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Georgetown County, South Carolina

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Georgetown County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 63,404.[1] Its county seat is Georgetown.[2] The county was founded in 1769. It is named for George III of the United Kingdom.[3]

Georgetown County
County
Georgetown County Courthouse
Georgetown County Courthouse
Official seal of Georgetown County
Seal
Official logo of Georgetown County
Logo
Map of South Carolina highlighting Georgetown County
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting South Carolina
South Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°25′N 79°18′W / 33.42°N 79.30°W / 33.42; -79.30
Country United States
State South Carolina
Founded1800
Named forKing George III
SeatGeorgetown
Largest communityMurrells Inlet
Area
 • Total
1,034.83 sq mi (2,680.2 km2)
 • Land813.61 sq mi (2,107.2 km2)
 • Water221.22 sq mi (573.0 km2)  21.38%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
63,404
 • Estimate 
(2023)
65,731
 • Density77.93/sq mi (30.09/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.gtcounty.org

Georgetown County comprises the Murrells Inlet, SC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC Combined Statistical Area.[4]

History

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The early history of Georgetown County is closely tied to South Carolina's population growth. By an Act passed in 1768, the Province of South Carolina abolished its many counties and implemented just seven large districts with corresponding judicial seats.[5] To be specific, there were too few government officials to have county circuit courts, consider and legislate local issues, and execute the law. Although the districts de facto began in 1768, they only received their official charters in 1769, after approval by the British Parliament of a modified provincial Act.[5] George Town[6] was one of the seven judicial seats, so it was the namesake and remained the seat of Georgetown District until and through the American Revolution.[5] The 1785 County Court Act created 34 counties state-wide, with four counties within Georgetown District.[5] The four subordinate judicial counties of Kingston County, Liberty County, Williamsburg County and Winyah County (named after the Winyah Bay) within Georgetown District were abolished in 1798. All overarching Districts were dissolved in 1800 with the respective areas of each former judicial county reformed with the executive, legislative and judicial functions that previously powered districts, as Horry District (est. 1801), Marion District (est. 1800), Williamsburg District (est. 1804) and Georgetown District (est. 1800).[5] The current county dates its establishment from 1800 for this reason.

The legislative processes instituted by the post-Civil War state constitution provided for a fundamental decentralization of power from state to local control, so the districts were renamed counties – Georgetown District became Georgetown County in 1868.[7] The county is named after its county seat, Georgetown, which was named about 1734 for George III of the United Kingdom, when he was Prince George.[3] The largest community in the county is Murrells Inlet.[8]

The economy is partially based on trade due to its transportation network and port facilities.[9]

Geography

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Interactive map of Georgetown County
 
Winnowing house, Mansfield Plantation, Georgetown County
 
Quercus virginica, Live oak in winter. A pasture in Georgetown County.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,034.83 square miles (2,680.2 km2), of which 813.61 square miles (2,107.2 km2) is land and 221.22 square miles (573.0 km2) (21.38%) is water.[10]

Georgetown County has several rivers, including the Great Pee Dee River, the Waccamaw River, Black River, and Sampit River, all of which flow into Winyah Bay. The Santee River, which forms the southern boundary of the county, empties directly into the Atlantic Ocean. The Intracoastal Waterway crosses the county and Winyah Bay. The rivers and the bay have had a decisive effect on human development of the area, especially as the city of Georgetown has an excellent seaport and harbor.

Georgetown County is a diverse county with four distinct areas:

1. The Atlantic coastline, also called Waccamaw Neck, including the communities of Murrells Inlet, Litchfield, Pawleys Island and DeBordieu, is part of "The Grand Strand" (beach), which includes Myrtle Beach to the north. The Georgetown County part of the Grand Strand used to be rural area, but is exploding with development today. Condos line the shoreline at Litchfield and many of the old cottages at Pawleys are being demolished for larger houses. DeBordieu is a gated community.

Empty beachfront has disappeared and wild areas are rapidly vanishing. A few wilder areas are being saved, as these provide critical habitat as part of the Atlantic Flyway for migratory birds. Huntington Beach State Park preserves some of the coastline and coastal marshes in the northern section, with nearby Brookgreen Gardens preserving a historic rice plantation and some forest. Brookgreen Gardens, with a nature center and many outdoor sculptures is a popular tourist spot.

The University of South Carolina and Clemson University maintain the Belle W. Baruch research site at Hobcaw Barony on Waccamaw Neck. The islands around the outlet of Winyah Bay are designated as the "Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center Heritage Preserve". This area is home to the northernmost naturally occurring hammocks of South Carolina's signature sabal palmetto tree.

