Newberry County, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Newberry County
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Newberry County Courthouse
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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 | 1785 | |
| Named for | No records exist but likely named after a settler in the area or a suburb of London named Newberry. | |
| Seat | Newberry | |
| Largest community | Newberry | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 647.28 sq mi (1,676.4 km2) | |
| • Land | 630.29 sq mi (1,632.4 km2) | |
| • Water | 16.99 sq mi (44.0 km2) 2.62% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 37,719 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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38,825  |
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| • Density | 58.2731/sq mi (22.4994/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 3rd | |
Newberry County is a county located in the state of South Carolina. In 2020, about 37,719 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Newberry.
No one knows for sure how Newberry County got its name. One idea is that Quaker settlers named it after their home, Newberry, a suburb of London in the United Kingdom. Newberry County is also part of the Newberry, SC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which means it's a smaller city area with close ties to nearby towns.
Contents
History of Newberry County
Newberry County was officially created in 1785. It was formed from an older area called Ninety-Six District. Before it became a county, some important battles of the American Revolutionary War happened here. These battles included Williams' Plantation in December 1780, Mud Lick in March 1781, and Bush River in May 1781.
The town of Newberry was started in 1789. It became the county seat, which is the main town where the county government is located. Because of this, people sometimes called it Newberry Courthouse.
Farming and Growth
At first, many yeomen farmers settled in Newberry County. These were farmers who owned their own land. In the 1800s, large farms called plantations grew a lot of short-staple cotton. This became very profitable after the cotton gin was invented, which made it easier to process cotton. Cotton was the most important crop in Newberry County before the American Civil War.
Newberry town grew as a trading center. When the railroad arrived in the early 1850s, it connected Newberry to bigger towns and markets. This helped the county's economy. Newberry College was also started by the Lutheran Church in 1856.
Changes After the Civil War
The American Civil War stopped the county's growth. The fighting and the loss of many men greatly affected the economy of South Carolina. After the war, in the 1880s, the first cotton mills were built in Newberry County. These mills quickly became a big part of the economy and created many jobs.
In the early 1900s, farming became more mechanized. This meant fewer people were needed to work on farms. Since the 1970s, the number of people living in Newberry County has been growing. The population went from 29,416 in 1960 to 37,719 in 2020.
Geography of Newberry County
Newberry County covers a total area of about 647 square miles. Most of this, about 630 square miles, is land. The rest, about 17 square miles, is water.
Protected Natural Areas
Newberry County has several important natural areas that are protected.
- Belfast Wildlife Management Area (part of it is here)
- Sumter National Forest (part of it is here)
There are also state and local protected areas:
- Belfast Wildlife Management Area
- Broad River Scenic Area
- Dreher Island State Park
- Rocky Branch Natural Area
Rivers and Lakes
Many rivers and lakes flow through or are near Newberry County. These include:
- Broad River
- Bush River
- Camping Creek
- Cannon's Creek
- Enoree River
- Lake Murray
- Parr Shoals Reservoir
- Saluda River
Neighboring Counties
Newberry County shares borders with several other counties:
- Union County – to the north
- Fairfield County – to the east
- Lexington County – to the southeast
- Richland County – to the southeast
- Saluda County – to the south
- Greenwood County – to the southwest
- Laurens County – to the northwest
Major Roads and Infrastructure
Several important highways pass through Newberry County, making it easy to travel to other parts of the state. These include:
I-26
US 76
US 176
US 176 Conn.
SC 34
SC 34 Conn.
SC 39
SC 56
SC 66
SC 72
SC 72 Conn.
SC 121
SC 202
SC 213
SC 219
SC 391
SC 395
SC 560
The county also has important services like the Newberry County Water & Sewer Authority, Newberry Electric Cooperative, and Clinton-Newberry Natural Gas Authority. These provide water, electricity, and natural gas to homes and businesses.
