Sumter County, South Carolina

{{Short description|County in South Carolina, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Sumter County | state = South Carolina | seal = Sumter County Seal.png | logo = Sumter County Logo.png | flag = Sumter County Flag.png | founded = January 1, 1800<ref>{{cite web|title=Sumter County, South Carolina|url=https://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/sumter_county_sc.html|access-date=September 7, 2022|archive-date=September 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908025930/https://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/sumter_county_sc.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | seat wl = Sumter | largest city wl = Sumter | city type = community | area_total_sq_mi = 682.09 | area_land_sq_mi = 665.08 | area_water_sq_mi = 17.01 | area percentage = 2.49 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 105556 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 105067 {{loss}} | density_sq_mi = auto | coordinates = {{coord|33.92|-80.38|type:adm2nd_region:US-SC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}} | web = https://www.sumtercountysc.gov/ | time zone = Eastern | ex image = Sumter courthouse 1369.JPG | ex image cap = Sumter County Courthouse | district = 5th | district2 = 6th | named for = Thomas Sumter | nickname = The Gamecock County }}

'''Sumter County''' is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 105,556.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its county seat is Sumter.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web| url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx| access-date=June 7, 2011| title=Find a County| publisher=National Association of Counties| archive-date=May 31, 2011| archive-url=https://archive.today/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx| url-status=live}}</ref> Sumter County comprises the Sumter, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Columbia-Sumter-Orangeburg, SC Combined Statistical Area.<ref name="2023OMB">{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2023 |title=OMB Bulletin No. 23-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OMB-Bulletin-23-01.pdf |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=United States Office of Management and Budget |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721214234/https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OMB-Bulletin-23-01.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The county is also part of "The Midlands" area.

It is the home of Shaw AFB, headquarters to the 9th Air Force, AFCENT, United States Army Central, with a number of other tenant units. It is one of largest bases in the USAF's Air Combat Command.

On September 17, 2024, the National Park Service announced that the City of Sumter and Sumter County were jointly named a World War II Heritage City.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Park Service Announces New American World War II Heritage Cities - Sept 2024 - Office of Communications (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/national-park-service-announces-new-american-world-war-ii-heritage-cities-sept-2024.htm |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en |archive-date=September 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918012746/https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/national-park-service-announces-new-american-world-war-ii-heritage-cities-sept-2024.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In Sumter County, there is somewhat of a large population of people with Turkish ancestry that descend from Joseph Benenhaley (1753-1823) and other Turks who fled the Ottoman Empire and settled in Sumter County to serve in the American Revolution.[https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/tracing-mysterious-turks-of-south-carolina-back-revolutionary-war-180970383/]

==History== [[Image:Thomas sumter 1352.JPG|175px|thumb|Statue of Thomas Sumter on the Sumter County Courthouse lawn in Sumter]] Sumter County was created from Clarendon, Claremont and Salem Counties as Sumter District in 1798, named after General Thomas Sumter,<ref name=FSsumterco>[https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Sumter_County,_South_Carolina_Genealogy#History Sumter County, South Carolina Genealogy], FamilySearch.org, accessed April 2020.</ref> and became effective in 1800.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/SC_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm| title=South Carolina: Individual County Chronologies| website=South Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries| publisher=The Newberry Library| date=2009| access-date=March 21, 2015| archive-date=January 3, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103154824/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/SC_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm| url-status=dead}}</ref> When the home of Sumter District's clerk of records burnt in 1801, the formative records of the three predecessor counties were also destroyed in the conflagration.<ref name=FSsumterco/> As a result, documentary evidence that the three counties were within St. Mark's Parish (formed in 1757 from Prince Frederick's Parish, Craven County) in Camden District (formed 1769) derives from family genealogies and legislative records.

On December 19, 1855, a legislative act was passed partitioning Sumter District by forming Clarendon District, with the same boundaries as defined for Clarendon County in 1785. When effectuated in 1857, a northeastern part of Sumter District (formerly in Salem County) was also separated in the partition (the area east of a line drawn from the northernmost point of old Clarendon County continued north-northeasterly to a point on the boundary line with Darlington District (Sumter County's northeastern cornerpoint abutting Florence County since 1888).

