Edgefield County, South Carolina


Edgefield County is a county located on the western border of the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 25,657. Its county seat and largest community is Edgefield. The county was established on March 12, 1785. The Savannah River makes up part of the western border of Edgefield County; across the river lies the city of Augusta, Georgia. Edgefield is part of the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The origin of the name Edgefield is unclear; the South Carolina State Library's information on the county's history suggests that the name "is usually described as 'fanciful.'" There is a village named Edgefield in Norfolk, England.
Edgefield District was created in 1785, and it is bordered on the west by the Savannah River. It was formed from the southern section of the former Ninety-Six District when it was divided into smaller districts or counties by an act of the state legislature. Parts of the district were later used in the formation of other neighboring counties, specifically:
In his study of Edgefield County, South Carolina, Orville Vernon Burton classified white society as comprising the poor, the yeoman middle class, and the elite planters. A clear line demarcated the elite, but according to Burton, the line between poor and yeoman was never very distinct. Stephanie McCurry argues that yeomen were clearly distinguished from poor whites by their ownership of land. Edgefield's yeomen farmers were "self-working farmers," distinct from the elite because they worked their land themselves alongside any slaves they owned. By owning large numbers of slaves, planters took on a managerial function and did not work in the fields.
During Reconstruction, Edgefield County had a slight black majority. It became a center of political tensions following the postwar amendments that gave freedmen civil rights under the US constitution. Whites conducted an insurgency to maintain white supremacy, particularly through paramilitary groups known as the Red Shirts. They used violence and intimidation during election seasons from 1872 on to disrupt and suppress black Republican voting.
In May 1876, six black suspects were lynched by a white mob for the alleged murders of a white couple. In the Hamburg Massacre of July 8, 1876, several black militia were killed by whites, part of a large group of more than 100 armed men who attended a court hearing of a complaint of whites against the militia. Some of the white men came from Augusta. Due to fraud, more Democratic votes were recorded in Edgefield County than there were total residents; similar fraud occurred elsewhere, as did suppression of black voting. Eventually the election was decided in Hampton's favor, and the Democrats also took control of the state legislature. As a result of a national compromise, Federal troops were withdrawn in 1877 from South Carolina and other southern states, ending Reconstruction.
The long decline in population from 1910 to 1980 reflects the decline in agriculture, mechanization reducing labor needs, and the effect of many African Americans leaving for Northern and Midwestern cities in the Great Migration out of the rural South.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

National protected area

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 25,657 and a median age of 44.4 years; 19.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 110.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 112.4 males.
The census recorded 9,634 households, of which 6,471 were families residing in the county.
The racial makeup of the county was 59.8% White, 32.6% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.8% from some other race, and 4.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.3% of the population.
12.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 88.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 9,634 households in the county, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 28.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 11,022 housing units, of which 12.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.9% were owner-occupied and 22.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 55,285 people, 21,348 households, and 16,706 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 10,559 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 58.6% white, 37.2% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian or Alaska Native, 2.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 15.8% were American, 9.0% were English, 6.7% were Irish, and 5.1% were German.
Of the 9,348 households, 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.3% were non-families, and 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04. The median age was 40.3 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,834 and the median income for a family was $57,114. Males had a median income of $41,759 versus $29,660 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,901. About 17.8% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.1% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 24,595 people, 8,270 households, and 6,210 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 9,223 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 56.77% White, 41.51% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 2.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,270 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples living together, 15.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 22.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,146, and the median income for a family was $41,810. Males had a median income of $32,748 versus $23,331 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,415. About 13.00% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.60% of those under age 18 and 18.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

The Federal Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Institution, Edgefield is in the county; it is partially within the city limits of Edgefield, and partially in an unincorporated area.

Economy

In 2022, the GDP of Edgefield County was $807.3 million. In chained 2017 dollars, the real GDP was $645.6 million. Between 2022-2023, the unemployment rate has been 3.1-3.2% on average.
Some of the largest employers in the county include Dollar General and the United States Department of Justice.
IndustryEmployment CountsEmployment Percentage Average Annual Wage
Accommodation and Food Services3436.514,196
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services2224.246,800
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting53010.042,484
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation521.024,492
Construction2865.454,496
Finance and Insurance460.946,176
Health Care and Social Assistance60611.440,456
Information130.275,868
Management of Companies and Enterprises80.2104,988
Manufacturing1,41926.856,940
Other Services 2374.552,676
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services851.661,932
Public Administration79415.065,468
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing130.239,468
Retail Trade3626.843,680
Transportation and Warehousing1182.270,772
Utilities791.572,852
Wholesale Trade871.686,060
Total5,300100.0%51,236