Williamsburg County, South Carolina

Williamsburg County
County
Williamsburg County Courthouse
Seal Logo
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
South Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°38′N79°43′W / 33.63°N 79.72°W / 33.63; -79.72
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
Founded	1785
Named for	William of Orange
Seat	Kingstree
Largest community	Kingstree
Area
• Total	937.05 sq mi (2,426.9 km2)
• Land	934.17 sq mi (2,419.5 km2)
• Water	2.88 sq mi (7.5 km2)  0.31%
Population  (2020)
• Total	31,026
• Estimate  (2023)	29,891
• Density	33.21/sq mi (12.82/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	www.williamsburgcounty.sc.gov

Williamsburg County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census its population was 31,026. ^[1] The county seat and largest community is Kingstree. ^[2] After a previous incarnation of Williamsburg County, the current county was created in 1804. ^[3]

History

Main article: Early history of Williamsburg, South Carolina

On January 7, 1867, the Kingstree jail fire killed 22 imprisoned freedmen. ^[4] Also in 1867 the United States military oversaw the registering of voters in the county in preparation for the election of a new "reconstruction" government. In the Williamsburg District, there were 800 whites and 1,725 African-Americans who were eligible to vote under the new system. ^[5] A convention was held to organize a new constitutions for the state of South Carolina, the Williamsburg District was represented by William Darrington who was a white reverend from the Williamsburg District who had opposed slavery before the war as well as C.M. Olsen and Stephen A. Swails, who were both African-American. ^[6] Darrington led a prayer at the opening of the convention on February 14 of 1868. ^[7]

In 1868 the state constitution abolished the parishes and designated judicial districts formally as counties thus transforming the "Williamsburg District" into "Williamsburg County." ^[8]

In 1868 an election was held in which all men older than 21 years of age who had never been convicted of committing a felony nor were "prohibited on account of service under Confederate Government" were allowed to vote. This was a form of direct democratic election which had been set up by the reconstruction government of South Carolina. Almost all voters in this election were African American. No one who fought for the Confederacy was allowed to vote in the election. Many African-American officials were elected. Stephen A. Swails was an educated black man from Pennsylvania who had fought in the U.S. military in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment during the civil war, and who was elected to represent Williamsburg County in the South Carolina State Senate. ^{[9] [10]} F.H. Frost, J. Pendergrass and Fortune Guilds were three black men chosen to represent Williamsburg County in the South Carolina State House of Representatives. F. H. Frost was a black man elected as school commissioner. F.H. Swails was a black man elected as an auditor of Williamsburg County. C. Rasted and F.H. Frost were two black men who were elected as the assessors for Williamsburg County's county government. W.W. Ward was a white abolitionist from Massachusetts who was elected to be the sheriff of Williamsburg County, F.C. Cooper was a white abolitionist Quaker from Pennsylvania who was elected to be the clerk of the court of Williamsburg County and C.H. Pettingil, a Union Army officer from Boston, Massachusetts and former member of the Massachusetts Abolition Society who was elected as Williamsburg County's state constable representing the county in South Carolina's state government. In all of these elections local whites from South Carolina who had, by coincidence, not fought in the confederate military did run, however every single one of them lost. Every single man elected from Williamsburg County in this election was a member of the Republican Party. ^[11]

During this time, State Senator Stephen A. Swails also served as the mayor of Kingstree from 1868 until 1878. While mayor, Swails published and edited a newspaper called the Williamsburg Republican, he also started a law firm. Swails became the most prominent member of the South Carolina senate, the president pro tempore, placing him in control of all bills that passed through the state legislature. Committed to universal education, he played a critical part in transforming The South Carolina College from a school for planter elite into the integrated University of South Carolina. ^[12]

On September 17, 2023, a Marine Corps F-35 stealth fighter jet crashed in rural Williamsburg County after the plane malfunctioned and the pilot ejected and parachuted to safety. ^[13]

Geography

Interactive map of Williamsburg County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 937.05 square miles (2,426.9 km²), of which 934.17 square miles (2,419.5 km²) is land and 2.88 square miles (7.5 km²) (0.31%) is water. ^[14]

State and local protected areas

• Moore Farms Botanical Garden (part)
• Wee Tee State Forest (part)
• Wee Tee Wildlife Management Area ^[15]

Major water bodies

• Black Mingo Swamp
• Black River
• Great Pee Dee River
• Lake Swamp
• Muddy Creek
• Santee River
• Singleton Swamp

Adjacent counties

• Florence County – north
• Marion County – northeast
• Georgetown County – east
• Berkeley County – south
• Clarendon County – west

Major highways

• US 52
• US 378
• US 521
• 
  US 521 Bus.
• SC 41
• 
  SC 41 Bus.
• SC 51
• SC 261
• SC 375
• SC 377
• SC 512
• SC 513
• SC 527
• 
  SC 527 Conn.