2. The riverfronts have had little recent development. Such properties were once used for rice plantations, using a rice variety brought from Africa. After the Civil War, and the loss of slave labor, the plantations gradually ceased production. Today they are primarily wild areas, accessible only by boat. In some areas, the earthworks, such as dikes and water gates used for rice culture, still exist, as well as a few of the plantation houses. Litchfield Plantation has been redeveloped as a country inn; other properties have been developed as planned residential communities. Great blue herons, alligators, and an occasional bald eagle can be seen along the waterways. Fishing is a popular activity.

 
Fishing the Pee Dee off the old US 17 bridge near Georgetown

A tiny community accessible only by boat is on Sandy Island, in the Pee Dee River. Residents are descendants of slaves who worked plantations on the island, and they are trying to keep out development. The Federal government bought land along the rivers for the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, which is intended to protect such wild areas. The visitor center and headquarters of the refuge is located at Yauhannah in the northern part of the county.

3. Georgetown is a small historic city founded in colonial times. It is a popular tourist area and a port for shrimp boats. Yachting "snowbirds" are often seen at the docks in spring and fall; these people follow the seasons along the Intracoastal waterway.

4. The inland rural areas are thinly populated. Some upland areas are good for agriculture or forestry. Several Carolina bays are thought to be craters from a meteor shower. These areas are rich in biodiversity. Carvers Bay, the largest, was extensively damaged by use as a practice bombing range by US military forces during World War II. Draining of the bay has further damaged its environment.

 
International Paper Company on the Sampit River. It is the largest employer in Georgetown County.

National protected areas

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State and local protected areas/sites

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Major water bodies

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Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Major infrastructure

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179022,122—
180022,9383.7%
181015,679−31.6%
182017,60312.3%
183019,94313.3%
184018,274−8.4%
185020,64713.0%
186021,3053.2%
187016,161−24.1%
188019,61321.4%
189020,8576.3%
190022,8469.5%
191022,270−2.5%
192021,716−2.5%
193021,7380.1%
194026,35221.2%
195031,76220.5%
196034,7989.6%
197033,500−3.7%
198042,46126.7%
199046,3029.0%
200055,79720.5%
201060,1587.8%
202063,4045.4%
2023 (est.)65,731[1]3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790–1960[14] 1900–1990[15]
1990–2000[16] 2010[17] 2020[1]

2020 census

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Georgetown County racial composition[18]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 41,186 64.96%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 18,051 28.47%
Native American 111 0.18%
Asian 258 0.41%
Pacific Islander 27 0.04%
Other/Mixed 1,546 2.44%
Hispanic or Latino 2,225 3.51%

As of the 2020 census, there were 63,404 people, 25,498 households, and 17,334 families residing in the county.

2010 census

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At the 2010 census, there were 60,158 people, 24,524 households, and 17,282 families living in the county.[19] The population density was 73.9 inhabitants per square mile (28.5/km2). There were 33,672 housing units at an average density of 41.4 per square mile (16.0/km2).[20] The racial makeup of the county was 63.2% white, 33.6% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.6% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.1% of the population.[19] In terms of ancestry, 13.5% were English, 9.0% were Irish, 8.7% were American, and 7.6% were German.[21]

Of the 24,524 households, 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.5% were non-families, and 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 45.4 years.[19]

The median income for a household in the county was $42,666 and the median income for a family was $54,115. Males had a median income of $39,127 versus $28,390 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,942. About 13.2% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.3% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.[22]

2000 census

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At the 2000 census,[23] there were 55,797 people, 21,659 households, and 15,854 families living in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile (26 people/km2). There were 28,282 housing units at an average density of 35 per square mile (14/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 59.69% White, 38.61% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 1.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 21,659 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.10% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,312, and the median income for a family was $41,554. Males had a median income of $31,110 versus $20,910 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,805. About 13.40% of families and 17.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.80% of those under age 18 and 14.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

