South Carolina
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Population News Articles
Population Density
Historic & Projected Growth
Population by County
POPULATION DENSITY
People per square mile, 2010: 153.9
People per square mile, 2020: 170.2
HISTORIC & PROJECTED GROWTH 1790 TO 2040
Year |
Population |
1790 |
249,073 |
1800 |
345,591 |
1810 |
415,115 |
1820 |
502,741 |
1830 |
581,185 |
1840 |
594,398 |
1850 |
668,507 |
1860 |
703,708 |
1870 |
705,606 |
1880 |
995,577 |
1890 |
1,151,149 |
1900 |
1,340,316 |
1910 |
1,515,400 |
1920 |
1,683,724 |
1930 |
1,738,765 |
1940 |
1,899,804 |
1950 |
2,117,027 |
1960 |
2,382,594 |
1970 |
2,590,713 |
1980 |
3,120,729 |
1990 |
3,486,703 |
2000 |
4,012,012 |
2010 |
4,625,364 |
2020 |
5,118,425 |
2030 |
5,792,247 |
2040 |
6,352,502 |
Sources: Census figures from U.S. Bureau of the Census & *Estimates from Weldon Cooper Center, Demographics Research Group
(The Census Bureau and Weldon Cooper Center have not yet provided updated State projections to reflect 2020 census numbers.)
Population by County
Census 2020 Population |
Census 2010 Population |
Change from 2020 |
Percent Change |
|
SOUTH CAROLINA |
5,118,425 |
4,625,364 |
493,061 |
10.66% |
Abbeville County |
24295 |
25,417 |
-1,122 |
-4.41% |
Aiken County |
168808 |
160,099 |
8,709 |
5.44% |
Allendale County |
8039 |
10,419 |
-2,380 |
-22.84% |
Anderson County |
203718 |
187,126 |
16,592 |
8.87% |
Bamberg County |
13311 |
15,987 |
-2,676 |
-16.74% |
Barnwell County |
20589 |
22,621 |
-2,032 |
-8.98% |
Beaufort County |
187117 |
162,233 |
24,884 |
15.34% |
Berkeley County |
229861 |
177,843 |
52,018 |
29.25% |
Calhoun County |
14119 |
15,175 |
-1,056 |
-6.96% |
Charleston County |
408235 |
350,209 |
58,026 |
16.57% |
Cherokee County |
56216 |
55,342 |
874 |
1.58% |
Chester County |
32294 |
33,140 |
-846 |
-2.55% |
Chesterfield County |
43273 |
46,734 |
-3,461 |
-7.41% |
Clarendon County |
31144 |
34,971 |
-3,827 |
-10.94% |
Colleton County |
38604 |
38,892 |
-288 |
-0.74% |
Darlington County |
62905 |
68,681 |
-5,776 |
-8.41% |
Dillon County |
28292 |
32,062 |
-3,770 |
-11.76% |
Dorchester County |
161540 |
136,555 |
24,985 |
18.30% |
Edgefield County |
25657 |
26,985 |
-1,328 |
-4.92% |
Fairfield County |
20948 |
23,956 |
-3,008 |
-12.56% |
Florence County |
137059 |
136,885 |
174 |
0.13% |
Georgetown County |
63404 |
60,158 |
3,246 |
5.40% |
Greenville County |
525534 |
451,225 |
74,309 |
16.47% |
Greenwood County |
69351 |
69,661 |
-310 |
-0.45% |
Hampton County |
18561 |
21,090 |
-2,529 |
-11.99% |
Horry County |
351029 |
269,291 |
81,738 |
30.35% |
Jasper County |
28791 |
24,777 |
4,014 |
16.20% |
Kershaw County |
65403 |
61,697 |
3,706 |
6.01% |
Lancaster County |
96016 |
76,652 |
19,364 |
25.26% |
Laurens County |
67539 |
66,537 |
1,002 |
1.51% |
Lee County |
16531 |
19,220 |
-2,689 |
-13.99% |
Lexington County |
293991 |
262,391 |
31,600 |
12.04% |
McCormick County |
9526 |
10,233 |
-707 |
-6.91% |
Marion County |
29183 |
33,062 |
-3,879 |
-11.73% |
Marlboro County |
26667 |
28,933 |
-2,266 |
-7.83% |
Newberry County |
37719 |
37,508 |
211 |
0.56% |
Oconee County |
78607 |
74,273 |
4,334 |
5.84% |
Orangeburg County |
84223 |
92,501 |
-8,278 |
-8.95% |
Pickens County |
131404 |
119,224 |
12,180 |
10.22% |
Richland County |
416147 |
384,504 |
31,643 |
8.23% |
Saluda County |
18862 |
19,875 |
-1,013 |
-5.10% |
Spartanburg County |
327997 |
284,307 |
43,690 |
15.37% |
Sumter County |
105556 |
107,456 |
-1,900 |
-1.77% |
Union County |
27244 |
28,961 |
-1,717 |
-5.93% |
Williamsburg County |
31026 |
34,423 |
-3,397 |
-9.87% |
York County |
282090 |
226,073 |
56,017 |
24.78% |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census
South Carolina Population News Articles
As more SC farms give way to suburban sprawl, a land preservation program is on the rise – Oct 9, 2025
