Georgetown County, South Carolina | |
|---|---|
 Georgetown County Courthouse | |
 Seal  Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofSouth Carolina | |
 South Carolina's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:33°25′N79°18′W / 33.42°N 79.30°W /33.42; -79.30 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  South Carolina |
| Founded | 1800 |
| Named after | King George III |
| Seat | Georgetown |
| Largest community | Murrells Inlet |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,034.83 sq mi (2,680.2 km2) |
| • Land | 813.61 sq mi (2,107.2 km2) |
| • Water | 221.22 sq mi (573.0 km2) 21.38% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 63,404 |
• Estimate (2024) | 66,035 |
| • Density | 77.929/sq mi (30.089/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
| Website | www |
Georgetown County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofSouth Carolina. As of the2020 census, the population was 63,404.[1] Itscounty seat isGeorgetown.[2] The county was founded in 1769. It is named forGeorge III of the United Kingdom.[3] Georgetown County comprises theMurrells Inlet, SCMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in theMyrtle Beach-Conway, SCCombined Statistical Area.[4]
The early history of Georgetown County is closely tied to South Carolina's population growth. By an Act passed in 1768, theProvince of South Carolina abolished its many counties and implemented just seven large districts with corresponding judicial seats.[5] To be specific, there were too few government officials to have county circuit courts, consider and legislate local issues, and execute the law. Although the districtsde facto began in 1768, they only received their official charters in 1769, after approval by theBritish Parliament of a modified provincial Act.[5]George Town[6] was one of the seven judicial seats, so it was the namesake and remained the seat of Georgetown District until and through theAmerican Revolution.[5] The 1785 County Court Act created 34 counties state-wide, with four counties within Georgetown District.[5] The four subordinate judicial counties ofKingston County,Liberty County,Williamsburg County and Winyah County (named after theWinyah Bay) within Georgetown District were abolished in 1798. All overarching Districts were dissolved in 1800 with the respective areas of each former judicial county reformed with the executive, legislative and judicial functions that previously powered districts, asHorry District (est. 1801),Marion District (est. 1800),Williamsburg District (est. 1804) and Georgetown District (est. 1800).[5] The current county dates its establishment from 1800 for this reason.
The legislative processes instituted by the post-Civil War state constitution provided for a fundamental decentralization of power from state to local control, so the districts were renamed counties – Georgetown District became Georgetown County in 1868.[7] The county is named after its county seat,Georgetown, which was named about 1734 forGeorge III of the United Kingdom, when he was Prince George.[3] The largest community in the county isMurrells Inlet.[8]
The economy is partially based on trade due to its transportation network and port facilities.[9]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,034.83 square miles (2,680.2 km2), of which 813.61 square miles (2,107.2 km2) is land and 221.22 square miles (573.0 km2) (21.38%) is water.[10]
Georgetown County has several rivers, including the GreatPee Dee River, theWaccamaw River,Black River, andSampit River, all of which flow into Winyah Bay. TheSantee River, which forms the southern boundary of the county, empties directly into theAtlantic Ocean. TheIntracoastal Waterway crosses the county andWinyah Bay. The rivers and the bay have had a decisive effect on human development of the area, especially as the city ofGeorgetown has an excellentseaport andharbor.
Georgetown County is a diverse county with four distinct areas:
1. The Atlantic coastline, also calledWaccamaw Neck, including the communities ofMurrells Inlet,Litchfield,Pawleys Island andDeBordieu, is part of "TheGrand Strand" (beach), which includesMyrtle Beach to the north. The Georgetown County part of the Grand Strand used to be rural area, but is exploding with development today. Condos line the shoreline at Litchfield and many of the old cottages at Pawleys are being demolished for larger houses. DeBordieu is agated community.
Empty beachfront has disappeared and wild areas are rapidly vanishing. A few wilder areas are being saved, as these provide critical habitat as part of theAtlantic Flyway formigratory birds.Huntington Beach State Park preserves some of the coastline and coastal marshes in the northern section, with nearbyBrookgreen Gardens preserving a historicriceplantation and someforest. Brookgreen Gardens, with a nature center and many outdoorsculptures is a popular tourist spot.
TheUniversity of South Carolina andClemson University maintain theBelle W. Baruch research site atHobcaw Barony onWaccamaw Neck. The islands around the outlet ofWinyah Bay are designated as the "Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center Heritage Preserve". This area is home to the northernmost naturally occurringhammocks of South Carolina's signaturesabal palmetto tree.
