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Williamsburg County, South Carolina facts for kids

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Williamsburg County
U.S. county
Williamsburg County Courthouse
Williamsburg County Courthouse
Official seal of Williamsburg County
Seal
 Official logo of Williamsburg County
Logo
Map of South Carolina highlighting Williamsburg County
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting South Carolina
South Carolina's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  South Carolina
Founded 1785
Named for William of Orange
Seat Kingstree
Largest community Kingstree
Area
 • Total 937.05 sq mi (2,426.9 km2)
 • Land 934.17 sq mi (2,419.5 km2)
 • Water 2.88 sq mi (7.5 km2)  0.31%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 31,026
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 29,891
 • Density 33.21/sq mi (12.82/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 6th

Williamsburg County is a place in South Carolina, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 31,026 people lived there. The main town and biggest community in the county is Kingstree. Williamsburg County was officially created in 1804.

History

Main article: Early history of Williamsburg, South Carolina

Early Events

On January 7, 1867, a sad event happened: a fire at the Kingstree jail. It killed 22 freedmen who were imprisoned there.

Later in 1867, the United States military helped people in the county register to vote. This was to prepare for a new "reconstruction" government. In the Williamsburg area, 800 white people and 1,725 African-Americans could vote under the new rules.

A meeting was held to create a new constitution for South Carolina. William Darrington, a white reverend from Williamsburg who was against slavery, represented the area. C.M. Olsen and Stephen A. Swails, both African-American, also represented Williamsburg.

Becoming a County

In 1868, the state constitution changed things. It got rid of the old "parishes" and officially made judicial districts into counties. This is how the "Williamsburg District" became "Williamsburg County."

New Elections and Leaders

In 1868, an election took place. All men over 21 could vote, as long as they had not committed a serious crime or fought for the Confederate government. This was a new way of voting set up by the reconstruction government. Most voters in this election were African American.

Many African-American leaders were chosen. Stephen A. Swails was an educated Black man from Pennsylvania. He had fought in the U.S. military during the Civil War. He was elected to represent Williamsburg County in the South Carolina State Senate.

Other Black men elected to represent Williamsburg County were:

  • F.H. Frost, J. Pendergrass, and Fortune Guilds for the State House of Representatives.
  • F.H. Frost as school commissioner.
  • F.H. Swails as an auditor for the county.
  • C. Rasted and F.H. Frost as county assessors.

W.W. Ward, a white person from Massachusetts who was against slavery, became the sheriff. F.C. Cooper, a white Quaker from Pennsylvania who was also against slavery, became the clerk of the court. C.H. Pettingil, a Union Army officer from Boston, was elected as the state constable.

Everyone elected from Williamsburg County in this election was a member of the Republican Party.

Stephen A. Swails's Leadership

During this time, State Senator Stephen A. Swails was also the mayor of Kingstree from 1868 to 1878. As mayor, Swails started a newspaper called the Williamsburg Republican. He also opened a law firm.

Swails became a very important member of the South Carolina senate. He was the president pro tempore, which meant he controlled all new laws. He believed that everyone should get an education. He helped change The South Carolina College from a school for rich families into the University of South Carolina, which welcomed all students.

Recent Events

On September 17, 2023, a Marine Corps F-35 stealth fighter jet crashed in a rural part of Williamsburg County. The plane had a problem, and the pilot safely ejected and parachuted out.

Geography

Williamsburg County covers about 937 square miles. Most of this area, about 934 square miles, is land. The rest, about 3 square miles, is water.

Protected Areas

Here are some special natural areas in or near Williamsburg County:

  • Moore Farms Botanical Garden (part)
  • Wee Tee State Forest (part)
  • Wee Tee Wildlife Management Area

Major Water Bodies

Important rivers and swamps in the county include:

Neighboring Counties

Williamsburg County shares borders with these other counties:

Major Roads and Transportation

Many important roads pass through Williamsburg County, including:

  • US 52
  • US 378
  • US 521

  • US 521 Bus.
  • SC 41

  • SC 41 Bus.
  • SC 51
  • SC 261
  • SC 375
  • SC 377
  • SC 512
  • SC 513
  • SC 527

  • SC 527 Conn.

The county also has:

  • Kingstree Station (a train station)
  • Williamsburg Regional Airport (an airport)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1810 6,871 —
1820 8,716 26.9%
1830 9,018 3.5%
1840 10,327 14.5%
1850 12,447 20.5%
1860 15,489 24.4%
1870 15,489 0.0%
1880 24,110 55.7%
1890 27,777 15.2%
1900 31,685 14.1%
1910 37,626 18.8%
1920 38,539 2.4%
1930 34,914 −9.4%
1940 41,011 17.5%
1950 43,807 6.8%
1960 40,932 −6.6%
1970 34,243 −16.3%
1980 38,226 11.6%
1990 36,815 −3.7%
2000 37,217 1.1%
2010 34,423 −7.5%
2020 31,026 −9.9%
2023 (est.) 29,891 −13.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

Population in 2020

Williamsburg County racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 9,986 32.19%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 19,579 63.11%
Native American 85 0.27%
Asian 147 0.47%
Pacific Islander 1 0.0%
Other/Mixed 609 1.96%
Hispanic or Latino 619 2.0%

In 2020, there were 31,026 people living in Williamsburg County. There were 12,686 households and 8,066 families.

Population in 2010

In 2010, the county had 34,423 people. About 65.8% were Black or African American, and 31.8% were white. About 2.0% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino origin.

Of the households, 33.2% had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.53 people. The average family had 3.13 people. The average age of people in the county was 40.2 years old.

Economy

Top Employers

As of April 2024, some of the biggest employers in Williamsburg County include:

Jobs and Wages

The table below shows how many people work in different industries in Williamsburg County and their average yearly wages. This data is from late 2023.

Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Williamsburg County, South Carolina - Q3 2023
Industry Employment Counts Employment Percentage (%) Average Annual Wage ($)
Accommodation and Food Services 279 4.1 17,264
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 99 1.5 27,872
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 125 1.8 42,432
Construction 372 5.5 47,008
Educational Services 662 9.7 43,524
Finance and Insurance 116 1.7 53,508
Health Care and Social Assistance 717 10.5 33,644
Manufacturing 2,056 30.2 60,944
Other Services (except Public Administration) 168 2.5 34,476
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 83 1.2 155,324
Public Administration 908 13.3 53,820
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 27 0.4 37,856
Retail Trade 804 11.8 30,316
Transportation and Warehousing 178 2.6 52,780
Wholesale Trade 210 3.1 44,148
Total 6,804 100.0% 47,975

Communities

City

  • Kingstree (This is the county seat and the largest community.)

Towns

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller communities that are not officially cities or towns:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Williamsburg (Carolina del Sur) para niños

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