Chesterfield County is a

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

located in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = "Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = G ...

. As of the 2020 census, its population was 43,273. Its

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...

is Chesterfield. The largest city in the county is

Cheraw The Cheraw people, also known as the Saraw or Saura, were a Siouan-speaking tribe of indigenous people of the Southeastern Woodlands, in the Piedmont area of North Carolina near the Sauratown Mountains, east of Pilot Mountain and north of the Yad ...

. Chesterfield County is part of the

Charlotte Metropolitan Area The Charlotte metropolitan area, sometimes referred to as Metrolina, is a metropolitan area of the U.S. states of North and South Carolina, within and surrounding the city of Charlotte. The metropolitan area also includes the cities of Gastoni ...

. It is located north of the

Midlands The Midlands (also referred to as Central England) are a part of England that broadly correspond to the Mercia, Kingdom of Mercia of the Early Middle Ages, bordered by Wales, Northern England and Southern England. The Midlands were important in ...

, on its border with

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia a ...

History

The county is named for

Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, (22 September 169424 March 1773) was a British statesman, diplomat, and man of letters, and an acclaimed wit of his time. Early life He was born in London to Philip Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Che ...

, a British politician who opposed the Stamp Act of 1765, which was deeply unpopular in South Carolina, and who was known for always speaking up for the rights of the colonists while he was serving in the

British Parliament The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the Parliamentary sovereignty in the United Kingdom, supreme Legislature, legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of We ...

and when he served as British Secretary of State. The county was formed in 1785, but was part of what was then known as Cheraws District until 1800, at which time Chesterfield became a district itself. In the 1700s, the area that would become Chesterfield County was settled primarily by immigrants from

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...

and

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

, as well as by smaller numbers of immigrants from

County Antrim, Ireland County Antrim (named after the town of Antrim, ) is one of six counties of Northern Ireland and one of the thirty-two counties of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of and has a population of ...

, in what has since become

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label=Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. North ...

. Northern Irish immigrants were overwhelmingly Presbyterians of Scottish descent, due to the fact that they were from Ireland but were of Scottish origins. They were referred to by the rest of colonial society as " Scotch-Irish" however this was not a term they self-applied, preferring to refer to themselves as "Ulstermen" or "Irish Presbyterians." Under the post-

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by state ...

(1861–1865) state constitution of 1867, passed during the Reconstruction era, South Carolina districts became counties with

home rule Home rule is government of a colony, dependent country, or region by its own citizens. It is thus the power of a part (administrative division) of a state or an external dependent country to exercise such of the state's powers of governance wit ...

. On April 10, 2020, a case of

Influenza A virus subtype H7N3 Influenza A virus subtype H7N3 (A/H7N3) is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus (sometimes called bird flu virus). In North America, the presence of H7N3 was confirmed at several poultry farms in British Columbia in February 2004; flocks ...

was confirmed in what ''

The Post and Courier ''The Post and Courier'' is the main daily newspaper in Charleston, South Carolina. It traces its ancestry to three newspapers, the ''Charleston Courier'', founded in 1803, the ''Charleston Daily News'', founded 1865, and ''The Evening Post'', ...

'' described as "a commercial

turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

flock" which resulted in the disinfecting & quarantine of the farm. This is the 1st confirmed case of H7N3 in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

since another case was found in

Lincoln County, Tennessee Lincoln County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,319. Its county seat and largest city is Fayetteville. The county is named for Major General Benjamin ...

on March 5, 2017. Four days later on April 14, a second case was confirmed at a turkey farm in

Jefferson, South Carolina Jefferson is a town in western Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States at the junction of SC routes 265 and 151. Jefferson is located in the Piedmont region of South Carolina just in the edge meeting the Sandhills region. Jefferson is ...

resulting in the euthanization of 32,000 turkeys.

Clemson University Clemson University () is a public land-grant research university in Clemson, South Carolina. Founded in 1889, Clemson is the second-largest university in the student population in South Carolina. For the fall 2019 semester, the university enr ...

released the map of the control area for the first turkey farm infected by the virus on May 4.

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 (0.8%) is water.

National protected area

* Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

State and local protected areas

Cheraw State Park Cheraw State Park is located in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of South Carolina. This large park is best known for its championship 18-hole golf course and the Lake Juniper, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Visitors can rent ka ...

* H. Cooper Black Jr. Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area *

McBee Wildlife Management Area McBee is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Cecil McBee (born 1935), American jazz musician *Deron McBee (born 1961), American actor * Lee McBee (1951–2014), American blues musician and singer * Pryor McBee (1901–1963), Americ ...

Sand Hills State Forest Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural class of s ...

