Hampton County, South Carolina | |
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 Seal | |
| Motto(s): | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofSouth Carolina | |
 South Carolina's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:32°47′N81°08′W / 32.78°N 81.14°W /32.78; -81.14 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  South Carolina |
| Founded | 1878 |
| Named after | Wade Hampton III |
| Seat | Hampton |
| Largest community | Hampton |
| Area | |
• Total | 562.71 sq mi (1,457.4 km2) |
| • Land | 559.98 sq mi (1,450.3 km2) |
| • Water | 2.73 sq mi (7.1 km2) 0.49% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 18,561 |
• Estimate (2024) | 18,172 |
| • Density | 33.146/sq mi (12.798/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
Hampton County is a ruralcounty located in theU.S. state ofSouth Carolina. As of the2020 census, the population was 18,561.[1] Itscounty seat isHampton.[2] It was named for Confederate Civil War generalWade Hampton, who in the late 1870s, with the ending of Reconstruction, was elected asgovernor of South Carolina.[3]
The county is named forWade Hampton III, one of the country's leading slaveowners and aLieutenant General for theConfederacy during theAmerican Civil War. After the war, he led theRedeemers andRed Shirts on a campaign to reestablish Democratic rule South Carolina. At the end of theReconstruction era he became Governor and then U.S. Senator from South Carolina.
The county had a peak of population in 1910, when agriculture was still the mainstay of the economy. Thousands of African Americans left after that for urban areas, especially in the North, in theGreat Migration. The mechanization of agriculture reduced farm jobs.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 562.71 square miles (1,457.4 km2), of which 559.98 square miles (1,450.3 km2) is land and 2.73 square miles (7.1 km2) (0.49%) is water.[4]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 18,741 | — | |
| 1890 | 20,544 | 9.6% | |
| 1900 | 23,738 | 15.5% | |
| 1910 | 25,126 | 5.8% | |
| 1920 | 19,550 | −22.2% | |
| 1930 | 17,243 | −11.8% | |
| 1940 | 17,465 | 1.3% | |
| 1950 | 18,027 | 3.2% | |
| 1960 | 17,425 | −3.3% | |
| 1970 | 15,878 | −8.9% | |
| 1980 | 18,159 | 14.4% | |
| 1990 | 18,191 | 0.2% | |
| 2000 | 21,386 | 17.6% | |
| 2010 | 21,090 | −1.4% | |
| 2020 | 18,561 | −12.0% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 18,172 | [7] | −2.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010[12] 2020[1] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 7,802 | 42.03% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 9,536 | 51.38% |
| Native American | 41 | 0.22% |
| Asian | 100 | 0.54% |
| Pacific Islander | 17 | 0.09% |
| Other/Mixed | 399 | 2.15% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 666 | 3.59% |
As of the2020 census, there were 18,561 people, 6,993 households, and 4,148 families residing in the county.
At the2010 census, there were 21,090 people, 7,598 households, and 5,211 families living in the county.[14][12] The population density was 37.7 inhabitants per square mile (14.6/km2). There were 9,140 housing units at an average density of 16.3 per square mile (6.3/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 53.9% black or African American, 42.7% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 6.4% wereIrish, 6.3% wereAmerican, 5.6% wereGerman, and 5.3% wereEnglish.[16]
Of the 7,598 households, 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.4% were non-families, and 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.15. The median age was 38.4 years.[14]
The median income for a household in the county was $34,846 and the median income for a family was $43,234. Males had a median income of $31,935 versus $26,826 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,262. About 17.2% of families and 20.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 19.7% of those age 65 or over.[17]
At the2000 census,[18] there were 21,386 people, 7,444 households, and 5,315 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 8,582 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 55.67%Black orAfrican American, 42.89%White, 0.20%Native American, 0.17%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.62% fromother races, and 0.43% from two or more races. 2.56% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 7,444 households, out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.90% were married couples living together, 18.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.60% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 103.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,771, and the median income for a family was $34,559. Males had a median income of $29,440 versus $20,418 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $13,129. About 17.80% of families and 21.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.60% of those under age 18 and 21.70% of those age 65 or over.
