LEE COUNTY
Date Formed:  1902
Land Area (square miles): 410
County Seat: Bishopville
Other Cities and Towns:
Lynchburg
Form of Government: Council-Administrator
Council Members: 7
Method of Election Single Member
Term Length 4 years
Council of Government:  Santee Lynches
County History According to the South Carolina State Library Reference Room
Lee County was named for Confederate General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870). The county was formed in 1902 from parts of Darlington, Kershaw, and Sumter counties. A Revolutionary War skirmish took place in 1781 at Ratcliff's Bridge, and during the Civil War Confederate and Union troops skirmished at Mount Elon and Spring Hill in 1865. Lee County was also the site in 1880 of the last fatal duel fought in South Carolina. Cotton farming has long been associated with this area. U.S. Senator Ellison Durant Smith (1864-1944), a native of Lee County, was nicknamed "Cotton Ed" because of his support for cotton farmers.
Population Trends Value Rank Value Rank
Population 1980: 18,929 38 Numeric Change 1980-2000: 1,190 40
Population 1990: 18,437 38 Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 1980-2000: 0.31% 39
Population 2000:  20,119 41 Percent Change 2005-2006: -0.1% 37
Population Estimate 2005: 20,589 41 Persons Per Square Mile 2006: 50.1 35
Population Estimate 2006: 20,559 41
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: 4,294 42 Personal Income 2005: $418,110 43
Jobs 1990: 5,073 40 Per Capita Pers. Income (PCPI) 2005: $20,307 43
Jobs 2000: 4,928 43 % of U.S. PCPI 2005: 59% 41
Avg. Annual Growth Rate 1980-2000:  0.74% 34 Average Wage Per Job 2005:  $25,402 42
Jobs 2004: 4,725 43 % of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2005:  63% 42
Jobs 2005: 4,573 44 Avg. Unemployment 1996-2006:  8.2% 9
Numeric Change 2004-2005: -152 38 Unemployment Rate 2006 Ann. Avg: 9.7% 10
Tax Data Value Rank Value Rank
Assessed Property 2004: $31,770,719 43 Per Capita Assessed Property 2004: $1,579 46
County Base Millage Rate* 2006: 0.153 5 Additional Sales Tax (if applicable)
Value of One Mil 2006: $29,956 44 Local Option Sales Tax: 1%
Net Taxable Sales FY 2005: $52,547,506 44 Capital Projects Sales Tax:  
Admissions Taxes Collected FY 2005: $2,385 41 School District Sales Tax:  
Accomodations Taxes Collected FY 2005: $13,150 40 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: $12,213,717 38 Per Capital Revenues: $607 11
Total Expenditures FY 2004: $11,057,234 38 Per Capita Expenditures: $550 14
General Fund Budget FY 2007: $10,194,368 38 Per Capita General Fund Budget: $507 11
Total Debt Outstanding FY 2006: $2,151,449 38 Per Capita Debt Outstanding: $104 34
Credit Ratings(s) FY 2006: Payroll FY 2007: $5,609,569 32
 Moodys:   Full-Time Employees FY 2007:  158 37
Standard & Poor:   Part-Time Employees FY 2007: 38 28
Fitch:   Full Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents:   7.85 10
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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