Dillon County, South Carolina

Dillon County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the county's population was 32,062. The county seat is Dillon. Founded in 1910 from a portion of Marion County, both Dillon County and the city of Dillon were named for prosperous local citizen James W. Dillon (1826-1913), an Irishman who settled there and led a campaign to bring the railroad into the community. The result of this effort was the construction of the Wilson Short Cut Railroad, which later became part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, and which brought greater prosperity to the area by directly linking Dillon County to the national network of railroads.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 407 square miles (1,050 km²), of which 405 square miles (1,050 km²) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) (0.4%) is water. It is the fifth-smallest county in South Carolina by area.

Adjacent counties

• Robeson County, North Carolina - north
• Columbus County, North Carolina - north
• Horry County - east
• Marion County - south
• Florence County - southwest
• Marlboro County - west

Major highways

• I-95
• US 301
• US 501
• SC 9
• SC 22
• SC 34
• SC 38
• SC 41
• SC 57
• SC 917

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1910	22,615		—
1920	25,278		11.8%
1930	25,733		1.8%
1940	29,625		15.1%
1950	30,930		4.4%
1960	30,584		−1.1%
1970	28,838		−5.7%
1980	31,083		7.8%
1990	29,114		−6.3%
2000	30,722		5.5%
2010	32,062		4.4%
Est. 2014	31,127		−2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

As of the census of 2000, there were 30,722 people, 11,199 households, and 8,063 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 people per square mile (29/km²). There were 12,679 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 47% White, 49% Black or African American, 2.21% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 1.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,199 households out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.80% were married couples living together, 22.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the county, the population was spread out with 29.10% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,630, and the median income for a family was $32,690. Males had a median income of $26,908 versus $18,007 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,272. About 19.40% of families and 24.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.30% of those under age 18 and 26.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

• Dillon (county seat)
• Floydale
• Fork
• Hamer
• Kemper
• Lake View
• Latta
• Little Rock
• Minturn

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dillon County, South Carolina
• Alfred W. Bethea

External links

• Dillon County Official Website
• 1905 Reprint of Bishop Gregg's History of the Old Cheraws with additional material as an appendix. (Google Book pdf)