Orangeburg County, South Carolina

Orangeburg County, South Carolina
Location in the state of South Carolina
South Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded	1785
Seat	Orangeburg
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,128 sq mi (2,922 km²) 1,106 sq mi (2,865 km²) 22 sq mi (57 km²), 1.94%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	92,501 83/sq mi (32/km²)
Website	www.orangeburgcounty.org

Orangeburg County is a county located in the Piedmont region of the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 92,501. Its county seat is Orangeburg. It is home to South Carolina State University, the only public historically black college or university (HBCU) in the state. Claflin University is a private HBCU located centrally in .

Geography

First Baptist Church, downtown Orangeburg, SC

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,128 square miles (2,922 km²), of which 1,106 square miles (2,865 km²) is land and 22 square miles (57 km²) (1.94%) is water.

History

The district was occupied for thousands of years by succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples. By the time of European encounter, Siouan-speaking tribes, such as the Pee Dee, Cheraw and Catawba, inhabited the area.

The Orangeburg Judicial District was chartered in 1769 from a mostly unorganized upland area between the Congaree and Savannah rivers. A county, initially of the same name but later called Orange, was organized within the district but deorganized in 1791.

The southwest portion bordering on the Savannah River, about half of Orangeburg District, was separated and organized as Barnwell District in 1800. In 1804 the northern third of the county was separated to form the new Lexington District, which gained another, smaller portion of Orangeburg District in 1832. During the nineteenth century, the districts and counties were developed chiefly as cotton plantations for short-staple cotton, after the invention of the cotton gin in the late eighteenth century made its cultivation profitable. The area is still chiefly agricultural.

In 1868, under the revised state constitution during the Reconstruction era, South Carolina districts were organized as counties. As a result, resident voters got to elect their state representatives rather than having them chosen by the state legislature, as was done previously. Election of representatives by the state legislature had kept the districts dominated by the elite owners of major plantations in the Low Country and elsewhere. The changes in rules enlarged participation in the franchise by more male residents.

A small western portion of Orangeburg County was annexed to the newly formed Aiken County in 1871. In 1908 the northern portion of the County along the Congaree River was separated and included in the newly formed Calhoun County, with its seat at Saint Matthews. In 1910 a small western portion of Berkeley County, around Holly Hill and Eutawville, was annexed to Orangeburg County, thus bringing the county to its present size.

Adjacent counties

• Calhoun County, South Carolina - north
• Clarendon County, South Carolina - northeast
• Dorchester County, South Carolina - southeast
• Berkeley County, South Carolina - southeast
• Bamberg County, South Carolina - south
• Colleton County, South Carolina - south
• Aiken County, South Carolina - west
• Barnwell County, South Carolina - west
• Lexington County, South Carolina - northwest

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	18,513		—
1800	15,766		−14.8%
1810	13,229		−16.1%
1820	15,653		18.3%
1830	18,453		17.9%
1840	18,519		0.4%
1850	23,582		27.3%
1860	24,896		5.6%
1870	16,865		−32.3%
1880	41,395		145.4%
1890	49,393		19.3%
1900	59,663		20.8%
1910	55,893		−6.3%
1920	64,907		16.1%
1930	63,864		−1.6%
1940	63,707		−0.2%
1950	68,726		7.9%
1960	68,559		−0.2%
1970	69,789		1.8%
1980	82,276		17.9%
1990	84,803		3.1%
2000	91,582		8.0%
2010	92,501		1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

Confederate memorial, Orangeburg, South Carolina

As of the census of 2000, there were 91,582 people, 34,118 households, and 23,882 families residing in the county. The population density was 83 people per square mile (32/km²). There were 39,304 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile (14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 60.86% Black or African American, 37.17% White, 0.46% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 34,118 households out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.10% were married couples living together, 20.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.00% under the age of 18, 11.90% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 87.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,567, and the median income for a family was $36,165. Males had a median income of $29,331 versus $20,956 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,057. About 17.00% of families and 21.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.20% of those under age 18 and 22.30% of those age 65 or over.

Native Americans

The traditional lands of the Pee Dee tribes (such as the Beaver Creek Indians and the Pee Dee Indian Nation of Beaver Creek) are between the two forks of the Edisto River in Orangeburg County, and especially along Beaver Creek. Historical accounts refer to them in this area as far back as the 18th century. Many of the tribe members still live in this area. The Beaver Creek Indians achieved state recognition on January 27, 2006 but are still working toward federal recognition. The tribe was formed as a non-profit organization in 1998. Their original language family was Siouan (though today all speak English). Common family names within the tribe are: Chavis, Hutto, Williams, Barr, Bolin, Jackson, Huffman and Gleaton.

Agriculture

Orangeburg County is one of the largest agricultural producing counties in South Carolina, with fertile, slightly rolling land. Major crops are cotton, soybeans, corn, turf grass and watermelons.

Grain elevator in Orangeburg, SC

Soybeans ready for harvest, with center pivot irrigation setup, Orangeburg County, South Carolina

Harvested cotton in modules ready for pickup, Orangeburg County, SC

Cities, Towns, & CDPs

• Bowman
• Branchville
• Brookdale
• Cope
• Cordova
• Elloree
• Eutawville
• Holly Hill
• Livingston
• Neeses
• North
• Norway
• Orangeburg
• Rowesville
• Santee
• Springfield
• Vance
• Wilkinson Heights
• Woodford

See also

• Lake Marion
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Orangeburg County, South Carolina