South Carolina’s roads: Spending, quality, and safety in question – Oct 3, 2025
Building toward disaster: Growth collides with rising seas in Charleston – Sep 29, 2025
Planned Spartanburg data center will see more emissions testing requirements over pollution concerns – Sep 24, 2025
Charleston County considers plastic bag ordinance amendment – Sep 24, 2025
SC law enforcement increases ICE partnerships since President Trump’s reelection – June 11, 2025
SC has fastest growing county in the US, Census says. Here’s why it’s doing so well – June 4, 2025
Google signs water sustainability agreement with Arable in North and South Carolina – May 31, 2025
SC paper mill with stinking past also had toxic mercury discharges – May 30, 2025
Cooling costs could hit record highs this summer in S.C. – May 20, 2025
More SC cities using impact fees to fund services for newcomers, adding cost to home construction – May 18, 2025
Walhalla, South Carolina, looking to create long-term plan to improve water infrastructure – Sept 5, 2024
Drought intensifies for some Upstate counties – Sept 4, 2024
South Carolina Is Considered a Model for ‘Managed Retreat’ From Coastal Areas Threatened by Climate Change – Sept 3, 2024
Hundreds of dead chickens found floating in SC river. Stench noticeable, riverkeeper says – Aug 22, 2024
In South Carolina, Black voters are split on immigration – June 20, 2024
Summer 2024 Climate Outlook for northeastern SC and southeastern NC – June 5, 2024
South Carolina acts to reduce farmland loss – June 3, 2024
South Carolina Map Shows How State Could Be Underwater From Sea Level Rise – June 2, 2024
21 species declared newly extinct, including one bird last seen in Carolinas 65 years ago – October 20, 2023
Power grid at ‘crisis point’ as SC population booms, House speaker warns – October 19, 2023
SC Ports leader credits deepened harbor, increased cargo capacity for growth – October 16, 2023
Dangerous chemicals found in South Carolina’s fish, crabs and oysters. Here’s what we know – September 29, 2023
Rising sea levels putting coastal communities at risk – September 28, 2023
‘No time to lose’: SC adopts first resilience plan to cope with stronger storms – July 6, 2023
The Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded in South Carolina Was a Sizzling Nightmare – June 24, 2023
Americans Are Flocking to These 8 Fastest-Growing Counties in South Carolina – June 13, 2023
$1.2 million ‘living shoreline’ project designed to help protect Parris Island from erosion – December 10, 2022
South Carolina ranks No. 3 among deadliest states for cyclists, pedestrians. But help is on the way – December 9, 2022
Toxic chemicals found in virtually every South Carolina river tested. Action needed, critics say – December 8, 2022
10 Largest Cities In South Carolina By Population – December 7, 2022
SC power plant under more federal scrutiny after backup generator failure in January – November 30, 2022
South Carolina Governor Seeks to Protect Port from USS Yorktown Pollution – July 11, 2022
Crabtree Canal in Horry County among 25 waterways to get litter-control device funded by Palmetto Pride – July 3, 2022
Out-of-staters flock to Greenville amid nationwide population shift – June 21, 2022
Climate Change adds to extreme heat in the South – June 20, 2022
South Carolina passes overhaul of e-scrap recycling – June 16, 2022
Stinking SC paper mill with tainted waste pits the focus of state pollution probe – March 12, 2022
UN report underlines a climate change reality: SC has ‘a lot to do’ to adapt – March 5, 2022
South Carolina is the #8 state with the most people living near toxic release facilities – February 28, 2022
Housing can’t keep pace with explosive population growth in this South Carolina town – February 22, 2022
Brennan Acquires 79 Acres in Spartanburg, South Carolina – February 17, 2022