Fairfield County, South Carolina facts for kids

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Fairfield County

U.S. county

Fairfield County Courthouse

Seal

Motto(s):

"Capital Convenience, Country Comfort"

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

Comment made by General Cornwallis stating ""How Fair These Fields"

Seat

Winnsboro

Largest community

Winnsboro

Area

• Total

709.87 sq mi (1,838.6 km²)

• Land

686.31 sq mi (1,777.5 km²)

• Water

23.56 sq mi (61.0 km²) 3.32%

Population

(2020)

• Total

20,948

• Estimate

(2023)

20,422

• Density

30.52/sq mi (11.78/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional district

5th

Fairfield County is a special area in South Carolina, a state in the United States. It's called a county. In 2020, about 20,948 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Winnsboro.

Fairfield County is also part of the larger Columbia, SC area.

Exploring Fairfield County's Past

How Did Fairfield County Get Its Name?

The name "Fairfield" might have come from a famous British general, General Cornwallis. During the American Revolutionary War (around 1780-1781), he was in the area. It's said he looked around and declared, "How Fair These Fields!" The house where he stayed is still standing today.

Early Settlers and Winnsboro's Beginnings

Before the Revolutionary War, a man named Richard Winn moved to this area from Virginia. His land became the town of Winnsboro. By 1777, people already called the settlement "Winnsborough."

In 1785, Richard Winn and others helped officially create the village. Richard Winn was a general in the Revolutionary War. He fought in many battles for South Carolina.

Historic Churches and Their Stories

Fairfield County has many old churches. Some have been around for over 200 years! One very famous church is the Old Brick Church, built in 1788.

During the American Civil War, General Sherman's troops used the church's floorboards. They needed them to build a crossing over a nearby river. A note on the wall shows a Union soldier felt bad about this.

Cotton and Changes in the 1800s

In the mid-1700s, early settlers brought cotton farming to the county. Enslaved African Americans were forced to do the hard work of growing this crop.

Later, the invention of the cotton gin made it easier to grow cotton. Cotton became the main crop in Fairfield County from the early 1800s until the 1920s. After the Civil War, many African Americans who had been enslaved became sharecroppers or tenant farmers.

Over time, the soil became tired. Also, tiny bugs called boll weevils damaged the cotton plants. New machines meant fewer people were needed for farm work. Because of this, many African Americans moved away. This big move, called the Great Migration, happened in the first half of the 1900s. They went to cities in the North and Midwest for new jobs and to escape unfair rules.

Winnsboro's Town Clock and Courthouse

In 1832, Winnsboro officially became a town. The most famous building in Winnsboro is the Town Clock. It was built as a market house. A clock was added in 1837.

The County Courthouse is across from the Town Clock. It was built in 1823. A famous South Carolina architect, Robert Mills, designed it. This courthouse holds important records from the mid-1700s.

Reconstruction Era in Fairfield County

After the Civil War, during a time called Reconstruction, Fairfield District became Fairfield County. Union soldiers were stationed there. In 1868, people who had fought for the Confederacy could not vote. This meant most voters in Fairfield County were African American.

In 1868, an African American man named George Barber was elected to the South Carolina State Senate. Two African American men, Henry Jacob and Henry Johnson, were also elected to the state House of Representatives. This was a huge change! Even with lots of spending, Fairfield County was one of only two counties not in debt by 1870. In 1872, U.S. troops were in the county to stop groups like the Ku Klux Klan from causing trouble during voting.

Fairfield County also has large granite deposits. This led to quarrying, which is digging up stone. "Winnsboro blue granite" is famous and used in buildings around the world.

Fairfield County in the 1900s

In the 1960s, the county was home to the Carolinas–Virginia Tube Reactor. In 1984, the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Generating Station was built here. The Fairfield County Airport opened in 1975. A gold mine, the Ridgeway Mine, operated near Ridgeway from 1988 to 1999.

Fairfield County's Geography

Fairfield County covers about 710 square miles. Most of this is land, with about 24 square miles of water.

The Sumter National Forest has a part in Fairfield County. It's a great place for outdoor fun. The county is also known for its many deer and wild turkeys, which makes it popular for hunting. You can also visit Lake Wateree State Recreation Area.

Protected Natural Areas

Sumter National Forest (part)

Local Parks and Sites

Lake Monticello Park
Lake Wateree State Park
Monticello Recreational Lake Beach
The South Carolina Railroad Museum
Upland Wings Preserve

Important Rivers and Lakes

Big Cedar Creek
Broad River
Catawba River
Great Falls Lake
Lake Wateree
Little River
Monticello Reservoir
Persimmon Creek

Neighboring Counties

Fairfield County shares borders with these other counties:

Chester County – to the north
Lancaster County – to the northeast
Kershaw County – to the east
Richland County – to the south
Newberry County – to the southwest
Union County – to the northwest

Main Roads in Fairfield County

Several important highways run through Fairfield County:

I-77
US 21
US 321
SC 34
SC 200
SC 213
SC 215
SC 269
SC 901

Key Transportation Hubs

Fairfield County Airport

Fairfield County's Population

The number of people living in Fairfield County has changed over time. In 1790, there were 7,623 people. By 2020, the population was 20,948.

Who Lives in Fairfield County?

In 2020, there were 20,948 people living in Fairfield County. About 53.47% of the people were Black or African American. About 40.59% were White. Other groups included Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and people of mixed races. About 2.02% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In 2010, there were 23,956 people. The average household had 2.50 people. The average family had 3.01 people. The average age of people in the county was 42.4 years old.

Fairfield County's Economy

In 2022, the total value of all goods and services produced in Fairfield County was about $1.4 billion. This is a way to measure how much money the county's economy makes.

Some of the biggest employers in Fairfield County include:

BOMAG (a company that makes heavy equipment)
Dominion Energy (an energy company)
Element Electronics (an electronics company)
Food Lion (a grocery store chain)
The town of Winnsboro
Universal Protection Service (a security company)

Poverty in Fairfield County

In 2018, the average household income in Fairfield County was lower than the state average for South Carolina. About 23% of the county's residents lived in poverty. For children, the rate was higher, with about 32% of children living in poverty.

Communities in Fairfield County

Towns

Blythewood (mostly in a neighboring county)
Jenkinsville
Ridgeway
Winnsboro (This is the county seat and the largest town.)

Census-Designated Place

Winnsboro Mills

Smaller Communities (Unincorporated)

These are smaller areas that are not officially towns:

Adger
Blackjack
Blackstock
Blair
Bucklick
Feasterville
Longtown
Mitford
Monticello
Rion

Images for kids

The Fairfield County Courthouse