Calhoun County, South Carolina

Calhoun County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, its population was 15,175,[1] making it the third-least populous county in the state. Its county seat is St. Matthews.[2]

Calhoun County
U.S. county
Calhoun County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
South Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°40′N 80°47′W
Country United States
State South Carolina
Founded1908
Named forJohn C. Calhoun
SeatSt. Matthews
Largest townSt. Matthews
Area
 • Total392 sq mi (1,020 km2)
 • Land381 sq mi (990 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  2.9%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total15,175
 • Estimate 
(2018)
14,520
 • Density39/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.calhouncounty.sc.gov

Located in a rural upland area long devoted to cotton plantations, part of the Black Belt of the South, the county was formed in 1908 from portions of Lexington and Orangeburg counties. It is named for John C. Calhoun, the former U.S. Vice-President, Senator, Representative and cabinet member from South Carolina,[3] although Calhoun was from nearby Abbeville, South Carolina.

Calhoun County is part of the Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. It has an overall score of 52 including factors health, crime, equity, education, and housing.[4] It is one of 11 counties with the same name in the United States.

History

Calhoun County was home to the Congaree Tribe. As early as 1715 maps show them living in the region. As well, arrowheads and other artifacts continue to be found in lakes and near rivers.[5]

During the American Revolutionary War, Calhoun County was home to the famous Siege of Fort Motte. The Fort Motte Battle Site is accessible today.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 392 square miles (1,020 km2), of which 381 square miles (990 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (2.9%) is water.[7] It is the second-smallest county in South Carolina by land area and smallest by total area.

Calhoun County includes features such as Lake Marion, and the Congaree Bluffs, accessible publicly via the Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve.[8]

Calhoun County borders Congaree National Park, the only Federally recognized Park which is a Swamp. Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and Wateree Rivers sweep through the floodplain, carrying nutrients and sediments that nourish and rejuvenate this ecosystem and support the growth of national and state champion trees.[9] Although the park lies outside the boundaries of Calhoun County, much of the environment is similar.

The upper boundary for Calhoun County is the Congaree River.

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Calhoun County is home to parts of Interstate I-26, as well as state highways 21, 6, 33, 176, 601, and 267.[10] Calhoun County is part of the evacuation route for Hurricanes and coastal flooding. During such times there are lane reversals where interstate highway I-26 goes in one direction (Northwest).[11]

Government

The county government is a five-member council, elected from single-member districts. At the first meeting of the year, they choose a chairperson for the term; it is a rotating position.[12]

Other elected positions in the county are Sheriff, Auditor, Coroner, Treasurer, and Clerk of Court. appointed positions are Coroner and Probate Judge.[12]

Calhoun County Library is a historic library building located at St. Matthews, Calhoun County. It was built about 1877, and is a one-story, medium-gabled white clapboard structure in the Greek Revival style. It was originally built as a residence, but was adapted for use as a county library in 1949.

Tire mound

As of 2011, Calhoun County contained an illegal dumping of an estimated 250,000 vehicle tires, a mound of tires so large it could reportedly be seen from space.[13]

Economy

Although much of Calhoun County is rural, there are many factories including Devro, a UK company that makes sausage casings.[14] Other factories include Starbucks (Roasting Facility), DAK Americas, Zeus Industrial Products, Fitts Co Inc, and Thermo King Columbia, Inc. In the same part of the county Country Clear, Inc. produces bottled water.[15]

Calhoun County offers the Calhoun County I-26 Industrial Park for businesses.[16]

Hunting

Calhoun County is a hunters paradise. World famous Buck n' Boar hunting club imports game from all over the world, and currently has the U.S.' largest herd of pure Eurasian swine.[17] In addition to Buck n' Boar Calhoun County is home to many private hunting preserves.

