The district was occupied for thousands of years by succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples. By the time of European encounter, Siouan-speaking tribes, such as the Cheraw and Catawba, as well as the Pee Dee, inhabited the Piedmont area above the fall line.
The Orangeburg Judicial District was chartered by European Americans in 1769 from a mostly unorganized upland area between the Congaree and Savannah rivers. A county, initially of the same name but later called Orange, was organized within the district but deorganized in 1791, after the American Revolutionary War.
The southwest portion bordering on the Savannah River, about half of Orangeburg District, was separated and organized as Barnwell District in 1800. In 1804 the northern third of the district was separated to form the new Lexington District, which gained another, smaller portion of Orangeburg District in 1832.
During the nineteenth century, the districts and counties were developed chiefly as cotton plantations for short-staple cotton. This development followed the invention of the cotton gin in the late eighteenth century, which made the processing of short-staple cotton profitable. The county became a center of labor by black slaves on the plantations, who were transported from coastal areas and the Upper South to cultivate and process cotton. Those brought from the coastal areas were likely of the Gullah culture and language. The enslaved African Americans greatly outnumbered the white planters and non-slaveholding whites. Reflecting the patterns of nineteenth-century settlement, the area is still chiefly agricultural and majority-African American in population.
In 1868, under the revised state constitution during the Reconstruction era, South Carolina districts were organized as counties. Resident voters were enabled to elect their state representatives rather than having them chosen by the state legislature, as was done previously. Election of representatives by the state legislature had kept the districts dominated by the elite owners of major plantations in the Low Country and elsewhere. The changes in rules expanded participation in the franchise by more male residents. Emancipation of slaves after the war under newly ratified federal constitutional amendments resulted in freedmen voting. Using voter intimidation, white Democrats took control of the state legislature by the end of the century; they passed state electoral laws and a new constitution that essentially disfranchised most blacks, a situation that lasted until after the federal legislation of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
A small western portion of Orangeburg County was annexed in 1871 to the newly formed Aiken County during the Reconstruction era.
In 1908 the northern portion of the County along the Congaree River was separated and included in the newly formed Calhoun County, with its seat at Saint Matthews. In 1910 a small western portion of Berkeley County, around Holly Hill and Eutawville, was annexed to Orangeburg County, thus bringing the county to its present size.
Geography
Interactive map of Orangeburg County
First Baptist Church, downtown Orangeburg
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,127.89 square miles (2,921.2 km2), of which 1,106.38 square miles (2,865.5 km2) is land and 21.51 square miles (55.7 km2) (1.91%) is water.[4] It is the second-largest county in South Carolina by land area and fifth-largest by land area.
Orangeburg county is a fairly big county, covering 1,128 square miles, it is about 60 miles from the western part of the county to the eastern part of the county. Orangeburg county lies within 3 "regions" of South Carolina. The western part of the county lies in the "CSRA" (Central Savannah River Area). The middle part of Orangeburg county is included in the "Midlands" Region. The eastern and south eastern part of the county are located in the "Lowcountry" region of the state.
As of the 2020 census, there were 84,223 people, 32,129 households, and 20,620 families residing in the county.
2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 92,501 people, 35,788 households, and 23,580 families in the county.[12][10] The population density was 83.6 inhabitants per square mile (32.3 inhabitants/km2). There were 42,504 housing units at an average density of 38.4 units per square mile (14.8 units/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 62.2% black or African American, 34.3% white, 0.8% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.9% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 7.7% were American, and 5.1% were German.[14]
Of the 35,788 households, 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples living together, 22.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.1% were non-families, and 29.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 38.1 years.[12]
The median household income was $32,849 and the median family income was $40,332. Males had a median income of $35,934 versus $28,508 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,579. About 21.1% of families and 25.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.9% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over.[15]
2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 91,582 people, 34,118 households, and 23,882 families in the county. The population density was 83 people per square mile (32 people/km2). There were 39,304 housing units at an average density of 36 units per square mile (14 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 60.86% Black or African American, 37.17% White, 0.46% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[16]
Of the 34,118 households 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.10% were married couples living together, 20.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 26.00% of households were one person and 10.30% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.11.
The age distribution was 26.00% under the age of 18, 11.90% from 18 to 24, 26.10% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 87.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.60 males.
The median household income was $29,567 and the median family income was $36,165. Males had a median income of $29,331 versus $20,956 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,057. About 17.00% of families and 21.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.20% of those under age 18 and 22.30% of those age 65 or over.
Native American entities
Orangeburg County is home to four state-recognized Native American entities.
State-recognized tribes
The Beaver Creek Indian Tribe, headquartered in Salley, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization state-recognized as a tribe, with members primarily located in Aiken County. The organization was awarded the status of a state-recognized tribe by the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs on January 27, 2006.[17] The tribe primarily claims descent from a family who settled in Long Cane Creek (McCormick County) from Virginia in 1760 with its South Carolina progenitor Lazarus Chavis born in Edgefield County. The entity is not presently federally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Santee Indian Organization, headquartered in Holly Hill, is a nonprofit organization state-recognized as a tribe.[18] The organization was awarded the status of a state-recognized tribe by the South Carolina Commission of Minority Affairs on March 15, 2006.[19] The tribe claims descent from the historic Santee people, not to be confused with the similarly named Santee Dakota people. The tribe is not federally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.[20] The organization does not have IRS tax exemption according to the IRS website.[21]
State-recognized group
The Pee Dee Indian Nation of Beaver Creek, based in Gilbert, is a nonprofit organization, not registered with IRS, and state-recognized as a tribal group after separating from the Beaver Creek nonprofit organization.
State-recognized special interest organization
The Pine Hill Indian Community Development Initiative, based in Pine Hill, is a state-recognized special interest organization.[18]
Government and politics
Orangeburg is a solidly Democratic county in presidential elections; it has not voted Republican since 1972.
United States presidential election results for Orangeburg County, South Carolina[22]
Orangeburg County is one of the largest agricultural producing counties in South Carolina, with fertile, slightly rolling land. Major crops are cotton, soybeans, corn, turf grass and watermelons.
Grain elevator in the county
Soybeans ready for harvest, with center pivot irrigation setup
At least four railroad lines run through Orangeburg County; a former Southern Railway Line, and three CSX lines, the westernmost which was formerly a Seaboard Air Line Railroad line running along US 321.[23]
^Holleman, Joey (January 28, 2006). "Three S.C. Indian tribes win recognition". The State (Columbia, South Carolina). No. 115, No. 38. Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
United States
South Carolina
