Hampton County, South Carolina
Hampton County, South Carolina | |
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 Seal | |
| Motto(s): | |
 Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina | |
 Interactive map of Hampton County, South Carolina | |
| Coordinates: 32°47′N 81°08′W / 32.78°N 81.14°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  South Carolina |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Named after | Wade Hampton III |
| Seat | Hampton |
| Largest community | Hampton |
| Area | |
• Total | 562.71 sq mi (1,457.4 km2) |
| • Land | 559.98 sq mi (1,450.3 km2) |
| • Water | 2.73 sq mi (7.1 km2) 0.49% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 18,561 |
• Estimate (2024) | 18,172  |
| • Density | 33.146/sq mi (12.798/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
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.
On April 13, 2020, a powerful EF4 tornado devastated several communities within Hampton County, with the worst damage occurring in Estill and Nixville. Over 30 houses were destroyed, and 5 people were killed with another 60 sustaining injuries from the tornado.
Geography
[edit]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]- Hamilton Ridge Wildlife Management Area[5]
- James W Webb Wildlife Center and Game Management Area[6]
- Lake Warren State Park
- Palachucola Wildlife Management Area[5]
- Webb Wildlife Center[5]
Major water bodies
[edit]Adjacent counties
[edit]- Bamberg County – north
- Colleton County – east
- Beaufort County – southeast
- Jasper County – south
- Effingham County, Georgia – southwest
- Screven County, Georgia – west
- Allendale County – northwest
Major highways
[edit]
Major infrastructure
[edit]Demographics
[edit]| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 18,741 | — | |
| 1890 | 20,544 | 9.6% | |
| 1900 | 23,738 | 15.5% | |
| 1910 | 25,126 | 5.8% | |
| 1920 | 19,550 | −22.2% | |
| 1930 | 17,243 | −11.8% | |
| 1940 | 17,465 | 1.3% | |
| 1950 | 18,027 | 3.2% | |
| 1960 | 17,425 | −3.3% | |
| 1970 | 15,878 | −8.9% | |
| 1980 | 18,159 | 14.4% | |
| 1990 | 18,191 | 0.2% | |
| 2000 | 21,386 | 17.6% | |
| 2010 | 21,090 | −1.4% | |
| 2020 | 18,561 | −12.0% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 18,172 | [7] | −2.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010[12] 2020[1] | |||
2020 census
[edit]| 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, 7,183 households, and 4,148 families residing in the county. The median age was 43.0 years, 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18, and 19.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.6 males age 18 and over.[14][1]
The racial makeup of the county was 43.8% White, 51.7% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% from some other race, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.6% of the population.[15]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 7,183 households in the county, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 36.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]
There were 8,584 housing units, of which 16.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.6% were owner-occupied and 26.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.6%.[14]
2010 census
[edit]At the 2010 census, there were 21,090 people, 7,598 households, and 5,211 families living in the county.[17][12] 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).[18] 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.[17] In terms of ancestry, 6.4% were Irish, 6.3% were American, 5.6% were German, and 5.3% were English.[19]
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.[17]
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.[20]
2000 census
[edit]At the 2000 census,[21] 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]Like most majority African American counties, Hampton is a Democratic stronghold, having not been won by a Republican presidential candidate since Nixon in 1972. The margin has been narrowing in recent elections, however, with Kamala Harris' 2024 performance being the worst by a Democrat since 1984.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1900 | 1 | 0.11% | 936 | 99.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1904 | 0 | 0.00% | 1,079 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 631 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 0 | 0.00% | 852 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 0 | 0.00% | 623 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 3 | 0.41% | 730 | 99.05% | 4 | 0.54% |
