Newberry County, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Newberry County is a county located in the U.S. state
of South Carolina
. In 2000, its population was 36,108. The 2005 Census estimate placed the population at 37,250. Its county seat
is Newberry
. The name is of unknown origin.
, the county has a total area of 647 square miles (1,676 km²), of which 631 square miles (1,634 km²) is land and 17 square miles (43 km²) (2.55%) is water.
battles: Williams' Plantation, Dec. 31, 1780; Mud Lick, March 2, 1781; and Bush River, May 1781. The town of Newberry was founded in 1789 as the county seat. Cotton was the primary crop grown in Newberry County before the Civil War
and there were a number of plantations throughout the county. Newberry became a thriving trade center once the railroad arrived in the early 1850s. Lutheran-supported Newberry College
was established in 1856. The Civil War not only interrupted growth in the county, it changed its social order. The first cotton mills were introduced in the county in the 1880s. Jurist John Belton O'Neall (1795-1863), historian David Duncan Wallace (1874-1951) and S.C. Governor and U. S. Senator Coleman L. Blease
(1868-1942) were all Newberry County natives.
of 2000, there were 36,108 people, 14,026 households and 9,804 families residing in the county. The population density
was 57 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 16,805 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.02 percent White
, 33.12 percent Black
or African American
, 0.28 percent Native American
, 0.29 percent Asian
, 0.09 percent Pacific Islander
, 1.30 percent from other races
, and 0.90 percent from two or more races. Some 4.25 percent of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 14,026 households out of which 30.4 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2 percent were married couples
living together, 16.1 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1 percent were non-families. 26.5 percent of all households were made up of individuals and 12 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.1 percent under the age of 18, 9.8 percent from 18 to 24, 27.6 percent from 25 to 44, 23.7 percent from 45 to 64, and 14.7 percent who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,867, and the median income for a family was $40,580. Males had a median income of $29,871 versus $21,274 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $16,045. About 13.6 percent of families and 17 percent of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8 percent of those under age 18 and 16 percent 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 36,108. The 2005 Census estimate placed the population at 37,250. 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 Newberry
Newberry, South Carolina
Newberry is a city in Newberry County, South Carolina, 43 miles west -northwest of Columbia. The charter was adopted in 1894. In 1890, 3,020 people lived in Newberry, South Carolina; in 1900, 4,607; in 1910, 5,028; and in 1940, 7,510. The population was 10,580 at the 2000 census. It is the county...
. The name is of unknown origin.
Geography
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 647 square miles (1,676 km²), of which 631 square miles (1,634 km²) is land and 17 square miles (43 km²) (2.55%) is water.
Adjacent Counties
- Union County, South Carolina - north
- Fairfield County, South Carolina - east
- Lexington County, South Carolina - southeast
- Richland County, South CarolinaRichland County, South CarolinaRichland County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The 2000 U.S. census recorded its population to be 320,677. In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau recorded that its population had reached 384,504. It is the second most populous county in South Carolina, behind only Greenville...
- southeast - Saluda County, South Carolina - south
- Greenwood County, South Carolina - southwest
- Laurens County, South Carolina - northwest
History
Newberry County was formed from the Ninety Six District in 1785. Prior to its formal founding, the area was the site of several American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
battles: Williams' Plantation, Dec. 31, 1780; Mud Lick, March 2, 1781; and Bush River, May 1781. The town of Newberry was founded in 1789 as the county seat. Cotton was the primary crop grown in Newberry County before the Civil War
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
and there were a number of plantations throughout the county. Newberry became a thriving trade center once the railroad arrived in the early 1850s. Lutheran-supported Newberry College
Newberry College
Newberry College is a liberal-arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located on a historic campus in Newberry, South Carolina.The college has 1,025 students and a 19:1 student-teacher ratio...
was established in 1856. The Civil War not only interrupted growth in the county, it changed its social order. The first cotton mills were introduced in the county in the 1880s. Jurist John Belton O'Neall (1795-1863), historian David Duncan Wallace (1874-1951) and S.C. Governor and U. S. Senator Coleman L. Blease
Coleman L. Blease
Coleman Livingston Blease was a politician from the U.S. state of South Carolina known for his populist appeals and racism. He served as a state legislator, as the 90th Governor of South Carolina, and as a U.S...
(1868-1942) were all Newberry County natives.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 36,108 people, 14,026 households and 9,804 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 57 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 16,805 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.02 percent 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...
, 33.12 percent 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...
, 0.28 percent 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...
, 0.29 percent 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...
, 0.09 percent 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...
, 1.30 percent 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 0.90 percent from two or more races. Some 4.25 percent 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 14,026 households out of which 30.4 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2 percent 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, 16.1 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1 percent were non-families. 26.5 percent of all households were made up of individuals and 12 percent had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.1 percent under the age of 18, 9.8 percent from 18 to 24, 27.6 percent from 25 to 44, 23.7 percent from 45 to 64, and 14.7 percent who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,867, and the median income for a family was $40,580. Males had a median income of $29,871 versus $21,274 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 $16,045. About 13.6 percent of families and 17 percent of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8 percent of those under age 18 and 16 percent of those age 65 or over.
Towns
- Little MountainLittle Mountain, South CarolinaLittle Mountain is a town in Newberry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 255 at the 2000 census. The current mayor is Buddy Johnson.-Geography:Little Mountain is located at ....
- NewberryNewberry, South CarolinaNewberry is a city in Newberry County, South Carolina, 43 miles west -northwest of Columbia. The charter was adopted in 1894. In 1890, 3,020 people lived in Newberry, South Carolina; in 1900, 4,607; in 1910, 5,028; and in 1940, 7,510. The population was 10,580 at the 2000 census. It is the county...
- PeakPeak, South CarolinaPeak is a town in Newberry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 61 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Peak is located at...
- PomariaPomaria, South CarolinaPomaria is a town in Newberry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 177 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pomaria is located at ....
- ProsperityProsperity, South CarolinaProsperity is a town in Newberry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,047 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Prosperity is located at ....
- SilverstreetSilverstreet, South CarolinaSilverstreet is a town in Newberry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 216 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Silverstreet is located at ....
- WhitmireWhitmire, South CarolinaWhitmire is a town in Newberry County, South Carolina, along the Enoree River. The population was 1,512 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Whitmire is located at ....
Utilities
- Newberry County Water & Sewer Authorityhttp://www.newberrycountywsa.com
- Newberry Electric Cooperative
- Clinton-Newberry Natural Gas Authority