Lexington County, South Carolina

Lexington County
County
Lexington County Courthouse
Flag Seal
Motto:  "Grow with us"
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
South Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°54′N81°16′W / 33.90°N 81.27°W / 33.90; -81.27
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
Founded	1785
Named for	Battle of Lexington and Concord
Seat	Lexington
Largest community	Lexington
Area
• Total	757.62 sq mi (1,962.2 km2)
• Land	699.00 sq mi (1,810.4 km2)
• Water	58.62 sq mi (151.8 km2)  7.74%
Population  (2020)
• Total	293,991
• Estimate  (2023)	309,528
• Density	420.59/sq mi (162.39/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.lex-co.sc.gov

Lexington County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 293,991. ^[1] Its county seat and largest community is Lexington. ^[2] The county was chartered in 1785 ^[3] and was named in commemoration of Lexington, Massachusetts, the site of the Battle of Lexington in the American Revolutionary War. ^[4] Lexington County is the sixth-most populous county in South Carolina by population and is part of the Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located in the Midlands region of South Carolina.

History

Lexington County was charted in 1785 and was named after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, fought at the outset of the American Revolutionary War.

Geography

Interactive map of Lexington County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 757.62 square miles (1,962.2 km²), of which 699.00 square miles (1,810.4 km²) is land and 58.62 square miles (151.8 km²) (7.74%) is water. ^[5] The largest body of water is Lake Murray, while other waterways include the Broad River, the Saluda River and the Congaree River. Lexington County has urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. Much of the county's urbanization is in its eastern and northeastern areas. The elevation in the county is 392 feet (119 m). ^[6]

Climate

Lexington County averages 47 inches (1,200 mm) of rain per year; the U.S. average is 38 inches (970 mm). The average snowfall is 1 inch (25 mm); the U.S. average is 28 inches (710 mm). The average number of days with any measurable precipitation is 103. ^[6]

On average, there are 218 sunny days per year in Lexington County. The July high is around 92.3 °F (33.5 °C) and the January low is 33.2 °F (0.7 °C). The comfort index rates the county a 7.3 out of 10, where higher is more comfortable. The U.S. average on the comfort index is a 7 out of 10. ^[6]

State and local protected areas

• Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve ^[7]
• Lake Murray Dam North Recreational Area
• Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve ^[7]
• Saluda Shoals Park ^[8]
• Shealy's Pond Heritage Preserve ^[7]

Major water bodies

• Congaree River
• Lake Murray
• North Fork Edisto River
• Red Bank Creek
• Saluda River

Adjacent counties

• Richland County – east
• Orangeburg County – southeast
• Calhoun County – southeast
• Aiken County – southwest
• Saluda County – west
• Newberry County – northwest

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1810	6,641		—
1820	8,083		21.7%
1830	9,065		12.1%
1840	12,111		33.6%
1850	12,930		6.8%
1860	15,579		20.5%
1870	12,988		−16.6%
1880	18,564		42.9%
1890	22,181		19.5%
1900	27,264		22.9%
1910	32,040		17.5%
1920	35,676		11.3%
1930	36,494		2.3%
1940	35,994		−1.4%
1950	44,279		23.0%
1960	60,726		37.1%
1970	89,012		46.6%
1980	140,353		57.7%
1990	167,611		19.4%
2000	216,014		28.9%
2010	262,391		21.5%
2020	293,991		12.0%
2023 (est.)	309,528	[1]	5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 1790–1960 [10] 1900–1990 [11] 1990–2000 [12] 2010 [13] 2020 [1]

2020 census

Lexington County racial composition ^[14]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	208,854	71.04%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	42,382	14.42%
Native American	894	0.3%
Asian	6,644	2.26%
Pacific Islander	185	0.06%
Other/Mixed	13,235	4.5%
Hispanic or Latino	21,797	7.41%

As of the 2020 census, there were 293,991 people, 118,193 households, and 81,118 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 262,391 people, 102,733 households, and 70,952 families living in the county. ^[15] The population density was 375.4 inhabitants per square mile (144.9 inhabitants/km²). There were 113,957 housing units at an average density of 163.0 units per square mile (62.9 units/km²). ^[16] The racial makeup of the county was 79.3% white, 14.3% black or African American, 1.4% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 2.7% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.5% of the population. ^[15] In terms of ancestry, 17.2% were German, 14.0% were American, 12.5% were English, and 11.8% were Irish. ^[17]

