Kershaw County, South Carolina | |
|---|---|
 Old Kershaw County Courthouse in Camden | |
 Seal  Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofSouth Carolina | |
 Interactive map of Kershaw County, South Carolina | |
| Coordinates:34°20′N80°35′W / 34.34°N 80.59°W /34.34; -80.59 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  South Carolina |
| Founded | 1791 |
| Named after | Joseph Brevard Kershaw |
| Seat | Camden |
| Largest community | Camden |
| Area | |
• Total | 740.26 sq mi (1,917.3 km2) |
| • Land | 726.61 sq mi (1,881.9 km2) |
| • Water | 13.65 sq mi (35.4 km2) 1.84% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 65,403 |
• Estimate (2024) | 71,698 |
| • Density | 90.011/sq mi (34.753/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | www |
Kershaw County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofSouth Carolina. As of the2020 census, its population was 65,403.[1] Thecounty seat and largest community isCamden.[2] The county was created in 1791 from parts ofClaremont,Lancaster,Fairfield, andRichland counties.[3] It is named for Col. Joseph Kershaw (1727–1791), an early settler andAmerican Revolutionary War patriot. Kershaw County is part of theColumbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Kershaw County was named for Col. Joseph Kershaw (1727–1791), an early settler considered as "the father ofCamden". Originally part of Camden District, Kershaw County was formed in 1791 from parts of Claremont,Lancaster,Fairfield, andRichland counties. The county seat isCamden, the oldest inland city inSouth Carolina. This site was settled around 1732 by English traders and farmers who moved inland fromCharleston. Welsh Baptists moved the area in large numbers in the 1740s and 1750s. At the time, inEngland andWales Protestants who were not from the establishedAnglican church were politically disadvantaged in various ways, however, in South Carolina they could still practice freely (provided that they called their churches "meeting houses.") Baptists fromAbergavenny,Trap, Carmarthenshire,Llanbedr, Crickhowell,Vale of Grwyney,Abertillery,Griffithstown andBrecon arrived in what has since become Kershaw County between 1740 and 1760, primarily arriving as large family units. They were joined by a similar migration of English Baptists who came fromLong Sutton, Lincolnshire,Boston, Lincolnshire,Coningsby,Grantham, as well asChristchurch, Dorset andLymington.[4][5] From about 1800 until about 1867, the county was known as Kershaw District.[6]
During theAmerican Revolutionary War, the British occupied Camden from June 1780 to May 1781. Fourteen battles took place in the area, including theBattle of Camden in 1780 and theBattle of Hobkirk's Hill in 1781.
After the state seceded from the Union, six men from Kershaw served in theAmerican Civil War asConfederategenerals:James Cantey (1818–1873),James Chesnut (1815–1885),John Doby Kennedy (1840–1896),Joseph Brevard Kershaw (1822–1894), andJohn Bordenave Villepigue (1830–1862),Zachariah C. Deas (1819–1882).Richard Rowland Kirkland, a Confederate soldier, was also from Kershaw County. He served under General Kershaw. In the last months of the war,Union troops under Gen.William T. Sherman burned parts of Camden in February 1865, in their March to the Sea.
Under the1868 South Carolina Constitution, the Kershaw District became home rule Kershaw County with the state representatives also being county commissioners. During theReconstruction era, some freedmen and other men of color were elected to various political offices. Among them wasHenry Cardozo, who had been pastor ofOld Bethel Methodist Church inCharleston, South Carolina. He served in the state senate as a Republican from Kershaw County, from 1870 to 1874.[7] (February 1, 1836 – July 22, 1903) was an American clergyman, politician, and educator. WhenFrancis Lewis Cardozo was elected in South Carolina as Secretary of State in 1868, he was the firstAfrican American to hold a statewide office in theUnited States.
DuringWorld War I, two Kershaw County men were awarded theMedal of Honor in two separate actions while fighting inFrance in October 1918. The first wasRichmond Hobson Hilton, recognized for actions taking place on October 11, 1918, during which he lost an arm. The second wasJohn Canty Villepigue on October 15, 1918; he was wounded so severely in the action for which he was recognized that he died several months later from his injuries. Villepigue was a descendant of General John B. Villepigue noted above.