Major infrastructure

• Kingstree Station
• Williamsburg Regional Airport

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1810	6,871		—
1820	8,716		26.9%
1830	9,018		3.5%
1840	10,327		14.5%
1850	12,447		20.5%
1860	15,489		24.4%
1870	15,489		0.0%
1880	24,110		55.7%
1890	27,777		15.2%
1900	31,685		14.1%
1910	37,626		18.8%
1920	38,539		2.4%
1930	34,914		−9.4%
1940	41,011		17.5%
1950	43,807		6.8%
1960	40,932		−6.6%
1970	34,243		−16.3%
1980	38,226		11.6%
1990	36,815		−3.7%
2000	37,217		1.1%
2010	34,423		−7.5%
2020	31,026		−9.9%
2023 (est.)	29,891	[1]	−3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [16] 1790–1960 [17] 1900–1990 [18] 1990–2000 [19] 2010 [20] 2020 [1]

2020 census

Williamsburg County racial composition ^[21]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	9,986	32.19%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	19,579	63.11%
Native American	85	0.27%
Asian	147	0.47%
Pacific Islander	1	0.0%
Other/Mixed	609	1.96%
Hispanic or Latino	619	2.0%

As of the 2020 census, there were 31,026 people, 12,686 households, and 8,066 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 34,423 people, 13,007 households, and 8,854 families living in the county. ^[22] The population density was 36.8 inhabitants per square mile (14.2/km²). There were 15,359 housing units at an average density of 16.4 units per square mile (6.3 units/km²). ^[23] The racial makeup of the county was 65.8% black or African American, 31.8% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.0% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population. ^[22] In terms of ancestry, and 4.6% were American. ^[24]

Of the 13,007 households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 23.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.9% were non-families, and 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.13. The median age was 40.2 years. ^[22]

The median income for a household in the county was $24,191 and the median income for a family was $33,705. Males had a median income of $37,678 versus $22,303 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,513. About 26.5% of families and 32.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.6% of those under age 18 and 27.5% of those age 65 or over. ^[25]

2000 census

At the 2000 census, ^[26] there were 37,217 people, 13,714 households, and 10,052 families living in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (15 people/km²). There were 15,552 housing units at an average density of 17 units per square mile (6.6 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 66.26% Black or African American, 32.74% White, 0.16% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,714 households, out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.30% were married couples living together, 22.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.60% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 87.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,214, and the median income for a family was $30,379. Males had a median income of $26,680 versus $18,202 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,794. About 23.70% of families and 27.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.10% of those under age 18 and 25.90% of those age 65 or over.

Law and Government

Law enforcement

In 2015, Sheriff Michael Johnson was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and sentenced to 30 months imprisonment. Johnson, with a co-conspirator, filed false reports of identity theft in order to raise individuals' credit scores, in exchange for up to a thousand dollars in payment. ^{[27] [28]}

Politics

Prior to 1948, Williamsburg County was a Democratic Party stronghold similar to the rest of the Solid South, with Democratic presidential candidates receiving near-unanimous margins of victory in most years. The twenty years from 1948 to 1968 were a highly transitional time for the politics of South Carolina & Williamsburg County, largely in part due to the Democratic Party's increasing support for African-American civil rights & enfranchisement. Dixiecrats managed to carry the county twice, while Republicans managed to carry the county three times in this timespan, while increased black registration led to Democrat Hubert Humphrey winning the county in 1968. Since 1968, the majority African-American county has only backed a Republican once in 1972, when Richard Nixon won the county as he swept every county statewide in the midst of a 49-state national landslide.

