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
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
Fastest-growing counties in South Carolina – December 6, 2021
SC infrastructure rated D+, experts hopeful new law will change that – December 2, 2021
Climate change’s impacts on South Carolina – November 29, 2021
Fixing “Malfunction Junction”: Work to Begin on SC’s Biggest Infrastructure Project – November 15, 2021
South Carolina Sea Islands families facing land loss from climate change, development – November 12, 2021
South Carolina Plans To Destroy Black Neighborhood To Build A Freeway – September 9, 2021
Plagued by poor roads and aging systems, South Carolina scores a D+ in infrastructure – September 8, 2021
Stink, Sulfur and Soot: Billionaire Kraft Deals an Air Pollution Crisis to South Carolina – August 23, 2021
Population growth brings changes to Jasper County – August 30, 2021
Charleston tops 2020 census list as largest in SC – August 20, 2021
Greenville County’s population boom among the biggest in SC spanning the last decade – June 25, 2021
By the numbers: As Upstate adds houses, activists worry, ‘You can’t build more land’ – June 25, 2021
The Ray, CORE SC Announce Collaboration to Advance Clean Infrastructure Innovation for South Carolina – June 24, 2021
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, DEVELOPING NEW LAND-USE MAPS BASED ON ELEVATION & HYDROLOGY – June 15, 2021
South Carolina’s litter problem has reached ‘near epidemic proportion,’ officials say – March 18, 2021
South Carolina Region OKs New Flood Maps For First Time In Years – March 11, 2021
Dominion SC plans to retire coal plants by 2030 but would mostly rely on natural gas – March 2, 2021
522-home development in Piedmont wins approval despite traffic and environmental concerns – March 1, 2021
Once a coastal phenomenon, population growth hot spots spread across South Carolina – December 3, 2020
‘Inexcusable’: 100K gallons of sewage spilled into Bluffton’s May River. What happened? – November 30, 2020
In South Carolina, Oyster Shell Recycling Helps Rebuild Reefs With Many Benefits – November 24, 2020
South Carolina weighs wall as seas rise and storms strengthen – November 23, 2020
Chemical injected in town’s drinking water called ‘an environmental injustice’ – November 16, 2020
A missing piece in Charleston’s sea level rise puzzle is what’s happening on land – October 1, 2020
Environmental groups team up to demand new Septic tank revisions – September 26, 2020
Charleston, SC Becomes First City in U.S. South to Sue Big Oil for Climate Costs – September 11, 2020
Charleston’s 350 years old, but most of the city’s growth happened during the last 50 – July 31, 2020
Sierra Club sues three SC coal plants over decade-long expired water pollution permits – July 30, 2020
South Carolina sees hotter-than-normal year so far – July 30, 2020
A NEW PLASTIC WAVE IS COMING TO OUR SHORES – July 29, 2020
NEWS BRIEFS: ‘Charleston is in trouble’ on flooding, report says – July 20, 2020
Census: Hanahan population soared; Mount Pleasant’s growth since 2010 tops most US cities – May 21, 2020
Fort Mill and Rock Hill saw population surge before. But neither hit these new levels – May 21, 2020
Are farms doomed by development? Sprawling growth devours SC farmland, study says – May 21, 2020
SC Motor Fuel User Fee to increase for the fourth consecutive year – June 2, 2020
With a growing population, alligator-human encounters could become more common in SC – June 11, 2020
Lawmakers drum up opposition to offshore drilling in South Carolina – January 31, 2020
Toxins found in drinking water near SC air base. Did base pollute people’s water? – January 30, 2020
For the birds: Here’s what Horry County’s growth means for their dying populations – January 24, 2020
Floods and fires: South Carolina faces ‘elevated’ risk from climate change, study says – January 15, 2020
South Carolina has sixth-highest growth rate in the country – January 2, 2020
Drought continues to impact South Carolina farmers despite rain – October 16, 2019
Drought a major disruption for S.C. wildlife and natural resources, Clemson experts say – October 14, 2019
New South Carolina area code coming for central part of state – October 8, 2019
Affordable housing and growth are the biggest issues facing the region, local leaders say – October 2, 2019
A third of SC families struggle to afford housing despite strong economy, study finds – September 2, 2019
Here is the fastest-growing county in every state – September 2, 2019
A garden aims to buffer a community from food insecurity – August 30, 2019
When hospitals fill up, SC patients are boarded in the ER. It’s a problem across the US – July 8, 2019