People of Newberry County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 9,342 | — | |
| 1800 | 12,006 | 28.5% | |
| 1810 | 13,964 | 16.3% | |
| 1820 | 16,104 | 15.3% | |
| 1830 | 17,441 | 8.3% | |
| 1840 | 18,350 | 5.2% | |
| 1850 | 20,143 | 9.8% | |
| 1860 | 20,879 | 3.7% | |
| 1870 | 20,775 | −0.5% | |
| 1880 | 26,497 | 27.5% | |
| 1890 | 26,434 | −0.2% | |
| 1900 | 30,182 | 14.2% | |
| 1910 | 34,586 | 14.6% | |
| 1920 | 35,552 | 2.8% | |
| 1930 | 34,681 | −2.4% | |
| 1940 | 33,577 | −3.2% | |
| 1950 | 31,771 | −5.4% | |
| 1960 | 29,416 | −7.4% | |
| 1970 | 29,273 | −0.5% | |
| 1980 | 31,242 | 6.7% | |
| 1990 | 33,172 | 6.2% | |
| 2000 | 36,108 | 8.9% | |
| 2010 | 37,508 | 3.9% | |
| 2020 | 37,719 | 0.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 38,825 | 3.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
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What the 2020 Census Shows
The 2020 census counted 37,719 people living in Newberry County. There were 14,810 households and 9,705 families.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 22,635 | 60.01% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 10,360 | 27.47% |
| Native American | 107 | 0.28% |
| Asian | 135 | 0.36% |
| Pacific Islander | 4 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,173 | 3.11% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,305 | 8.76% |
What the 2010 Census Showed
In 2010, there were 37,508 people in the county. The population density was about 59.5 people per square mile. Most people were white (62.1%), followed by Black or African American (31.0%). About 7.2% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino background.
The average age in the county was about 39.9 years old. The median income for a household was $41,815. This means half of the households earned more than this, and half earned less. About 16.6% of all people in the county lived below the poverty line. This included about 25.6% of those under 18.
Economy of Newberry County
In 2022, the total value of all goods and services produced in Newberry County was about $1.8 billion. This is called the GDP.
Major Employers
As of April 2024, some of the biggest companies that employ people in Newberry County include:
- Caterpillar Inc.
- Georgia-Pacific
- Komatsu Limited
- Kraft Foods
- Newberry College
- Samsung Electronics
- Valmont Industries
- Walmart
These companies provide many jobs in different areas like manufacturing, education, and retail.
| Industry | Number of Jobs | Percentage of Jobs (%) | Average Yearly Wage ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 1,120 | 7.6 | 18,980 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 787 | 5.4 | 33,800 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 474 | 3.2 | 45,032 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 166 | 1.1 | 13,572 |
| Construction | 773 | 5.3 | 58,708 |
| Educational Services | 1,178 | 8.0 | 46,332 |
| Finance and Insurance | 201 | 1.4 | 43,316 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,484 | 10.1 | 39,156 |
| Information | 42 | 0.3 | 64,064 |
| Manufacturing | 5,019 | 34.2 | 58,188 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 246 | 1.7 | 46,176 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 171 | 1.2 | 42,588 |
| Public Administration | 786 | 5.4 | 48,464 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 78 | 0.5 | 52,936 |
| Retail Trade | 1,477 | 10.1 | 28,600 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 280 | 1.9 | 56,004 |
| Utilities | 73 | 0.5 | 65,572 |
| Wholesale Trade | 315 | 2.1 | 66,924 |
| Total | 14,670 | 100.0% | 46,191 |
Media in Newberry County
Newberry Magazine is a magazine published every two months for Newberry County. It has been around since 2004 and is created by Summer Media.
Towns and Communities
Newberry County has one city, several towns, and other smaller communities.
Cities
- Newberry (This is the main town and county seat.)
Towns
Census-Designated Place
- Helena (This is a community that is counted in the census but is not an official city or town.)
Other Communities
Famous People from Newberry County
- Lee Atwater (1951–1991), a well-known political consultant who advised politicians.
- Pinckney Warren Russell (1864–1941), a scholar who studied ancient languages, an educator, and a pastor.
Images for kids
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Seal of Newberry County
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The Newberry County Courthouse
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Newberry para niños
