Colleton County is a
countyA county is a land area of local government within a country. A county may have cities and towns within its area. Originally, in continental Europe, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count .Counts are called earls in post-Celtic Britain, Ireland and France—the term is from Old...
located in the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government . Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile...
of
South CarolinaSouth Carolina is a U.S. state that borders Georgia to the south and North Carolina to the north. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence from the British Crown during the American Revolution. The colony was...
. In 2000, its population was 38,264 (estimated 2005 pop.: 39,605). Its
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
is
WalterboroWalterboro is a city in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,153 at the 2000 census...
. It is named after Sir John Colleton, 1st Baronet, one of the eight
Lords ProprietorLord Proprietor was the gubernatorial title for the noble "ruling" proprietors of certain British proprietary colonies in North America, such as Maryland or Carolina.-Lords Proprietary of Carolina:...
of the
Province of CarolinaThe Province of Carolina from 1663 to 1712, was a colony of British America, controlled by the Lords Proprietary, a group of eight English noblemen led informally by member Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury...
.
In 1682 Colleton was created as one of the three original proprietary counties, located in the southwestern coastal portion of the new South Carolina Colony, bordering on the Combahee River.
Colleton County is a
countyA county is a land area of local government within a country. A county may have cities and towns within its area. Originally, in continental Europe, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count .Counts are called earls in post-Celtic Britain, Ireland and France—the term is from Old...
located in the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government . Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile...
of
South CarolinaSouth Carolina is a U.S. state that borders Georgia to the south and North Carolina to the north. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence from the British Crown during the American Revolution. The colony was...
. In 2000, its population was 38,264 (estimated 2005 pop.: 39,605). Its
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
is
WalterboroWalterboro is a city in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,153 at the 2000 census...
. It is named after Sir John Colleton, 1st Baronet, one of the eight
Lords ProprietorLord Proprietor was the gubernatorial title for the noble "ruling" proprietors of certain British proprietary colonies in North America, such as Maryland or Carolina.-Lords Proprietary of Carolina:...
of the
Province of CarolinaThe Province of Carolina from 1663 to 1712, was a colony of British America, controlled by the Lords Proprietary, a group of eight English noblemen led informally by member Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury...
.
History
In 1682 Colleton was created as one of the three original proprietary counties, located in the southwestern coastal portion of the new South Carolina Colony, bordering on the Combahee River. In 1706 the county was divided between the new Saint Bartholomew's and Saint Paul's Parishes. In 1734 most of the coastal portion of Saint Paul's Parish was separated to form the new Saint John's Colleton Parish. In 1769 the three parishes were absorbed into the Charleston Judicial District, the southwestern portion of which was referred to as Saint Bartholomew's.
In 1800 the new Colleton District was formed from the western half of the Charleston District. In 1816 it annexed a small portion of northwestern Charleston District.
In 1868, under the revised state constitution, South Carolina districts became counties, with officials elected by the resident voters rather than by state officials as done previously.
In 1897 the northeastern portion of the county was separated to form the new Dorchester County, with its seat at Saint George. In 1911 the portion of the county east of the Edisto River was annexed to Charleston County. In 1919 and again in 1920, tiny portions of northwestern Colleton County were annexed to Bamberg County, thus bringing the county down to its present size.
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the county has a total area of 1,133 square miles (2,935 km²), of which, 1,056 square miles (2,736 km²) of it is land and 77 square miles (199 km²) of it (6.78%) is water.
Adjacent Counties
- Orangeburg County, South Carolina
Orangeburg County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 91,582. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 92,167. Its county seat is Orangeburg.-Geography:According to the U.S...
- north
- Dorchester County, South Carolina
Dorchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The 2000 census recorded its population to be 96,413. In 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 112,858. Its county seat is St...
- northeast
- Charleston County, South Carolina
Charleston County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, its population was 330,368. Its county seat is Charleston...
- east
- Beaufort County, South Carolina
Beaufort County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 120,937; in 2005 the population was estimated to have reached 137,849. Its county seat is Beaufort....
- south
- Hampton County, South Carolina
Hampton County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The 2000 census recorded its population to be 21,386, with nearly 65% of this classified as rural. Its county seat is Hampton. The county includes two small urban clusters: Hampton and Estill . The name originates from Civil...
- west
- Allendale County, South Carolina
Allendale County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The 2000 census recorded its population to be 11,211; a 2005 estimate placed the population at 10,917. Its county seat is Allendale.- History :...
- west
- Bamberg County, South Carolina
Bamberg County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 16,658; a 2005 estimate placed the population at 15,880...
- northwest
National protected areaProtected areas are locations which receive protection because of their environmental value, or environmental plus cultural values. Examples include parks, nature reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries...
- Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge
The Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1990 as part of a joint effort with federal and state government agencies, private conservation groups and local landowners to preserve and protect the ACE Basin area...
(part)
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 38,264 people, 14,470 households, and 10,490 families residing in the county. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 36 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 18,129 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 55.52%
WhiteRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 42.18%
BlackRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
African AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.63%
Native AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.25%
AsianRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.04%
Pacific IslanderRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.56% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.82% from two or more races. 1.44% of the population were
HispanicRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or
LatinoRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 14,470 households out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.10% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 16.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county, the population was spread out with 27.50% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,733, and the median income for a family was $34,169. Males had a median income of $28,518 versus $19,228 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the county was $14,831. About 17.30% of families and 21.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.70% of those under age 18 and 19.10% of those age 65 or over.
According to the 2000 Census, the Colleton County population is nearly 75% rural, with the exception of the Walterboro Urban Cluster (2000 pop.: 10,064). The total county population is also designated as the Walterboro Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Cities and towns
- Cottageville
Cottageville is a town in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 707 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cottageville is located at ....
- Edisto Beach
Edisto Beach is a town in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 641 at the 2000 census. The town limits include only the coastal area of Edisto Island .-History:Edisto Beach was originally settled by the Edistow Indians and was discovered...
- Lodge
Lodge is a town in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 114 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lodge is located at ....
- Round O
Round O is a town in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,815 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Round O is located at ....
- Ruffin
- Smoaks
Smoaks is a town in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 140 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Smoaks is located at ....
- Walterboro
Walterboro is a city in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,153 at the 2000 census...
- Williams
Williams is a town in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 116 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Williams is located at ....
- Jacksonboro