Hampton County, South Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hampton County
U.S. county
Hampton County Courthouse
Seal
Motto(s):  "Pro Bono Publico" (Latin) (For the Public Good)
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
South Carolina's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
Founded	1878
Named for	Wade Hampton III
Seat	Hampton
Largest community	Hampton
Area
• Total	562.71 sq mi (1,457.4 km2)
• Land	559.98 sq mi (1,450.3 km2)
• Water	2.73 sq mi (7.1 km2)  0.49%
Population  (2020)
• Total	18,561
• Estimate  (2023)	18,122
• Density	33.15/sq mi (12.80/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th

Hampton County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,561. Its county seat is Hampton. It was named for Confederate Civil War general Wade Hampton, who in the late 1870s, with the ending of Reconstruction, was elected as governor of South Carolina.

History

The county is named for Wade Hampton III, one of the country's leading slaveowners and a Lieutenant General for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. After the war, he led the Redeemers and Red Shirts on a campaign to reestablish Democratic rule South Carolina. At the end of the Reconstruction era he became Governor and then U.S. Senator from South Carolina.

The county had a peak of population in 1910, when agriculture was still the mainstay of the economy. Thousands of African Americans left after that for urban areas, especially in the North, in the Great Migration. The mechanization of agriculture reduced farm jobs.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 562.71 square miles (1,457.4 km²), of which 559.98 square miles (1,450.3 km²) is land and 2.73 square miles (7.1 km²) (0.49%) is water.

National protected area

• Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge (part)

State and local protected areas

• Hamilton Ridge Wildlife Management Area
• James W Webb Wildlife Center and Game Management Area
• Lake Warren State Park
• Palachucola Wildlife Management Area
• Webb Wildlife Center

Major water bodies

• Coosawhatchie River
• Lake George Warren
• Little Salkehatchie River
• Salkehatchie River
• Savannah River

Adjacent counties

• Bamberg County – north
• Colleton County – east
• Beaufort County – southeast
• Jasper County – south
• Effingham County, Georgia – southwest
• Screven County, Georgia – west
• Allendale County – northwest

Major highways

• I-95
• US 21
• 
  US 17 Alt.
• US 278
• US 321
• US 601
• SC 3
• SC 63
• SC 68
• SC 333
• SC 363

Major infrastructure

• Yemassee Station

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 18,561 people, 6,993 households, and 4,148 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 21,090 people, 7,598 households, and 5,211 families living in the county. The population density was 37.7 inhabitants per square mile (14.6/km²). There were 9,140 housing units at an average density of 16.3 per square mile (6.3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 53.9% black or African American, 42.7% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 6.4% were Irish, 6.3% were American, 5.6% were German, and 5.3% were English.

Of the 7,598 households, 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.4% were non-families, and 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.15. The median age was 38.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,846 and the median income for a family was $43,234. Males had a median income of $31,935 versus $26,826 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,262. About 17.2% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

In 2022, the GDP was $542.4 million (about $29,930 per capita), and the real GDP was $431.3 million (about $23,798 per capita) in chained 2017 dollars. In 2022 through 2023, the average unemployment rate has been 2.8-2.9%.

Some of the largest employers in the county include the United States Department of Justice, Food Lion, The Habit Burger Grill, Hampton Regional Medical Center, and Le Creuset.

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

• Crocketville
• Lena
• McPhersonville
• Nixville

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Hampton para niños