Beaufort County, South Carolina

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Beaufort County, SC)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Distinguish". Template:Use American English Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "Settlement short description".Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Expression error: Unexpected < operatorScript error: No such module "Category handler".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Beaufort County (Script error: No such module "IPAc-en". Script error: No such module "Respell".) is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 187,117.[1] Its county seat is Beaufort and its largest community is Hilton Head Island.[2]

Beaufort County is part of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metropolitan statistical area. It is one of the South's fastest-growing counties, primarily because of development south of the Broad River clustered along the U.S. Highway 278 corridor.[3] The county's northern portions also have grown steadily, due in part to the strong federal military presence around the city of Beaufort. The county's two portions are connected by the Broad River Bridge, which carries South Carolina Highway 170. Beaufort County has been identified as the most at-risk county in the contiguous United States for combined damage from climate change in the medium term, largely due to high wet-bulb temperatures, economic and farm crop damages, and sea-level rise.[4]

History

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". From the early days of plantations, African slaves outnumbered the European minority in the colony. The plantations on the Sea Islands had large concentrations of slaves who had infrequent and limited interaction with white people. The islands were sites of the development of the Gullah culture, which preserved elements from a variety of West African roots; the people also developed the Gullah language, a creole language. The county was majority black until around the mid-20th century.

Union troops took control of Beaufort County and occupied the area beginning in 1861. Many slaves escaped and went to Union lines. In some cases, planters had moved inland for refuge, leaving their slaves on the Sea Islands. Slaves began to organize schools and other parts of their communities early in the war in this county, especially on the islands. The Army founded Mitchellville on Hilton Head by March 1863 as a village where black people could practice self-governance; by 1865, it had 1,500 residents. After the war, the Drayton family reclaimed this land for their own private use. In some cases, the Union Army allocated plots for blacks for housing and cultivating crops.[5]

When freedmen were granted citizenship and the franchise after the American Civil War by constitutional amendments, most joined the Republican Party. Although not the only majority black state, South Carolina was the only Southern state during Reconstruction to elect a black majority of representatives to the state legislature.[5] Beaufort County had many prominent black leaders, such as Robert Smalls, Jonathan Jasper Wright, William James Whipper, Julius I. Washington, and Thomas E. Miller.[5]

Increasing violence during election campaigns in the state from 1868 on was used by white insurgents and paramilitary groups to suppress black voting; results were also dependent on fraud. In 1876, the Democrats regained control of the state legislature and governor's office, although results were disputed. While black Republicans continued to be elected to local office in Beaufort County and other areas through the next decades, in 1895, the Democrat-dominated state legislature passed a new constitution that effectively disfranchised most black citizens by making voter registration and voting more difficult. They were excluded from the political system and kept in second-class status for decades. In 1903, the county "was reported to have 3,434 literate black males to 927 whites", but due to the discriminatory practices, nearly all black citizens were barred from voting.[5]

From 1900 through 1950, Beaufort County's economy suffered from the decline in agriculture, which together with oppressive social conditions of Jim Crow contributed to many African Americans making a Great Migration out of the South. African Americans went to northern and midwestern industrial cities for jobs and became an urbanized population. The total county population of 35,495 in 1900 dropped by more than one-third in 1930, and did not reach the 1900 population level again until well after 1950, when the population was 26,933. Southern Democrats in Congress helped gain the establishment of military installations in the county and state, which added more population and stimulated area jobs in the second half of the 20th century. In addition, vacation and resort areas were developed that attracted increasing numbers of tourists through the winter season, and then others all year-round as retirees.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Script error: No such module "convert"., of which Script error: No such module "convert". (37.62%) are covered by water.[6]

National protected areas

State and local protected areas/sites

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Major highways

  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".
  • Script error: No such module "Jct".

