Barnwell County, South Carolina

Barnwell County
Barnwell County
County
	Barnwell County Courthouse
	Seal Logo
	Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
	South Carolina's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 33°16′N 81°26′W / 33.26°N 81.43°W
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
Founded	1800
Named for	John Barnwell
Seat	Barnwell
Largest community	Barnwell
Area
• Total	557.26 sq mi (1,443.3 km2)
• Land	548.38 sq mi (1,420.3 km2)
• Water	8.88 sq mi (23.0 km2) 1.59%
Population (2020)
• Total	20,589
• Estimate (2023)	20,447
• Density	37.55/sq mi (14.50/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.barnwellcountysc.us

Barnwell County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 20,589.^[1] It is located in the Central Savannah River Area. Its county seat is Barnwell.^[2]

History

The Barnwell District was created in 1797 (effective in 1800) from the southwestern portion of the Orangeburg District, along the Savannah River.^[3] It was named after John Barnwell, a local figure in the Revolutionary War.^[4]

In 1868, under the South Carolina Constitution revised during Reconstruction, South Carolina districts became counties. The government was made more democratic, with county officials to be elected by male citizens at least 21 years old,^[5] rather than by the state legislature as done previously.

In 1871, the legislature took the northwestern portion of the county to form part of the new Aiken County, the only county organized during the Reconstruction era. In 1874, the border with Aiken County was slightly adjusted. Aiken and Barnwell, with nearly equal, populations of black and white people, had extensive violence in the months before the 1874 and 1876 elections, as groups of paramilitary Red Shirts rode to disrupt black Republican meetings and intimidate voters to suppress black voting. More than 100 black men were killed in Aiken County during the violence, especially at Ellenton, South Carolina.

In 1895, white Democrats in the state legislature passed a new constitution, disfranchising most blacks for more than 60 years by raising barriers to voter registration.

In 1897, the eastern third of the county was taken to form the new Bamberg County. In 1919, most of the southern half of the county was taken to form most of the new Allendale County, thus reducing Barnwell County to its present size.

Geography

Interactive map of Barnwell County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 557.26 square miles (1,443.3 km²), of which 548.38 square miles (1,420.3 km²) is land and 8.88 square miles (23.0 km²) (1.59%) is water.^[6]

State and local protected areas/sites

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Aiken County – north
Bamberg County – east
Orangeburg County – east
Allendale County – southeast
Burke County, Georgia – southwest

Major highways

Major infrastructure

Barnwell Regional Airport
Savannah River Site (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1800	7,376		—
1810	12,280		66.5%
1820	14,750		20.1%
1830	19,236		30.4%
1840	21,471		11.6%
1850	26,608		23.9%
1860	30,743		15.5%
1870	35,724		16.2%
1880	39,857		11.6%
1890	44,613		11.9%
1900	35,504		−20.4%
1910	34,209		−3.6%
1920	23,081		−32.5%
1930	21,221		−8.1%
1940	20,138		−5.1%
1950	17,266		−14.3%
1960	17,659		2.3%
1970	17,176		−2.7%
1980	19,868		15.7%
1990	20,293		2.1%
2000	23,478		15.7%
2010	22,621		−3.7%
2020	20,589		−9.0%
2023 (est.)	20,447	^[1]	−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census^[10] 1790–1960^[11] 1900–1990^[12] 1990–2000^[13] 2010^[14] 2020^[1]

2020 census

Barnwell County racial composition^[15]
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	10,352	50.28%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	8,785	42.67%
Native American	61	0.3%
Asian	161	0.78%
Pacific Islander	14	0.07%
Other/Mixed	696	3.38%
Hispanic or Latino	520	2.53%

As of the 2020 census, there were 20,589 people, 8,360 households, and 5,260 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 22,621 people, 8,937 households, and 6,055 families living in the county.^[16]^[14] The population density was 41.2 inhabitants per square mile (15.9/km²). There were 10,484 housing units at an average density of 19.1 units per square mile (7.4 units/km²).^[17] The racial makeup of the county was 52.6% white, 44.3% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population.^[16] In terms of ancestry, 11.5% were American, 5.7% were German, and 5.4% were English.^[18]

Of the 8,937 households, 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 20.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.2% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 38.8 years.^[16]

The median income for a household in the county was $33,816 and the median income for a family was $41,764. Males had a median income of $35,957 versus $30,291 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,592. About 20.8% of families and 25.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.6% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.^[19]

