Richland County, South Carolina
Richland County, South Carolina | |
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The Richland County Justice Center is located across from Columbia City Hall.
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Location in the state of South Carolina |
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South Carolina's location in the U.S. |
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Founded | 1785 |
Seat | Columbia |
Largest city | Columbia |
Area | |
• Total | 772 sq mi (1,999 km2) |
• Land | 757 sq mi (1,961 km2) |
• Water | 15 sq mi (39 km2), 1.9% |
Population (Est.) | |
• (2013) | 399,256 |
• Density | 508/sq mi (196/km²) |
Congressional districts | 2nd, 6th |
Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 |
Website | www |
Richland County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 384,504,[1] making it the second-most populous county in South Carolina, behind only Greenville County. The county seat is Columbia,[2] the state capital.
Richland County is part of the Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
In 2010, the center of population of South Carolina was located in Richland County, in the city of Columbia.[3]
Contents
History[edit]
Richland County was probably named for its "rich land." The county was formed in 1785 as part of the large Camden District. A small part of Richland later went to Kershaw County (1791). The county seat is Columbia, which is also the state capital. In 1786 the state legislature decided to move the capital from Charleston to a more central location. A site was chosen in Richland County, which is in the geographic center of the state, and a new town was laid out. Cotton from the surrounding plantations was shipped through Columbia and later manufactured into textiles there. General William T. Sherman captured Columbia during the Civil War, and his troops burned the town and parts of the county on February 17, 1865. The U. S. Army returned on more friendly terms in 1917, when Fort Jackson was established, which is now the largest and most active Initial Entry Training Center in the U.S. Army.
Geography[edit]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 772 square miles (2,000 km2), of which 757 square miles (1,960 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (1.9%) is water.[4] Richland County is situated in the center of South Carolina.
Rivers and lakes[edit]
Adjacent counties[edit]
- Fairfield County - north
- Kershaw County - northeast
- Sumter County - east
- Calhoun County - south
- Lexington County - west
- Newberry County - northwest
National protected area[edit]
Demographics[edit]
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1790 | 3,930 | — | |
1800 | 6,097 | 55.1% | |
1810 | 9,027 | 48.1% | |
1820 | 12,321 | 36.5% | |
1830 | 14,772 | 19.9% | |
1840 | 16,397 | 11.0% | |
1850 | 20,243 | 23.5% | |
1860 | 18,307 | −9.6% | |
1870 | 23,025 | 25.8% | |
1880 | 28,573 | 24.1% | |
1890 | 36,821 | 28.9% | |
1900 | 45,589 | 23.8% | |
1910 | 55,143 | 21.0% | |
1920 | 78,122 | 41.7% | |
1930 | 87,667 | 12.2% | |
1940 | 104,843 | 19.6% | |
1950 | 142,565 | 36.0% | |
1960 | 200,102 | 40.4% | |
1970 | 233,868 | 16.9% | |
1980 | 269,735 | 15.3% | |
1990 | 285,720 | 5.9% | |
2000 | 320,677 | 12.2% | |
2010 | 384,504 | 19.9% | |
Est. 2013 | 399,256 | 3.8% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[1] |
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 320,677 people, 120,101 households, and 76,384 families residing in the county. The population density was 424 people per square mile (164/km²). There were 129,793 housing units at an average density of 172 per square mile (66/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 50.29% White, 45.16% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.72% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. 2.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 120,101 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.70% were married couples living together, 16.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.40% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.20% under the age of 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 31.60% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,961, and the median income for a family was $49,466. Males had a median income of $34,346 versus $25,909 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,794. About 10.10% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.50% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure[edit]
Richland County is governed by an eleven-member County Council, who hold concurrent four-year terms. Richland County is governed under the Council-Administrator form of government, which is very similar to the Council-Manager form of government. The major difference between the Council Manager and Council Administrator forms of government is the title of the chief executive, being Manager in one and Administrator in the other.
Board of Commissioners | |
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District | Commissioner |
District 1 | Bill Malinowski |
District 2 | Joyce Dickerson |
District 3 | Damon Jeter |
District 4 | Paul Livingston |
District 5 | Seth Rose |
District 6 | Greg Pearce |
District 7 | Gwen Kennedy |
District 8 | Jim Manning |
District 9 | Val Hutchinson |
District 10 | Kelvin Washington |
District 11 | Norman Jackson |
In March 2008, the Richland County sheriff department acquired an armored personnel carrier equipped with a .50 caliber machine gun.[10] This acquisition was criticized by Reason magazine as "overkill".[11]
The South Carolina Department of Corrections, headquartered in Columbia and in Richland County,[12] operates several correctional facilities in Columbia and in Richland County. They include the Broad River Correctional Institution,[13] the Goodman Correctional Institution,[14] the Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution,[15] the Stevenson Correctional Institution,[16] and the Campbell Pre-Release Center.[17] Graham houses the state's female death row.[18] The State of South Carolina execution chamber is located at Broad River. From 1990 to 1997 Broad River housed the state's male death row.[19]
Transportation[edit]
Public transportation in Richland County is provided by the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority.
Attractions[edit]
- Congaree National Park
- Lake Murray
- Riverbanks Zoo
- Sesquicentennial State Park
- South Carolina State Museum
- Martin Luther King Park
- Richland County Public Library
Communities[edit]
Cities[edit]
- Cayce
- Columbia (county seat)
- Forest Acres
Towns[edit]
Census-designated places[edit]
Unincorporated communities[edit]
Regions[edit]
- Dutch Fork
- Fort Jackson
- Intown
- Lower Richland
- Northeast Richland
- Upper Richland
See also[edit]
- Birch County, South Carolina, a proposed county that would include existing portions of Richland County
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Richland County, South Carolina
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
- ^ S.C. Sheriff's Department Armored Vehicle with Belt-Fed Machine Gun
- ^ Sheriff Lott's New Toy by Radley Balko September 1, 2008
- ^ "Institutions." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
- ^ "Broad River Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
- ^ "Goodman Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
- ^ "Graham (Camille Griffin) Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010. "4450 Broad River Road Columbia, SC 29210-4096"
- ^ "Stevenson Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
- ^ "Campbell Pre-Release Center." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
- ^ "Graham (Camille Griffin) Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010. "The institution also functions as a major special management unit with the ability to house female death row inmates and county safekeepers."
- ^ "Death Row/Capital Punishment." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
External links[edit]
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Newberry County | Fairfield County | Kershaw County | |
Lexington County | Sumter County | |||
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Calhoun County |
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