The Sumter District gained a form of self-rule and was renamed Sumter County under the 1868 Constitution.<ref>[https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Sumter_District,_South_Carolina Sumter District, South Carolina]. FamilySearch.org, accessed April 2020.</ref>

In 1898, a northwestern part of Sumter County was detached to form part of the first Lee County, but its formation was declared unconstitutional in 1899. In 1902, an even larger northern part of Sumter County (more or less the remaining part of former Salem County) was properly legally detached to form the major sections of the current Lee County, of which some acreage reverted in 1914.

In 1921, southern Sumter County received a section from Clarendon County, of which some acreage reverted in 1922, creating the current boundaries of Sumter County.

==Geography== {{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q513933|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Sumter County}} According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|682.09|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|665.08|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|17.01|sqmi}} (2.49%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_45.txt |access-date=September 10, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-date=October 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004183706/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_45.txt |url-status=live }}</ref> It is drained by the Black River and its tributaries.<ref>{{Cite AmCyc | wstitle=Sumter| display=Sumter, the name of four counties in the United States. I. An E. county of South Carolina}}</ref> Its western border is formed by the Wateree River. One of South Carolina's most famous areas are the High Hills of Santee comprising the western part of the county. The county is one of five that borders Lake Marion, also known as South Carolina's "Inland Sea".

===State and local protected areas/sites=== * Bland Tract Dove Field, Manchester State Forest (MSF) Wildlife Management Area<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands">{{Cite web |title=SCDNR Public Lands |url=https://www2.dnr.sc.gov/ManagedLands/ManagedLand/County |access-date=April 1, 2023 |website=www2.dnr.sc.gov |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528100701/https://www2.dnr.sc.gov/ManagedLands/ManagedLand/County |url-status=live }}</ref> * Manchester State Forest (part) * Millford Plantation Historic Site * Poinsett State Park * Swan Lake Iris Gardens * Tuomey Tract Dove Field, Manchester State Forest (MSF) Wildlife Management Area<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/> * Woods Bay State Park (part)

===Major water bodies=== * Congaree River * Lake Marion * Lynches River * Pocoaligo River * Rocky Bluff Swamp * Scape Ore Swamp * Wateree River

===Adjacent counties=== * Lee County – north * Florence County – northeast * Clarendon County – south * Calhoun County – southwest * Richland County – west * Kershaw County – northwest

===Major highways=== * {{jct|state=SC|I|95}} * {{jct|state=SC|US|15}} * {{jct|state=SC|US-Conn|15|dab1=Sumter}} * {{jct|state=SC|US|76}} * {{jct|state=SC|US-Bus|76|dab1=Sumter}} * {{jct|state=SC|US|378}} * {{jct|state=SC|US|401}} * {{jct|state=SC|US|521}} * {{jct|state=SC|SC|120}} * {{jct|state=SC|SC|261}} * {{jct|state=SC|SC|441}} * {{jct|state=SC|SC|763}}

===Major infrastructure=== * Shaw Air Force Base * Sumter Airport

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1800= 3571 |1810= 19054 |1820= 25269 |1830= 28277 |1840= 27892 |1850= 33220 |1860= 23859 |1870= 25268 |1880= 37037 |1890= 43605 |1900= 51237 |1910= 38472 |1920= 43040 |1930= 45902 |1940= 52463 |1950= 57634 |1960= 74941 |1970= 79425 |1980= 88243 |1990= 102637 |2000= 104646 |2010= 107456 |2020= 105556 |estyear=2025 |estimate=105067 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 7, 2026}}</ref> {{decrease}} |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 19, 2015|archive-date=April 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=March 19, 2015|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=live}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/sc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=March 19, 2015|archive-date=February 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202112816/http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/sc190090.txt|url-status=live}}</ref> 1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45085.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 14, 2014|archive-date=June 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606130858/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45085.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sumtercountysouthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Sumter County, South Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 22, 2024}}</ref> | align = right }}