2000 census

At the 2000 census,^[20] there were 23,478 people, 9,021 households, and 6,431 families living in the county. The population density was 43 people per square mile (17 people/km²). There were 10,191 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 55.18% White, 42.55% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 1.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,021 households, out of which 34.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.40% were married couples living together, 19.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.10% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,591, and the median income for a family was $35,866. Males had a median income of $31,161 versus $21,904 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,870. About 17.90% of families and 20.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.30% of those under age 18 and 24.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Prior to 1948, Barnwell County was a Democratic Party stronghold similar to the rest of the Solid South, with Democratic presidential candidates receiving near-unanimous margins of victory in most years. The twenty years from 1948 to 1968 were a highly transitional time for the politics of South Carolina & Barnwell County, largely in part due to the Democratic Party's increasing support for African-American civil rights & enfranchisement. Segregationist candidates Strom Thurmond & George Wallace won the county in those aforementioned years, bookended by Democratic wins in 1952 & 1956 & Republican wins in 1960 & 1964. From 1972 on, the county has primarily Republican, but has become more of a swing county in recent years, backing the national winner in every presidential election from 2000 on except for 2020.

United States presidential election results for Barnwell County, South Carolina^[21]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	5,492	53.21%	4,720	45.73%	109	1.06%
2016	4,889	51.54%	4,400	46.39%	196	2.07%
2012	4,659	46.95%	5,188	52.28%	76	0.77%
2008	4,769	48.67%	4,931	50.33%	98	1.00%
2004	4,606	53.03%	3,982	45.85%	97	1.12%
2000	4,521	54.63%	3,661	44.24%	94	1.14%
1996	3,808	48.98%	3,620	46.57%	346	4.45%
1992	4,026	49.24%	3,344	40.90%	807	9.87%
1988	4,467	63.14%	2,564	36.24%	44	0.62%
1984	4,346	60.45%	2,811	39.10%	32	0.45%
1980	3,228	48.14%	3,399	50.69%	78	1.16%
1976	2,569	38.62%	4,083	61.38%	0	0.00%
1972	3,955	71.71%	1,560	28.29%	0	0.00%
1968	1,849	31.25%	1,716	29.01%	2,351	39.74%
1964	3,670	72.64%	1,382	27.36%	0	0.00%
1960	1,842	58.05%	1,331	41.95%	0	0.00%
1956	520	17.28%	1,914	63.61%	575	19.11%
1952	657	29.14%	1,598	70.86%	0	0.00%
1948	28	1.36%	115	5.57%	1,921	93.07%
1944	8	0.53%	1,482	98.41%	16	1.06%
1940	13	0.70%	1,845	99.30%	0	0.00%
1936	2	0.09%	2,157	99.91%	0	0.00%
1932	15	0.79%	1,877	99.21%	0	0.00%
1928	34	3.20%	1,028	96.80%	0	0.00%
1924	23	2.64%	847	97.13%	2	0.23%
1920	25	3.35%	721	96.65%	0	0.00%
1916	21	1.42%	1,454	98.51%	1	0.07%
1912	15	1.29%	1,139	98.27%	5	0.43%
1904	35	2.44%	1,401	97.56%	0	0.00%
1900	57	4.03%	1,356	95.97%	0	0.00%

Economy

In 2022, Barnwell County's GDP was $556.3 million (approx. $27,018 per capita).^[22] In chained 2017 dollars, its real GDP was $448.3 million (approx. $21,774 per capita).^[23] From 2022 through 2024, the unemployment rate for the county has fluctuated from a high of 6.3% in January 2022 and a low of 3.2% in April 2023.^[24]

As of April 2024^[update], Walmart is one of the largest employers in the county.^[25]

Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Barnwell County, South Carolina^[25]
Industry	Employment Counts	Employment Percentage (%)	Average Annual Wage ($)
Accommodation and Food Services	372	7.8	16,900
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	83	1.7	54,080
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting	68	1.4	39,884
Construction	172	3.6	62,972
Educational Services	613	12.8	41,392
Finance and Insurance	64	1.3	40,716
Health Care and Social Assistance	715	14.9	36,296
Information	9	0.2	32,188
Manufacturing	1,039	21.7	59,956
Other Services (except Public Administration)	161	3.4	36,348
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	108	2.3	50,024
Public Administration	422	8.8	38,948
Retail Trade	797	16.6	26,624
Transportation and Warehousing	134	2.8	57,512
Wholesale Trade	33	0.7	47,164
Total	4,790	100.0%	41,546