Lexington County, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lexington County
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Lexington County Courthouse in October 2013
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| Motto(s):
In God We Trust
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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 |
| State |  South Carolina |
| Founded | 1785 |
| Named for | Battle of Lexington and Concord |
| Seat | Lexington |
| Largest town | Lexington |
| Area | |
| • Total | 758 sq mi (1,960 km2) |
| • Land | 699 sq mi (1,810 km2) |
| • Water | 59 sq mi (150 km2) 7.8%% |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 262,391 |
| • Estimate
(2020)
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303,150 |
| • Density | 346.16/sq mi (133.65/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
Lexington County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 262,391, and the 2019 population estimate was 298,750. Its county seat and largest town is Lexington. The county was chartered in 1785 and was named in commemoration of Lexington, Massachusetts, the site of the Battle of Lexington in the American Revolutionary War. Lexington County is the sixth-largest county in South Carolina by population and is part of the Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 758 square miles (1,960 km2), of which 699 square miles (1,810 km2) is land and 59 square miles (150 km2) (7.8%) is water. The largest body of water is Lake Murray. While other waterways include Broad River, Saluda River and Congaree River
Adjacent counties
- Richland County - east
- Orangeburg County - southeast
- Calhoun County - southeast
- Aiken County - southwest
- Saluda County - west
- Newberry County - northwest
Climate
Lexington County, SC, gets 48 inches of rain per year. The US average is 37. Snowfall is 2 inches. The average US city gets 25 inches of snow per year. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 104.
On average, there are 218 sunny days per year in Lexington County, SC. The July high is around 92 degrees. The January low is 33. The comfort index, which is based on humidity during the hot months, is a 29 out of 100, where higher is more comfortable. The US average on the comfort index is 44.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 6,641 | — | |
| 1820 | 8,083 | 21.7% | |
| 1830 | 9,065 | 12.1% | |
| 1840 | 12,111 | 33.6% | |
| 1850 | 12,930 | 6.8% | |
| 1860 | 15,579 | 20.5% | |
| 1870 | 12,988 | −16.6% | |
| 1880 | 18,564 | 42.9% | |
| 1890 | 22,181 | 19.5% | |
| 1900 | 27,264 | 22.9% | |
| 1910 | 32,040 | 17.5% | |
| 1920 | 35,676 | 11.3% | |
| 1930 | 36,494 | 2.3% | |
| 1940 | 35,994 | −1.4% | |
| 1950 | 44,279 | 23.0% | |
| 1960 | 60,726 | 37.1% | |
| 1970 | 89,012 | 46.6% | |
| 1980 | 140,353 | 57.7% | |
| 1990 | 167,611 | 19.4% | |
| 2000 | 216,014 | 28.9% | |
| 2010 | 262,391 | 21.5% | |
| 2020 (est.) | 303,150 | 15.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2019 |
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2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 262,391 people, 102,733 households, and 70,952 families living in the county. The population density was 375.4 inhabitants per square mile (144.9/km2). There were 113,957 housing units at an average density of 163.0 per square mile (62.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.3% white, 14.3% black or African American, 1.4% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 2.7% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 17.2% were German, 14.0% were American, 12.5% were English, and 11.8% were Irish.
Of the 102,733 households, 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.9% were non-families, and 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 37.9 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $52,205 and the median income for a family was $64,630. Males had a median income of $44,270 versus $34,977 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,393. About 8.5% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 208,854 | 71.04% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 42,382 | 14.42% |
| Native American | 894 | 0.3% |
| Asian | 6,644 | 2.26% |
| Pacific Islander | 185 | 0.06% |
| Other/Mixed | 13,235 | 4.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21,797 | 7.41% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 293,991 people, 118,193 households, and 81,118 families residing in the county.
Transportation
Public Transportation
Public transportation in Lexington County is provided by the COMET, or officially the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA). The bus system is the main public transit system for the greater Columbia area. In Lexington County, the bus system runs in the areas of West Columbia, Cayce, Irmo, Springdale, Seven Oaks, and Harbison. Additionally, COMET offers Dial-a-ride transit (DART), which provides personalized service passengers with disabilities.
Columbia Metropolitan Airport
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The Columbia Metropolitan Airport serves as the main airport system for the greater Columbia area. In 2018, the airport served 1,197,603 passengers with 12,324 flight. Additionally, the airport is also the regional hub for UPS Airlines, transporting 136.7 million pounds of freight/mail in 2018. The airport was named Lexington County Airport, and during World War II, trained pilots for B-25 Mitchell crews.
Interstates
I-26 Interstate 26 travels from northwest to southeast and connects the Columbia area to the other two major population centers of South Carolina: the Greenville-Spartanburg area in the northwestern part of the state and North Charleston – Charleston area in the southeastern part of the state.
I-20 Interstate 20 travels from west to east and connects Columbia to Atlanta and Augusta in the west and Florence in the east. It serves the nearby towns and suburbs of Pelion, Lexington, West Columbia, Sandhill, Pontiac, and Elgin. Interstate 20 is also used by travelers heading to Myrtle Beach, although the interstate's eastern terminus is in Florence.
I-77 Interstate 77 begins in Lexington county and ends in Cleveland, Ohio and is frequently used by travelers on the east coast heading to or from Florida.
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Referendums and elections
On November 4, 2014, Lexington County residents voted against a proposed sales tax increase. The money generated from this tax would have mostly been used to improve traffic conditions upon roadways. Likewise on November 4, 2014, residents voted to repeal a ban on alcohol sales on Sundays within the county.
Communities
Cities
- Cayce (partly in Richland County)
- Columbia (mostly in Richland County)
- West Columbia
Towns
- Batesburg-Leesville (partly in Saluda County)
- Chapin
- Gaston
- Gilbert
- Irmo (partly in Richland County)
- Lexington (county seat)
- Pelion
- Pine Ridge
- South Congaree
- Springdale
- Summit
- Swansea
Census-designated places
Education
| Public school district name | Enrollment | Employees | Schools |
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| Lexington School District One | 27,300 | 3,900 | 31 |
| Lexington School District Two | 8,947 | 900 | 12 |
| Lexington School District Three | 2,000 | 350 | 4 |
| Lexington School District Four | 3,350 | 300 | 7 |
| Lexington & Richland County School District Five | 16,680 | 1,500 | 21 |
| Colleges | Enrollment | Campuses | |
| Midlands Technical College | 15,000 | 3 | |
| Public libraries | Visitors (counted once) | Branches | |
| Lexington County Public Library System | 160,336 | 10 | |
Notable people
Floyd Spence Lexington County resident & Congressman for 30 years.
Images for kids
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Lexington County (Cayce) from the banks of the Congaree River.
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Walking trail in Cayce, SC, crossing beneath railroad tracks
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Columbiana Mall in city of Columbia, SC in Lexington County
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A farm in rural Lexington County near Swansea
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Lake Murray Dam generates electricity for the region. The lake serves as an attraction for fishing, boating, swimming, and walking.
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Riverbanks Zoo Waterpark (Lexington County portion)
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Two towers of Lexington Medical Center.
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See also
In Spanish: Condado de Lexington para niños
