Orangeburg County, South Carolina

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Orangeburg County, South Carolina
Historic Orangeburg County Jail
Location in the state of South Carolina
South Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded	1769
Named for	William III of England aka "William of Orange"
Seat	Orangeburg
Largest city	Orangeburg
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,128 sq mi (2,922 km²) 1,106 sq mi (2,865 km²) 22 sq mi (57 km²), 1.9%
Population  - (2020)  - Density	84,223
Congressional districts	2nd, 6th
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.orangeburgcounty.org

Orangeburg County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 84,223. Its county seat is Orangeburg. The county was created in 1769.

Orangeburg County comprises the Orangeburg, SC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Columbia-Orangeburg-Newberry, SC Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the Midlands region of South Carolina.

It is the home of South Carolina State University, the only public four-year HBCU in the state of South Carolina. It is also home to Claflin University, the oldest historically black college or university (HBCU) in the state.

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 Piedmont area above the fall line.

The Orangeburg Judicial District was chartered by European Americans 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, after the American Revolutionary War.

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 district 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. This development followed the invention of the cotton gin in the late eighteenth century, which made the processing of short-staple cotton profitable. The county became a center of labor by black slaves on the plantations, who were transported from coastal areas and the Upper South to cultivate and process cotton. Those brought from the coastal areas were likely of the Gullah culture and language. The enslaved African Americans greatly outnumbered the white planters and non-slaveholding whites. Reflecting the patterns of nineteenth-century settlement, the area is still chiefly agricultural and majority-African American in population.

In 1868, under the revised state constitution during the Reconstruction era, South Carolina districts were organized as counties. Resident voters were enabled 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 expanded participation in the franchise by more male residents. Emancipation of slaves after the war under newly ratified federal constitutional amendments resulted in freedmen voting. Using voter intimidation, white Democrats took control of the state legislature by the end of the century; they passed state electoral laws and a new constitution that essentially disfranchised most blacks, a situation that lasted until after the federal legislation of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

A small western portion of Orangeburg County was annexed in 1871 to the newly formed Aiken County during the Reconstruction era.

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.

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 (2,920 km²), of which 1,106 square miles (2,860 km²) is land and 22 square miles (57 km²) (1.9%) is water. It is the second-largest county in South Carolina by land area and fifth-largest by land area.

Region within the state

Orangeburg county is a fairly big county, covering 1,128 square miles, it is about 60 miles from the western part of the county to the eastern part of the county. Orangeburg county lies within 3 "regions" of South Carolina. The western part of the county lies in the "CSRA" (Central Savannah River Area). The middle part of Orangeburg county is included in the "Midlands" Region. The eastern and south eastern part of the county are located in the "Lowcountry" region of the state.

Adjacent counties

• Calhoun County - north
• Clarendon County - northeast
• Dorchester County - southeast
• Berkeley County - southeast
• Bamberg County - south
• Colleton County - south
• Aiken County - west
• Barnwell County - west
• Lexington County - 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 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

Confederate memorial, Orangeburg, South Carolina

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 91,582 people, 34,118 households, and 23,882 families 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. Of the 34,118 households 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 households were one person and 10.30% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.11.

The age distribution was 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% 65 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 household income was $29,567 and the median family income 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.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 92,501 people, 35,788 households, and 23,580 families in the county. The population density was 83.6 inhabitants per square mile (32.3 /km²). There were 42,504 housing units at an average density of 38.4 per square mile (14.8 /km²). The racial makeup of the county was 62.2% black or African American, 34.3% white, 0.8% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 7.7% were American, and 5.1% were German.

Of the 35,788 households, 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 22.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.1% were non-families, and 29.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 38.1 years.

The median household income was $32,849 and the median family income was $40,332. Males had a median income of $35,934 versus $28,508 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,579. About 21.1% of families and 25.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.9% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

Orangeburg County racial composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	27,787	32.99%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	50,802	60.32%
Native American	467	0.55%
Asian	892	1.06%
Pacific Islander	37	0.04%
Other/Mixed	2,271	2.7%
Hispanic or Latino	1,967	2.34%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 84,223 people, 32,129 households, and 20,620 families residing in the county.

Native Americans

The Beaver Creek Indians, the Pee Dee Indian Nation of Beaver Creek, and the Pine Hill Indian Tribe are three state-recognized Native American entities located in Orangeburg County.

The Beaver Creek Indians are descendants of around thirty mixed-blood tribes that merged as a result of colonization. Most tribal members descend from Lazarus Chavis. Their tribal office is located in the town of Salley.