Statesman and financierBernard M. Baruch (1870–1965), labor leaderLane Kirkland, and baseball playerLarry Doby, the firstAfrican-American player in theAmerican League, were each born in Kershaw County. Former South Carolina GovernorJohn C. West was also from Kershaw County.[8]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 740.26 square miles (1,917.3 km2), of which 726.61 square miles (1,881.9 km2) is land and 13.65 square miles (35.4 km2) (1.84%) is water.[9] Kershaw County is one of three counties that compromisesLake Wateree, in which the lake is compromised with theWateree River, which flows through Kershaw County.[clarification needed]
Between December 2021 and December 2022, southeastern Kershaw County experienced over 80 earthquakes, 11 of which exceeded a 2.5 magnitude. 6 of the quakes exceeded a 3.0 magnitude, the largest of which registering at a 3.6.[10]
I-20
US 1
US 1 Truck (Camden)US 1 Truck (Cheraw)
US 521
US 521 Bus.
US 521 Conn.US 521 Truck (Camden 1)US 521 Truck (Camden 2)US 521 Truck (Kershaw)
US 601US 601 Bus.US 601 Truck
SC 12
SC 34
SC 34 Truck
SC 97
SC 261
SC 522
SC 903| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 7,340 | — | |
| 1810 | 9,867 | 34.4% | |
| 1820 | 12,432 | 26.0% | |
| 1830 | 13,545 | 9.0% | |
| 1840 | 12,281 | −9.3% | |
| 1850 | 14,473 | 17.8% | |
| 1860 | 13,086 | −9.6% | |
| 1870 | 11,754 | −10.2% | |
| 1880 | 21,538 | 83.2% | |
| 1890 | 22,361 | 3.8% | |
| 1900 | 24,696 | 10.4% | |
| 1910 | 27,094 | 9.7% | |
| 1920 | 29,398 | 8.5% | |
| 1930 | 32,070 | 9.1% | |
| 1940 | 32,913 | 2.6% | |
| 1950 | 32,287 | −1.9% | |
| 1960 | 33,585 | 4.0% | |
| 1970 | 34,727 | 3.4% | |
| 1980 | 39,015 | 12.3% | |
| 1990 | 43,599 | 11.7% | |
| 2000 | 52,647 | 20.8% | |
| 2010 | 61,697 | 17.2% | |
| 2020 | 65,403 | 6.0% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 71,698 | [12] | 9.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[13] 1790–1960[14] 1900–1990[15] 1990–2000[16] 2010[17] 2020[1] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 43,391 | 66.34% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 15,083 | 23.06% |
| Native American | 146 | 0.22% |
| Asian | 417 | 0.64% |
| Pacific Islander | 29 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 2,871 | 4.39% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 3,466 | 5.3% |
As of the2020 census, there were 65,403 people, 25,957 households, and 16,019 families residing in the county. The median age was 42.3 years, with 22.8% of residents under the age of 18 and 19.3% aged 65 or older; there were 93.0 males for every 100 females and 90.0 males for every 100 females age 18 or over.[19]
Of the 25,957 households in the county, 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 28.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[19]
There were 28,874 housing units, of which 10.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.1% were owner-occupied and 20.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.6%.[19]
The racial makeup of the county was 67.4% White, 23.3% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.6% from some other race, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.3% of the population.[20]
47.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 52.8% lived in rural areas.[21]
At the2010 census, there were 61,697 people, 23,928 households, and 17,114 families living in the county.[22][17] The population density was 84.9 inhabitants per square mile (32.8 inhabitants/km2). There were 27,478 housing units at an average density of 37.8 units per square mile (14.6 units/km2).[23] The racial makeup of the county was 71.3% white, 24.6% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.7% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.7% of the population.[22] In terms of ancestry, 28.1% wereAmerican, 7.8% wereEnglish, 7.7% wereIrish, and 6.3% wereGerman.[24]
Of the 23,928 households, 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.5% were non-families, and 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 40.2 years.[22]
The median income for a household in the county was $44,064 and the median income for a family was $53,053. Males had a median income of $40,794 versus $30,553 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,777. About 12.1% of families and 15.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.[25]