Like most majority African American counties, Hampton is aDemocratic stronghold, having not been won by aRepublican presidential candidate sinceNixon in 1972. The margin has been narrowing in recent elections, however, withKamala Harris' 2024 performance being the worst by a Democrat since 1984.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1900 | 1 | 0.11% | 936 | 99.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1904 | 0 | 0.00% | 1,079 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 631 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1916 | 0 | 0.00% | 852 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 0 | 0.00% | 623 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 3 | 0.41% | 730 | 99.05% | 4 | 0.54% |
| 1928 | 19 | 1.70% | 1,098 | 98.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 18 | 1.00% | 1,782 | 99.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 8 | 0.63% | 1,253 | 99.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 24 | 1.96% | 1,198 | 98.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 3 | 0.35% | 575 | 67.65% | 272 | 32.00% |
| 1948 | 10 | 0.62% | 81 | 4.99% | 1,531 | 94.39% |
| 1952 | 1,633 | 67.48% | 787 | 32.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 359 | 17.46% | 564 | 27.43% | 1,133 | 55.11% |
| 1960 | 1,322 | 62.59% | 790 | 37.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 2,259 | 61.09% | 1,439 | 38.91% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,671 | 31.95% | 2,107 | 40.29% | 1,452 | 27.76% |
| 1972 | 2,891 | 57.56% | 2,086 | 41.53% | 46 | 0.92% |
| 1976 | 1,773 | 30.99% | 3,923 | 68.56% | 26 | 0.45% |
| 1980 | 2,217 | 33.58% | 4,329 | 65.56% | 57 | 0.86% |
| 1984 | 3,464 | 47.92% | 3,736 | 51.69% | 28 | 0.39% |
| 1988 | 2,826 | 44.81% | 3,435 | 54.47% | 45 | 0.71% |
| 1992 | 2,402 | 32.63% | 4,332 | 58.85% | 627 | 8.52% |
| 1996 | 2,111 | 28.85% | 4,828 | 65.98% | 378 | 5.17% |
| 2000 | 2,798 | 36.06% | 4,896 | 63.10% | 65 | 0.84% |
| 2004 | 3,097 | 38.64% | 4,832 | 60.28% | 87 | 1.09% |
| 2008 | 3,439 | 36.78% | 5,816 | 62.20% | 95 | 1.02% |
| 2012 | 3,312 | 35.98% | 5,834 | 63.37% | 60 | 0.65% |
| 2016 | 3,488 | 39.61% | 5,170 | 58.71% | 148 | 1.68% |
| 2020 | 3,906 | 41.98% | 5,323 | 57.21% | 76 | 0.82% |
| 2024 | 3,801 | 46.17% | 4,328 | 52.57% | 104 | 1.26% |
In 2022, theGDP was $542.4 million (about $29,930 per capita),[20] and thereal GDP was $431.3 million (about $23,798 per capita) inchained 2017 dollars.[21] In 2022 through 2023, the average unemployment rate has been 2.8-2.9%.[22]
Some of the largest employers in the county include theUnited States Department of Justice,Food Lion,The Habit Burger Grill,Hampton Regional Medical Center, andLe Creuset.[23]
| Industry | Employment Counts | Employment Percentage (%) | Average Annual Wage ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 357 | 8.6 | 17,940 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 63 | 1.5 | 31,772 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 323 | 7.8 | 67,860 |
| Construction | 239 | 5.8 | 56,888 |
| Finance and Insurance | 77 | 1.9 | 40,768 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 679 | 16.4 | 40,300 |
| Manufacturing | 448 | 10.8 | 58,968 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 151 | 3.6 | 36,504 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 114 | 2.7 | 70,356 |
| Public Administration | 595 | 14.3 | 52,780 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 19 | 0.5 | 43,368 |
| Retail Trade | 538 | 13.0 | 25,272 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 186 | 4.5 | 63,544 |
| Utilities | 23 | 0.6 | 84,968 |
| Wholesale Trade | 336 | 8.1 | 62,296 |
| Total | 4,148 | 100.0% | 46,987 |
Geographic data related toHampton County, South Carolina atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Hampton County, South Carolina | |
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Municipalities and communities ofHampton County, South Carolina,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
TheLowcountry of South Carolina | ||
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