Barnwell County, South Carolina

Barnwell County, South Carolina
Barnwell County Courthouse
Map of South Carolina highlighting Barnwell County
Location in the state of South Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting South Carolina
South Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded 1800
Seat Barnwell
Largest city Barnwell
Area
 • Total 557 sq mi (1,443 km2)
 • Land 548 sq mi (1,419 km2)
 • Water 8.9 sq mi (23 km2), 1.6%
Population
 • (2010) 22,621
 • Density 41/sq mi (16/km²)
Congressional district 2nd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.barnwellcountysc.us

Barnwell County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, its population was 22,621.[1] Its county seat is Barnwell.[2]

History

The Barnwell District was created in 1798 (effective in 1800) from the southwestern portion of the Orangeburg District, along the Savannah River.[3] It was named after John Barnwell, a local figure in the Revolutionary War.[4]

In 1868, under the South Carolina Constitution revised during Reconstruction, South Carolina districts became counties. The government was made more democratic, with county officials to be elected by male citizens at least 21-years old,[5] rather than by the state legislature as done previously.

In 1871 the legislature took the northwestern portion of the county to form part of the new Aiken County, the only county organized during the Reconstruction era. In 1874 the border with Aiken County was adjusted slightly. This county and Barnwell, with populations of blacks and whites that were nearly equal, had extensive violence in the months before the 1874 and 1876 elections, as groups of paramilitary Red Shirts rode to disrupt black Republican meetings and intimidated voters to suppress black voting. More than 100 black men were killed in Aiken County during the violence, especially at Ellenton, South Carolina. In 1895 white Democrats in the state legislature passed a new constitution and disfranchised blacks for more than 60 years.

In 1897 the eastern third of the county was taken to form the new Bamberg County. In 1919 most of the southern half of the county was taken to form most of the new Allendale County, thus reducing Barnwell county to its present size.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 557 square miles (1,440 km2), of which 548 square miles (1,420 km2) is land and 8.9 square miles (23 km2) (1.6%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18007,376—
181012,28066.5%
182014,75020.1%
183019,23630.4%
184021,47111.6%
185026,60823.9%
186030,74315.5%
187035,72416.2%
188039,85711.6%
189044,61311.9%
190035,504−20.4%
191034,209−3.6%
192023,081−32.5%
193021,221−8.1%
194020,138−5.1%
195017,266−14.3%
196017,6592.3%
197017,176−2.7%
198019,86815.7%
199020,2932.1%
200023,47815.7%
201022,621−3.7%
Est. 201322,119−2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 23,478 people, 9,021 households, and 6,431 families residing in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 10,191 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 55.18% White, 42.55% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 1.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,021 households out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.40% were married couples living together, 19.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out with 28.10% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,591, and the median income for a family was $35,866. Males had a median income of $31,161 versus $21,904 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,870. About 17.90% of families and 20.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.30% of those under age 18 and 24.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "South Carolina: Individual County Chronologies". South Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  4. ↑ "History". Barnwell County Government. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  5. ↑ The Governor: Powers, Practices, Roles and the South Carolina Experience, from the website of the USC South Carolina Governance Project. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  9. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

External links

 Aiken County
Orangeburg County and Bamberg County
   Barnwell County, South Carolina  
Burke County, Georgia Allendale County

Coordinates: 33°16′N 81°26′W / 33.26°N 81.44°W