Jasper County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,791. Its county seat is Ridgeland and its largest community is Hardeeville. 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. As of 2026, it was the fastest growing county in the United States.

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. In 2026, estimates released by the US Census Bureau found it to be the fastest growing county in the United States, from 29,000 residents in 2020 to 38,000 in 2026, growing by nearly 33% in about 6 years and comprising many retirees.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (6.62%) is water.

National protected areas Savannah National Wildlife Refuge (part) Tybee National Wildlife Refuge

State and local protected areas/sites Frampton Plantation House Kingfisher Pond Recreation Area Old House Plantation Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area Turtle Island Wildlife Management Area

Major water bodies Atlantic Ocean (North Atlantic Ocean) Intracoastal Waterway Little Black River Middle River Okatee River Savannah River Tulifiny River

Adjacent counties Hampton County – north Beaufort County – east Chatham County, Georgia – south Effingham County, Georgia – west

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 28,791 people, 11,272 households, and 7,298 families residing in the county. The median age was 43.1 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.1 males age 18 and over.

10.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 89.1% lived in rural areas.

Of these households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 29.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 12,862 housing units, of which 12.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.7% were owner-occupied and 28.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.8%.

Racial and ethnic composition +Jasper 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)6,1656,4968,3749,26313,05642.51%41.94%40.50%37.39%45.35%Black or African American alone (NH)8,1698,87210,85211,3039,55956.32%57.29%52.48%45.62%33.20%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)14206449590.10%0.13%0.31%0.20%0.20%Asian alone (NH)1130891691870.08%0.19%0.43%0.68%0.65%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 Census9523xx0.04%0.02%0.08%Other race alone (NH)8013211080.06%0.00%0.06%0.08%0.38%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census87215720xx0.42%0.87%2.50%Hispanic or Latino (any race)137691,1903,7525,0790.94%0.45%5.75%15.14%17.64%Total14,50415,48720,67824,77728,791 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

The racial makeup of the county (allocating Hispanics amongst the separate racial categories) was 47.6% White, 33.5% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 10.5% from some other race, and 7.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 17.6% of the population.

2010 census At the 2010 census, there were 24,777 people, 8,517 households, and 5,944 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 10,299 housing units at an average density of . 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. In terms of ancestry, 7.1% were Irish, and 2.5% were American.

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.

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.

2000 census At the 2000 census, there were 20,678 people, 7,042 households, and 5,091 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 7,928 housing units at an average density of . 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 age 18 and over.

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.

Politics Like most counties in the rural Black Belt of South Carolina, Jasper has long leaned Democratic. However, in 2024, Donald Trump was able to flip the county Republican for the first time since Richard Nixon carried it in 1972.

Economy In 2022, the GDP was $1.7 billion (about $49,980 per capita), and the real GDP was $1.3 billion (about $39,745 per capita) in chained 2017 dollars.

, some of the largest employers in the county include AmeriGas, the city of Hardeeville, Publix, and Walmart. + Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Jasper County, South Carolina - Q3 2023 Industry Employment Counts Employment Percentage (%) Average Annual Wage ($) Accommodation and Food Services 740 6.6 23,920 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 956 8.6 45,968 Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 111 1.0 63,336 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 170 1.5 41,236 Construction 1,801 16.1 70,252 Educational Services 594 5.3 53,560 Finance and Insurance 110 1.0 61,048 Health Care and Social Assistance 2,094 18.7 34,580 Information 24 0.2 99,476 Management of Companies and Enterprises 288 2.6 58,396 Manufacturing 295 2.6 37,336 Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction 385 3.4 63,648 Other Services (except Public Administration) 850 7.6 59,852 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 173 1.5 62,244 Public Administration 1,752 15.7 49,296 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 174 1.6 51,480 Retail Trade 172 1.5 97,968 Transportation and Warehousing 293 2.6 70,720 Utilities 21 0.2 83,916 Wholesale Trade 173 1.5 70,344 Total 11,176 100.0% 51,570

Transportation

Major highways

Railroads CSX Transportation's Charleston Subdivision (also known as the Charleston-Savannah Railway) currently operates both freight trains and passenger trains (via Amtrak) along the line, but does not stop anywhere within the county. The line also runs along the Hampton-Jasper County border northeast of the bridge over the Tullifinny River.

Another active CSX line within the county is the Columbia Subdivision which bisects the northwest corner of Jasper County between the Georgia state line and Hampton County. This line also operates freight as well as Amtrak passenger trains.

Communities City Hardeeville (largest community)

Town Ridgeland (county seat)

Census-designated places

Coosawhatchie Gillisonville

Unincorporated communities

Grahamville Grays Levy Limehouse Okatie Old House Pineland Pocotaligo Point South Robertville Switzerland Tarboro Tillman Wagon Branch

See also List of counties in South Carolina National Register of Historic Places listings in Jasper County, South Carolina Jasper Ocean Terminal, planned deepwater container port in the county

References

External links

Jasper County history and images