| 1928 | 19 | 1.70% | 1,098 | 98.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 18 | 1.00% | 1,782 | 99.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 8 | 0.63% | 1,253 | 99.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 24 | 1.96% | 1,198 | 98.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 3 | 0.35% | 575 | 67.65% | 272 | 32.00% |
| 1948 | 10 | 0.62% | 81 | 4.99% | 1,531 | 94.39% |
| 1952 | 1,633 | 67.48% | 787 | 32.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 359 | 17.46% | 564 | 27.43% | 1,133 | 55.11% |
| 1960 | 1,322 | 62.59% | 790 | 37.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 2,259 | 61.09% | 1,439 | 38.91% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,671 | 31.95% | 2,107 | 40.29% | 1,452 | 27.76% |
| 1972 | 2,891 | 57.56% | 2,086 | 41.53% | 46 | 0.92% |
| 1976 | 1,773 | 30.99% | 3,923 | 68.56% | 26 | 0.45% |
| 1980 | 2,217 | 33.58% | 4,329 | 65.56% | 57 | 0.86% |
| 1984 | 3,464 | 47.92% | 3,736 | 51.69% | 28 | 0.39% |
| 1988 | 2,826 | 44.81% | 3,435 | 54.47% | 45 | 0.71% |
| 1992 | 2,402 | 32.63% | 4,332 | 58.85% | 627 | 8.52% |
| 1996 | 2,111 | 28.85% | 4,828 | 65.98% | 378 | 5.17% |
| 2000 | 2,798 | 36.06% | 4,896 | 63.10% | 65 | 0.84% |
| 2004 | 3,097 | 38.64% | 4,832 | 60.28% | 87 | 1.09% |
| 2008 | 3,439 | 36.78% | 5,816 | 62.20% | 95 | 1.02% |
| 2012 | 3,312 | 35.98% | 5,834 | 63.37% | 60 | 0.65% |
| 2016 | 3,488 | 39.61% | 5,170 | 58.71% | 148 | 1.68% |
| 2020 | 3,906 | 41.98% | 5,323 | 57.21% | 76 | 0.82% |
| 2024 | 3,801 | 46.17% | 4,328 | 52.57% | 104 | 1.26% |
Economy
[edit]In 2022, the GDP was $542.4 million (about $29,930 per capita),[23] and the real GDP was $431.3 million (about $23,798 per capita) in chained 2017 dollars.[24] In 2022 through 2023, the average unemployment rate has been 2.8-2.9%.[25]
Some of the largest employers in the county include the United States Department of Justice, Food Lion, The Habit Burger Grill, Hampton Regional Medical Center, and Le Creuset.[26]
| Industry | Employment Counts | Employment Percentage (%) | Average Annual Wage ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 357 | 8.6 | 17,940 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 63 | 1.5 | 31,772 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 323 | 7.8 | 67,860 |
| Construction | 239 | 5.8 | 56,888 |
| Finance and Insurance | 77 | 1.9 | 40,768 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 679 | 16.4 | 40,300 |
| Manufacturing | 448 | 10.8 | 58,968 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 151 | 3.6 | 36,504 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 114 | 2.7 | 70,356 |
| Public Administration | 595 | 14.3 | 52,780 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 19 | 0.5 | 43,368 |
| Retail Trade | 538 | 13.0 | 25,272 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 186 | 4.5 | 63,544 |
| Utilities | 23 | 0.6 | 84,968 |
| Wholesale Trade | 336 | 8.1 | 62,296 |
| Total | 4,148 | 100.0% | 46,987 |
Communities
[edit]Towns
[edit]Unincorporated communities
[edit]See also
[edit]- List of counties in South Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Hampton County, South Carolina
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Hampton County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 148.
- ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c "SCDNR Public Lands". www2.dnr.sc.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ^ "SCDNR - Wildlife Management Area Maps". www.dnr.sc.gov. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- ^ U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (January 1, 2001). "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Hampton County, SC". FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (January 1, 2001). "Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Hampton County, SC". FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (January 1, 1990). "Unemployment Rate in Hampton County, SC". FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ a b "Hampton County" (PDF). Community Profiles (04000049). Columbia, SC: S.C. Department of Employment & Workforce - Business Intelligence Department. April 19, 2024.
External links
[edit]
Geographic data related to Hampton County, South Carolina at OpenStreetMap- Official website
- Hampton County history and images
Places adjacent to Hampton County, South Carolina | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities of Hampton County, South Carolina, United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
The Lowcountry of South Carolina | ||
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| Counties |  | |
| Major communities | ||
| Sea islands | ||
| History & culture | ||
| Military installations | ||
| Natural areas | ||
| Other articles | ||
| International | |
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