United States presidential election results for Williamsburg County, South Carolina ^[29]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	5,532	34.61%	10,289	64.37%	164	1.03%
2016	4,864	32.31%	9,953	66.12%	237	1.57%
2012	4,824	29.59%	11,335	69.52%	145	0.89%
2008	5,004	30.43%	11,279	68.59%	160	0.97%
2004	4,795	34.45%	9,044	64.98%	79	0.57%
2000	4,524	39.93%	6,723	59.33%	84	0.74%
1996	3,957	34.84%	6,987	61.52%	413	3.64%
1992	5,289	37.05%	8,077	56.57%	911	6.38%
1988	5,914	44.39%	7,343	55.11%	67	0.50%
1984	6,492	45.95%	7,586	53.69%	50	0.35%
1980	5,110	38.29%	8,135	60.96%	99	0.74%
1976	5,275	37.53%	8,745	62.22%	35	0.25%
1972	5,729	52.01%	5,213	47.33%	73	0.66%
1968	3,029	28.08%	5,106	47.33%	2,652	24.59%
1964	4,810	68.15%	2,248	31.85%	0	0.00%
1960	2,324	60.57%	1,513	39.43%	0	0.00%
1956	330	8.80%	683	18.20%	2,739	73.00%
1952	2,576	66.12%	1,320	33.88%	0	0.00%
1948	23	1.16%	126	6.33%	1,840	92.51%
1944	27	2.09%	1,118	86.60%	146	11.31%
1940	34	3.03%	1,089	96.97%	0	0.00%
1936	6	0.47%	1,284	99.53%	0	0.00%
1932	9	0.72%	1,244	99.28%	0	0.00%
1928	22	2.60%	825	97.40%	0	0.00%
1924	4	0.59%	672	99.41%	0	0.00%
1920	12	1.32%	895	98.68%	0	0.00%
1916	57	4.49%	1,213	95.51%	0	0.00%
1912	6	0.80%	729	96.81%	18	2.39%
1904	187	11.24%	1,476	88.76%	0	0.00%
1900	323	20.46%	1,256	79.54%	0	0.00%

Communities

City

• Kingstree (county seat and largest community)

Towns

• Andrews (mostly in Georgetown County)
• Greeleyville
• Hemingway
• Lane
• Stuckey

Unincorporated communities

• Cades
• Gourdin
• Hebron
• Indiantown
• Nesmith
• Outland
• Rhems
• Salters
• Trio
• Piney Forest

See also

• List of counties in South Carolina
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Williamsburg County, South Carolina
• Chaloklowa Chickasaw, state-recognized group that resides in the county

References

1. "QuickFacts: Williamsburg County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. 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. "DOMESTIC NEWS.; Death and Obsequies of Hon. Arthur P. Hayne. The District Suffrage Law as Passed. The Burning of the Kingstree, S. C., Jail--Heartrending Scenes Attending the Death of the inmates--Ineffectual Attempts to Save Them. (Published 1867)". January 16, 1867. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
5. Reconstruction in South Carolina, 1865-1877 by John Schreiner Reynolds pg. 74
6. Reconstruction in South Carolina, 1865-1877 by John Schreiner Reynolds, pg. 78
7. PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA By J. WOODRUFF pg. 361
8. "Counties, districts, and parishes".
9. "Black Civil-War Soldier Gets Overdue Honors". NPR.org.
10. History of Williamsburg: Something about the People of Williamsburg County, South Carolina, from the First Settlement by Europeans about 1705 Until 1923 by William Willis Boddie pg. 447-448
11. History of Williamsburg: Something about the People of Williamsburg County, South Carolina, from the First Settlement by Europeans about 1705 Until 1923 by William Willis Boddie pg. 440
12. "Stephen Swails (U.S. National Park Service)".
13. Associated Press (September 18, 2023). "Authorities locate debris of F-35 fighter jet that crashed in South Carolina". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved September 25, 2023.
14. "2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
15. "SCDNR Public Lands". www2.dnr.sc.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
16. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
17. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
18. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
19. "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 19, 2015.
20. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
21. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
22. "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.
23. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
24. "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.
25. "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.
26. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
27. Michaele Duke (February 19, 2014). "Williamsburg sheriff indicted on federal charges". Post and Courier. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
28. "Williamsburg County Sheriff, Columbia Man Sentenced for Fraud — FBI". www.fbi.gov. March 25, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
29. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 14, 2018.

Further reading

• History of Williamsburg by William Willis Boddie, 1923
• The Life of Francis Marion by William Gilmore Simms (Project Gutenberg), March 1997

External links

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