2. The riverfronts have had little recent development. Such properties were once used forrice plantations, using a rice variety brought fromAfrica. After theCivil War, and the loss ofslave labor, the plantations gradually ceased production. Today they are primarily wild areas, accessible only byboat. In some areas, the earthworks, such as dikes and water gates used for rice culture, still exist, as well as a few of the plantation houses.Litchfield Plantation has been redeveloped as a country inn; other properties have been developed as planned residential communities. Great blueherons,alligators, and an occasionalbald eagle can be seen along the waterways.Fishing is a popular activity.
A tiny community accessible only by boat is onSandy Island, in the Pee Dee River. Residents are descendants of slaves who worked plantations on the island, and they are trying to keep out development. The Federal government bought land along the rivers for theWaccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, which is intended to protect such wild areas. The visitor center and headquarters of the refuge is located atYauhannah in the northern part of the county.
3. Georgetown is a small historic city founded in colonial times. It is a popular tourist area and a port forshrimp boats. Yachting "snowbirds" are often seen at the docks in spring and fall; these peoplefollow the seasons along the Intracoastal waterway.
4. The inland rural areas are thinly populated. Some upland areas are good foragriculture orforestry. SeveralCarolina bays are thought to be craters from a meteor shower. These areas are rich inbiodiversity. Carvers Bay, the largest, was extensively damaged by use as a practicebombing range by US military forces duringWorld War II. Draining of the bay has further damaged its environment.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 22,122 | — | |
| 1800 | 22,938 | 3.7% | |
| 1810 | 15,679 | −31.6% | |
| 1820 | 17,603 | 12.3% | |
| 1830 | 19,943 | 13.3% | |
| 1840 | 18,274 | −8.4% | |
| 1850 | 20,647 | 13.0% | |
| 1860 | 21,305 | 3.2% | |
| 1870 | 16,161 | −24.1% | |
| 1880 | 19,613 | 21.4% | |
| 1890 | 20,857 | 6.3% | |
| 1900 | 22,846 | 9.5% | |
| 1910 | 22,270 | −2.5% | |
| 1920 | 21,716 | −2.5% | |
| 1930 | 21,738 | 0.1% | |
| 1940 | 26,352 | 21.2% | |
| 1950 | 31,762 | 20.5% | |
| 1960 | 34,798 | 9.6% | |
| 1970 | 33,500 | −3.7% | |
| 1980 | 42,461 | 26.7% | |
| 1990 | 46,302 | 9.0% | |
| 2000 | 55,797 | 20.5% | |
| 2010 | 60,158 | 7.8% | |
| 2020 | 63,404 | 5.4% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 66,035 | [13] | 4.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] 1790–1960[15] 1900–1990[16] 1990–2000[17] 2010[18] 2020[1] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 41,186 | 64.96% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 18,051 | 28.47% |
| Native American | 111 | 0.18% |
| Asian | 258 | 0.41% |
| Pacific Islander | 27 | 0.04% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,546 | 2.44% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 2,225 | 3.51% |
As of the2020 census, there were 63,404 people, 25,498 households, and 17,334 families residing in the county.
At the2010 census, there were 60,158 people, 24,524 households, and 17,282 families living in the county.[20] The population density was 73.9 inhabitants per square mile (28.5/km2). There were 33,672 housing units at an average density of 41.4 per square mile (16.0/km2).[21] The racial makeup of the county was 63.2% white, 33.6% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.6% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.1% of the population.[20] In terms of ancestry, 13.5% wereEnglish, 9.0% wereIrish, 8.7% wereAmerican, and 7.6% wereGerman.[22]
Of the 24,524 households, 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.5% were non-families, and 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 45.4 years.[20]
The median income for a household in the county was $42,666 and the median income for a family was $54,115. Males had a median income of $39,127 versus $28,390 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,942. About 13.2% of families and 19.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 32.3% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.[23]
At the2000 census,[24] there were 55,797 people, 21,659 households, and 15,854 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 68 people per square mile (26 people/km2). There were 28,282 housing units at an average density of 35 per square mile (14/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 59.69%White, 38.61%Black orAfrican American, 0.14%Native American, 0.23%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.81% fromother races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 1.65% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 21,659 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.10% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,312, and the median income for a family was $41,554. Males had a median income of $31,110 versus $20,910 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,805. About 13.40% of families and 17.10% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 25.80% of those under age 18 and 14.00% of those age 65 or over.
Georgetown County was a Democratic stronghold throughout much of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Like a lot of other counties in South Carolina, it began to shift politically in the latter half of the 20th century to the Republican Party.
In recent decades, Georgetown County has become reliably Republican in presidential elections, though Democrats have continued to perform competitively in areas likeGeorgetown and among African American voters. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county wasBill Clinton in 1996.