At the2000 census,[26] there were 52,647 people, 20,188 households, and 14,918 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 72 people per square mile (28 people/km2). There were 22,683 housing units at an average density of 31 units per square mile (12 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 71.61%White, 26.29%Black orAfrican American, 0.29%Native American, 0.31%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.62% fromother races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 1.68% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 20,188 households, out of which 33.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.80% weremarried couples living together, 13.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.10% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,804, and the median income for a family was $44,836. Males had a median income of $32,246 versus $22,714 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $18,360. About 9.70% of families and 12.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.90% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1900 | 43 | 4.51% | 910 | 95.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1904 | 25 | 2.86% | 850 | 97.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | 7 | 0.95% | 708 | 95.68% | 25 | 3.38% |
| 1916 | 14 | 1.39% | 989 | 97.92% | 7 | 0.69% |
| 1920 | 42 | 3.51% | 1,156 | 96.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 1 | 0.14% | 733 | 99.86% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 14 | 1.09% | 1,274 | 98.91% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 8 | 0.76% | 1,051 | 99.24% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 20 | 1.41% | 1,400 | 98.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 20 | 1.68% | 1,174 | 98.32% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 21 | 1.07% | 1,872 | 94.98% | 78 | 3.96% |
| 1948 | 49 | 2.49% | 302 | 15.36% | 1,615 | 82.15% |
| 1952 | 2,935 | 58.85% | 2,052 | 41.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,518 | 28.17% | 1,875 | 34.79% | 1,996 | 37.04% |
| 1960 | 3,465 | 52.16% | 3,178 | 47.84% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 5,617 | 63.94% | 3,168 | 36.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 4,079 | 38.56% | 2,539 | 24.00% | 3,960 | 37.44% |
| 1972 | 8,035 | 74.79% | 2,531 | 23.56% | 178 | 1.66% |
| 1976 | 6,126 | 49.40% | 6,211 | 50.08% | 65 | 0.52% |
| 1980 | 6,652 | 55.55% | 5,103 | 42.62% | 219 | 1.83% |
| 1984 | 8,822 | 66.70% | 4,323 | 32.69% | 81 | 0.61% |
| 1988 | 8,877 | 65.89% | 4,494 | 33.36% | 102 | 0.76% |
| 1992 | 8,499 | 49.12% | 6,585 | 38.06% | 2,217 | 12.81% |
| 1996 | 8,513 | 52.05% | 6,764 | 41.36% | 1,077 | 6.59% |
| 2000 | 11,911 | 60.53% | 7,428 | 37.75% | 338 | 1.72% |
| 2004 | 14,160 | 61.79% | 8,515 | 37.16% | 240 | 1.05% |
| 2008 | 16,466 | 58.84% | 11,226 | 40.11% | 293 | 1.05% |
| 2012 | 16,324 | 58.41% | 11,259 | 40.29% | 363 | 1.30% |
| 2016 | 17,542 | 60.50% | 10,330 | 35.63% | 1,123 | 3.87% |
| 2020 | 20,471 | 60.87% | 12,699 | 37.76% | 459 | 1.36% |
| 2024 | 21,289 | 63.49% | 11,826 | 35.27% | 418 | 1.25% |
In 2022, theGDP was $2.7 billion (about $38,411 per capita),[28] and thereal GDP was $2.2 billion (about $31,215 per capita) inchained 2017 dollars.[29]
As of April 2024[update], some of the largest employers in the county includeFood Lion,Hengst Automotive,Lowe's,Target, andWalmart.[30]
| Industry | Employment Counts | Employment Percentage (%) | Average Annual Wage ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 1,662 | 9.9 | 19,708 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,165 | 7.0 | 34,424 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 410 | 2.4 | 56,524 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 189 | 1.1 | 20,332 |
| Construction | 1,076 | 6.4 | 52,052 |
| Finance and Insurance | 499 | 3.0 | 58,812 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 2,497 | 14.9 | 52,676 |
| Information | 72 | 0.4 | 63,804 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 34 | 0.2 | 105,612 |
| Manufacturing | 2,392 | 14.3 | 60,216 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 118 | 0.7 | 111,020 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 476 | 2.8 | 28,912 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 533 | 3.2 | 67,392 |
| Public Administration | 1,058 | 6.3 | 44,928 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 98 | 0.6 | 41,236 |
| Retail Trade | 3,653 | 21.8 | 34,112 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 515 | 3.1 | 66,664 |
| Utilities | 137 | 0.8 | 59,332 |
| Wholesale Trade | 157 | 0.9 | 68,952 |
| Total | 16,741 | 100.0% | 45,472 |
TheKershaw County School District serves as the governing body for all public schools in Kershaw County.
Central Carolina Technical College has two branches located in Camden.
Kershaw County is home toCamden Military Academy, the official statemilitary academy of South Carolina. The Montessori School of Camden is apublic charter located in Camden.
Geographic data related toKershaw County, South Carolina atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Kershaw County, South Carolina | ||||||||||||||||
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