Major infrastructure

Demographics

<templatestyles src="US Census population/styles.css"/>

Historical population
CensusPop.Template:Sronly%±
179018,753—
180020,428Script error: No such module "String".%
181025,887Script error: No such module "String".%
182032,199Script error: No such module "String".%
183037,032Script error: No such module "String".%
184035,794Script error: No such module "String".%
185038,805Script error: No such module "String".%
186040,053Script error: No such module "String".%
187034,359Script error: No such module "String".%
188030,176Script error: No such module "String".%
189034,119Script error: No such module "String".%
190035,495Script error: No such module "String".%
191030,355Script error: No such module "String".%
192022,269Script error: No such module "String".%
193021,815Script error: No such module "String".%
194022,037Script error: No such module "String".%
195026,993Script error: No such module "String".%
196044,187Script error: No such module "String".%
197051,136Script error: No such module "String".%
198065,364Script error: No such module "String".%
199086,425Script error: No such module "String".%
2000120,937Script error: No such module "String".%
2010162,233Script error: No such module "String".%
2020187,117Script error: No such module "String".%
2025 (est.)204,433[8] IncreaseScript error: No such module "String".%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010[13] 2020[1]

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Racial and ethnic composition

Beaufort County, South Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition
<templatestyles src="Nobold/styles.css"/>Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[14] Pop 1990[15] Pop 2000[16] Pop 2010[17] Pop 2020[18] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 41,645 58,842 81,477 107,279 126,704 63.71% 68.08% 67.37% 66.13% 67.71%
Black or African American alone (NH) 21,191 24,415 28,654 30,662 27,545 32.42% 28.25% 23.69% 18.90% 14.72%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 129 233 288 338 354 0.20% 0.27% 0.24% 0.21% 0.19%
Asian alone (NH) 444 731 938 1,822 2,381 0.68% 0.85% 0.78% 1.12% 1.27%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [19] x [20] 50 78 119 x x 0.04% 0.05% 0.06%
Other race alone (NH) 66 36 84 217 675 0.10% 0.04% 0.07% 0.13% 0.36%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [21] x [22] 1,238 2,270 5,928 x x 1.02% 1.40% 3.17%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,889 2,168 8,208 19,567 23,411 2.89% 2.51% 6.79% 12.06% 12.51%
Total 65,364 86,425 120,937 162,233 187,117 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, 187,117 people, 76,373 households, and 50,500 families were residing in the county. The median age was 47.3 years; 18.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 28.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.3 males age 18 and over.[23]

Of the 76,373 households, 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[23]

The racial makeup of the county was 69.9% White, 14.9% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 5.7% from some other race, and 7.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 12.5% of the population.[24]

81.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 18.6% lived in rural areas.[25]

There were 98,068 housing units, of which 22.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.7% were owner-occupied and 25.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.3%.[25]

2010 census

At the 2010 census, 162,233 people, 64,945 households, and 45,322 families were living in the county.[26][13] The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 93,023 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert"..[27] The racial makeup of the county was 71.9% white, 19.3% black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.2% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 12.1% of the population.[26] In terms of ancestry, 15.5% were German, 13.4% were Irish, 13.1% were English, 5.4% were Italian, and 5.0% were American.[28]

Of the 64,945 households, 28.5% had children under 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.2% were not families, and 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 40.6 years.[26]

The median income for a household in the county was $55,286 and for a family was $65,071. Males had a median income of $41,059 versus $33,959 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,731. About 7.4% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under 18 and 5.8% of those 65 or over.[29]

2000 census

At the 2000 census,[30] 120,937 people, 45,532 households, and 33,056 families lived in the county. The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. The 60,509 housing units had an average density of Script error: No such module "convert".. The racial makeup of the county was 70.66% white, 23.98% black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.84% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. About 6.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 45,532 households, 30.4% had children under 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were not families. Around 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the age distribution was 23.3% under 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 102.0 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,992, and for a family was $52,704. Males had a median income of $30,541 versus $25,284 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,377. About 8.00% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.40% of those under age 18 and 6.70% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Beaufort County is governed under the council-administrator form of government. Beaufort County Council is an elected body responsible for passing ordinances, setting county policies, and developing an annual budget for the administration of public services to citizens. The chairman is elected to a two-year term by council at the first meeting in January following a general election. The vice chairman is charged with carrying out the duties of the chairman in his or her absence. Council members serve four-year staggered terms. Each council member represents one of 11 districts within the county.

