Date Formed:

1878

Land Area (square miles):

560

County Seat:

Hampton

Other Cities and Towns:

Brunson, Estill, Furman, Gifford, Luray, Scotia, Varnville, Yemassee

Form of Government:

Council-Administrator

Council Members:

Method of Election

At Large

Term Length

4 years

Council of Government:

Lowcountry

County History According to the South Carolina State Library Reference Room

Hampton County and its county seat were named for Confederate General and South Carolina Governor Wade Hampton (1818-1902). The county was formed from Beaufort County in 1878, shortly after Wade Hampton took office as governor. Parts of Hampton County later went to form Jasper (1912) and Allendale (1919) counties. During the Civil War, while the coastal areas of Beaufort County were occupied by federal troops, many planters fled to the area that became Hampton County. General Sherman's troops passed through the county in 1865, fighting several skirmishes with Confederate troops. This section of the state has remained primarily agricultural. Athlete Lucile Ellerbe Godbold (1900-1981), who won two gold medals in track and field at the 1922 Olympics, grew up in Hampton County, and writer Vertamae Grosvenor was also born there.

Population Trends

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Population 1980:

18,159

Numeric Change 1980-2000:

3,227

Population 1990:

18,191

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 1980-2000:

0.88%

Population 2000:

21,386

Percent Change 2005-2006:

0.5%

Population Estimate 2005:

21,153

Persons Per Square Mile 2006:

38.0

Population Estimate 2006:

21,268

Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics - Community Profile Demographic Data

Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics - Kids Count

Economic Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Jobs 1980:

5,969

Personal Income 2005:

$456,189

Jobs 1990:

6,128

Per Capita Pers. Income (PCPI) 2005:

$21,566

Jobs 2000:

6,930

% of U.S. PCPI 2005:

63%

Avg. Annual Growth Rate 1980-2000:

0.80%

Average Wage Per Job 2005:

$30,924

Jobs 2004:

6,052

% of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2005:

77%

Jobs 2005:

6,056

Avg. Unemployment 1996-2006:

6.8%

Numeric Change 2004-2005:

Unemployment Rate 2006 Ann. Avg:

7.4%

Tax Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Assessed Property 2004:

$40,365,479

Per Capita Assessed Property 2004:

$1,887

County Base Millage Rate* 2006:

0.189

Additional Sales Tax (if applicable)

Value of One Mil 2006:

$42,428

Local Option Sales Tax:

Net Taxable Sales FY 2005:

$106,201,480

Capital Projects Sales Tax:

Admissions Taxes Collected FY 2005:

$11,344

School District Sales Tax:

Accomodations Taxes Collected FY 2005:

$29,440

Transportation Sales Tax:

* County Base Millage Rate reflects county mils only and does not include millages charged by other taxing entities (cities, schools, etc.)

Link to SC Employment Security Commission - Top Employers by County

Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics - Community Profile Demographic Data

Financial and Employment Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Total Revenues FY 2004:

$10,908,804

Per Capital Revenues:

$510

Total Expenditures FY 2004:

$10,938,465

Per Capita Expenditures:

$511

General Fund Budget FY 2007:

$10,923,385

Per Capita General Fund Budget:

$511

Total Debt Outstanding FY 2006:

$407,280

Per Capita Debt Outstanding:

$19

Credit Ratings(s) FY 2006:

Payroll FY 2007:

$4,431,137

Moodys:

Full-Time Employees FY 2007:

197

Standard & Poor:

Part-Time Employees FY 2007:

Fitch:

Full Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents:

9.21

Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics - Local Government Finance Report (Full document in Excel)

Sources: County histories obtained from the South Carolina State Library Reference Room at http://www.state.sc.us/scsl/cnties.html. All other sources are listed in the appendix tables.

Updated

9/12/2007 16:25

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