Sugarloaf Mountain Recreation Area A sugarloaf was the usual form in which refined sugar was produced and sold until the late 19th century, when granulated and cube sugars were introduced. A tall cone with a rounded top was the end product of a process in which dark molasses, a ...

Major water bodies

* Black Creek *

Great Pee Dee River The Pee Dee River, also known as the Great Pee Dee River, is a river in the Carolinas of the United States. It originates in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, where its upper course, above the mouth of the Uwharrie River, is known as ...

* Lake Juniper *

Lake Robinson A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...

* Little Carr Creek *

Lynches River Lynches River, named for Thomas Lynch, Jr., signer of the Declaration of Independence, rises in North Carolina near Waxhaw, North Carolina, at about 700 feet (210 m) elevation, flowing only a short distance to the South Carolina border, and th ...

Adjacent counties

Anson County, North Carolina Anson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,055. Its county seat is Wadesboro. History The county was formed in 1750 from Bladen County. It was named for George Anson, ...

- north *

Richmond County, North Carolina Richmond County is a county located on the central southern border of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,946. Its county seat is Rockingham. History Early history The earliest inhabitants of the ...

- northeast *

Union County, North Carolina Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 238,267. Its county seat is Monroe. Union County is included in the Charlotte- Concord- Gastonia, NC- SC Metropolitan Statistical ...

- northwest *

Marlboro County Marlboro County is a county located in the Pee Dee region on the northern border of the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 26,667. Its county seat is Bennettsville. The Great Pee Dee River runs through it ...

- east *

Darlington County Darlington County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 62,905. Its county seat is Darlington. Hartsville is the largest city in the county. Darlington County is home to the Darlington Race ...

- southeast * Kershaw County - southwest * Lancaster County - west

Major highways

* * * * * * * * * * * (Jefferson) * (Pageland) * * * *

Major infrastructure

Cheraw Municipal Airport Cheraw Municipal Airport , also known as Lynch Bellinger Field, is a public use airport in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States. It is owned by the Town of Cheraw and located three nautical miles (6 km) northwest of its centra ...

Pageland Municipal airport Pageland is a town in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second largest town in Chesterfield County. The population was 2,760 at the 2010 census. It is known as "The Watermelon Capital of World" because of the import ...

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 43,273 people, 17,900 households, and 12,399 families residing in the county.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 46,734 people, 18,173 households, and 12,494 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 21,482 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 62.8% white, 32.6% black or African American, 0.5% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 16.3% were American, 6.8% were

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national id ...

, 6.0% were

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

, and 5.9% were

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

. Of the 18,173 households, 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.2% were non-families, and 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 39.3 years. The median income for a household in the county was $32,979 and the median income for a family was $41,225. Males had a median income of $35,965 versus $26,881 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,162. About 17.6% of families and 22.7% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 33.6% of those under age 18 and 18.0% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2000, there were 42,768 people, 16,557 households, and 11,705 families living in the county. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was 54 people per square mile (21/km²). There were 18,818 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.34%

White White is the lightness, lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...

, 33.22%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

, 0.34% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.02%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of Ocea ...

, 1.04% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 2.27% of the population were

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race. There were 16,557 households, out of which 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.60% were married couples living together, 16.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.05. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.60% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $29,483, and the median income for a family was $36,200. Males had a median income of $30,205 versus $20,955 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the county was $14,233. About 16.70% of families and 20.30% of the population were below the

, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 24.20% of those age 65 or over.

Law and Government

Politics

After the 2020 Redistricting Cycle, the

South Carolina House of Representatives The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly. It consists of 124 representatives elected to two-year terms at the same time as U.S. congressional elections. Unlike many legislatures, seati ...

, Chesterfield County is located in South Carolina's 53rd, 54th, and 65th House districts and is represented by Republican Ritchie Yow in the 53rd, Democrat Representative Patricia Moore "Pat" Henegan in the 54th, and Republican Representative James H. "Jay" Lucas in the 65th. In the

South Carolina Senate The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives. It consists of 46 senators elected from single member districts for four-year terms at the sa ...

, Chesterfield is located in Senate district 27 and 29. It was represented by Democrat, and former 2010 candidate for governor, Vincent Sheheen, in District 27 until 2020. The district is now represented by Republican

Penry Gustavson Penry Gustavson (born May 20, 1970) is a member of the South Carolina Senate The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives. It consists o ...

. In the

US House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

, Chesterfield County is entirely located in South Carolina's . As of the 2012 House elections, it is represented by Republican

Tom Rice Hugh Thompson Rice Jr. (born August 4, 1957) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for . The district serves most of the northeastern corner of the state and includes Myrtle Beach, the Grand Strand, Florence, C ...

, who comes from

Horry County Horry County ( ) is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 351,029. It is the fourth-most populous county in South Carolina. The county seat is Conway. Horry County is the cen ...

