South Carolina Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1790 |
249,073 |
|
–
|
| 1800 |
345,591 |
|
38.8% |
| 1810 |
415,115 |
|
20.1% |
| 1820 |
502,741 |
|
21.1% |
| 1830 |
581,185 |
|
15.6% |
| 1840 |
594,398 |
|
2.3% |
| 1850 |
668,507 |
|
12.5% |
| 1860 |
703,708 |
|
5.3% |
| 1870 |
705,606 |
|
0.3% |
| 1880 |
995,577 |
|
41.1% |
| 1890 |
1,151,149 |
|
15.6% |
| 1900 |
1,340,316 |
|
16.4% |
| 1910 |
1,515,400 |
|
13.1% |
| 1920 |
1,683,724 |
|
11.1% |
| 1930 |
1,738,765 |
|
3.3% |
| 1940 |
1,899,804 |
|
9.3% |
| 1950 |
2,117,027 |
|
11.4% |
| 1960 |
2,382,594 |
|
12.5% |
| 1970 |
2,590,516 |
|
8.7% |
| 1980 |
3,121,820 |
|
20.5% |
| 1990 |
3,486,703 |
|
11.7% |
| 2000 |
4,012,012 |
|
15.1% |
| Est. 2006 |
4,321,249 |
[7] |
7.7% |
| See also: SC historical demographics |
South Carolina's center of population is located in Richland County, in the city of Columbia [3].
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2005, South Carolina has an estimated population of 4,255,083, which is an increase of 57,191, or 1.4%, from the prior year and an increase of 243,267, or 6.1%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 97,715 people (that is 295,425 births minus 197,710 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 151,485 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 36,401 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 115,084 people.
| Demographics of South Carolina (csv) |
| By race |
White |
Black |
AIAN |
Asian |
NHPI |
| AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native - NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander |
| 2000 (total population) |
68.88% |
30.01% |
0.69% |
1.13% |
0.10% |
| 2000 (Hispanic only) |
2.05% |
0.26% |
0.05% |
0.03% |
0.02% |
| 2005 (total population) |
69.12% |
29.68% |
0.69% |
1.31% |
0.10% |
| 2005 (Hispanic only) |
2.95% |
0.27% |
0.06% |
0.04% |
0.02% |
| Growth 2000-2005 (total population) |
6.43% |
4.89% |
6.09% |
23.49% |
13.76% |
| Growth 2000-2005 (non-Hispanic only) |
5.01% |
4.87% |
4.61% |
23.16% |
10.36% |
| Growth 2000-2005 (Hispanic only) |
52.78% |
7.64% |
23.97% |
34.25% |
26.89% |
The five largest ancestry groups in South Carolina are African American (29.5%), American (13.9%), German (8.4%), English (8.4%) and Irish (7.9%). It is probable that most of those claiming American ancestry are descended from the early Scots-Irish settlers of the upstate region.
For most of South Carolina's history, black slaves, and then their descendants, made up a majority of the state's population. Whites became a majority in the early 20th century, when tens of thousands of blacks moved north in the Great Migration. Most of the African-American population lives in the Lowcountry (especially the inland Lowcountry) and the Midlands; areas where cotton, rice, and indigo plantations once dominated the landscape. Whites, primarily of Scots-Irish and English ancestry, live in much of the upstate and in certain urban and suburban areas.
6.6% of South Carolina's population were reported as under 5 years old, 25.2% under 18, and 12.1% were 65 or older.
Females made up approximately 51.4% of the population in 2000.
Religion
South Carolina, like most other Southern states, is overwhelmingly Protestant Christian, and has a significantly lower percentage of non-religious people than the national average. The religious affiliations of the people of South Carolina are as follows:
- Christian – 92%
- Protestant – 84%
- Southern Baptist – 45%
- Methodist – 15%
- Presbyterian – 5%
- Other Protestant – 19%
- Roman Catholic – 7%
- Other Christian – 1%
- Other Religions – 1%
- Non-Religious – 7%
Interestingly, Sephardic Jews have over a 300 year history in South Carolina [4] [5] [6], especially in and around Charleston [7]. South Carolina had, until around 1830, the largest colony of Jews in North America.
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| South Carolina Population Density Map |
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More Information for your South Carolina Demographics:
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