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United States presidential election results for Georgetown County, South Carolina[24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 22,326 59.14% 14,965 39.64% 463 1.23%
2020 20,487 55.87% 15,822 43.15% 359 0.98%
2016 17,389 54.93% 13,310 42.04% 958 3.03%
2012 16,526 53.37% 14,163 45.74% 276 0.89%
2008 15,790 52.13% 14,199 46.88% 301 0.99%
2004 12,606 53.43% 10,602 44.94% 385 1.63%
2000 10,535 51.77% 9,445 46.41% 371 1.82%
1996 7,023 42.95% 8,298 50.75% 1,031 6.31%
1992 6,870 42.22% 7,494 46.05% 1,908 11.73%
1988 7,032 56.23% 5,402 43.20% 72 0.58%
1984 7,370 53.29% 6,392 46.22% 68 0.49%
1980 5,151 42.78% 6,701 55.65% 190 1.58%
1976 4,058 35.97% 7,169 63.54% 56 0.50%
1972 6,114 57.27% 4,446 41.64% 116 1.09%
1968 3,269 32.62% 4,110 41.01% 2,642 26.36%
1964 4,705 57.89% 3,423 42.11% 0 0.00%
1960 2,607 48.12% 2,811 51.88% 0 0.00%
1956 1,057 24.24% 1,020 23.39% 2,284 52.37%
1952 2,340 63.07% 1,370 36.93% 0 0.00%
1948 92 3.72% 432 17.49% 1,946 78.79%
1944 52 3.69% 1,197 85.01% 159 11.29%
1940 155 9.35% 1,503 90.65% 0 0.00%
1936 61 4.57% 1,273 95.43% 0 0.00%
1932 33 1.92% 1,684 98.08% 0 0.00%
1928 74 11.21% 586 88.79% 0 0.00%
1924 24 15.00% 134 83.75% 2 1.25%
1920 38 13.43% 245 86.57% 0 0.00%
1916 2 0.42% 470 98.74% 4 0.84%
1912 10 2.21% 405 89.60% 37 8.19%
1904 0 0.00% 728 100.00% 0 0.00%
1900 451 50.28% 446 49.72% 0 0.00%

Economy

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In 2022, the GDP of Georgetown County was $3.3 billion (approx. $50,598 per capita).[25] In chained 2017 dollars, the real GDP of Georgetown County was $2.8 billion (about $41,996 per capita).[26] In 2022 through 2024, the unemployment rate has fluctuated between 2.4-4.9%.[27]

Some of the largest employers in the county include AGRU, Food Lion, International Paper, ScribeAmerica, and Walmart.[28]

Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Georgetown County, South Carolina[28]
Industry Employment Counts Employment Percentage (%) Average Annual Wage ($)
Accommodation and Food Services 4,463 18.4 26,000
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 1,248 5.2 40,664
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 421 1.7 48,360
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 1,420 5.9 25,532
Construction 1,358 5.6 55,016
Finance and Insurance 1,204 5.0 66,144
Health Care and Social Assistance 3,727 15.4 52,364
Information 114 0.5 67,444
Management of Companies and Enterprises 78 0.3 118,924
Manufacturing 2,374 9.8 77,948
Other Services (except Public Administration) 641 2.6 36,556
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 1,074 4.4 62,140
Public Administration 1,272 5.3 49,556
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 697 2.9 39,780
Retail Trade 2,969 12.3 32,448
Transportation and Warehousing 550 2.3 53,196
Utilities 263 1.1 86,580
Wholesale Trade 340 1.4 65,988
Total 24,213 100.0% 46,531

Communities

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City

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Georgetown County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 136.
  4. ^ "OMB Bulletin No. 23-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). United States Office of Management and Budget. July 21, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e A History of the Georgetown District. Carolina.com. Accessed April 7, 2023.
  6. ^ Georgetown: The Original Plan and the Earliest Settlers. The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 9, No. 2 [Apr. 1908], pg 85-101. Accessed April 7, 2023.
  7. ^ "Georgetown County, South Carolina". www.carolana.com. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  8. ^ "QuickFacts: Murrells Inlet CDP, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  9. ^ "Industry – Georgetown County, SC". Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  10. ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c d "SCDNR Public Lands". www2.dnr.sc.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  12. ^ "Rivers – South Carolina". National Park Service. November 30, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  13. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  14. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  15. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  16. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  17. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  18. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  19. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  20. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  21. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  22. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  23. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  24. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  25. ^ U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (January 1, 2001). "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Georgetown County, SC". FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  26. ^ U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (January 1, 2001). "Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Georgetown County, SC". FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  27. ^ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (January 1, 1990). "Unemployment Rate in Georgetown County, SC". FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  28. ^ a b "Georgetown County" (PDF). Community Profiles (04000043). Columbia, SC: S.C. Department of Employment & Workforce - Business Intelligence Department. April 19, 2024.
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