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Abbeville County, South Carolina facts for kids

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Abbeville County
U.S. county
Abbeville County Courthouse
Official seal of Abbeville County
Seal
Motto(s): 
"A Great Place to Live."
Map of South Carolina highlighting Abbeville 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.
Country  United States
State  South Carolina
Founded 1785
Named for Abbeville, France
Seat Abbeville
Largest community Abbeville
Area
 • Total 511.74 sq mi (1,325.4 km2)
 • Land 491.19 sq mi (1,272.2 km2)
 • Water 20.55 sq mi (53.2 km2)  4.02%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 24,295
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 24,434
 • Density 49.46/sq mi (19.10/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 3rd

Abbeville County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 24,295. Its county seat is Abbeville. It is the first county (or county equivalent) in the United States alphabetically. Abbeville County included in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC Combined Statistical Area, known colloquially as the Upstate or the Upcountry.

History

Both Abbeville County and the county seat, Abbeville, get their name from the town of Abbeville, France, the native home of an early settler. The county was originally part of Ninety-Six District, South Carolina, but was designated Abbeville County in 1785, with parts of the county later going to the creation of the counties of Greenwood and McCormick. Abbeville County was settled by mostly Scotch Irish and French-Huguenot farmers in the mid-18th century.

The Treaty of Dewitt's Corner, a historic peace negotiation with the Cherokee Indians, was signed in Dewitt's Corner (which is now known as Due West) in the county. As a result of the treaty, the Cherokee tribe broke into two factions, one of which, the Chickamauga Cherokee, continued fighting area settlers for another 30 years.

Abbeville County was a hotbed of secession before the Civil War and was also where the last Confederate council of war was held.

In 1950 Abbeville County had a population of 22,456. As of the 2020 census, this has grown to 24,295 people.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 511.74 square miles (1,325.4 km2), of which 491.19 square miles (1,272.2 km2) is land and 20.55 square miles (53.2 km2) (4.02%) is water. Abbeville County is in the Savannah River basin and the Saluda River basin.

National protected area

  • Sumter National Forest (part)

State and local protected areas/sites

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Major highways


  • US 25 Bus.
  • US 178
  • SC 20

  • SC 20 Conn.
  • SC 28

  • SC 28 Conn.
  • SC 71

  • SC 71 Truck
  • SC 72
  • SC 81
  • SC 184
  • SC 185
  • SC 203

  • SC 203 Truck
  • SC 284

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790 9,197 —
1800 13,553 47.4%
1810 21,156 56.1%
1820 23,167 9.5%
1830 28,149 21.5%
1840 29,351 4.3%
1850 32,318 10.1%
1860 32,385 0.2%
1870 31,129 −3.9%
1880 40,815 31.1%
1890 46,854 14.8%
1900 33,400 −28.7%
1910 34,804 4.2%
1920 27,139 −22.0%
1930 23,323 −14.1%
1940 22,931 −1.7%
1950 22,456 −2.1%
1960 21,417 −4.6%
1970 21,112 −1.4%
1980 22,627 7.2%
1990 23,862 5.5%
2000 26,167 9.7%
2010 25,417 −2.9%
2020 24,295 −4.4%
2023 (est.) 24,434 −3.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

Abbeville County racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 16,744 68.92%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 6,184 25.45%
Native American 44 0.18%
Asian 71 0.29%
Pacific Islander 7 0.03%
Other/Mixed 822 3.38%
Hispanic or Latino 423 1.74%

As of the 2020 census there were 24,295 people, 9,660 households, and 6,248 families residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 25,417 people, 9,990 households, and 6,939 families living in the county. The population density was 51.8 inhabitants per square mile (20.0/km2). There were 12,079 housing units at an average density of 24.6 units per square mile (9.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 69.6% white, 28.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 14.7% were American, 10.9% were Irish, 9.7% were English, 7.6% were German, and 5.6% were Scotch-Irish.