Of the 102,733 households, 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.9% were non-families, and 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 37.9 years. ^[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $52,205 and the median income for a family was $64,630. Males had a median income of $44,270 versus $34,977 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,393. About 8.5% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over. ^[18]

2000 census

At the 2000 census, ^[19] there were 216,014 people, 83,240 households, and 59,849 families living in the county. The population density was 309 people per square mile (119 people/km²). There were 90,978 housing units at an average density of 130 units per square mile (50 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.18% White, 12.63% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 83,240 households, out of which 35.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, 26.10% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.30% was from 18 to 24, 31.60% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 10.20% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,659, and the median income for a family was $52,637. Males had a median income of $36,435 versus $26,387 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,063. About 6.40% of families and 9.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.10% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Politics

Lexington County was one of the first areas of South Carolina to support the Republican Party. The last official Democratic candidate to carry the county at a presidential level was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944, and the official Democratic candidate last won 40 percent of the county's vote in 1952. It supported splinter Dixiecrat candidates in 1948 and 1956.

In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Lexington County voted 64.2% in favor of Republican Donald Trump and 34.1% in favor of Democrat Joe Biden ^[20] with 72.6% of the eligible electorate voting. This was the strongest performance by a Democratic candidate for president since 1976. ^[21]

United States presidential election results for Lexington County, South Carolina ^[22]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	92,817	64.20%	49,301	34.10%	2,450	1.69%
2016	80,026	65.55%	35,230	28.86%	6,837	5.60%
2012	76,662	68.07%	34,148	30.32%	1,813	1.61%
2008	74,960	68.45%	33,303	30.41%	1,249	1.14%
2004	67,132	71.85%	25,393	27.18%	907	0.97%
2000	58,095	69.93%	22,830	27.48%	2,156	2.60%
1996	39,658	63.23%	18,907	30.15%	4,155	6.62%
1992	41,759	60.50%	18,312	26.53%	8,951	12.97%
1988	41,467	77.89%	11,366	21.35%	405	0.76%
1984	38,628	80.95%	8,828	18.50%	265	0.56%
1980	28,313	67.60%	12,334	29.45%	1,239	2.96%
1976	21,442	59.43%	14,339	39.75%	296	0.82%
1972	25,327	84.75%	4,069	13.62%	490	1.64%
1968	12,204	48.49%	4,058	16.12%	8,907	35.39%
1964	12,041	71.47%	4,807	28.53%	0	0.00%
1960	6,511	61.02%	4,159	38.98%	0	0.00%
1956	1,188	20.71%	2,094	36.50%	2,455	42.79%
1952	4,018	53.35%	3,513	46.65%	0	0.00%
1948	58	2.03%	566	19.78%	2,237	78.19%
1944	20	0.94%	1,986	93.68%	114	5.38%
1940	17	1.12%	1,496	98.88%	0	0.00%
1936	32	1.47%	2,138	98.53%	0	0.00%
1932	5	3.40%	141	95.92%	1	0.68%
1928	61	4.73%	1,228	95.27%	0	0.00%
1924	7	0.50%	1,395	99.36%	2	0.14%
1920	59	3.15%	1,813	96.85%	0	0.00%
1916	31	1.43%	2,060	95.15%	74	3.42%
1912	3	0.24%	1,201	94.94%	61	4.82%
1908	80	3.09%	2,508	96.87%	1	0.04%
1904	60	2.44%	2,403	97.56%	0	0.00%
1900	30	2.25%	1,302	97.75%	0	0.00%
1896	197	10.54%	1,672	89.46%	0	0.00%
1892	71	4.43%	1,287	80.39%	243	15.18%

The county's Republican bent is not limited to national politics; its voters frequently reject Democrats at the state level as well. The county has supported the Republican candidate for governor in every election since 1982 when Richard Riley carried every county in the state. ^[23] The last Democratic senatorial nominee to manage even 30 percent of the county's vote was Inez Tenenbaum in 2004, and no Democrat has carried the county since Ernest "Fritz" Hollings did so in 1980. In 1986, it was the only county in the state to support Hollings' Republican opponent, future Governor Henry McMaster. ^[24] It was one of the first areas where Republicans broke the long Democratic monopoly on state and local offices; today, longtime state senator Nikki Setzler is the only elected Democrat above the county level.

