median family income was $25,146. Males had a median income of $30,440 versus $28,889 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,190. About 35.7% of families and 42.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.8% of those under age 18 and 27.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">Template:Cite web</ref>
2000 census
[edit]At the 2000 census, there were 11,211 people, 3,915 households, and 2,615 families living in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,568 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 71.0 percent Black or African American, 27.37 percent White, 0.12 percent Asian, 0.09 percent Native American, 0.06 percent Pacific Islander, 0.85 percent from other races, and 0.51 percent from two or more races. 1.61 percent of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> Of the 3,915 households, 30.3 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8 percent were married couples living together, 25.8 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2 percent were non-families. 30.0 percent of all households were one person and 12.3 percent had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.21.
The age distribution was 26.6 percent under the age of 18, 9.8 percent from 18 to 24, 28.2 percent from 25 to 44, 22.8 percent from 45 to 64, and 12.7 percent who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 108.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.5 males.
The median household income was $20,898 and the median family income was $27,348. Males had a median income of $25,930 versus $20,318 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,293. About 28.4 percent of families and 34.5 percent of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.1 percent of those under age 18 and 26.00 percent of those age 65 or over.<ref>US Census Bureau Demographics Data</ref>
Government and politics
[edit]County Council
[edit]Allendale County has a five-member council elected from single-member districts. The council has a single chairman. Council members serve four-year terms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| 2020 | |
|---|---|
| District 1 | Theresa Taylor |
| District 2 | James White, Jr. |
| District 3 | Willa Jennings |
| District 4 | Matthew Connelly, Chair |
| District 5 | William Robinson, Vice Chair |
Other County Officials
[edit]| 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Sheriff | James Freeman<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Treasurer | Alice Kirkland |
| Clerk of Court | Elaine Sabb (since 2007)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Cororner | Renique Riley |
| Probate Judge | D. Keith Smith |
S.C. Senate
[edit]Leading up to the 2020 Census Redistricting, Allendale County was divided between Senate districts 40 (the eastern half) and 45 (the western half). Senate District 40 has been represented by Democrat and Minority Leader Brad Hutto since 1996.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Democrat Margie Bright Matthews has represented District 45 since 2015, after she was elected to the position to fulfill the unexpired term of Clementa C. Pinckney.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Following the redistricting, which will be used in the 2024 United States elections despite legal disputes over racial and political gerrymandering, Allendale County is solely covered by state Senate District 40.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Name | Years Active | Party | District | Other Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (John) Henry Johnson<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | 1920–1923<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> | At-large | ||
| Robinson Plato Searson, Jr. | 1923–1926<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1931–1938<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
At-large | ||
| George Dunbar Kirkland | 1927–1930<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | At-large | ||
| James Martin Thomas | 1939–1942<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1947–1950<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
At-large | ||
| William Edwin Myrick | 1943–1946<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1951–1962<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
At-large | ||
| Audrey Patterson Williams | 1963–1966<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | At-large | ||
| Edgar Allan Brown | 1967–1972<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Democratic | 18 (1967–1968)
12 (1969–1972) |
Bamberg, Barnwell |
| James P. Harrelson | 1973–1976<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Democratic | 15 | Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper |
| James Madison Wadell, Jr. | 1973–1984<ref name=":3" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Democratic | 15 | Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper |
| William Tindall Howell | 1977–1979<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Democratic | 15 | Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper |
| Peden B. McLeod | 1980–1990<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref> | Democratic | 15 (1980–1984)
45 (1985–1990) |
Beaufort,
Charleston (1985–1990), Colleton, Hampton, Jasper |
| John W. Matthews Jr. | 1985–2002<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Democratic | 39 | Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Dorchester, Orangeburg |
| McKinley Washington Jr. | 1990–1992<ref name=":4" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Democratic | 45 | Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper |
| Bradley Hutto | 2003–present<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref> | Democratic | 40 (2003–2012)
40 (2013–present) |
Bamberg (2013–present), Barnwell, Colleton (2013–present), Hampton, Orangeburg |
| Clementa Pinckney | 2003–2015<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref> | Democratic | 45 | Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper |
| Margie Bright Matthews | 2015–2024<ref name=":6" /> | Democratic | 45 | Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper |
U.S. Presidential elections
[edit]Allendale County has been consistently Democratic in Presidential voting since 1976 and was among the few counties to be carried by Walter Mondale in 1984.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 U.S. presidential election Barack Obama received 75.3 percent of the county's vote.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2012 U.S. presidential election Barack Obama received 79.2 percent of the county's vote. In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Joe Biden received 75.6% of the vote.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2024, the county saw a slight rightward shift, but it was still by far the most Democratic county in the state of South Carolina in that election.<ref>https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/</ref>
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Economy
[edit]Allendale is primarily an agricultural rural county. Its primary products are cotton, soybeans, watermelon and cantaloupe. Timbering is also important, primarily for paper pulp.
In 2022, Allendale's GDP was $317.5 million (approx. $39,491 per capita).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In chained 2017 dollars, its real GDP was $240.4 million (approx. $29,902 per capita).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From 2021 through 2024, its unemployment rate has fluctuated between 4-8%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:As of, some of the largest employers in the county include Atlantic Power Corporation, AZ Electronic Materials, Georgia-Pacific, South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC), and the University of South Carolina.<ref name=":0" />
| Industry | Employment Counts | Employment Percentage (%) | Average Annual Wage ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 46 | 2.0 | 15,808 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 13 | 0.6 | 28,600 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 117 | 5.0 | 46,124 |
| Construction | 20 | 0.9 | 30,472 |
| Educational Services | 280 | 12.0 | 50,336 |
| Finance and Insurance | 30 | 1.3 | 38,740 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 360 | 15.4 | 43,264 |
| Manufacturing | 782 | 33.5 | 85,228 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 4 | 0.2 | 18,200 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 32 | 1.4 | 51,064 |
| Public Administration | 382 | 16.4 | 49,868 |
| Retail Trade | 140 | 6.0 | 19,708 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 58 | 2.5 | 53,300 |
| Wholesale Trade | 68 | 2.9 | 58,708 |
| Total | 2,332 | 100.0% | 57,969 |
Education
[edit]Colleges and universities
[edit]- USC-Salkahatchie (a two-year campus): Robert McNair, Democratic Governor of South Carolina from 1965 to 1971, moved to Allendale County as an adult because his wife was from there. Because of McNair's influence, USC Salk is located in the town of Allendale.
- Denmark Tech: Part of the state Technical College System, Denmark Tech serves the county from its location in Bamberg County, Template:Convert from Allendale.
The county is also the site of WEBA, Channel 14, a broadcast outlet of the South Carolina Educational Television Network. Ranking 45th in population among the state's 46 counties, it is the smallest county to have either a state-supported college or an ETV station.
K-12 education
[edit]There is one school district: Allendale County School District.<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>
Allendale County School District includes one high school: Allendale-Fairfax High School. The former C. V. Bing High School served African-American students until desegregation. Allendale Training School preceded it.<ref>schpr.sc.gov/index.php/Detail/properties/74023</ref>
Media
[edit]Allendale County is a news desert. The last local news publications, The Citizen-Leader and The Allendale Sun, stopped printing in 2014 and 2015, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Communities
[edit]Towns
[edit]Unincorporated communities
[edit]See also
[edit]- List of counties in South Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Allendale County, South Carolina
References
[edit]External links
[edit]Template:Geographic Location Template:Allendale County, South Carolina Template:Central Savannah River Area Template:South Carolina Template:Authority control