Of the 9,990 households, 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.5% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 41.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,143 and the median income for a family was $45,147. Males had a median income of $39,217 versus $29,199 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,653. About 16.3% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 16.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

In 1999, Abbeville County had the highest level of economic development and job creation per capita in all of South Carolina. Factors contributing to Abbeville's economic growth include some of the lowest electricity operating costs in South Carolina and the broader southeastern region of the United States, right-to-work laws forcing the cost of labor down, and direct workforce training through the Piedmont Technical College.

Throughout 2023 and early 2024, the unemployment rate of Abbeville has fluctuated around 4%. In 2022, the GDP of Abbeville County was $666.9 million (roughly $27,450 per capita). In chained 2017 dollars, its per-capita real GDP was $22,685. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Abbeville has 417 employment establishments (private and public organizations covered by unemployment insurance). As of Q3 2023, some of the top 20 employers in the state include the city of Abbeville, Erskine College, Hardee's, Ingles, Prysmian Group, Sage Automotive Interiors, and Wayfair.

Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Abbeville County, South Carolina
Industry Employment Counts Employment Percentage (%) Average Annual Wage ($)
Accommodation and Food Services 337 6.5 16,380
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 223 4.3 35,880
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 35 0.7 31,200
Construction 127 2.4 46,800
Educational Services 683 13.1 41,028
Finance and Insurance 75 1.4 49,504
Health Care and Social Assistance 484 9.3 59,072
Information 122 2.3 78,000
Manufacturing 1,784 34.3 62,036
Other Services (except Public Administration) 96 1.8 35,724
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 111 2.1 101,660
Public Administration 478 9.2 42,588
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 14 0.3 36,504
Retail Trade 439 8.4 21,788
Transportation and Warehousing 65 1.3 55,380
Utilities 47 0.9 80,860
Wholesale Trade 77 1.5 62,660
Total 5,197 100.0% 49,729

Education

School districts

Most Abbeville County schools are part of the Abbeville County School District. The following schools are within the district:

  • Abbeville County Adult Education
  • Abbeville High School (grades 9–12)
  • Abbeville County Career Center (supplementary career education - grades 10–12)
  • Cherokee Trail Elementary (grades K–7)
  • Diamond Hill Elementary (grades K–7)
  • Dixie High School (grades 8–12)
  • John C. Calhoun Elementary (grades K-5)
  • Long Cane Primary (grades K–2)
  • Westwood Elementary (grades 3–5)
  • Wright Middle School (grades 6–8)

Other schools

  • Calhoun Falls Charter School (part of the South Carolina Public Charter School District, whereby students from any part of the state may attend)

Colleges and universities

Communities

City

  • Abbeville (county seat and largest community)

Towns

Census-designated places

Notable people

John C. Calhoun
Portrait of John C. Calhoun, famous politician from Abbeville County.
  • John C. Calhoun (1782–1850), born in the Abbeville District, U.S. congressman and U.S. senator from South Carolina, secretary of war, secretary of state, and vice president of the United States
  • Langdon Cheves (1776–1857), born in Abbeville County at Rocky River, banker and U.S. congressman from South Carolina
  • Francis Alanson Cunningham (1804–1864), born in the Abbeville District, physician and United States Congressman from Ohio
  • Leomont Evans (born 1974), former American football player in the NFL and the first iteration of the XFL
  • Joshua Hill (1812–1891), born in the Abbeville District, U.S. senator from Georgia
  • Thomas D. Howie (1908–1944), American army officer, killed during the Battle of Normandy during World War II, while trying to capture the French town of Saint-Lô. He is known as "The Major of St. Lo"
  • Abner Smith Lipscomb (1816–1890), born in the Abbeville District, member of the Alabama Legislature and Supreme Court Justice of both Alabama and Texas
  • James L. Petigru (1789–1863), born in the Abbeville District, was the attorney general of South Carolina and a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. He was the leader of the anti-nullificationalists in the state house
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