Hampton County, South Carolina

Hampton County
Hampton County Courthouse
Official seal of Hampton County
Motto(s): 
"Pro Bono Publico" (Latin)
(For the Public Good)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Hampton 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.
Coordinates: 32°47′N 81°08′W / 32.78°N 81.14°W / 32.78; -81.14
Country United States
State South Carolina
Founded1878
Named forWade Hampton III
SeatHampton
Largest communityHampton
Area
 • Total562.71 sq mi (1,457.4 km2)
 • Land559.98 sq mi (1,450.3 km2)
 • Water2.73 sq mi (7.1 km2)  0.49%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total18,561
 • Estimate 
(2023)
18,122
 • Density33.15/sq mi (12.80/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.hamptoncountysc.org

Hampton County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,561.[1] Its county seat is Hampton.[2] It was named for Confederate Civil War general Wade Hampton, who in the late 1870s, with the ending of Reconstruction, was elected as governor of South Carolina.[3]

History[edit]

The county is named for Wade Hampton III, one of the country's leading slaveowners and a Lieutenant General for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. After the war, he led the Redeemers and Red Shirts on a campaign to reestablish Democratic rule South Carolina. At the end of the Reconstruction era he became Governor and then U.S. Senator from South Carolina.

The county had a peak of population in 1910, when agriculture was still the mainstay of the economy. Thousands of African Americans left after that for urban areas, especially in the North, in the Great Migration. The mechanization of agriculture reduced farm jobs.

Geography[edit]

Map
Interactive map of Hampton County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 562.71 square miles (1,457.4 km2), of which 559.98 square miles (1,450.3 km2) is land and 2.73 square miles (7.1 km2) (0.49%) is water.[4]

National protected area[edit]

State and local protected areas[edit]

Major water bodies[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Major highways[edit]

Major infrastructure[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
188018,741
189020,5449.6%
190023,73815.5%
191025,1265.8%
192019,550−22.2%
193017,243−11.8%
194017,4651.3%
195018,0273.2%
196017,425−3.3%
197015,878−8.9%
198018,15914.4%
199018,1910.2%
200021,38617.6%
201021,090−1.4%
202018,561−12.0%
2023 (est.)18,122[1]−2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[1]

2020 census[edit]

Hampton County racial composition[12]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 7,802 42.03%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 9,536 51.38%
Native American 41 0.22%
Asian 100 0.54%
Pacific Islander 17 0.09%
Other/Mixed 399 2.15%
Hispanic or Latino 666 3.59%

As of the 2020 census, there were 18,561 people, 6,993 households, and 4,148 families residing in the county.

2010 census[edit]

At the 2010 census, there were 21,090 people, 7,598 households, and 5,211 families living in the county.[13][11] The population density was 37.7 inhabitants per square mile (14.6/km2). There were 9,140 housing units at an average density of 16.3 per square mile (6.3/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 53.9% black or African American, 42.7% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 6.4% were Irish, 6.3% were American, 5.6% were German, and 5.3% were English.[15]

Of the 7,598 households, 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.4% were non-families, and 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.15. The median age was 38.4 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $34,846 and the median income for a family was $43,234. Males had a median income of $31,935 versus $26,826 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,262. About 17.2% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.[16]

2000 census[edit]

At the 2000 census,[17] there were 21,386 people, 7,444 households, and 5,315 families living in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 8,582 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 55.67% Black or African American, 42.89% White, 0.20% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. 2.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,444 households, out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.90% were married couples living together, 18.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.60% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 103.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,771, and the median income for a family was $34,559. Males had a median income of $29,440 versus $20,418 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,129. About 17.80% of families and 21.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.60% of those under age 18 and 21.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics[edit]

United States presidential election results for Hampton County, South Carolina[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,906 41.98% 5,323 57.21% 76 0.82%
2016 3,488 39.61% 5,170 58.71% 148 1.68%
2012 3,312 35.98% 5,834 63.37% 60 0.65%
2008 3,439 36.78% 5,816 62.20% 95 1.02%
2004 3,097 38.64% 4,832 60.28% 87 1.09%
2000 2,798 36.06% 4,896 63.10% 65 0.84%
1996 2,111 28.85% 4,828 65.98% 378 5.17%
1992 2,402 32.63% 4,332 58.85% 627 8.52%
1988 2,826 44.81% 3,435 54.47% 45 0.71%
1984 3,464 47.92% 3,736 51.69% 28 0.39%
1980 2,217 33.58% 4,329 65.56% 57 0.86%
1976 1,773 30.99% 3,923 68.56% 26 0.45%
1972 2,891 57.56% 2,086 41.53% 46 0.92%
1968 1,671 31.95% 2,107 40.29% 1,452 27.76%
1964 2,259 61.09% 1,439 38.91% 0 0.00%
1960 1,322 62.59% 790 37.41% 0 0.00%
1956 359 17.46% 564 27.43% 1,133 55.11%
1952 1,633 67.48% 787 32.52% 0 0.00%
1948 10 0.62% 81 4.99% 1,531 94.39%
1944 3 0.35% 575 67.65% 272 32.00%
1940 24 1.96% 1,198 98.04% 0 0.00%
1936 8 0.63% 1,253 99.37% 0 0.00%
1932 18 1.00% 1,782 99.00% 0 0.00%
1928 19 1.70% 1,098 98.30% 0 0.00%
1924 3 0.41% 730 99.05% 4 0.54%
1920 0 0.00% 623 100.00% 0 0.00%
1916 0 0.00% 852 100.00% 0 0.00%
1912 0 0.00% 631 100.00% 0 0.00%
1904 0 0.00% 1,079 100.00% 0 0.00%
1900 1 0.11% 936 99.89% 0 0.00%

Communities[edit]

Towns[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Hampton County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 148.
  4. ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "SCDNR Public Lands". www2.dnr.sc.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  6. ^ "SCDNR - Wildlife Management Area Maps". www.dnr.sc.gov. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  11. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  12. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  14. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  15. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  16. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  17. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 13, 2018.

External links[edit]