Jasper County
County
Jasper County Courthouse
Jasper County Courthouse
Flag of Jasper County
Flag
Official seal of Jasper County
Seal
Map of South Carolina highlighting Jasper 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: 32°26′N 81°01′W / 32.43°N 81.02°W / 32.43; -81.02
Country United States
State South Carolina
Founded1912
Named forWilliam Jasper
SeatRidgeland
Largest communityHardeeville
Area
 • Total701.58 sq mi (1,817.1 km2)
 • Land655.16 sq mi (1,696.9 km2)
 • Water46.42 sq mi (120.2 km2)  6.62%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total28,791
 • Estimate 
(2023)
33,544
 • Density43.94/sq mi (16.97/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts1st, 6th
Websitewww.jaspercountysc.gov

Jasper County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,791.[1] Its county seat is Ridgeland and its largest community is Hardeeville.[2] The county was formed in 1912 from portions of Hampton County and Beaufort County.

Jasper County is included in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located in the Lowcountry region of the state.

History

The county was founded in 1912 and was named after William Jasper. The county seat is Ridgeland while the largest community is Hardeeville. The county is also in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

For several decades, in contrast to neighboring Beaufort County, Jasper was one of the poorest counties in the state. Recent development from 2000 onwards has given the county new residents, expanded business opportunities, and a wealthier tax base.

Geography

Map
Interactive map of Jasper County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 701.58 square miles (1,817.1 km2), of which 655.16 square miles (1,696.9 km2) is land and 46.42 square miles (120.2 km2) (6.62%) is water.[3]

National protected areas

State and local protected areas/sites

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19209,868—
19309,9881.2%
194011,01110.2%
195010,995−0.1%
196012,23711.3%
197011,885−2.9%
198014,50422.0%
199015,4876.8%
200020,67833.5%
201024,77719.8%
202028,79116.2%
2023 (est.)33,544[1]16.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[12]

2020 census

Jasper County, South Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the U.S. census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[13] Pop 2010[11] Pop 2020[12] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 8,374 9,263 13,056 40.50% 37.39% 45.35%
Black or African American alone (NH) 10,852 11,303 9,559 52.48% 45.62% 33.20%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 64 49 59 0.31% 0.20% 0.20%
Asian alone (NH) 89 169 187 0.43% 0.68% 0.65%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 9 5 23 0.04% 0.02% 0.08%
Other race alone (NH) 13 21 108 0.06% 0.08% 0.38%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 87 215 720 0.42% 0.87% 2.50%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,190 3,752 5,079 5.75% 15.14% 17.64%
Total 20,678 24,777 28,791 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 census, there were 28,791 people, 10,269 households, and 7,298 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 24,777 people, 8,517 households, and 5,944 families living in the county.[14][15] The population density was 37.8 inhabitants per square mile (14.6 inhabitants/km2). There were 10,299 housing units at an average density of 15.7 units per square mile (6.1 units/km2).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 46.0% black or African American, 43.0% white, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 8.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 15.1% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 7.1% were Irish, and 2.5% were American.[17]

Of the 8,517 households, 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.2% were non-families, and 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.23. The median age was 34.6 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $37,393 and the median income for a family was $45,800. Males had a median income of $31,999 versus $24,859 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,997. About 14.2% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.2% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.[18]

2000 census

At the 2000 census,[19] there were 20,678 people, 7,042 households, and 5,091 families living in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 7,928 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 52.69% Black or African American, 42.39% White, 0.37% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.39% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 5.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,042 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 18.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.3 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,727, and the median income for a family was $36,793. Males had a median income of $29,407 versus $21,055 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,161. About 15.4% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Jasper County is governed by a five-member partisan county council, who are elected in staggered four year terms. The council appoints a county administrator who is tasked with running the day-to-day operations of the county, with the exception of the Sheriff's Office.

Mary Gordon Ellis, the first woman elected to the South Carolina legislature, represented Jasper County in the state senate for one term, from 1928 to 1932, after having served as state superintendent of schools.[20]

Politics

United States presidential election results for Jasper County, South Carolina[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 7,078 49.17% 7,185 49.92% 131 0.91%
2016 5,187 45.39% 5,956 52.12% 284 2.49%
2012 4,169 41.60% 5,757 57.45% 95 0.95%
2008 3,365 38.01% 5,389 60.87% 100 1.13%
2004 2,933 42.84% 3,840 56.09% 73 1.07%
2000 2,414 37.32% 3,646 56.36% 409 6.32%
1996 2,024 31.29% 4,053 62.66% 391 6.05%
1992 1,725 29.93% 3,453 59.92% 585 10.15%
1988 2,004 40.66% 2,894 58.71% 31 0.63%
1984 3,102 45.09% 3,753 54.56% 24 0.35%
1980 1,617 32.54% 3,312 66.65% 40 0.80%
1976 1,221 29.49% 2,903 70.12% 16 0.39%
1972 1,650 57.21% 1,203 41.71% 31 1.07%
1968 633 20.31% 1,402 44.99% 1,081 34.69%
1964 1,593 61.39% 1,002 38.61% 0 0.00%
1960 779 51.93% 721 48.07% 0 0.00%
1956 403 31.71% 210 16.52% 658 51.77%
1952 800 55.71% 636 44.29% 0 0.00%
1948 31 3.49% 141 15.90% 715 80.61%
1944 18 3.96% 230 50.66% 206 45.37%
1940 41 8.93% 418 91.07% 0 0.00%
1936 4 0.88% 452 99.12% 0 0.00%
1932 11 2.68% 399 97.32% 0 0.00%
1928 5 4.67% 102 95.33% 0 0.00%
1924 0 0.00% 89 69.53% 39 30.47%
1920 0 0.00% 219 100.00% 0 0.00%
1916 0 0.00% 243 100.00% 0 0.00%
1912 0 0.00% 198 100.00% 0 0.00%

Communities

City

Town

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "QuickFacts: Jasper 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. ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "SCDNR Public Lands". www2.dnr.sc.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  5. ^ Pinckney, Carmen (March 17, 2020). "Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Hiking Trails". South Carolina Lowcountry. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Roosevelt, Franklin D. (April 10, 1939). "Proclamation 2329—Closed Area Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Georgia and South Carolina". The American Presidency Project. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  10. ^ "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 18, 2015.
  11. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jasper County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Jasper County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Jasper County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ 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 11, 2016.
  15. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  16. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  17. ^ "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 11, 2016.
  18. ^ "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 11, 2016.
  19. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  20. ^ "Women Wielding Power-South Carolina". nwhm.org. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  21. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 13, 2018.

External links

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