Allendale County, South Carolina
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county
Allendale County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,039,<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> making it the least populous county in South Carolina. Its county seat is Allendale.<ref name="GR6">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
History
Allendale County was formed in 1919 from southwestern portions of Barnwell County, along the Savannah River, and part of Hampton County, just to its south. It is the location of the Topper Site, an archeological excavation providing possible evidence of a pre-Clovis culture dating back 50,000 years. The site is near a source of chert on private land in Martin owned by Clariant Corporation, a Swiss chemical company with a plant there. The site, named after John Topper, a nt who discovered it, has been under excavation by archeologists from the University of South Carolina for about one month a year since 1999, after an initial exploratory dig in the mid-1980s.
Allendale County was born out of a desire for convenience. Having a new county circumvented the need to travel to the courthouse in Barnwell or Hampton. The original Allendale County Courthouse burned down in May 1998, with reconstruction begun in August 2002.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During the Civil Rights movement, the Courthouse almost became a site for a sit-in protest after African-American citizens charged officials with deliberately delaying the voter registration of Black residents.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Geography
Template:Maplink According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (1.05%) is water.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Savannah River forms the county's western border with Georgia.
Allendale is Template:Convert from Augusta, Georgia; Template:Convert from Savannah, Georgia; Template:Convert from Columbia; and Template:Convert from Charleston. Before interstate highways were built, Allendale had several motels, primarily serving travelers in-between Northeastern states and Florida. Traffic that formerly traveled US 301 through Allendale now uses Interstate 95.
Major water bodies
Adjacent counties
- Bamberg County – northeast
- Colleton County – east
- Hampton County – southeast
- Screven County, Georgia – southwest
- Burke County, Georgia – west
- Barnwell County – northwest
Major highways
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Major infrastructure
- Savannah River Site (part)
Demographics
2020 census
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Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,985 | 24.69% | |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 5,646 | 70.23% | |
| Native American | 45 | 0.56% | |
| Asian | 17 | 0.21% | |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.01% | |
| Other/Mixed | 151 | 1.88% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 194 | 2.41% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 8,039 people, 3,281 households, and 1,389 families residing in the county. The median age was 51.4 for women and 44.5 for men. About 23.7% of households had children living with them. Renters make up 35.6% of households.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Available housing was more than the number of households, totaling 4,040 housing units,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> all of which are classified as rural.<ref>U.S. Census Bureau. "URBAN AND RURAL." Decennial Census, DEC Demographic and Housing Characteristics, Table H2, 2020, https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.H2?g=050XX00US45005&y=2020&d=DEC Demographic and Housing Characteristics. Accessed on May 8, 2024.</ref> The median household size was 2 (with a mean of 2.2).<ref>U.S. Census Bureau. "HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE." Decennial Census, DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171), Table P2, 2020, https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P2?g=050XX00US45005. Accessed on May 8, 2024.</ref>
2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 10,419 people, 3,706 households, and 2,333 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,486 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 73.6% Black or African American, 23.7% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, and 5.6% were American.<ref name="census-dp2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Of the 3,706 households, 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.5% were married couples living together, 26.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.0% were non-families, and 33.7% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.14. The median age was 38.8 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>
The median household income was $20,081 and the median family income was $25,146. Males had a median income of $30,440 versus $28,889 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,190. About 35.7% of families and 42.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 53.8% of those under age 18 and 27.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 11,211 people, 3,915 households, and 2,615 families living in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,568 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 71.0 percent Black or African American, 27.37 percent White, 0.12 percent Asian, 0.09 percent Native American, 0.06 percent Pacific Islander, 0.85 percent from other races, and 0.51 percent from two or more races. 1.61 percent of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="GR8">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Of the 3,915 households, 30.3 percent had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8 percent were married couples living together, 25.8 percent had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2 percent were non-families. 30.0 percent of all households were one person and 12.3 percent had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.21.
The age distribution was 26.6 percent under the age of 18, 9.8 percent from 18 to 24, 28.2 percent from 25 to 44, 22.8 percent from 45 to 64, and 12.7 percent who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 108.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.5 males.
