Lee County, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lee County
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Lee County Courthouse
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| Motto(s):
"Experience The Beauty of Lee County"
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Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
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 South Carolina's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  South Carolina |
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| Founded | December 15, 1902 | |
| Named for | Robert E. Lee | |
| Seat | Bishopville | |
| Largest community | Bishopville | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 411.23 sq mi (1,065.1 km2) | |
| • Land | 410.18 sq mi (1,062.4 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.05 sq mi (2.7 km2) 0.26% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 16,531 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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15,967 | |
| • Density | 40.30/sq mi (15.56/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 5th | |
Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 16,531, making it the fifth-least populous county in South Carolina. Its county seat is Bishopville.
Contents
History
The county is named for Confederate general Robert E. Lee. A previous incarnation of Lee County was established in 1898, but was negated by the State Supreme Court in 1899. The current Lee County formed on February 25, 1902, from Darlington, Kershaw, and Sumter counties. Minor boundary changes were made in 1914 (11.9 sq mi [31 km2] to Sumter), in 1921 (4.24 sq mi [11.0 km2] to Kershaw), and in 1925 (1.58 sq mi [4.1 km2] from Kershaw).
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 411 square miles (1,060 km2), of which 410 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.3%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Darlington County - northeast
- Florence County - east
- Sumter County - south
- Kershaw County - northwest
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 25,318 | — | |
| 1920 | 26,827 | 6.0% | |
| 1930 | 24,096 | −10.2% | |
| 1940 | 24,908 | 3.4% | |
| 1950 | 23,173 | −7.0% | |
| 1960 | 21,832 | −5.8% | |
| 1970 | 18,323 | −16.1% | |
| 1980 | 18,929 | 3.3% | |
| 1990 | 18,437 | −2.6% | |
| 2000 | 20,119 | 9.1% | |
| 2010 | 19,220 | −4.5% | |
| 2020 | 16,531 | −14.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 15,967 | −16.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 5,721 | 34.61% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 10,054 | 60.82% |
| Native American | 49 | 0.3% |
| Asian | 34 | 0.21% |
| Other/Mixed | 378 | 2.29% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 295 | 1.78% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,531 people, 6,423 households, and 3,971 families residing in the county.
2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 19,220 people, 6,797 households, and 4,567 families living in the county. The population density was 46.9 inhabitants per square mile (18.1/km2). There were 7,775 housing units at an average density of 19.0 per square mile (7.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 64.3% black or African American, 33.4% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.8% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 24.9% were American, and 5.1% were English.
Of the 6,797 households, 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples living together, 24.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.8% were non-families, and 29.3% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.15. The median age was 38.9 years.
The median household income was $23,378 and the median family income was $35,279. Males had a median income of $32,721 versus $26,769 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,924. About 25.8% of families and 29.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.9% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
In 2022, the GDP was $425.5 million (about $26,648 per capita), and the real GDP was $345 million (about $21,607 per capita) in chained 2017 dollars.
As of April 2024[update], some of the largest employers in the county include Ardagh Group, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Food Lion and Lee Academy.
| Industry | Employment Counts | Employment Percentage (%) | Average Annual Wage ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 250 | 7.0 | 17,524 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 261 | 7.3 | 42,588 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 78 | 2.2 | 29,588 |
| Construction | 50 | 1.4 | 36,660 |
| Educational Services | 366 | 10.2 | 39,000 |
| Finance and Insurance | 65 | 1.8 | 47,112 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 635 | 17.8 | 60,372 |
| Information | 23 | 0.6 | 91,416 |
| Manufacturing | 406 | 11.4 | 67,132 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 120 | 3.4 | 58,032 |
| Public Administration | 568 | 15.9 | 49,556 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 6 | 0.2 | 26,520 |
| Retail Trade | 463 | 13.0 | 26,156 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 173 | 4.8 | 53,924 |
| Wholesale Trade | 108 | 3.0 | 62,608 |
| Total | 3,572 | 100.0% | 47,072 |
Communities
City
- Bishopville (county seat)
Town
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Lee (Carolina del Sur) para niños
