Date Formed:

1800

Land Area (square miles):

665

County Seat:

Sumter

Other Cities and Towns:

Mayesville, Pinewood

Form of Government:

Council-Administrator

Council Members:

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

Sumter County and its county seat were named for Revolutionary War General Thomas Sumter (1734-1832), who was a resident of the area. This county has changed its name and boundaries several times. In 1785 Claremont County was formed as a part of Camden District; a part of the county was later split off in 1791 to form Salem County. Claremont, Clarendon, and Salem counties were combined into Sumter District in 1800. Clarendon was once again split off in 1857, however, and another small part of Sumter County went to form Lee County in 1902. This part of the state began attracting English settlers from the lowcountry and from Virginia in the mid-eighteenth century. The area known as the High Hills of Santee, a narrow ridge along the Wateree River, was famous for its healthy climate and rich soil. Sumter County eventually became a leading agricultural region. In 1941, Shaw Air Force Base was established near Sumter, and it continues today as an active duty fighter base. Confederate General Richard Heron Anderson (1821-1879) was a Sumter resident, as were opera singer Clara Louise Kellogg (1842-1916) and educator Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955).

Population Trends

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Population 1980:

88,243

Numeric Change 1980-2000:

16,403

Population 1990:

102,637

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 1980-2000:

0.92%

Population 2000:

104,646

Percent Change 2005-2006:

-0.5%

Population Estimate 2005:

104,909

Persons Per Square Mile 2006:

157.0

Population Estimate 2006:

104,430

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:

36,121

Personal Income 2005:

$2,627,150

Jobs 1990:

43,721

Per Capita Pers. Income (PCPI) 2005:

$20,307

Jobs 2000:

50,482

% of U.S. PCPI 2005:

73%

Avg. Annual Growth Rate 1980-2000:

1.99%

Average Wage Per Job 2005:

$29,452

Jobs 2004:

47,850

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

73%

Jobs 2005:

47,722

Avg. Unemployment 1996-2006:

6.5%

Numeric Change 2004-2005:

-128

Unemployment Rate 2006 Ann. Avg:

7.9%

Tax Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Assessed Property 2004:

$260,206,360

Per Capita Assessed Property 2004:

$2,487

County Base Millage Rate* 2006:

0.1026

Additional Sales Tax (if applicable)

Value of One Mil 2006:

$256,800

Local Option Sales Tax:

Net Taxable Sales FY 2005:

$891,746,180

Capital Projects Sales Tax:

Admissions Taxes Collected FY 2005:

$172,042

School District Sales Tax:

Accomodations Taxes Collected FY 2005:

$235,142

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:

$51,083,904

Per Capital Revenues:

$488

Total Expenditures FY 2004:

$40,756,340

Per Capita Expenditures:

$389

General Fund Budget FY 2007:

$44,549,048

Per Capita General Fund Budget:

$426

Total Debt Outstanding FY 2006:

$16,666,601

Per Capita Debt Outstanding:

$158

Credit Ratings(s) FY 2006:

Payroll FY 2007:

$16,005,540

Moodys:

Full-Time Employees FY 2007:

515

Standard & Poor:

Part-Time Employees FY 2007:

Fitch:

Full Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents:

4.92

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

9/19/2007 15:37

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