Colleton County, South Carolina

National protected area

• Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve (part)
• Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge (part)

State and local protected areas/sites

• Bear Island Wildlife Management Area^[6]
• Colleton State Park
• Crosby Oxypolis Heritage Preserve^[6]
• Donnelley Wildlife Management Area^[6]
• Givhans Ferry State Park (part)
• Lowcountry Raptors
• Old Walterboro Train Depot
• Pon-Pon Chapel of Ease
• South Fenwick Island^[6]
• St. Helena Sound Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area^[6]
• Tuskegee Airmen Memorial
• Walterboro Historic District

Major water bodies

• Ashepoo River
• Atlantic Ocean (North Atlantic Ocean)
• Edisto River
• Intracoastal Waterway
• Salkehatchie River

Adjacent counties

• Orangeburg County – north
• Dorchester County – northeast
• Charleston County – east
• Beaufort County – south
• Hampton County – west
• Allendale County – west
• Bamberg County – northwest

Major highways

• I-95
• US 15
• US 17
• 
  US 17 Alt.
• US 21
• US 601
• SC 61
• SC 63
• SC 64
• 
  SC 64 Bus.
• SC 174
• SC 212
• 
  SC 212 Conn.
• SC 217
• SC 303
• SC 362
• SC 641
• SC 651

Major infrastructure

• Lowcountry Regional Airport

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 38,604 people, 15,808 households, and 9,565 families residing in the county.^[13]

The median age was 44.9 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.0% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.0 males age 18 and over.^[13]

The racial makeup of the county was 57.2% White, 34.9% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.1% from some other race, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.6% of the population.^[15]

23.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 76.1% lived in rural areas.^[16]

There were 15,808 households in the county, of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 32.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[13]

There were 19,824 housing units, of which 20.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.5% were owner-occupied and 26.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%.^[13]

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 38,892 people, 15,131 households, and 10,449 families living in the county.^[17][12] The population density was 36.8 inhabitants per square mile (14.2/km²). There were 19,901 housing units at an average density of 18.8 per square mile (7.3/km²).^[18] The racial makeup of the county was 57.0% white, 39.0% black or African American, 0.8% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.8% of the population.^[17]

Of the 15,131 households, 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.9% were non-families, and 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 40.7 years.^[17]

The median income for a household in the county was $33,263 and the median income for a family was $40,955. Males had a median income of $36,622 versus $25,898 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,842. About 17.7% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 17.2% of those age 65 or over.^[19]

2000 census

At the 2000 census,^[20] there were 38,264 people, 14,470 households, and 10,490 families living in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14 people/km²). There were 18,129 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6.6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 55.52% White, 42.18% Black or African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 1.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,470 households, out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.10% were married couples living together, 16.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,733, and the median income for a family was $34,169. Males had a median income of $28,518 versus $19,228 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,831. About 17.30% of families and 21.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.70% of those under age 18 and 19.10% of those age 65 or over.

According to the 2000 census, the Colleton County population was nearly 75% rural, with the exception of the Walterboro Urban Cluster (2000 pop.: 10,064). The total county population was also designated as the Walterboro, SC Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Ancestry/ethnicity

As of 2019, the largest self-identified ancestry/ethnicity groups in Colleton County were:^[21]

More information Ancestry/ethnicity, Percent (2019) ...

Ancestry/ethnicity	Percent (2019)
African-American	39.0%
English	32.3%
German	6.5%
Irish	5.2%

Close

Law enforcement

In 2019, County Sheriff R.A. Strickland was charged with domestic violence after punching a woman in his home.^[22] As of 2021^[update], the current sheriff is Guerry L. "Buddy" Hill Jr.^[23]

Politics

As a part of the “Solid South," Colleton County was heavily Democratic throughout its early history. More recently, it has become a Republican-leaning swing county that has backed the national winner in every presidential election since 1984, with the exception of 2020.

Cities

• Walterboro (county seat and largest community)

Towns

• Cottageville
• Edisto Beach
• Lodge
• Smoaks
• Williams

Census-designated places

• Islandton
• Jacksonboro

Unincorporated communities

• Ashepoo
• Green Pond
• Hendersonville
• Neyles
• Round O
• Ruffin
• Canadys