Revised 7/1/2008

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

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

Numeric Change 2000-2007:

-703

Population 2000:

104,646

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 1980-2000:

0.92%

Population Estimate 2006:

104,094

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 2000-2007:

-0.10%

Population Estimate 2007:

103,943

Percent Change 2006-2007:

-0.15%

Persons Per Square Mile 2007:

156.3

Economic Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Jobs 1980:

36,121

Personal Income (PI) 2006:

$2,731,614

Jobs 1990:

43,721

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate (PI) 1969-2006:

7.5%

Jobs 2000:

50,482

Per Capita Personal Income 2006:

$26,242

Jobs 2005:

47,722

% of U.S. PCPI 2006:

71%

Jobs 2006:

46,796

Average Wage Per Job 2006:

$31,407

Numeric Change Jobs 2005-2006:

-926

% of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2006:

75%

Avg. Annual Growth Rate 1980-2000:

1.99%

Unemployment Rate 2007:

7.3%

Avg. Annual Growth Rate 2000-2006:

-0.31%

Avg. Unemployment 1998-2007:

6.7%

Tax Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Assessed Property 2005:

$280,678,290

Per Capita Assessed Property 2005:

$2,682

County Base Millage Rate 2007:

0.117

Additional Sales Tax (if applicable)

Value of One Mil 2007:

$260,050

Local Option Sales Tax:

1.0%

Millage Cap FY09:

2.9%

Capital Projects Sales Tax:

Net Taxable Sales FY06:

$891,746,180

School District Sales Tax:

Admissions Tax Collected FY06:

$172,042

Transportation Sales Tax:

Accommodations Tax Collected FY06:

$235,142

Financial & Employment Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Total Revenues FY06:

$62,019,556

Per Capita Revenues:

$593

Total Expenditures FY06:

$47,293,725

Per Capita Expenditures:

$452

General Fund Budget FY08:

$46,377,321

Per Capita General Fund Budget:

$443

Total Debt Outstanding FY07:

$14,751,111

Per Capita Debt Outstanding:

$138

Payroll FY 2008:

$17,094,015

Credit Rating(s) FY07

Full-Time Employees FY08:

545

Moody's:

Part-Time Employees FY08

Standard & Poor:

Full Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents:

5.21

Fitch: