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Colleton County is in the Lowcountry region of the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,604. Its county seat is Walterboro. The county is named after Sir John Colleton, 1st Baronet, one of the eight Lords Proprietor of the
Province of Carolina Province of Carolina was a province of England (1663–1707) and Great Britain (1707–1712) that existed in North America and the Caribbean from 1663 until partitioned into North and South on January 24, 1712. It is part of present-day Alaba ...
. After two previous incarnations, the current Colleton County was created in 1800.


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 and bordering on the Combahee River. In 1706, the county was divided between the new Saint Bartholomew and Saint Paul parishes. This area was developed for large plantations devoted to rice and indigo cultivation as commodity crops. The planters depended on the labor of African slaves transported to Charleston for that purpose. In the coastal areas, black slaves soon outnumbered white colonists, as they did across the colony by 1708. 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
Reconstruction era The Reconstruction era was a period in American history following the American Civil War (1861–1865) and lasting until approximately the Compromise of 1877. During Reconstruction, attempts were made to rebuild the country after the bloo ...
new state constitution, South Carolina districts were reorganized as counties. Officials were to be elected by the resident voters rather than by state officials, as was done previously, thus giving more democratic power to local residents. 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 by Charleston County. In 1919 and again in 1920, tiny portions of northwestern Colleton County were annexed to Bamberg County. In March 1975, the town of Edisto Beach was annexed to Colleton County from Charleston County, thus bringing the county to its present size.


Geography

According to the
U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (6.8%) is water. It is the fifth-largest county in South Carolina by land area and fourth-largest by total area.


National protected area

* Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve (part) * Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge (part)


State and local protected areas/sites

*
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family (biology), family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats th ...
*
Colleton State Park Colleton State Park is a state park located along U.S. Highway 15 between St. George and Walterboro, South Carolina, United States. The smallest state park in the state of South Carolina, Colleton's main attraction is recreational access to th ...
*
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area Donnelley Wildlife Management Area or Donnelley WMA is an undeveloped natural area in Colleton County, South Carolina near the unincorporated area of Green Pond. Named after Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley who were instrumental in leading land prese ...
* Givhans Ferry State Park (part) *
Lowcountry Raptors The Lowcountry (sometimes Low Country or just low country) is a geographic and cultural region along South Carolina's coast, including the Sea Islands. The region includes significant salt marshes and other coastal waterways, making it an impo ...
* Old Walterboro Train Depot * Pon-Pon Chapel of Ease * Tuskegee Airmen Memorial *
Walterboro Historic District The Walterboro Historic District is a historic district in Walterboro, South Carolina. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's offi ...


Major water bodies

*
Ashepoo River Ashepoo River is a short blackwater river in South Carolina, United States. It rises in a confluence of swamps south of Walterboro, flows in a southeast direction and empties into Saint Helena Sound at . The entire course of the river lies withi ...
* Atlantic Ocean * Edisto River * Intracoastal Waterway * Salkehatchie River


Adjacent counties

*
Orangeburg County Orangeburg County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 92,501. Its county seat is Orangeburg. The county was created in 1769. Orangeburg County comprises the Orangeburg, SC Microp ...
- north * Dorchester County - northeast *
Charleston County Charleston County is located in the U.S. state of South Carolina along the Atlantic coast. As of the 2020 census, its population was 408,235, making it the third most populous county in South Carolina (behind Greenville and Richland counties). ...
- east * Beaufort County - south * Hampton County - west *
Allendale County Allendale County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,039, making it the least populous county in South Carolina. Its county seat is Allendale. History Allendale County was formed in 191 ...
- west *
Bamberg County Bamberg County is a county located in the southwestern portion of U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,311, making the rural county the fourth-least populous of any in South Carolina. Its county seat is Bam ...
- northwest


Major highways

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Major infrastructure

*
Lowcountry Regional Airport Lowcountry Regional Airport is a public use airport located two nautical miles (4 kilometre, km) northeast of the central business district of Walterboro, South Carolina, Walterboro, a city in Colleton County, South Carolina, United St ...


Demographics


2020 census

As of the
2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
, there were 38,604 people, 15,075 households, and 9,565 families residing in the county.


2010 census

As of the
2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servin ...
, there were 38,892 people, 15,131 households, and 10,449 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 19,901 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 57.0% white, 39.0% black or African American, 0.8% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.8% of the population. Of the 15,131 households, 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.9% were non-families, and 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 40.7 years. The median income for a household in the county was $33,263 and the median income for a family was $40,955. Males had a median income of $36,622 versus $25,898 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,842. About 17.7% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 17.2% of those age 65 or over.


2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 38,264 people, 14,470 households, and 10,490 families living in the county. The population density 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% White, 42.18% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.25%
Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 1.44% of the population were Hispanic or
Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...
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 couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
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 income 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.


Ancestry

The largest self-identified ancestry groups in Colleton County in 2019 were: * 39% African-American * 32.3% English * 6.5% German * 5.2% Irish


Law and government


Law enforcement

In 2019, County Sheriff R.A. Strickland was charged with domestic violence after punching a woman in his home. the current sheriff is Guerry L. "Buddy" Hill Jr.


Politics


Education

* Colleton County School District operates public schools, including
Colleton County High School Colleton County High School (formed from the merging of Walterboro High School and Ruffin High School) is a public high school in Walterboro, South Carolina. It is the only public high school in Colleton County and is one of the largest high schoo ...
. * Degrees can be earned at the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie in Walterboro.


Communities


Cities

* Walterboro (county seat and largest city)


Towns

* Cottageville * Edisto Beach *
Lodge Lodge is originally a term for a relatively small building, often associated with a larger one. Lodge or The Lodge may refer to: Buildings and structures Specific * The Lodge (Australia), the official Canberra residence of the Prime Ministe ...
* Smoaks *
Ruffin Ruffin may refer to: People * Ruffin (name), list of people with the name Places * Riffa, Bahrain, formerly known in English as Ruffin *Ruffin, North Carolina * Ruffin, South Carolina See also * Tierra Ruffin-Pratt Tierra Ruffin-Pratt (born Ap ...
* Williams


Census-designated places

* Islandton * Jacksonboro


Unincorporated communities

* Green Pond * Hendersonville * Neyles * Round O *
Ruffin Ruffin may refer to: People * Ruffin (name), list of people with the name Places * Riffa, Bahrain, formerly known in English as Ruffin *Ruffin, North Carolina * Ruffin, South Carolina See also * Tierra Ruffin-Pratt Tierra Ruffin-Pratt (born Ap ...
* Canadys


See also

* List of counties in South Carolina * National Register of Historic Places listings in Colleton County, South Carolina *
National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge System is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the system of public lands and waters set aside to c ...


References


External links


Colleton County website
*
Colleton County History and Images
{{authority control 1800 establishments in South Carolina Populated places established in 1800