Allendale County, South Carolina

Allendale County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2018 census estimates, the population was 8,903 [2] making it the least populous county in South Carolina. Its county seat is Allendale.[3]

Allendale County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
South Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°59′N 81°21′W
Country United States
State South Carolina
Founded1919
Named forPaul H. Allen, early postmaster of Allendale[1]
SeatAllendale
Largest townAllendale
Area
 • Total412 sq mi (1,070 km2)
 • Land408 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Water4.3 sq mi (11 km2)  1.0%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total10,419
 • Estimate 
(2018)
8,903
 • Density25/sq mi (9.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.allendalecounty.com

History

Allendale County was formed in 1919 from southwestern portions of Barnwell County, along the Savannah River. It is the location of the Topper Site, an archeological excavation providing possible evidence of a pre-Clovis culture dating back 50,000 years. The site is near a source of chert on private land in Martin owned by Clariant Corporation, a Swiss chemical company with a plant there. The site, named after John Topper, a local resident who discovered it, has been under excavation by archeologists from the University of South Carolina for about one month a year since 1999, after an initial exploratory dig in the mid-1980s.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 412 square miles (1,070 km2), of which 408 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km2) (1.0%) is water.[4] The Savannah River forms the county's western border with Georgia.

Allendale is 62 miles from Augusta, Georgia; 73 miles from Savannah, Georgia; 87 miles from Columbia; and 90 miles from Charleston. Before interstate highways were built, Allendale had several motels, primarily serving travelers going between Northeastern states and Florida. Traffic that formerly traveled U.S. 301 through Allendale now uses Interstate-95.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
192016,098—
193013,294−17.4%
194013,040−1.9%
195011,773−9.7%
196011,362−3.5%
19709,692−14.7%
198010,70010.4%
199011,7229.6%
200011,211−4.4%
201010,419−7.1%
Est. 20188,903[5]−14.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[2]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 11,211 people, 3,915 households and 2,615 families living in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 4,568 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.0 percent Black or African American, 27.37 percent White, 0.12 percent Asian, 0.09 percent Native American, 0.06 percent Pacific Islander, 0.85 percent from other races, and 0.51 percent from two or more races. 1.61 percent of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[10] Of the 3,915 households 30.3 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8 percent were married couples living together, 25.8 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2 percent were non-families. 30.0 percent of all households were one person and 12.3 percent had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.21.

The age distribution was 26.6 percent under the age of 18, 9.8 percent from 18 to 24, 28.2 percent from 25 to 44, 22.8 percent from 45 to 64, and 12.7 percent who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 108.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.5 males.

The median household income was $20,898 and the median family income was $27,348. Males had a median income of $25,930 versus $20,318 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,293. About 28.4 percent of families and 34.5 percent of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.1 percent of those under age 18 and 26.00 percent of those age 65 or over.[11]

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 10,419 people, 3,706 households, and 2,333 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 25.5 inhabitants per square mile (9.8/km2). There were 4,486 housing units at an average density of 11.0 per square mile (4.2/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 73.6% black or African American, 23.7% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, and 5.6% were American.[14]

Of the 3,706 households, 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.5% were married couples living together, 26.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.0% were non-families, and 33.7% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.14. The median age was 38.8 years.[12]

The median household income was $20,081 and the median family income was $25,146. Males had a median income of $30,440 versus $28,889 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,190. About 35.7% of families and 42.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.8% of those under age 18 and 27.4% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Politics

Due to its predominantly African-American population, Allendale County has been consistently Democratic in Presidential voting since 1976 and was among the few counties to be carried by Walter Mondale in 1984.[16] In the 2008 U.S. presidential election Barack Obama received 75.1 percent of the county's vote.[17] In the 2012 U.S. presidential election Barack Obama received 78.3 percent of the county's vote.

Presidential election results
Presidential election results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 22.0% 789 76.1% 2,735 1.9% 68
2012 20.1% 838 79.2% 3,297 0.7% 28
2008 23.5% 947 75.3% 3,029 1.2% 48
2004 27.4% 985 71.4% 2,565 1.1% 41
2000 29.0% 967 70.0% 2,338 1.1% 35
1996 28.8% 941 67.9% 2,222 3.4% 110
1992 30.4% 1,049 62.5% 2,159 7.2% 247
1988 41.6% 1,295 57.7% 1,796 0.7% 23
1984 41.7% 1,570 57.6% 2,170 0.8% 29
1980 29.6% 1,182 69.6% 2,778 0.8% 30
1976 28.7% 1,064 71.0% 2,634 0.3% 11
1972 55.3% 1,741 44.1% 1,386 0.6% 19
1968 29.7% 997 45.8% 1,538 24.4% 820
1964 69.3% 1,740 30.7% 772
1960 60.4% 888 39.6% 583
1956 19.9% 262 28.9% 380 51.3% 675
1952 63.1% 751 36.9% 440
1948 1.3% 14 5.0% 55 93.8% 1,041
1944 1.1% 8 94.4% 678 4.5% 32
1940 3.2% 30 96.8% 905
1936 0.2% 3 99.8% 1,236
1932 0.9% 10 99.1% 1,108
1928 2.9% 24 97.1% 816
1924 3.0% 14 97.0% 450
1920 2.4% 11 97.6% 440

Economy

Allendale is primarily an agricultural rural county. Its primary products are cotton, soybeans, watermelon and cantaloupe. Timbering is also important, primarily for paper pulp.

Education

Robert McNair, Democratic Governor of South Carolina from 1965 to 1971, moved to Allendale County as an adult because his wife was from there. Because of McNair's influence, USC-Salkahatchie (a two-year campus) was located in the town of Allendale. The county is also the site of WEBA, Channel 14, a broadcast outlet of the South Carolina Educational Television Network. Ranking 45th in population among the state's 46 counties, it is the smallest county to have either a state-supported college or an ETV station. Allendale County School District includes one high school: Allendale-Fairfax High School. The former C. V. Bing High School served African-American students during the time of segregation. Denmark Tech, part of the state Technical College System, serves the county from its location in Bamberg County, 25 miles from Allendale.

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated community

See also

References
  1. Federal Writers' Project (1941). Palmetto Place Names. Sloane Printing Co. p. 11.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  8. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  11. US Census Bureau Demographics Data
  12. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  13. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  14. "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 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  15. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  16. David Leip Presidential Atlas
  17. The New York Times Electoral Map
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-13.

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