On November 4, 2014, Lexington County residents voted against a proposed sales tax increase. The money generated from this tax would have mostly been used to improve traffic conditions upon roadways. ^[25] That same day, residents voted to repeal a ban on alcohol sales on Sundays within the county. ^[26]

Law enforcement

In 2015, long-time county sheriff James Metts pled guilty to charges of conspiring to harbor and conceal illegal aliens. Metts accepted bribes to keep undocumented immigrants out of federal databases. Metts had been sheriff since 1972. ^{[27] [28] [29] [30]}

Economy

UPS Airplanes Columbia Metropolitan Airport in Lexington County

The Saxe Gotha Industrial Park near Cayce houses multiple distribution sites for major national companies, including Amazon, Chick-fil-A, The Home Depot and Nephron Pharmaceuticals. ^{[31] [32]} Near Lexington is the Michelin tire-production plant. Other manufacturers include Shaw Industries, Southeastern Freight Lines, and Flex, at which president Biden spoke in July 2023. ^{[33] [34]}

Top Employers

Two towers of Lexington Medical Center

Top ten employers (2021) ^[35]

Rank	Employer	Employees
1	Lexington Medical Center	7,893
2	Lexington School District 1	3,674
3	Amazon	3,050
4	Wal-Mart	2,603
5	State government	2,308
6	Michelin	2,240
7	County of Lexington	1,855
8	Dominion Energy	1,486
9	Lexington School District 2	1,274
10	Lexington School District Five	1,136

Transportation

Interstates

• I-20 Interstate 20 travels from west to east and connects Columbia to Atlanta and Augusta in the west and Florence in the east. It serves the nearby towns and suburbs of Pelion, Lexington, West Columbia, Sandhill, Pontiac, and Elgin. Interstate 20 is also used by travelers heading to Myrtle Beach, although the interstate's eastern terminus is in Florence.
• I-26 Interstate 26 travels from northwest to southeast and connects the Columbia area to the other two major population centers of South Carolina: the Greenville-Spartanburg area in the northwestern part of the state and North Charleston – Charleston area in the southeastern part of the state.
• I-77 Interstate 77 begins in Lexington county and ends in Cleveland, Ohio and is frequently used by travelers on the east coast heading to or from Florida.

U.S. Routes

• US 1
• 
  US 1 Conn.
• US 176
• US 178
• US 321
• US 378

State Routes

• SC 6
• 
  SC 6 Conn.
• SC 12
• 
  SC 12 Conn.
• SC 113
• SC 245
• SC 302
• SC 391
• SC 602

Columbia Metropolitan Airport

President Donald Trump arrives at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport greeted by Governor Henry McMaster, Senator Tim Scott, and Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette.

Main article: Columbia Metropolitan Airport

The Columbia Metropolitan Airport serves as the main airport system for the greater Columbia area. In 2018, the airport served 1,197,603 passengers with 12,324 flights. Additionally, the airport is also the regional hub for UPS Airlines, transporting 136.7 million pounds of freight/mail in 2018. ^[36] The airport was named Lexington County Airport, and during World War II, trained pilots for B-25 Mitchell crews.

Public Transportation

COMET Bus in West Columbia, Lexington County

Main article: The Comet (transit)

Public transportation in Lexington County is provided by the COMET, or officially the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA). The bus system is the main public transit system for the greater Columbia area. In Lexington County, the bus system runs in the areas of West Columbia, Cayce, Irmo, Springdale, Seven Oaks, and Harbison. Additionally, COMET offers Dial-a-ride transit (DART), which provides personalized service passengers with disabilities. ^[37]

Education

Education in Lexington County

Public school district name	Enrollment	Teachers	Schools
Lexington County School District One [38]	27,072	1,959	31
Lexington County School District Two [39]	8,582	636	13
Lexington County School District Three [40]	2,020	160	4
Lexington County School District Four [41]	3,245	224	6
Lexington & Richland County School District Five [lower-alpha 1] [42]	16,780	1,332	22
Colleges	Enrollment	Campuses
Midlands Technical College [lower-alpha 2]	15,000 [43]	3
Public libraries	Visitors (counted once)	Branches
Lexington County Public Library	160,336 [43]	10

Attractions

Lake Murray Dam generates electricity for the region. The lake serves as an attraction for fishing, boating, swimming, and walking.

Riverbanks Zoo Waterpark (Lexington County portion)

• Lake Murray
• Riverbanks Zoo ^{[lower-alpha 3]}
• Riverbanks Botanical Garden
• Riverbanks Waterfall Junction and waterpark
• Lexington County Museum
• Lake Murray Dam
• Lexington County Baseball Stadium
• Cayce-West Columbia Riverwalk
• Fourteen-mile Creek Trail
• Columbiana Centre

Communities

Lexington County (Cayce) from the banks of the Congaree River.