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Sumter County, South Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 1980<ref>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics- South Carolina - Table 15. Persons by Race and Table 16. Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uva.x004433950&seq=82|publisher=United States Census Bureau |website=HathiTrust|page=12-21|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics- South Carolina - Table 5 and Table 6. Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990|page=11-37 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-42.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009185922/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-42.pdf| archive-date=October 9, 2024}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Sumter County, South Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US45085&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Sumter County, South Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US45085&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Sumter County, South Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US45085&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |47,783 |56,130 |51,664 |50,423 |style='background: #ffffe6; |46,442 |54.15% |54.69% |49.37% |46.92% |style='background: #ffffe6; |44.00% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |38,334 |44,139 |48,617 |50,110 |style='background: #ffffe6; |48,536 |43.44% |43.00% |46.46% |46.63% |style='background: #ffffe6; |45.98% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |102 |198 |257 |334 |style='background: #ffffe6; |338 |0.12% |0.19% |0.25% |0.31% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.32% |- |Asian alone (NH) |467 |880 |938 |1,167 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,400 |0.53% |0.86% |0.90% |1.09% |style='background: #ffffe6; |1.33% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |56 |93 |style='background: #ffffe6; |87 |x |x |0.05% |0.09% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.08% |- |Other race alone (NH) |218 |51 |157 |130 |style='background: #ffffe6; |316 |0.25% |0.05% |0.15% |0.12% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.30% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |1,039 |1,667 |style='background: #ffffe6; |4,135 |x |x |0.99% |1.55% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.92% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |1,339 |1,239 |1,918 |3,532 |style='background: #ffffe6; |4,302 |1.52% |1.21% |1.83% |3.29% |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.08% |- |'''Total''' |'''88,243''' |'''102,637''' |'''104,646''' |'''107,456''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''105,556 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===2020 census===

As of the 2020 census, there were 105,556 people, 41,904 households, and 29,777 families residing in the county.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A085&in=state%3A45|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 20, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

The median age was 38.9 years, 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18, and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older; for every 100 females there were 91.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.0 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

The racial makeup of the county was 44.9% White, 46.3% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.8% from some other race, and 5.1% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.1% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A085&in=state%3A45|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 20, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

65.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 34.8% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A085&in=state%3A45|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 20, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

Of those households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, 29.4% were single-person households, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 46,753 housing units, of which 10.4% were vacant; among occupied units, 65.7% were owner-occupied and 34.3% were renter-occupied, with homeowner and rental vacancy rates of 1.4% and 8.0%, respectively.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2010 census=== At the 2010 census, there were 107,456 people, 40,398 households, and 28,311 families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US45085 |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |access-date=March 11, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213030130/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US45085 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|161.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 46,011 housing units at an average density of {{convert|69.2|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US45085 |access-date=March 11, 2016 |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191418/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US45085 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 48.2% white, 46.9% black or African American, 1.1% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.4% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.3% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 7.2% were Subsaharan African, 6.9% were American, 6.1% were English, 5.9% were German, and 5.7% were Irish.<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US45085 |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=March 11, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023704/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US45085 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Of the 40,398 households, 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 20.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.9% were non-families, and 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 35.4 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $39,137 and the median income for a family was $45,460. Males had a median income of $36,101 versus $28,421 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,944. About 15.5% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.1% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US45085 |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=March 11, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024012/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US45085 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ==Government and politics== A Republican-leaning swing county beginning around 1950, Sumter County has supported Democrats in every election beginning in 2004. Republicans have still gained over 40% of the vote since then, however, and the Democrat margins of victory were narrow (less than 5%) in both 2004 and 2024.

{{PresHead|place=Sumter County, South Carolina|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 13, 2018|archive-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|url-status=live}}</ref>|source2=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/PresidentList.html|title=Our Campaigns - U.S. President|access-date=January 22, 2021|archive-date=January 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119140857/https://www.ourcampaigns.com/PresidentList.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1892|Democratic|639|1,535|8|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1896|Democratic|326|1,550|24|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1900|Democratic|150|1,199|0|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1904|Democratic|137|919|0|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1908|Democratic|173|1,228|8|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|31|910|52|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|142|1,357|21|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1920|Democratic|194|1,150|0|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|18|1,136|62|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1928|Democratic|174|1,202|0|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|59|1,809|8|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|58|2,062|0|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|73|2,111|217|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|154|605|2,718|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,726|2,014|0|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1956|Dixiecrat|1,356|937|3,741|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,633|2,616|0|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1964|Republican|7,729|3,775|0|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1968|Democratic|5,451|6,103|4,754|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|10,892|5,801|107|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|9,332|10,471|109|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|10,557|9,205|364|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|12,909|9,566|115|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|13,161|9,502|138|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1992|Republican|12,576|11,852|2,168|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|12,080|12,198|1,114|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|15,915|14,365|392|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|2004|Democratic|18,074|18,695|234|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|2008|Democratic|18,581|25,431|346|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|2012|Democratic|19,274|27,589|446|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|2016|Democratic|18,745|24,047|1,294|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|2020|Democratic|21,000|27,379|541|South Carolina}} {{PresRow|2024|Democratic|21,215|23,425|530|South Carolina}} {{PresFoot}}