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 50.2% 3,787 47.3% 3,573 2.5% 189
2012 47.3% 3,707 51.6% 4,045 1.1% 82
2008 47.8% 3,695 51.3% 3,970 0.9% 73
2004 49.8% 3,448 49.0% 3,393 1.1% 78
2000 50.5% 3,216 48.1% 3,063 1.5% 94
1996 45.0% 2,520 48.5% 2,716 6.5% 362
1992 41.9% 2,418 47.9% 2,770 10.2% 590
1988 54.0% 2,585 45.4% 2,175 0.6% 27
1984 53.8% 2,742 45.5% 2,315 0.7% 37
1980 45.9% 1,767 53.0% 2,043 1.1% 43
1976 39.9% 1,382 59.3% 2,055 0.8% 29
1972 60.9% 1,867 37.5% 1,148 1.6% 50
1968 28.7% 885 39.5% 1,216 31.8% 978
1964 72.2% 1,591 27.8% 612
1960 61.4% 852 38.6% 536
1956 12.4% 146 28.9% 341 58.7% 693
1952 74.3% 1,107 25.8% 384
1948 0.5% 4 4.1% 36 95.5% 841
1944 0.2% 1 87.8% 602 12.1% 83
1940 0.5% 3 99.6% 657
1936 0.1% 1 99.9% 821
1932 1.4% 10 98.6% 694
1928 1.2% 7 98.8% 577
1924 0.8% 5 99.0% 593 0.2% 1
1920 6.1% 41 93.9% 631
1916 5.5% 41 89.5% 665 5.0% 37
1912 3.1% 15 93.7% 460 3.3% 16

Demographics

In 2017, Calhoun County, SC had a population of 14.8k people with a median age of 45.9 and a median household income of $44,010. Between 2016 and 2017 the population of Calhoun County, SC declined from 14,886 to 14,808, a -0.524% decrease and its median household income grew from $42,779 to $44,010, a 2.88% increase. The population of Calhoun County, SC is 53.6% White Alone, 41.6% Black or African American Alone, and 3.58% Hispanic or Latino. N/A% of the people in Calhoun County, SC speak a non-English language, and 98.3% are U.S. citizens. The median property value in Calhoun County, SC is $103,900, and the homeownership rate is 79.3%. Most people in Calhoun County, SC commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 27.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Calhoun County, SC is 2 cars per household.[19]

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
191016,634—
192018,38410.5%
193016,707−9.1%
194016,229−2.9%
195014,753−9.1%
196012,256−16.9%
197010,780−12.0%
198012,20613.2%
199012,7534.5%
200015,18519.1%
201015,175−0.1%
Est. 201814,520[20]−4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[21]
1790-1960[22] 1900-1990[23]
1990-2000[24] 2010-2013[1]

2000 census

As of the census[25] of 2000, there were 15,185 people, 5,917 households, and 4,272 families living in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 6,864 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 50.03% White, 48.69% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 1.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,917 households out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.00% were married couples living together, 15.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.10% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,736, and the median income for a family was $39,823. Males had a median income of $31,431 versus $22,267 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,446. About 13.20% of families and 16.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 18.30% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 15,175 people, 6,080 households, and 4,204 families living in the county.[26] The population density was 39.8 inhabitants per square mile (15.4/km2). There were 7,340 housing units at an average density of 19.3 per square mile (7.5/km2).[27] The racial makeup of the county was 53.9% white, 42.6% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.8% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.0% of the population.[26] In terms of ancestry, respondents identified as 42.6% of African American (which may include European ancestry; 15.4% American, 14.9% German, 8.5% Irish, and 7.1% of English heritage.[28]

Of the 6,080 households, 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.9% were non-families, and 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 43.4 years.[26]

The median income for a household in the county was $36,790 and the median income for a family was $51,975. Males had a median income of $42,394 versus $31,001 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,845. About 11.6% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.[29]

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Federal Writers' Project (1941). Palmetto Place Names. Sloane Printing Co. p. 12.
  4. US News & World Report, University of Missouri Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES). "Calhoun County SC Report". University of Missouri Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES). US News. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  5. "Columbia's First Residents: The Congaree Indians". Fun After Fifty. Fun After Fifty. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  6. "Fort Motte Battle Site". Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  8. County, Calhoun. "Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve". Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  9. "Congaree National Park". Congaree National Park. NPS.GOV. Retrieved 29 November 2019. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  10. "SC DOT - Calhoun County Map" (PDF). Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  11. Holdman, Jessica. "How Dorian evacuation SC highway lane reversals will work". Post and Courier. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  12. Officials: Calhoun County, SC website, 2016; accessed 29 December 2016
  13. "Illegal Calhoun County Tire Pile Seen From Space". Post and Courier.
  14. Good, Steve. "Devro.com". Devro.com. Devro.com. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  15. "Country Clear". Country Clear. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  16. "SC Power Team". SC Power Team. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  17. Ayer, Troy. "Buck n Boar". Buck n Boar. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
  19. USA, Data. "Calhoun County SC statistics". Datause.io. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  20. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  21. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  22. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  23. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  24. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  25. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  26. "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.
  27. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  28. "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.
  29. "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.

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