Richland County, South Carolina

Richland County, South Carolina

The Richland County Justice Center is located across from Columbia City Hall.
Map of South Carolina highlighting Richland County
Location in the U.S. state of South Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting South Carolina
South Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded 1785
Seat Columbia
Largest city Columbia
Area
 • Total 772 sq mi (1,999 km2)
 • Land 757 sq mi (1,961 km2)
 • Water 15 sq mi (39 km2), 1.9%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 407,051
 • Density 508/sq mi (196/km²)
Congressional districts 2nd, 6th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.richlandonline.com

Richland County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 384,504,[1] making it the second-most populous county in South Carolina, behind only Greenville County. The county seat is Columbia,[2] the state capital.

Richland County is part of the Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In 2010, the center of population of South Carolina was located in Richland County, in the city of Columbia.[3]

History

Richland County was probably named for its "rich land." The county was formed in 1785 as part of the large Camden District. A small part of Richland later went to Kershaw County (1791). The county seat 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 Dec. 18, 1799. 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 more friendly 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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 772 square miles (2,000 km2), of which 757 square miles (1,960 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (1.9%) is water.[4] Richland County is situated in the center of South Carolina.

Rivers and lakes

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
17903,930—
18006,09755.1%
18109,02748.1%
182012,32136.5%
183014,77219.9%
184016,39711.0%
185020,24323.5%
186018,307−9.6%
187023,02525.8%
188028,57324.1%
189036,82128.9%
190045,58923.8%
191055,14321.0%
192078,12241.7%
193087,66712.2%
1940104,84319.6%
1950142,56536.0%
1960200,10240.4%
1970233,86816.9%
1980269,73515.3%
1990285,7205.9%
2000320,67712.2%
2010384,50419.9%
Est. 2015407,051[5]5.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2015[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 384,504 people, 145,194 households, and 89,357 families residing in the county.[10] 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).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 47.3% white, 45.9% black or 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.[10] In terms of ancestry, 9.6% were German, 8.6% were English, 7.6% were Irish, and 7.1% were American.[12]

Of the 145,194 households, 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.5% were non-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.[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,922 and the median income 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.[13]

Government

[14] Government and infrastructure Richland County is governed by an eleven-member County Council, 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, being Manager in one and Administrator in the other.

Board of Commissioners
District Commissioner
District 1 Bill Malinowski
District 2 Joyce Dickerson
District 3 Damon Jeter
District 4 Paul Livingston
District 5 Seth Rose
District 6 Greg Pearce
District 7 Torrey Rush
District 8 Jim Manning
District 9 Julie-Ann Dixon
District 10 Kelvin Washington
District 11 Norman Jackson

In March 2008, the Richland County sheriff department acquired an armored personnel carrier equipped with a .50 caliber machine gun.[15] This acquisition was criticized by Reason magazine as "overkill".[16]

The South Carolina Department of Corrections, headquartered in Columbia and in Richland County,[17] operates several correctional facilities in Columbia and in Richland County. They include the Broad River Correctional Institution,[18] the Goodman Correctional Institution,[19] the Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution,[20] the Stevenson Correctional Institution,[21] and the Campbell Pre-Release Center.[22] Graham houses the state's female death row.[23] 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.[24]

Transportation

Public transportation in Richland County is provided by the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority.

Attractions

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Regions

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  5. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  8. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  11. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  12. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES - 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  13. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS - 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
  14. ↑ http://www.richlandonline.com/Government/CountyCouncil/CountyCouncilMembers.aspx
  15. ↑ S.C. Sheriff's Department Armored Vehicle with Belt-Fed Machine Gun
  16. ↑ Sheriff Lott's New Toy by Radley Balko September 1, 2008
  17. ↑ "Institutions." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Broad River Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Goodman Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Graham (Camille Griffin) Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010. "4450 Broad River Road Columbia, SC 29210-4096"
  21. ↑ "Stevenson Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Campbell Pre-Release Center." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  23. ↑ "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."
  24. ↑ "Death Row/Capital Punishment." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
 Newberry County Fairfield County Kershaw County
Lexington County Sumter County
   Richland County, South Carolina  
Calhoun County

Coordinates: 34°02′N 80°55′W / 34.03°N 80.91°W / 34.03; -80.91

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