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Richland County, South Carolina

Richland County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 416,147,[2] making it the second-most populous county in South Carolina, behind only Greenville County. The county seat and largest community is Columbia,[3] the state capital. The county was established on March 12, 1785.[4] Richland County is part of the Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2020, the center of population of South Carolina was located in Richland County, in the city of Columbia.[5] The county is also the location of the geographic center of South Carolina, southeast of Columbia.[6]

History

Harvesting red gum trees in Richland County, 1904
South Carolina State House; Richland County holds the state's capitol in Columbia.
A swamp in rural Richland County

Richland County was probably named for its "rich land". The county was formed in 1785 as part of the large Camden District.[4] A small part of Richland County was later ceded to adjacent Kershaw County in 1791. The county seat and largest city is Columbia, which is also the state capital. In 1786, the state legislature decided to move the capital from Charleston to a more central location. A site was chosen in Richland County, which is in the geographic center of the state, and a new town was laid out. Richland County's boundaries were formally incorporated on December 18, 1799.[7] Cotton from the surrounding plantations was shipped through Columbia and later manufactured into textiles there. General William T. Sherman captured Columbia during the Civil War and his troops burned the town and parts of the county on February 17, 1865. The U. S. Army returned on friendlier terms in 1917, when Fort Jackson was established, which is now the largest and most active Initial Entry Training Center in the U.S. Army. The South Carolina State House is located in downtown Columbia.

Geography

Interactive map of Richland County
The Congaree River makes the border between Richland and Lexington counties.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 771.96 square miles (1,999.4 km2), of which 757.28 square miles (1,961.3 km2) is land and 14.68 square miles (38.0 km2), or 1.90%, is water.[8] Richland County is situated in the center of South Carolina.

National protected area

State and local protected areas/sites

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, 416,147 people, 153,484 households, and 90,802 families were residing in the county.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, 384,504 people, 145,194 households, and 89,357 families were residing in the county.[18][14] The population density was 507.9 inhabitants per square mile (196.1/km2). There were 161,725 housing units at an average density of 213.6 per square mile (82.5/km2).[19] The racial makeup of the county was 45.3% White, 48.9% African American, 2.2% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.9% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.8% of the population.[18] In terms of ancestry, 9.6% were German, 8.6% were English, 7.6% were Irish, and 7.1% were American.[20]

Of the 145,194 households, 32.9% had children under 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.5% were not families, and 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.43, and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 32.6 years.[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,922 and for a family was $61,622. Males had a median income of $42,453 versus $34,012 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,805. About 10.0% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.[21]

Law and government

Richland County Sheriff's Department Horses, 1913 in Columbia

Richland County is governed by a county council,[22] who hold concurrent four-year terms. Richland County is governed under the Council-Administrator form of government, which is very similar to the council–manager form of government. The major difference between the council–manager and council–administrator forms of government is the title of the chief executive.

The South Carolina Department of Corrections, headquartered in Columbia and in Richland County,[23] operates several correctional facilities in Columbia and in Richland County. They include the Broad River Correctional Institution,[24] the Goodman Correctional Institution,[25] the Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution,[26] the Stevenson Correctional Institution,[27] and the Campbell Pre-Release Center.[28] Graham houses the state's female death row.[29] The State of South Carolina execution chamber is located at Broad River. From 1990 to 1997 Broad River housed the state's male death row.[30]

In March 2008, the Richland County Sheriff's Department acquired an armored personnel carrier equipped with a .50 caliber machine gun.[31] Reason magazine criticized the acquisition as "overkill".[32]

Politics

Richland County was one of the first areas of South Carolina to break away from a Solid South voting pattern. From 1948 to 1988, it only supported the official Democratic candidate for president once, in 1976. It voted for splinter Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond in 1948, and for unpledged electors in 1956.

Since 1992, Richland County has been one of the stronger Democratic bastions in South Carolina, following the trend of most urban counties across the country.

Economy

In 2022, the GDP was $32 billion (about $75,222 per capita),[34] and the real GDP was $27.3 billion (about $64,302 per capita) in chained 2017 dollars.[35]

Transportation

Interstates

U.S. routes

State routes

Airports

The Jim Hamilton–L.B. Owens Airport operates over 56,000 aircraft annually, but is a smaller airport used mostly for small and private planes. The main airport for the region is the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, which is located in neighboring Lexington County. In 2018, the Columbia Metro Airport served 1,197,603 passengers with 12,324 flights.