Walking trail in Cayce, crossing beneath railroad tracks

Columbiana Mall in Columbia

A farm in rural Lexington County near Swansea

Cities

• Cayce (partly in Richland County)
• Columbia (mostly in Richland County)
• West Columbia

Towns

• Batesburg-Leesville
• Chapin (partly in Richland County and Newberry County)
• Gaston
• Gilbert
• Irmo (partly in Richland County)
• Lexington (county seat and largest community)
• Pelion
• Pine Ridge
• South Congaree
• Springdale
• Summit
• Swansea

Census-designated places

• Edmund
• Fairview Crossroads
• Oak Grove
• Red Bank
• Seven Oaks
• White Knoll

Ghost town

• Granby

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Lexington County. ^[44]

† = county seat

Rank	Name	Type	Population (2020 census)
1	Columbia	City	136,632
2	† Lexington	Town	23,568
3	West Columbia	City	17,416
4	Seven Oaks	CDP	14,652
5	Cayce	City	13,781
6	Oak Grove	CDP	12,899
7	Irmo	Town	11,569
8	Red Bank	CDP	10,924
9	White Knoll	CDP	7,858
10	Batesburg-Leesville	Town	5,270
11	Springdale	Town	2,744
12	South Congaree	Town	2,377
13	Pine Ridge	Town	2,167
14	Chapin	Town	1,809
15	Gaston	Town	1,608
16	Edmund	CDP	969
17	Swansea	Town	722
18	Pelion	Town	631
19	Gilbert	Town	571
20	Fairview Crossroads	CDP	540
21	Summit	Town	423

Notable person

• Floyd Spence, former representative for South Carolina's 2nd congressional district

See also

• List of counties in South Carolina
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lexington County, South Carolina
• Birch County, South Carolina, proposed county that would include existing portions of Lexington County

Notes

1. Partly in Richland County
2. 3 of 6 campuses are in Lexington County
3. Partly in Richland County

References

1. "QuickFacts: Lexington County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "South Carolina: Individual County Chronologies". South Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2009. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
4. Barefoot, Daniel W. (1999). Touring South Carolina's Revolutionary War Sites. John F. Blair, Publisher. p. 293. ISBN   9780895871824.
5. "2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
6. "Climate in Lexington County, South Carolina". www.bestplaces.net. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
7. "SCDNR Public Lands". www2.dnr.sc.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
8. "Saluda Shoals Park". Icrc.net. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
11. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
13. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
14. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
15. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
16. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
17. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
18. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
19. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
20. "South Carolina Election Results". New York Times. November 7, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
21. "2020 Statewide General Election". SC Votes. November 7, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
23. Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1982 Gubernatorial General Election Results – South Carolina
24. Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas; 1986 Senatorial General Election Results – South Carolina
25. "Lexington County Voters Reject Penny Tax". Wltx.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
26. "Lexington County, Cayce voters repeal Sunday alcohol sales ban". Coladaily.com. November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
27. "Former Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Harbor and Conceal Illegal Aliens — FBI". www.fbi.gov. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
28. "Former Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts Sentenced". www.justice.gov. April 27, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
29. "The Sheriff Who Sold Amnesty". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
30. "South Carolina's Longest-Serving Sheriff James Metts Indicted". NBC News. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
31. "Saxe Gotha Industrial Park". lexingtoncountyusa.sc.gov. Lexington County. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
32. McMaster, Henry. "Chick-fil-A Supply establishing distribution center in Lexington County". governor.sc.gov. Governor's Office of South Carolina. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
33. "TOP EMPLOYERS". lexingtoncountyusa.sc.gov. Lexington County. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
34. Chhetri, Devyani. "Live Updates: Joe Biden in SC: President lands in Columbia ahead of Investing in America stop". Greenville News. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
35. "Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, 2020-2021" (PDF). Lexington County (S.C.). n.d. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
36. FAA Airport Form 5010 for CAE PDF , effective December 20, 2007
37. "The Comet Tracker". The Central Midlands Transit Authority. n.d. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
38. "District of Lexington County School District One". South Carolina Department of Education. 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
39. "District of Lexington School District Two". South Carolina Department of Education. 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
40. "District of Lexington County School District Three". South Carolina Department of Education. 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
41. "District of Lexington School District Four". South Carolina Department of Education. 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
42. "District of School District Five Of Lexington & Richland Count". South Carolina Department of Education. 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
43. "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report" (PDF). Lexington County Government. 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
44. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.

External links

• Geographic data related to Lexington County, South Carolina at OpenStreetMap
• Official website