In 2024,Kamala Harris received less than 40% of the vote in the county, marking the first time a Democratic presidential candidate has fallen below that threshold since 1956.Donald Trump, meanwhile, secured nearly 60% of the vote—the strongest showing yet for a Republican in presidential elections since 1952.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1900 | 451 | 50.28% | 446 | 49.72% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1904 | 0 | 0.00% | 728 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | 10 | 2.21% | 405 | 89.60% | 37 | 8.19% |
| 1916 | 2 | 0.42% | 470 | 98.74% | 4 | 0.84% |
| 1920 | 38 | 13.43% | 245 | 86.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 24 | 15.00% | 134 | 83.75% | 2 | 1.25% |
| 1928 | 74 | 11.21% | 586 | 88.79% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 33 | 1.92% | 1,684 | 98.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 61 | 4.57% | 1,273 | 95.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 155 | 9.35% | 1,503 | 90.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 52 | 3.69% | 1,197 | 85.01% | 159 | 11.29% |
| 1948 | 92 | 3.72% | 432 | 17.49% | 1,946 | 78.79% |
| 1952 | 2,340 | 63.07% | 1,370 | 36.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,057 | 24.24% | 1,020 | 23.39% | 2,284 | 52.37% |
| 1960 | 2,607 | 48.12% | 2,811 | 51.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 4,705 | 57.89% | 3,423 | 42.11% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 3,269 | 32.62% | 4,110 | 41.01% | 2,642 | 26.36% |
| 1972 | 6,114 | 57.27% | 4,446 | 41.64% | 116 | 1.09% |
| 1976 | 4,058 | 35.97% | 7,169 | 63.54% | 56 | 0.50% |
| 1980 | 5,151 | 42.78% | 6,701 | 55.65% | 190 | 1.58% |
| 1984 | 7,370 | 53.29% | 6,392 | 46.22% | 68 | 0.49% |
| 1988 | 7,032 | 56.23% | 5,402 | 43.20% | 72 | 0.58% |
| 1992 | 6,870 | 42.22% | 7,494 | 46.05% | 1,908 | 11.73% |
| 1996 | 7,023 | 42.95% | 8,298 | 50.75% | 1,031 | 6.31% |
| 2000 | 10,535 | 51.77% | 9,445 | 46.41% | 371 | 1.82% |
| 2004 | 12,606 | 53.43% | 10,602 | 44.94% | 385 | 1.63% |
| 2008 | 15,790 | 52.13% | 14,199 | 46.88% | 301 | 0.99% |
| 2012 | 16,526 | 53.37% | 14,163 | 45.74% | 276 | 0.89% |
| 2016 | 17,389 | 54.93% | 13,310 | 42.04% | 958 | 3.03% |
| 2020 | 20,487 | 55.87% | 15,822 | 43.15% | 359 | 0.98% |
| 2024 | 22,326 | 59.14% | 14,965 | 39.64% | 463 | 1.23% |
In 2022, theGDP of Georgetown County was $3.3 billion (approx. $50,598 per capita).[26] Inchained 2017 dollars, thereal GDP of Georgetown County was $2.8 billion (about $41,996 per capita).[27] In 2022 through 2024, the unemployment rate has fluctuated between 2.4-4.9%.[28]
Some of the largest employers in the county includeAGRU,Food Lion,International Paper,ScribeAmerica, andWalmart.[29]
| Industry | Employment Counts | Employment Percentage (%) | Average Annual Wage ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 4,463 | 18.4 | 26,000 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,248 | 5.2 | 40,664 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 421 | 1.7 | 48,360 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1,420 | 5.9 | 25,532 |
| Construction | 1,358 | 5.6 | 55,016 |
| Finance and Insurance | 1,204 | 5.0 | 66,144 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 3,727 | 15.4 | 52,364 |
| Information | 114 | 0.5 | 67,444 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 78 | 0.3 | 118,924 |
| Manufacturing | 2,374 | 9.8 | 77,948 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 641 | 2.6 | 36,556 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 1,074 | 4.4 | 62,140 |
| Public Administration | 1,272 | 5.3 | 49,556 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 697 | 2.9 | 39,780 |
| Retail Trade | 2,969 | 12.3 | 32,448 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 550 | 2.3 | 53,196 |
| Utilities | 263 | 1.1 | 86,580 |
| Wholesale Trade | 340 | 1.4 | 65,988 |
| Total | 24,213 | 100.0% | 46,531 |
Geographic data related toGeorgetown County, South Carolina atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Georgetown County, South Carolina | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofGeorgetown County, South Carolina,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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