Bus systems

Public transportation in Richland County is provided by the COMET, or officially the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA). The bus system is the main public transit system for the greater Columbia area and services approximately 2,800,000 passengers annually.[38] In Richland County, the bus system runs in the areas of Columbia, Forest Acres, Fort Jackson, Irmo, St. Andrews, Northeast Richland, Lower Richland, and Eastover. Additionally, COMET offers Dial-a-ride transit (DART), which provides personalized service passengers with disabilities.[39]

The University of South Carolina's transit system, which is maintained by COMET, services an additional 1,000,000 passengers annually.[40]

Railway

Columbia has one Amtrak station (CLB) that serves over 30,000 passengers per year on the Silver Star rail line.[41] Additionally, Richland County has an operating facility for CSX Transportation, a company that transports over one million carloads of freight on South Carolina's rail network.[42]

Major infrastructure

Education

Public primary and secondary education

Colleges and universities

Public library

Healthcare

Attractions

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Neighborhoods

Regions

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Richland County.[52]

† = county seat

In popular culture

Richland County was one of several counties across the country used as a filming location for the A&E reality documentary series Live PD, which worked in collaboration with the Richland County Sheriff's Department. The show first premiered in 2016 and aired for four years until its cancellation in 2020.[53] In 2022, an unofficial revival of the show, On Patrol: Live, aired on Reelz. It features Curtis Wilson from the Richland County Sheriff's Department as well as the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office.[54][55]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Though within the city limits of Columbia, Fort Jackson operates autonomously with a private population and closed borders.
  2. ^ The air base operates autonomously with a private population and closed borders.
  3. ^ In-person institutions only
  4. ^ Part and full-time enrollment
  5. ^ System-wide
  6. ^ a b Formerly Providence Hospital

References

  1. ^ "About Richland County". www.richlandcountysc.gov. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Richland County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "South Carolina - Legislative Acts Creating Counties / Districts". South Carolina General Assembly. 1785. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  5. ^ "2020 Centers of Population by State". United States Census Bureau. November 16, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  6. ^ "Geographic Centers of the United States" (PDF). pubs.usgs.gov. September 3, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "About Richland County". Richland County, South Carolina. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  8. ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "SCDNR Public Lands". www2.dnr.sc.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  12. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  13. ^ "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 19, 2015.
  14. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  15. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Richland County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  16. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Richland County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  17. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Richland County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "Richland County > Government > County Council > County Council Members". www.richlandonline.com. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  23. ^ "Institutions." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  24. ^ "Broad River Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  25. ^ "Goodman Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  26. ^ "Graham (Camille Griffin) Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010. "4450 Broad River Road Columbia, SC 29210-4096"
  27. ^ "Stevenson Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  28. ^ "Campbell Pre-Release Center." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  29. ^ "Graham (Camille Griffin) Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010. "The institution also functions as a major special management unit with the ability to house female death row inmates and county safekeepers."
  30. ^ "Death Row/Capital Punishment." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  31. ^ S.C. Sheriff's Department Armored Vehicle with Belt-Fed Machine Gun Archived September 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ Sheriff Lott's New Toy by Radley Balko September 1, 2008
  33. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  34. ^ U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (January 1, 2001). "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Richland County, SC". FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  35. ^ U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (January 1, 2001). "Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Richland County, SC". FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  36. ^ "Comrehensive Financial Report (2019)" (PDF). Richland County. 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022.
  37. ^ "Richland County" (PDF). Community Profiles (04000079). Columbia, SC: S.C. Department of Employment & Workforce - Business Intelligence Department. April 19, 2024.
  38. ^ "The COMET - Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority". partners.columbiachamber.com. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  39. ^ "The Comet Routes" (PDF). The Central Midlands Transit Authority. n.d. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  40. ^ "The Comet, University of South Carolina announce new contract". masstransitmag.com. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  41. ^ "Columbia, SC (CLB)". Great American Stations. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  42. ^ "CSX in South Carolina". CSX. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  43. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Richland County, SC" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022. - Text list - "Fort Jackson Schools" refers to the DoDEA schools on base.
  44. ^ "SC School Report Card". screportcards.com. 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  45. ^ "SC School Report Card". screportcards.com. 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  46. ^ "SC School Report Card". screportcards.com. 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  47. ^ "Colleges in Richland County, South Carolina". Countyoffice.org. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  48. ^ "MUSC Fact Sheet". Medical University of South Carolina. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  49. ^ "FY21 highlights and statistics". prismahealth.org. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  50. ^ "Columbia VA Health Care System" (PDF). va.gov. United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022.
  51. ^ "Fort Jackson, SC - Hospital". United States Army. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  52. ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  53. ^ Schneider, Michael (June 11, 2020). "'Live PD': Inside A&E's Swift Decision to Cancel the Show, and Whether it Will Ever Return". Variety. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  54. ^ Laird, Skylar (June 30, 2022). "Richland County Sheriff's deputies to appear on new TV show 'On Patrol: Live'". Post and Courier. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  55. ^ Bise, Matt (October 6, 2023). "Sheriff: BCSO's TV role is working". The Post and Courier. Retrieved November 21, 2023.

External links

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