The median household income was $20,898 and the median family income was $27,348. Males had a median income of $25,930 versus $20,318 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,293. About 28.4 percent of families and 34.5 percent of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.1 percent of those under age 18 and 26.00 percent of those age 65 or over.<ref>US Census Bureau Demographics Data</ref>
Government and politics
County Council
Allendale County has a five-member council elected from single-member districts. The council has a single chairman. Council members serve four-year terms.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Theresa Taylor | |
| District 2 | James White, Jr. | |
| District 3 | Willa Jennings | |
| District 4 | Matthew Connelly, Chair | |
| District 5 | William Robinson, Vice Chair |
Other County Officials
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2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sheriff | citation | CitationClass=web
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| Treasurer | Alice Kirkland | |
| Clerk of Court | citation | CitationClass=web
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| Cororner | Renique Riley | |
| Probate Judge | D. Keith Smith |
S.C. Senate
Leading up to the 2020 Census Redistricting, Allendale County was divided between Senate districts 40 (the eastern half) and 45 (the western half). Senate District 40 has been represented by Democrat and Minority Leader Brad Hutto since 1996.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Democrat Margie Bright Matthews has represented District 45 since 2015, after she was elected to the position to fulfill the unexpired term of Clementa C. Pinckney.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Following the redistricting, which will be used in the 2024 United States elections despite legal disputes over racial and political gerrymandering, Allendale County is solely covered by state Senate District 40.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| Name | Years Active | Party | District | Other Counties | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (John) Henry Johnson<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | citation | CitationClass=web
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|||||
| Robinson Plato Searson, Jr. | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> 1931–1938<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
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At-large | |||
| George Dunbar Kirkland | citation | CitationClass=web
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At-large | ||||
| James Martin Thomas | citation | CitationClass=web
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}}</ref> 1947–1950<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
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At-large | ||
| William Edwin Myrick | citation | CitationClass=web
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}}</ref> 1951–1962<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
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At-large | ||
| Audrey Patterson Williams | citation | CitationClass=web
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At-large | ||||
| Edgar Allan Brown | citation | CitationClass=web
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Democratic | 18 (1967–1968)
12 (1969–1972) |
Bamberg, Barnwell | ||
| James P. Harrelson | citation | CitationClass=web
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Democratic | 15 | Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper | ||
| James Madison Wadell, Jr. | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Democratic | 15 | Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper | |||
| William Tindall Howell | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
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Democratic | 15 | Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper | ||
| Peden B. McLeod | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
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Democratic | 15 (1980–1984)
45 (1985–1990) |
Beaufort,
Charleston (1985–1990), Colleton, Hampton, Jasper | ||
| John W. Matthews Jr. | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
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Democratic | 39 | Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Dorchester, Orangeburg | ||
| McKinley Washington Jr. | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Democratic | 45 | Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper | |||
| Bradley Hutto | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Democratic | 40 (2003–2012)
40 (2013–present) |
Bamberg (2013–present), Barnwell, Colleton (2013–present), Hampton, Orangeburg | |||
| Clementa Pinckney | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Democratic | 45 | Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper | |||
| Margie Bright Matthews | 2015–2024<ref name=":6" /> | Democratic | 45 | Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper |
U.S. Presidential elections
Allendale County has been consistently Democratic in Presidential voting since 1976 and was among the few counties to be carried by Walter Mondale in 1984.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the 2008 U.S. presidential election Barack Obama received 75.3 percent of the county's vote.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the 2012 U.S. presidential election Barack Obama received 79.2 percent of the county's vote. In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Joe Biden received 75.6% of the vote.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2024, the county saw a slight rightward shift, but it was still by far the most Democratic county in the state of South Carolina in that election.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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Economy
Allendale is primarily an agricultural rural county. Its primary products are cotton, soybeans, watermelon and cantaloupe. Timbering is also important, primarily for paper pulp.
In 2022, Allendale's GDP was $317.5 million (approx. $39,491 per capita).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In chained 2017 dollars, its real GDP was $240.4 million (approx. $29,902 per capita).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> From 2021 through 2024, its unemployment rate has fluctuated between 4-8%.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:As of, some of the largest employers in the county include Atlantic Power Corporation, AZ Electronic Materials, Georgia-Pacific, South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC), and the University of South Carolina.<ref name=":0" />
| Industry | Employment Counts | Employment Percentage (%) | Average Annual Wage ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 46 | 2.0 | 15,808 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 13 | 0.6 | 28,600 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 117 | 5.0 | 46,124 |
| Construction | 20 | 0.9 | 30,472 |
| Educational Services | 280 | 12.0 | 50,336 |
| Finance and Insurance | 30 | 1.3 | 38,740 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 360 | 15.4 | 43,264 |
| Manufacturing | 782 | 33.5 | 85,228 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 4 | 0.2 | 18,200 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 32 | 1.4 | 51,064 |
| Public Administration | 382 | 16.4 | 49,868 |
| Retail Trade | 140 | 6.0 | 19,708 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 58 | 2.5 | 53,300 |
| Wholesale Trade | 68 | 2.9 | 58,708 |
| Total | 2,332 | 100.0% | 57,969 |
Education
Colleges and universities
- USC-Salkahatchie (a two-year campus): Robert McNair, Democratic Governor of South Carolina from 1965 to 1971, moved to Allendale County as an adult because his wife was from there. Because of McNair's influence, USC Salk is located in the town of Allendale.
- Denmark Tech: Part of the state Technical College System, Denmark Tech serves the county from its location in Bamberg County, Template:Convert from Allendale.
The county is also the site of WEBA, Channel 14, a broadcast outlet of the South Carolina Educational Television Network. Ranking 45th in population among the state's 46 counties, it is the smallest county to have either a state-supported college or an ETV station.
K-12 education
There is one school district: Allendale County School District.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} - Text list</ref>
Allendale County School District includes one high school: Allendale-Fairfax High School. The former C. V. Bing High School served African-American students until desegregation. Allendale Training School preceded it.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Media
Allendale County is a news desert. The last local news publications, The Citizen-Leader and The Allendale Sun, stopped printing in 2014 and 2015, respectively.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Communities
Towns
Unincorporated communities
See also
- List of counties in South Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Allendale County, South Carolina
References
External links
Template:Geographic Location Template:Allendale County, South Carolina Template:Central Savannah River Area Template:US state navigation box Template:Authority control