McCormick County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 9,526, making it the second-least populous county in South Carolina. Its county seat is McCormick. The county was formed in 1916 from parts of Edgefield, Abbeville, and Greenwood counties.

History The county was founded in 1916 with portions of Edgefield, Abbeville, and Greenwood counties and was named after Cyrus McCormick. The largest community and county seat is McCormick.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (8.83%) is water. It is the smallest county in South Carolina by land area and second-smallest by total area. McCormick County is in the Savannah River basin.

National protected area Sumter National Forest (part)

State and local protected areas/sites Baker Creek State Park Eden Hall Hamilton Branch State Recreation Area Hickory Knob State Resort Park James L. Mason Wildlife Management Area Leroys Ferry Recreation Area Long Cane Creek Picnic Area Parksville Recreation Area Price's Mill Savannah Lakes Beach Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area (part) Sumter National Forest - Long Cane Ranger District

Major water bodies J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir Savannah River Steven Creek

Adjacent counties Greenwood County – northeast Edgefield County – east Columbia County, Georgia – south Lincoln County, Georgia – west Elbert County, Georgia – northwest Abbeville County – northwest

Major highways

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 9,526 people, 4,080 households, and 2,513 families residing in the county. The median age was 58.5 years, with 11.4% under the age of 18 and 37.5% 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 112.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 113.2 males.

Of the 4,080 households, 17.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 28.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 5,380 housing units, of which 24.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.3% were owner-occupied and 18.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.1%.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 54.4% White, 41.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.3% of the population.

Racial and ethnic composition +McCormick County, South Carolina – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980 Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)3,0333,6404,4264,9415,15538.90%41.05%44.45%48.28%54.12%Black or African American alone (NH)4,6565,1805,3495,0693,91659.72%58.41%53.72%49.54%41.11%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)12679270.15%0.07%0.07%0.09%0.28%Asian alone (NH)6112934360.08%0.12%0.29%0.33%0.38%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census332xx0.03%0.03%0.02%Other race alone (NH)65512320.08%0.06%0.05%0.12%0.34%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census5384235xx0.53%0.82%2.47%Hispanic or Latino (any race)842686811231.08%0.29%0.86%0.79%1.29%Total7,7978,8689,95810,2339,526 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census At the 2010 census, there were 10,233 people, 4,027 households, and 2,798 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 5,453 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 49.7% black or African American, 48.7% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 10.7% were English, 10.2% were American, 10.2% were German, and 6.0% were Irish.

Of the 4,027 households, 21.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.5% were non-families, and 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.65. The median age was 50.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,858 and the median income for a family was $43,021. Males had a median income of $32,606 versus $28,067 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,411. About 14.2% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.6% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census At the 2000 census, there were 9,958 people, 3,558 households and 2,604 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 4,459 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 53.88% Black or African American, 44.78% White, 0.07% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,558 households, out of which 24.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 17.60% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.80% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.50% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 28.10% from 45 to 64 and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 113.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,577, and the median income for a family was $38,822. Males had a median income of $28,824 versus $21,587 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,770. About 15.10% of families and 17.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.50% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics Like most rural South Carolina counties with a tight Black-white population ratio, the Democratic Party has fared well in McCormick County compared to others across the South, especially with the national party's cultural turn to the left in the 2000s and 2010s. However, in 2016 Donald Trump won the county by one fewer vote than Barack Obama did in 2012, marking the first GOP victory in the area since Richard Nixon in 1972. Trump carried the county again in both subsequent elections, winning it by over 17 points in 2024.

Economy In 2022, the GDP was $278 million (about $27,961 per capita), and the real GDP was $222.8 million (about $22,410 per capita) in chained 2017 dollars.

As of April 2024, some of the largest employers in the county include Food Lion, the United States Department of Defense, and the United States Postal Service. + Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in McCormick County, South Carolina - Q3 2023 Industry Employment Counts Employment Percentage (%) Average Annual Wage ($) Accommodation and Food Services 94 5.5 16,484 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 66 3.9 42,224 Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 37 2.2 41,548 Construction 92 5.4 50,336 Finance and Insurance 23 1.3 50,648 Health Care and Social Assistance 351 20.5 34,996 Information 5 0.3 70,304 Manufacturing 113 6.6 42,588 Other Services (except Public Administration) 205 12.0 28,600 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 85 5.0 65,208 Public Administration 380 22.2 47,528 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 23 1.3 94,380 Retail Trade 226 13.2 23,764 Wholesale Trade 13 0.8 34,268 Total 1,713 100.0% 38,862

Communities

Towns McCormick (county seat and largest community) Parksville Plum Branch

Census-designated places Clarks Hill Modoc Mount Carmel Willington

Education There is one school district in the entire county, the McCormick County School District. - Text list.

The state-operated South Carolina Governor's School for Agriculture at John de la Howe is in an unincorporated area in the county.Compare to the full postal address: "192 Gettys Road McCormick, SC 29835"

The McCormick County Library provides library services.

Notable people Johnny Letman, musician Patrick Noble, governor of South Carolina (1838–1840)

See also List of counties in South Carolina National Register of Historic Places listings in McCormick County, South Carolina

References

External links