Kershaw County, South Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kershaw County
U.S. county
Old Kershaw County Courthouse in Camden
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	1791
Named for	Joseph Brevard Kershaw
Seat	Camden
Largest community	Camden
Area
• Total	740.26 sq mi (1,917.3 km2)
• Land	726.61 sq mi (1,881.9 km2)
• Water	13.65 sq mi (35.4 km2)  1.84%
Population  (2020)
• Total	65,403
• Estimate  (2023)	69,905
• Density	90.01/sq mi (34.75/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	5th

Kershaw County is a county located in the state of South Carolina, United States. In 2020, about 65,403 people lived there. The main town and largest community is Camden.

The county was created in 1791. It was formed from parts of other counties nearby. It is named after Colonel Joseph Kershaw (1727–1791). He was an early settler and a hero during the American Revolutionary War. Kershaw County is also part of the larger Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History of Kershaw County

Kershaw County got its name from Joseph Kershaw, an important early settler. It was first part of the Camden District. In 1791, it became its own county. This happened when parts of Claremont, Lancaster, Fairfield, and Richland counties were used to create it.

The county seat is Camden. It is the oldest inland city in South Carolina. English traders and farmers first settled this area around 1732. They moved inland from Charleston.

Revolutionary War Battles

During the American Revolutionary War, the British army took control of Camden. They held it from June 1780 to May 1781. Many battles, fourteen in total, happened in this area. Two major ones were the Battle of Camden in August 1780 and the Battle of Hobkirk's Hill in April 1781.

Notable Military Figures

Kershaw County has a strong military past. Many brave soldiers came from here. During the American Civil War, six men from the county became generals for the Confederate side. These included Joseph Brevard Kershaw and James Chesnut. Richard Rowland Kirkland, a Confederate soldier known for his bravery at the Battle of Fredericksburg, was also from Kershaw County. He served under General Kershaw. In February 1865, Union troops led by General William Tecumseh Sherman burned parts of Camden.

In World War I, two men from Kershaw County earned the Medal of Honor. This is a very high award for bravery. Richmond Hobson Hilton received his medal for actions in October 1918, where he lost an arm. John Canty Villepigue also earned his medal in October 1918. He died later from his injuries.

Famous People from Kershaw

Many famous people were born in Kershaw County. Bernard M. Baruch was a well-known statesman and financier. Lane Kirkland was an important labor leader. Larry Doby was also born here. He was the first African-American baseball player in the American League. Former South Carolina Governor John C. West was also from Kershaw County.

Geography of Kershaw County

Kershaw County covers about 740 square miles. Most of this area, about 727 square miles, is land. The remaining 14 square miles, or about 1.9%, is water.

Neighboring Counties

Kershaw County shares borders with several other counties:

• Lancaster County - to the north
• Chesterfield County - to the northeast
• Darlington County - to the east
• Lee County - to the southeast
• Sumter County - to the southeast
• Richland County - to the southwest
• Fairfield County - to the west

Population and People

In 2020, Kershaw County had 65,403 people living there. There were 24,544 households and 16,019 families. Most people in the county were White (about 66.3%). About 23.1% were Black or African American. Other groups made up smaller parts of the population.

In 2010, the county had 61,697 people. The population density was about 85 people per square mile. The average age of people living there was 40.2 years old.

Economy and Jobs

In 2022, the total value of all goods and services produced in Kershaw County was about $2.7 billion. This shows how much economic activity happens there.

Some of the biggest employers in the county include well-known stores. These are places like Food Lion, Lowe's, Target, and Walmart. There is also Hengst Automotive, which is a manufacturing company.

Education in Kershaw County

The Kershaw County School District manages all the public schools in the county.

Central Carolina Technical College has two campuses in Camden. This college offers higher education and job training.

Kershaw County is also home to Camden Military Academy. This is the official state military academy for South Carolina. The Montessori School of Camden is a public charter school located in Camden.

High Schools

• Camden High School
• Lugoff-Elgin High School
• North Central High School
• Woolard Technology Center

Middle Schools

• Camden Middle School
• Lugoff-Elgin Middle School
• North Central Middle School
• Leslie M. Stover Middle School
• Montessori School of Camden

Elementary Schools

• Camden Elementary School
• Lugoff Elementary School
• Wateree Elementary School
• Blaney Elementary School
• Doby's Mill Elementary School
• North Central Elementary School
• Midway Elementary School
• Pine Tree Hill Elementary School
• Jackson Elementary School
• Montessori School of Camden

Communities in Kershaw County

City

• Camden (This is the county seat)

Towns

• Bethune
• Elgin

Census-designated places

• Boykin
• Lugoff

Unincorporated communities

• Antioch
• Cassatt
• DeKalb
• Liberty Hill
• Westville

Images for kids

• 

  Original Kershaw County Courthouse in 1978

• 

  Joseph Brevard Kershaw

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Kershaw para niños