Beaufort County Council (as of 2024)[31]
District Council member
District 1 Gerald Dawson
District 2 David Bartholomew
District 3 York Glover
District 4 Alice Howard
District 5 Joe Passiment (chairman)
District 6 Anna Maria "Tab" Tabernik
District 7 Logan Cunningham
District 8 Paula Brown
District 9 Mark Lawson
District 10 Larry McElynn (vice chairman)
District 11 Thomas Reitz

Politics

Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresFoot

Beaufort County leans Republican and has voted for that party's presidential nominee in every election since 1980. Even in the first half of the 20th century, Beaufort was routinely one of the counties in South Carolina that gave the Republicans the highest percentage of the vote. In 1920, for example, Republican nominee Warren G. Harding won only 4% of the total vote in South Carolina, but 36% in Beaufort County.

Economy

In 2022, the gross domestic product (GDP) of Beaufort County was $10.8 billion (about $57,827 per capita).[32] In chained 2017 dollars, the real GDP was $9.2 billion (around $48,930 per capita).[33] From 2022 through 2024, the unemployment rate has fluctuated between 2.2 and 3.7%.[34]

As of April 2024Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., some of the largest employers in the county included the Beaufort County School District, Food Lion, Kroger, Marriott, Publix, the United States Department of Defense, and Walmart.[35]

Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Beaufort County, South Carolina[35]
Industry Employment Counts Employment Percentage (%) Average Annual Wage ($)
Accommodation and Food Services 14,136 19.6 30,940
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 4,110 5.7 44,148
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 300 0.4 65,052
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 3,153 4.4 33,956
Construction 4,545 6.3 63,440
Educational Services 4,511 6.3 46,748
Finance and Insurance 1,761 2.4 100,360
Health Care and Social Assistance 9,584 13.3 60,112
Information 448 0.6 71,916
Management of Companies and Enterprises 672 0.9 59,644
Manufacturing 1,041 1.4 64,532
Other Services (except Public Administration) 4,181 5.8 44,720
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 3,602 5.0 81,952
Public Administration 3,574 5.0 62,504
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 2,444 3.4 54,860
Retail Trade 11,587 16.1 36,868
Transportation and Warehousing 1,188 1.6 53,768
Utilities 421 0.6 75,036
Wholesale Trade 767 1.1 81,016
Total 72,025 100.0% 49,446

Education

Colleges and universities

Community, junior, and technical colleges

K-12 education

Most of the county is in Beaufort County School District for kindergarten to grade 12. The Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station has its own system at the elementary school level;[36] the Department of Defense Education Activity has two schools covering elementary and middle school for the base.[37] High-school students on the base go to the county school district.[36]

District-operated public high schools

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Charter schools
Private schools

Communities

Beaufort County is included within the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal metropolitan statistical area, which had an estimated population of 232,523 in 2023.[38]

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Named islands

Some islands are also towns.

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Notable people

<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  20. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  21. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  22. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  23. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". - Text list - "Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station School District" refers to the DoDEA schools
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Further reading

  • Lawrence S. Rowland, The History of Beaufort County, South Carolina. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1996.
  • Stephen R. Wise and Lawrence S. Rowland, Rebellion, Reconstruction, and Redemption, 1861-1893: The History of Beaufort County, South Carolina, Volume 2. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 2015.

External links

Script error: No such module "Side box".

Script error: No such module "navbox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Script error: No such module "Navbox". Script error: No such module "Navbox". Script error: No such module "navbox". Script error: No such module "Authority control".

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Beaufort_County,_South_Carolina&oldid=9695502"