. Chesterfield County was formerly located in South Carolina's which was one of the seats that the Democrats lost to the Republicans during the 2010 election; before the 2010 election, congressman John M. Spratt had represented the district since 1983 but was defeated 55% to 45% by Republican

Mick Mulvaney John Michael Mulvaney (born July 21, 1967) is an American politician who served as director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from February 2017 until March 2020, and as acting White House Chief of Staff from January 2019 until March ...

in 2010.

Law enforcement

the current sheriff is James Dixon. In 2014, Sheriff Sam Parker was found guilty of charges that he used inmates for personal work and provided them contraband such as alcohol and an

iPad The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple Inc. The iPad was conceived before the related iPhone but the iPhone was developed and released first. Speculation about the development, operati ...

. He was sentenced to two years of prison.

Education

The county's youth are provided with an education through the Chesterfield County School District. The South Point Christian School is a private school located in

Pageland Pageland is a town in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second largest town in Chesterfield County. The population was 2,760 at the 2010 census. It is known as "The Watermelon Capital of World" because of the import ...

and offers Kindergarten through 12th grade.

Northeastern Technical College Northeastern Technical College is a public community college in Cheraw, South Carolina with branches in Pageland, Dillon, and Bennettsville. The college primarily serves Chesterfield, Marlboro, and Dillon counties. It is part of the South Caro ...

has branches in Pageland and

High schools

* Central High School, Pageland * Cheraw High School, Cheraw *

Chesterfield High School Chesterfield High School in Crosby, Merseyside, England, officially opened in 1974. The school has an intake of roughly 1,200 students in years 7–11. The school was founded as a comprehensive from Waterloo Park Grammar School for Girls, Haigh ...

, Chesterfield * McBee High School,

McBee McBee is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Cecil McBee (born 1935), American jazz musician *Deron McBee (born 1961), American actor * Lee McBee (1951–2014), American blues musician and singer * Pryor McBee (1901–1963), Americ ...

Middle schools

* Chesterfield/Ruby Middle School, Chesterfield/Ruby * Long Middle School, Cheraw * New Heights Middle School, Jefferson

Elementary schools

* Cheraw Intermediate School, Cheraw * Edwards Elementary School, Chesterfield * Jefferson Elementary School, Jefferson * McBee Elementary School, McBee * Pageland Elementary School, Pageland * Plainview Elementary School, Plainview * Ruby Elementary School,

Ruby A ruby is a pinkish red to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminium oxide). Ruby is one of the most popular traditional jewelry gems and is very durable. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapp ...

Primary schools

* Cheraw Primary School, Cheraw * Petersburg Primary School, Pageland

Culture

Chesterfield County supports several fine arts organizations ranging from High School Marching Bands to community theatres to municipal arts commissions. * The Central High Sound of Central * The Cheraw Tribe Marching Band * The Chesterfield Marching Pride * The Spirit of McBee High Marching Band * The Cheraw Arts Commission * The Chesterfield Arts Commission

Recreation

Chesterfield County features many different types of recreation. Although each town varies in its offerings, facilities such as baseball and softball fields, walking tracks, parks, and other outdoor areas are common throughout the area. Golf is extremely popular and many local courses are frequented by visitors from throughout the region. There is a lot of hunting and fishing in the swamps of the Black Creek and Lake Robinson.

Communities

Cities

(largest city) (partly of

)

Towns

* Chesterfield (county seat) * Jefferson *

* Mount Croghan *

* Patrick *

Unincorporated communities

Angelus The Angelus (; Latin for "angel") is a Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation of Christ. As with many Catholic prayers, the name ''Angelus'' is derived from its incipit—the first few words of the text: ("The Angel of the Lord ...

Cash In economics, cash is money in the physical form of currency, such as banknotes and coins. In bookkeeping and financial accounting, cash is current assets comprising currency or currency equivalents that can be accessed immediately or near-immed ...

Middendorf Middendorf is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * J. William Middendorf, U.S. diplomat * John Middendorf, big wall rock climber * Tracy Middendorf, American television, movie, and stage actress * Alexander von Middendorff Alex ...

Minden Minden () is a middle-sized town in the very north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, the greatest town between Bielefeld and Hanover. It is the capital of the district (''Kreis'') of Minden-Lübbecke, which is part of the region of ...

References

External links

Fact Sheet on Chesterfield County from SC State Government

Chesterfield County Website

Discover the Undiscovered
- the official tourism website for Chesterfield County
1905 Reprint of Bishop Gregg's ''History of the Old Cheraws''
with additional material as an appendix. (Google Books pdf)
Chesterfield County history and images
{{authority control 1785 establishments in South Carolina Populated places established in 1785