==Economy== In 2022, the GDP was $5 billion (about $48,450 per capita),<ref>{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |date=2001-01-01 |title=Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Sumter County, SC |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDPALL45085 |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis |archive-date=May 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505001738/https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDPALL45085 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the real GDP was $4.2 billion (about $40,489 per capita) in chained 2017 dollars.<ref>{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |date=2001-01-01 |title=Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Sumter County, SC |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/REALGDPALL45085 |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}</ref>

As of April 2024, some of the largest employers in the county include Becton Dickinson, Central Carolina Technical College, the city of Sumter, Continental AG, the United States Department of Defense, Eaton Corporation, SKF, JCPenney, Pilgrim's Pride, Prisma Health, Speedway, and Walmart.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |date=April 19, 2024 |title=Sumter County |url=https://lmi.dew.sc.gov/lmi%20site/Documents/CommunityProfiles/04000085.pdf |journal=Community Profiles |publisher=S.C. Department of Employment & Workforce - Business Intelligence Department |publication-place=Columbia, SC |issue=4000085 |archive-date=May 5, 2024 |access-date=May 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505001739/https://lmi.dew.sc.gov/lmi%20site/Documents/CommunityProfiles/04000085.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Sumter County, South Carolina - Q3 2023<ref name=":0" /> ! style="text-align:left;" | Industry ! style="text-align:right;" | Employment Counts ! style="text-align:right;" | Employment Percentage (%) ! style="text-align:right;" | Average Annual Wage ($) |- | style="text-align:left;" | Accommodation and Food Services || style="text-align:right;" | 3,537 || style="text-align:right;" | 10.0 || style="text-align:right;" | 18,980 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services || style="text-align:right;" | 1,736 || style="text-align:right;" | 4.9 || style="text-align:right;" | 42,380 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting || style="text-align:right;" | 241 || style="text-align:right;" | 0.7 || style="text-align:right;" | 49,244 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation || style="text-align:right;" | 342 || style="text-align:right;" | 1.0 || style="text-align:right;" | 16,692 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Construction || style="text-align:right;" | 2,529 || style="text-align:right;" | 7.2 || style="text-align:right;" | 63,388 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Educational Services || style="text-align:right;" | 2,912 || style="text-align:right;" | 8.3 || style="text-align:right;" | 48,048 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Finance and Insurance || style="text-align:right;" | 824 || style="text-align:right;" | 2.3 || style="text-align:right;" | 73,060 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Health Care and Social Assistance || style="text-align:right;" | 5,453 || style="text-align:right;" | 15.5 || style="text-align:right;" | 53,768 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Information || style="text-align:right;" | 187 || style="text-align:right;" | 0.5 || style="text-align:right;" | 62,608 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Management of Companies and Enterprises || style="text-align:right;" | 223 || style="text-align:right;" | 0.6 || style="text-align:right;" | 93,912 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Manufacturing || style="text-align:right;" | 6,366 || style="text-align:right;" | 18.1 || style="text-align:right;" | 62,140 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Other Services (except Public Administration) || style="text-align:right;" | 978 || style="text-align:right;" | 2.8 || style="text-align:right;" | 39,312 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services || style="text-align:right;" | 934 || style="text-align:right;" | 2.7 || style="text-align:right;" | 75,036 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Public Administration || style="text-align:right;" | 2,510 || style="text-align:right;" | 7.1 || style="text-align:right;" | 58,448 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing || style="text-align:right;" | 221 || style="text-align:right;" | 0.6 || style="text-align:right;" | 43,680 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Retail Trade || style="text-align:right;" | 4,497 || style="text-align:right;" | 12.8 || style="text-align:right;" | 29,796 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Transportation and Warehousing || style="text-align:right;" | 896 || style="text-align:right;" | 2.5 || style="text-align:right;" | 60,476 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Utilities || style="text-align:right;" | 143 || style="text-align:right;" | 0.4 || style="text-align:right;" | 79,248 |- | style="text-align:left;" | Wholesale Trade || style="text-align:right;" | 710 || style="text-align:right;" | 2.0 || style="text-align:right;" | 61,568 |- | style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" | '''Total''' || style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | '''35,239''' || style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | '''100.0%''' || style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | '''49,611''' |}

