Chester County, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Chester County is a county located in the U.S. state
of South Carolina
. In 2000, its population was 34,068; in 2005 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had dropped to 33,228. Its county seat
is Chester
.
, the county has a total area of 586 square miles (1,517.7 km²), of which 581 square miles (1,504.8 km²) is land and 6 square miles (15.5 km²) (0.96%) is water.
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As of the census
of 2000, there were 34,068 people, 12,880 households, and 9,338 families residing in the county. The population density
was 59 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 14,374 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 59.93% White
, 38.65% Black
or African American
, 0.33% Native American
, 0.28% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.25% from other races
, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 12,880 households out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.80% were married couples
living together, 18.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,425, and the median income for a family was $38,087. Males had a median income of $30,329 versus $21,570 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $14,709. About 11.90% of families and 15.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.20% of those under age 18 and 14.90% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. In 2000, its population was 34,068; in 2005 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had dropped to 33,228. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Chester
Chester, South Carolina
Chester is a small city in Chester County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 6,476 at the 2000 census and a center urban cluster population of 11,140...
.
Geography and climate
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 586 square miles (1,517.7 km²), of which 581 square miles (1,504.8 km²) is land and 6 square miles (15.5 km²) (0.96%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- York County, South CarolinaYork County, South CarolinaYork County is a county located in the north-central section of the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to the 2010 census, the county's population was 226,073. It is the second largest county in the Charlotte metropolitan area...
- north - Lancaster County, South Carolina - east
- Fairfield County, South Carolina - south
- Union County, South Carolina - west
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 34,068 people, 12,880 households, and 9,338 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 59 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 14,374 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 59.93% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 38.65% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.33% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.28% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.25% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 12,880 households out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.80% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 18.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,425, and the median income for a family was $38,087. Males had a median income of $30,329 versus $21,570 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $14,709. About 11.90% of families and 15.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.20% of those under age 18 and 14.90% of those age 65 or over.
Towns
- Fort LawnFort Lawn, South CarolinaFort Lawn is a town in Chester County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 864 at the 2000 census.-Geography and Climate:Fort Lawn is located at ....
- Great FallsGreat Falls, South CarolinaGreat Falls is a town in Chester County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,194 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:Great Falls is located at ....
- LowrysLowrys, South CarolinaLowrys is a town in Chester County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 207 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:Lowrys is located at ....
- RichburgRichburg, South CarolinaRichburg is a town in Chester County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 332 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:Richburg is located at ....
Other Populated Places
- BlackstockBlackstock, South CarolinaBlackstock is an unincorporated community in both Chester and Fairfield counties in the Midlands of South Carolina about 40 miles north of Columbia. The elevation of the community is 620 feet.-Reference:...
- EdgemoorEdgemoor, South CarolinaEdgemoor is an unincorporated community in northeastern Chester County, South Carolina. Edgemoor is located about 8 miles from Rock Hill and 55 miles north of Columbia. Edgemoor is a rural community with a population of less than 100 people. Edgemoore has one post office with a zip code of 29712....
- Eureka MillEureka Mill, South CarolinaEureka Mill is a census-designated place in Chester County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,737 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Eureka Mill is located at ....
- Gayle MillGayle Mill, South CarolinaGayle Mill is a census-designated place in Chester County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,094 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Gayle Mill is located at ....
- LandoLando, South CarolinaLando is a rural unincorporated community in Chester County, South Carolina, United States and a former textile village. Lando has a post office with the ZIP Code of 29724; the population of the ZCTA for 29724 was 89 at the 2000 census.- History :...
- LeedsLeeds, South CarolinaLeeds is an unincorporated community in southwestern Chester County, South Carolina in the Piedmont of South Carolina. Leeds is a small community located at an elevation of around 387 feet.-Reference:*...
- WilksburgWilksburg, South CarolinaWilksburg is an unincorporated community in western Chester County, South Carolina along Sumter National Forest in the piedmont forest of South Carolina. Wilksburg sits at an elevation of around 591 feet.-Reference:*...
Notable residents
- John AdairJohn AdairJohn Adair was an American pioneer, soldier and statesman. He was the eighth Governor of Kentucky and represented the state in both the U.S. House and Senate. Adair enlisted in the state militia and served in the Revolutionary War, where he was held captive by the British for a period of time...
, (1757–1840), born in Chester County (although at the time it was believed to be part of Anson County, North CarolinaAnson County, North Carolina-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Anson County, North Carolina-External links:*...
), would become a member of the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and the United States SenateUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, and governor of KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth... - Thomas and Meeks Griffin wrongly executed in South Carolina's electric chair in 1915. They were framed in Chester County in 1913 and pardoned in 2009.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Chester County, South CarolinaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Chester County, South CarolinaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Chester County, South Carolina.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Chester County, South Carolina, United States...
- Tryon County, North CarolinaTryon County, North CarolinaTryon County is a former county which was located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It was formed in 1768 from the part of Mecklenburg County west of the Catawba River, although the legislative act that created it did not become effective until April 10, 1769. Due to inaccurate and delayed...