Dorchester County, South Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dorchester County
U.S. county
Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site
Flag Seal Logo
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
South Carolina's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
Founded	February 25, 1897
Named for	Dorchester, Massachusetts
Seat	St. George
Largest community	North Charleston
Area
• Total	571.18 sq mi (1,479.3 km2)
• Land	568.59 sq mi (1,472.6 km2)
• Water	2.59 sq mi (6.7 km2)  0.45%
Population  (2020)
• Total	161,540
• Estimate  (2023)	169,833
• Density	284.11/sq mi (109.70/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts	1st, 6th

Dorchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is known for its rich history and beautiful natural areas. As of the 2020 census, about 161,540 people lived there.

The county's main town, called its county seat, is St. George. Dorchester County was officially created on February 25, 1897. It is part of the larger Charleston-North Charleston Metropolitan Area. This area is in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina.

History of Dorchester County

Dorchester County gets its name from its very first settlement. This settlement was started in 1696 by a group of people called Congregationalists. They named the new place "Dorchester" after their previous home in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Even though the settlement was old, Dorchester was not a separate county until 1897. When it became a county, it was formed from parts of two nearby counties: Colleton County and Berkeley County.

Geography of Dorchester County

Dorchester County covers a total area of about 571 square miles. Most of this area, about 568 square miles, is land. The rest, about 2.59 square miles, is water.

Natural and Historic Places

Dorchester County has several important natural and historic sites. These places are protected for everyone to enjoy.

• Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site
• Edisto River Wildlife Management Area
• Givhans Ferry State Park (part)
• Middleton Place

Major Rivers and Swamps

The county is home to several important water bodies. These include rivers and swamps that are part of the local ecosystem.

• Ashley River
• Four Hole Swamp
• Edisto River

Neighboring Counties

Dorchester County shares its borders with several other counties in South Carolina.

• Bamberg County – to the west
• Berkeley County – to the east
• Charleston County – to the southeast
• Colleton County – to the southwest
• Orangeburg County – to the northwest

Main Roads and Transportation

Several major highways run through Dorchester County. These roads help people travel and transport goods.

• I-26
• I-95
• US 15
• US 17
• 
  US 17 Alt.
• Invalid type: US-Alt-Truck
• US 78
• US 178
• SC 27
• SC 61
• 
  SC 61 Conn.
• SC 165
• SC 453
• SC 642

The county also has an airport.

• Summerville Airport

People of Dorchester County

The population of Dorchester County has grown a lot over the years. In 2020, the county had 161,540 people living there. There were 57,768 households and 41,473 families.

Diversity in Dorchester County

The county is home to a diverse group of people. Here's a look at the different groups reported in the 2020 census:

In 2010, the county had 136,555 people. The average household had about 2.68 people. The average family had about 3.11 people. The median age of people in the county was 35.6 years old.

Economy of Dorchester County

The economy of Dorchester County is strong. In 2022, the total value of all goods and services produced, called the GDP, was about $5.3 billion. This shows how much economic activity happens in the county.

The unemployment rate in Dorchester County has been low. Between 2022 and 2023, it stayed between 2.6% and 2.9%. This means most people who want to work can find jobs.

Major Employers

Many large companies and organizations provide jobs in Dorchester County. As of April 2024, some of the biggest employers include:

• Bosch
• Food Lion
• Harris Teeter
• KION Group
• Publix
• The town of Summerville
• Walmart

Education in Dorchester County

Education is important in Dorchester County. The county has two main school districts that serve its students.

• Dorchester School District 2
• Dorchester School District 4
  • Districts 1 and 3 joined together to create District 4 in 1987.

Communities in Dorchester County

Dorchester County has several different types of communities. These include cities, towns, and smaller unincorporated areas.

Cities

• North Charleston (This is the largest community. Parts of it are also in Berkeley and Charleston counties.)

Towns

• Harleyville
• Lincolnville (Most of this town is in Charleston County.)
• Reevesville
• Ridgeville
• St. George (This is the county seat.)
• Summerville (Parts of this town are also in Berkeley and Charleston counties.)

Census-Designated Places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated.

• Ladson (Parts of Ladson are also in Berkeley County and Charleston County.)

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller communities that are not part of an official city or town.

• Grover
• Byrds
• Knightsville

Ghost Town

• Dorchester (This is a historic site where a town once stood.)

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Dorchester (Carolina del Sur) para niños