The Pee Dee Indian Nation of Beaver Creek descends from the Pee Dee Indian families who came to Orangeburg County with Chief Lewis Jones. Members of this tribe also descend from the Pee Dee riflemen who fought in the Raccoon Company during the Revolutionary War. The Pee Dee Indians who came to this area started Rocky Swamp Indian Methodist Church. Many of their ancestors, along with the Beaver Creek tribe, were sent to the Four Pine School for Indians. The Pee Dee Indian Nation of Beaver Creek maintains a close relationship with their relatives in the Upstate bands and they jointly strive to preserve their culture and heritage.

The Pine Hill Indian Tribe resettled into the Pine Hill area of Orangeburg County after forced removal by the United States Government from their original land at the Congaree-Wateree River Basin in Richland County, identified in pre-colonial records as the center of Cofitachequi. Removal allowed the creation of Camp Jackson. Camp Jackson was deregulated and then reinstated as the military reservation now known as Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The Pine Hill Indian Tribe is acknowledged by the United States Government, recognized by the State of South Carolina, and is associated to the Treaty of New Echota signed by its ancestor John Fields.

Economy

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

Transportation

Railroads

At least four railroad lines run through Orangeburg County; a former Southern Railway Line, and three CSX lines, the westernmost which was formerly a Seaboard Air Line Railroad line running along US 321.

Major highways

• I-95
• I-26
• US 15
• US 176
• US 178
• US 301
• US 321
• US 601
• SC 3
• SC 4
• SC 6
• SC 33
• SC 39
• SC 45
• SC 47
• SC 70
• SC 172
• SC 210
• SC 267
• SC 332
• SC 389
• SC 394
• SC 400
• SC 419
• SC 453

Politics

Due to its African American majority, Orangeburg is a solidly Democratic county in presidential elections; it has not voted Republican since 1972 (when every county in the state did).

United States presidential election results for Orangeburg County, South Carolina

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	13,603	33.01%	27,295	66.24%	307	0.75%
2016	11,931	30.66%	26,318	67.64%	661	1.70%
2012	12,022	27.93%	30,720	71.37%	299	0.69%
2008	12,115	30.47%	27,263	68.58%	376	0.95%
2004	12,695	33.80%	24,698	65.75%	171	0.46%
2000	12,657	38.67%	19,802	60.49%	275	0.84%
1996	10,494	34.62%	18,610	61.39%	1,211	3.99%
1992	11,328	35.14%	18,440	57.21%	2,466	7.65%
1988	13,281	47.35%	14,655	52.25%	113	0.40%
1984	14,286	48.20%	15,121	51.02%	229	0.77%
1980	11,313	40.79%	16,178	58.33%	242	0.87%
1976	8,794	38.90%	13,652	60.40%	158	0.70%
1972	11,711	59.31%	7,652	38.75%	382	1.93%
1968	5,144	24.20%	8,971	42.20%	7,144	33.60%
1964	10,456	65.09%	5,607	34.91%	0	0.00%
1960	5,233	57.36%	3,890	42.64%	0	0.00%
1956	1,467	21.20%	2,511	36.28%	2,943	42.52%
1952	4,695	62.40%	2,829	37.60%	0	0.00%
1948	164	4.36%	435	11.56%	3,164	84.08%
1944	87	3.23%	2,440	90.61%	166	6.16%
1940	56	2.32%	2,356	97.68%	0	0.00%
1936	59	1.96%	2,947	98.04%	0	0.00%
1932	111	4.03%	2,643	95.87%	3	0.11%
1928	92	5.62%	1,545	94.38%	0	0.00%
1924	67	3.71%	1,727	95.57%	13	0.72%
1920	304	10.74%	2,526	89.23%	1	0.04%
1916	159	5.62%	2,641	93.29%	31	1.10%
1912	40	2.37%	1,550	91.99%	95	5.64%
1908	405	13.09%	2,687	86.87%	1	0.03%
1904	238	7.49%	2,941	92.51%	0	0.00%
1900	167	6.36%	2,457	93.64%	0	0.00%
1896	282	9.37%	2,729	90.63%	0	0.00%
1892	838	23.04%	2,792	76.77%	7	0.19%

Communities

City

• Orangeburg (county seat)

Towns

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

Census-designated places

• Brookdale CDP
• Edisto CDP
• Wilkinson Heights CDP

See also

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

External links

• Media related to Orangeburg County, South Carolina at Wikimedia Commons