Darlington County, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Darlington County
|
||
|---|---|---|
Darlington County Courthouse
|
||
|
||
| Motto(s):
"Experience Darlington County, South Carolina, At The Speed Of Life"
|
||
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
|
||
 South Carolina's location within the U.S. |
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  South Carolina |
|
| Founded | 1785 | |
| Named for | Unknown; possibly Darlington, England | |
| Seat | Darlington | |
| Largest community | Hartsville | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 566.25 sq mi (1,466.6 km2) | |
| • Land | 560.59 sq mi (1,451.9 km2) | |
| • Water | 5.66 sq mi (14.7 km2) 1.00% | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 62,905 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
62,416 | |
| • Density | 112.21/sq mi (43.32/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 7th | |
Darlington County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 62,905. Its county seat is Darlington. Hartsville is the largest community in the county. Darlington County is home to the Darlington Raceway, which hosts the annual NASCAR Southern 500. Darlington County is also home to Coker College in Hartsville. Darlington County was named by an act in March 1785.
Darlington County is included in the Florence, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
The county was founded in 1785. While no records exist regarding the namesake of the county, it could possibly be named after Darlington, England. The county seat is Darlington and the largest community is Hartsville.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 567 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 561 square miles (1,450 km2) is land and 5.7 square miles (15 km2) (1.0%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Marlboro County - northeast
- Florence County - southeast
- Lee County - southwest
- Kershaw County - west
- Chesterfield County - northwest
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1800 | 7,631 | — | |
| 1810 | 9,047 | 18.6% | |
| 1820 | 10,949 | 21.0% | |
| 1830 | 13,728 | 25.4% | |
| 1840 | 14,822 | 8.0% | |
| 1850 | 16,830 | 13.5% | |
| 1860 | 20,361 | 21.0% | |
| 1870 | 26,243 | 28.9% | |
| 1880 | 34,485 | 31.4% | |
| 1890 | 29,134 | −15.5% | |
| 1900 | 32,388 | 11.2% | |
| 1910 | 36,027 | 11.2% | |
| 1920 | 39,126 | 8.6% | |
| 1930 | 41,427 | 5.9% | |
| 1940 | 45,198 | 9.1% | |
| 1950 | 50,016 | 10.7% | |
| 1960 | 52,928 | 5.8% | |
| 1970 | 53,442 | 1.0% | |
| 1980 | 62,717 | 17.4% | |
| 1990 | 61,851 | −1.4% | |
| 2000 | 67,394 | 9.0% | |
| 2010 | 68,681 | 1.9% | |
| 2020 | 62,905 | −8.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 62,416 | −9.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
|||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White | 33,821 | 53.77% |
| Black or African American | 25,386 | 40.36% |
| Native American | 136 | 0.22% |
| Asian | 290 | 0.46% |
| Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,872 | 2.98% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,396 | 2.22% |
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 62,905 people, 24,801 households, and 17,344 families residing in the county.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 68,681 people, 26,531 households, and 18,552 families living in the county. The population density was 122.4 inhabitants per square mile (47.3/km2). There were 30,297 housing units at an average density of 54.0 per square mile (20.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 55.9% white, 41.6% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 9.5% were American, 7.0% were English, and 5.3% were Irish.
Of the 26,531 households, 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 20.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.1% were non-families, and 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.04. The median age was 39.6 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,379 and the median income for a family was $46,894. Males had a median income of $40,089 versus $29,255 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,096. About 14.6% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.7% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
In 2022, the GDP of Darlington County was $3.3 billion (approx. $52,531 per capita). In chained 2017 dollars, its real GDP was $2.7 billion (approx. $42,579 per capita). Between 2022 and 2024, the unemployment rate has fluctuated between 2.4-4.2% within the county.
As of April 2024[update], some of the largest employers in the county include Coker University, Duke Energy Progress Inc, Sonoco, and Walmart.
| Industry | Employment Counts | Employment Percentage (%) | Average Annual Wage ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 1,654 | 8.1 | 17,212 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,066 | 5.2 | 39,832 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 150 | 0.7 | 34,424 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 277 | 1.4 | 18,304 |
| Construction | 1,400 | 6.9 | 53,872 |
| Educational Services | 1,577 | 7.7 | 40,248 |
| Finance and Insurance | 345 | 1.7 | 60,008 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 2,801 | 13.7 | 46,072 |
| Information | 49 | 0.2 | 93,028 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 92 | 0.5 | 67,392 |
| Manufacturing | 3,849 | 18.9 | 86,164 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 503 | 2.5 | 34,112 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 331 | 1.6 | 48,620 |
| Public Administration | 1,424 | 7.0 | 39,364 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 99 | 0.5 | 61,880 |
| Retail Trade | 2,370 | 11.6 | 30,992 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 940 | 4.6 | 50,596 |
| Utilities | 736 | 3.6 | 107,744 |
| Wholesale Trade | 740 | 3.6 | 73,684 |
| Total | 20,403 | 100.0% | 52,075 |
Communities
Cities
- Darlington (county seat)
- Hartsville
Town
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated communities
Notable people
- Harry G. Byrd, Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Athletics, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and Detroit Tigers. He was born in Darlington. SC 151 in Darlington is named Harry Byrd Highway in his honor.
- William G. Farrow, lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps who participated in the Doolittle Raid; born in Darlington in 1918
- Albert Haynesworth, a professional football player who played primarily for the Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins; born in Hartsville
- W. W. Hicks, member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for Webster Parish, 1900 to 1904; born in Darlington County in 1843
- Orlando Hudson, former Major League baseball player; born in Darlington
- Jordan Lyles, Major League baseball player; born in Hartsville.
- Bobo Newsom, Major League Baseball pitcher with the Tigers, Senators, Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees, Giants, and Red Sox. He compiled a 211–222 record over 20 seasons, including a 21–5 season in 1940. SC 151 in Hartsville is named Bobo Newsom Highway in his honor.
- James E. Williams, sailor of the United States Navy during the 1950s and 1960s. He was the most highly decorated enlisted man in the history of the United States Navy and a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Darlington para niños
