Abbeville County, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abbeville County
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![]() Abbeville County Courthouse
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![]() Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
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![]() South Carolina's location within the U.S. |
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Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | March, 12, 1785 |
Named for | Abbeville, France |
Seat | Abbeville |
Largest city | Abbeville |
Area | |
• Total | 511 sq mi (1,320 km2) |
• Land | 490 sq mi (1,300 km2) |
• Water | 21 sq mi (50 km2) 4.0% |
Population
(2010)
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• Total | 25,417 |
• Estimate
(2020)
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24,467 |
• Density | 49.74/sq mi (19.205/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 3rd |
Abbeville County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, its population was 25,417. Its county seat is Abbeville. It is the first county (or county equivalent) in the United States alphabetically. Abbeville County is traditionally included in the Upstate region of South Carolina. For a time, the county was included in the Greenwood, SC Micropolitan Statistical Area, but as of 2018 it was no longer included.
Contents
History
Both Abbeville County and the county seat, Abbeville, SC, get their name from the town of Abbeville, France. The county was originally part of Ninety-Six District, South Carolina, but was designated Abbeville County in 1785, with parts of the county later going to the creation of the counties of Greenwood and McCormick. Abbeville County was settled by mostly Scotch Irish and French-Huguenot farmers in the mid-18th century.
- There was a historic treaty with the Cherokee Indians that was signed in Dewitt's Corner, which is now known as Due West.
- Abbeville County was a hotbed of secession before the Civil War and was also where the last Confederate council of war was held
In 1950 Abbeville County had a population of 22,456.
Bryan McClain is the chairman of the Abbeville County Council, who also represents District 7. The other members and their districts are as following:
- Charlie Stone- District 1
- John Calhoun- District 2
- Claude Thomas- District 3
- William Norris- District 4
- Oscar Klugh- District 5
- Don Campbell- District 6
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 511 square miles (1,320 km2), of which 490 square miles (1,300 km2) is land and 21 square miles (54 km2) (4.0%) is water. Abbeville County is in the Savannah River basin and the Saluda River basin.
Adjacent counties
- Greenville County - north
- Anderson County - north
- Laurens County - northeast
- Greenwood County - east
- McCormick County - southeast
- Elbert County, Georgia - west
Major highways
National protected area
- Sumter National Forest (part)
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1790 | 9,197 | — | |
1800 | 13,553 | 47.4% | |
1810 | 21,156 | 56.1% | |
1820 | 23,167 | 9.5% | |
1830 | 28,149 | 21.5% | |
1840 | 29,351 | 4.3% | |
1850 | 32,318 | 10.1% | |
1860 | 32,385 | 0.2% | |
1870 | 31,129 | −3.9% | |
1880 | 40,815 | 31.1% | |
1890 | 46,854 | 14.8% | |
1900 | 33,400 | −28.7% | |
1910 | 34,804 | 4.2% | |
1920 | 27,139 | −22.0% | |
1930 | 23,323 | −14.1% | |
1940 | 22,931 | −1.7% | |
1950 | 22,456 | −2.1% | |
1960 | 21,417 | −4.6% | |
1970 | 21,112 | −1.4% | |
1980 | 22,627 | 7.2% | |
1990 | 23,862 | 5.5% | |
2000 | 26,167 | 9.7% | |
2010 | 25,417 | −2.9% | |
2020 (est.) | 24,467 | −3.7% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 25,417 people, 9,990 households, and 6,939 families living in the county. The population density was 51.8 inhabitants per square mile (20.0/km2). There were 12,079 housing units at an average density of 24.6 per square mile (9.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 69.6% white, 28.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 14.7% were American, 10.9% were Irish, 9.7% were English, 7.6% were German, and 5.6% were Scotch-Irish.
Of the 9,990 households, 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.5% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 41.6 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,143 and the median income for a family was $45,147. Males had a median income of $39,217 versus $29,199 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,653. About 16.3% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 16.2% of those age 65 or over.
2020 census
Race | Num. | Perc. |
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White (non-Hispanic) | 16,744 | 68.92% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 6,184 | 25.45% |
Native American | 44 | 0.18% |
Asian | 71 | 0.29% |
Pacific Islander | 7 | 0.03% |
Other/Mixed | 822 | 3.38% |
Hispanic or Latino | 423 | 1.74% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 24,295 people, 9,660 households, and 6,248 families residing in the county.
Communities
City
- Abbeville (county seat)
Towns
Name | Area (sq. mi.) | Population (2010) | Population density (per sq. mi.) |
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Calhoun Falls | 3.475 | 2,004 | 577 |
Donalds | 0.8375 | 348 | 416 |
Due West | 1.641 | 1,247 | 760 |
Honea Path (Mostly in Anderson County) | 3.629 | 3,597 | 991 |
Lowndesville | 0.771875 | 128 | 166 |
Ware Shoals (Mostly in Greenwood County; partly in Laurens County) | 4.015 | 2,170 | 540 |
Census-designated places
Name | Area (sq. mi.) | Population (2010) | Population density (per sq. mi.) |
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Antreville | 3.896 | 140 | 36 |
Lake Secession | 7.22 | 1,083 | 150 |
Education
School districts
Most Abbeville County schools are part of the Abbeville County School District. The following schools are within the district:
- Abbeville County Adult Education
- Abbeville High School (grades 9–12)
- Abbeville County Career Center (supplementary career education - grades 10–12)
- Cherokee Trail Elementary (grades K-7)
- Diamond Hill Elementary (grades K-7)
- Dixie High School (grades 8–12)
- John C. Calhoun Elementary (grades K-5)
- Long Cane Primary (grades K-2)
- Westwood Elementary (grades 3–5)
- Wright Middle School (grades 6–8)
Other schools
- Calhoun Falls Charter School (part of the South Carolina Public Charter School District, whereby students from any part of the state may attend)
Colleges and universities
- Erskine College, a four-year Christian liberal arts college, with 575 undergraduates, is located in Due West, South Carolina
- Piedmont Technical College, hosts a branch campus in Abbeville, SC
Notable residents

- John C. Calhoun, (1782–1850), born in the Abbeville District, United States Congressman and United States Senator from South Carolina, Secretary of War, Secretary of State, and Vice President of the United States
- Langdon Cheves, (1776–1857), born in Abbeville County at Rocky River, banker and United States Congressman from South Carolina
- Francis Alanson Cunningham, (1804–1864), born in the Abbeville District, physician and United States Congressman from Ohio
- Joshua Hill, (1812–1891), born in the Abbeville District, United States Senator from Georgia
- Abner Smith Lipscomb, (1816–1890), born in the Abbeville District, member of the Alabama Legislature and Supreme Court Justice of both Alabama and Texas.
- James L. Petigru, (1789–1863), born in the Abbeville District, was the attorney general of South Carolina and a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. He was the leader of the anti-nullificationalists in the state house.
- Thomas D. Howie, (1908-1944), was an American army officer, killed during the Battle of Normandy during World War II, while trying to capture the French town of Saint-Lô. He is known as "The Major of St. Lo".
- Leomont Evans, (born 1974), is a former American football player in the NFL and the first iteration of the XFL.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Abbeville para niños
![]() | Janet Murguía |
![]() | Nelson Merced |
![]() | Jovita Idar |
![]() | Dolores Huerta |
![]() | María Teresa Kumar |