==Education== All areas in the county are in the Sumter County Consolidated School District.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45085_sumter/DC20SD_C45085.pdf|title=2020 Census – School District Reference Mmap: Sumter County, SC|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=January 17, 2023|archive-date=May 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515021215/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45085_sumter/DC20SD_C45085.pdf|url-status=live}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45085_sumter/DC20SD_C45085_SD2MS.txt Text list] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028183816/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45085_sumter/DC20SD_C45085_SD2MS.txt |date=October 28, 2023 }}</ref> Additionally, the University of South Carolina Sumter is located in the county.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USC Sumter |url=https://sc.edu/about/system_and_campuses/sumter/index.php |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=sc.edu |archive-date=March 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301093129/https://www.sc.edu/about/system_and_campuses/sumter/index.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Communities== ===Cities=== * Sumter (county seat and largest community)

===Towns=== * Mayesville * Pinewood * Rembert

===Census-designated places=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Cane Savannah * Cherryvale * Dalzell * East Sumter * Lakewood * Mulberry * Oakland * Oswego * Privateer * Rembert * Shiloh * South Sumter * Stateburg * Wedgefield {{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities=== * Horatio * Millwood * Wedgefield

==Notable people== * Ray Allen, NBA basketball player * Richard H. Anderson, Confederate lieutenant general * Mary McLeod Bethune, civil rights activist, feminist, stateswoman, educator, and founder of the National Council of Negro Women; born to parents who had been enslaved<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jones|first=Martha S.|title=Vanguard : how Black women broke barriers, won the vote, and insisted on equality for all|date=2020|isbn=978-1-5416-1861-9|edition=|location=New York, NY|pages=218–226|oclc=1135569243}}</ref> * William Ellison, slave who was freed and settled in Stateburg where he became a large-scale slave owner and lived his life * David DuBose Gaillard, in charge of the building of the central portion of the Panama Canal * Sarah Ann Haynsworth Gayle (1804–1835), diarist * Richard Irvine Manning I, 50th governor of South Carolina * Richard Irvine Manning III, 92nd governor of South Carolina * George L. Mabry, Jr., major general, Medal of Honor recipient, and highly decorated soldier of WWII * Slomon Moody, physician, farmer, and city treasurer of Ocala, Florida * Franklin J. Moses Jr., Governor of South Carolina from 1872 to 1874; enemies labelled him the "Robber Governor" * Ja Morant, NBA basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies * Bill Pinkney, performer, singer, and member of The Drifters * Freddie Solomon, NFL wide receiver<ref>{{Cite web |title=Freddie Solomon |url=https://scfootballhof.org/inductees/inductees-2014/freddie-solomon/ |access-date=January 18, 2023 |website=SC Football Hall of Fame {{!}} Become a life changer for our youth! |language=en-US}}</ref> * Angelica Singleton Van Buren, Martin Van Buren's daughter-in-law and acting first lady of the United States during his presidency * Joseph Benenhaley, progenitor of the Ottoman Turkish community in Sumter County, South Carolina and veteran in the American Revolutionary War. * George Stinney, born in Pinewood, South Carolina, wrongfully executed after being accused of killing two white girls in Alcolu, South Carolina.

==References== {{reflist|35em}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{OSM relation|2532521}} * {{Official website|https://www.sumtercountysc.gov/}}

{{Geographic Location |Centre = Sumter County, South Carolina |North = Lee County |Northeast = Florence County |East = |Southeast = |South = Clarendon County |Southwest = Calhoun County |West = Richland County |Northwest = Kershaw County }} {{Sumter County, South Carolina}} {{South Carolina}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Sumter County, South Carolina Category:1800 establishments in South Carolina Category:Populated places established in 1800 Category:Majority-minority counties in South Carolina