List of Counties in South Carolina (2024)

FAQs

How many counties are there in South Carolina? ›

There are 46 counties in South Carolina. All counties are functioning governmental units, each governed by a county council.

The estimated poverty rate for South Carolina counties ranged from 8.3 percent to 36.7 percent, with an overall median rate of 14.0 percent, down 0.5 percent since 2021.

South Carolina Counties with Fewest Residents

The least populated county in South Carolina is Allendale County with a population of 9,002, down 13.02% from the 2010 census.

There were three: Craven County, which included land north of Seewee Creek (now Awendaw Creek); Berkeley County, which centered around Charles Town, included land between Seewee Creek and the Stono River; and Colleton County, which included land from the Stono River south to the Combahee River.

Horry County, South Carolina has 1,133.2 square miles of land area and is the 1st largest county in South Carolina by total area.

There are 271 cities and towns in South Carolina ranging in population from 45 to 129,272. With populations of 45, Smyrna and Tatum are the state's smallest cities, followed by Jenkinsville with a population of 46. 46 percent of the state's municipalities have a population of less than 1,000 residents.

Half of state's counties high in poverty areas

Of particular concern now are eight South Carolina counties — Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Chesterfield, Dillon, Hampton, Lee and Marlboro — that are home to residents in which 80 percent or more live in poverty areas.

9. South Carolina. South Carolina ranks among the poorest states in America with a poverty rate of 14.6%.

Now SC's fastest-growing, Jasper County close to tapping the brakes on development.

What county has the lowest taxes in South Carolina? ›

You may want to check out Horry County. The average effective property tax rate in Horry County is just 0.42%, lowest in the state.

The third oldest city in South Carolina, following Charleston and Beaufort, Georgetown was founded in 1729 and became an official port of entry in 1732. Prior to this, all foreign exports and imports had to pass through Charleston.

South Carolina was named in honor of King Charles I of England, who first formed the English colony, with Carolus being Latin for "Charles". In 1712 the Province of South Carolina was formed. One of the original Thirteen Colonies, South Carolina became a royal colony in 1719.

The first meeting of the South Carolina Assembly in the Charleston State House occurred in 1756. In 1786 the South Carolina Assembly voted to move the state capital to Columbia, a more geographically, centralized location.

The least populous county is Allendale County, with only 7,369 residents, while the most populous county is Greenville County, with a population of 558,036, despite the state's most populous city, Charleston, being located in Charleston County.

Texas tops the list of states with the most counties, with 254 counties. It is followed by Georgia, with 159 counties.

Greenville County Schools is a great place to learn, work and live. Located in beautiful Upstate South Carolina, it is the 44th largest school district in the United States and the largest in South Carolina.

South Carolina is composed of 46 counties. The capital is Columbia with a population of 136,632 in 2020; while its most populous city is Charleston with a 2020 population of 150,227.