Dorchester County, South Carolina

Dorchester County, South Carolina

Seal
Map of South Carolina highlighting Dorchester County
Location in the U.S. state of South Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting South Carolina
South Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded 1897
Named for Dorchester, Massachusetts
Seat St. George
Largest City North Charleston
Area
 • Total 576 sq mi (1,492 km2)
 • Land 573 sq mi (1,484 km2)
 • Water 2.6 sq mi (7 km2), 0.4%
Population
 • (2010) 136,555
 • Density 238/sq mi (92/km²)
Congressional districts 1st, 6th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.dorchestercounty.net

Dorchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 136,555.[1] Its county seat is St. George.[2]

Dorchester County is included in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Dorchester County is named for its first settlement area, which was established by Congregationalists in 1696. These settlers applied the name "Dorchester" after their last residence in Dorchester, Massachusetts.[3]

Dorchester was not established as a separate county until 1897. However, when it was separately established, it came from parts of the neighboring Colleton and Berkeley counties.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 576 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 573 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) (0.4%) is water.[5]

Adjacent Counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
190016,294—
191017,8919.8%
192019,4598.8%
193018,956−2.6%
194019,9285.1%
195022,60113.4%
196024,3837.9%
197032,27632.4%
198058,76182.1%
199083,06041.4%
200096,41316.1%
2010136,55541.6%
Est. 2015152,478[6]11.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

2000 census

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 96,413 people, 34,709 households, and 26,309 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 people per square mile (65/km²). There were 37,237 housing units at an average density of 65 per square mile (25/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.05% White, 25.08% Black or African American, 0.73% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 1.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 34,709 households out of which 40.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 14.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.20% were non-families. 20.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the county, the population was spread out with 28.90% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 31.60% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,316, and the median income for a family was $50,177. Males had a median income of $35,423 versus $24,405 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,840. About 7.10% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 136,555 people, 50,259 households, and 36,850 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 238.2 inhabitants per square mile (92.0/km2). There were 55,186 housing units at an average density of 96.3 per square mile (37.2/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 67.8% white, 25.8% black or African American, 1.5% Asian, 0.7% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.4% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.4% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry,[14]

Of the 50,259 households, 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.7% were non-families, and 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 35.6 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $55,034 and the median income for a family was $63,847. Males had a median income of $45,659 versus $32,221 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,497. About 9.0% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Government and infrastructure

The South Carolina Department of Corrections operates the Lieber Correctional Institution in Ridgeville in Dorchester County.[16] The prison houses the state's male death row.[17]

Municipalities

Communities

City

Town

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 108.
  4. ↑ Dorchester County Online
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  6. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  9. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  13. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  14. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  15. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  16. ↑ "Lieber Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Death Row/Capital Punishment." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.

External links

 Orangeburg County
Bamberg County Berkeley County
   Dorchester County, South Carolina  
Colleton County Charleston County

Coordinates: 33°05′N 80°24′W / 33.08°N 80.40°W / 33.08; -80.40

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