Chesterfield County, South Carolina

Old_Chesterfield_County_Courthouse

== Chesterfield County, South Carolina ==

Chesterfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,273. The county seat is Chesterfield. The county was formed in 1785 and named for Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield.

History

Chesterfield County was established in 1785 as part of the Camden District. It was named after Philip Stanhope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield, a British statesman and writer. The county has a rich history, including its role in the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 806 square miles (2,090 km²), of which 799 square miles (2,070 km²) is land and 7.3 square miles (19 km²) (0.9%) is water. The county is bordered by North Carolina to the north, Marlboro County to the east, Darlington County to the southeast, Kershaw County to the southwest, and Lancaster County to the west.

Major Highways

• U.S. Route 1
• U.S. Route 52
• U.S. Route 601
• South Carolina Highway 9
• South Carolina Highway 151

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 43,273 people, 16,000 households, and 11,000 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile (21/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 65.2% White, 30.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

Government and Politics

Chesterfield County is governed by a council-administrator form of government. The county council consists of seven members elected from single-member districts. The council appoints a county administrator to oversee the day-to-day operations of the county.

Education

Chesterfield County is served by the Chesterfield County School District, which operates several elementary, middle, and high schools. The county is also home to Northeastern Technical College, which provides higher education and vocational training.

Communities

Towns

• Chesterfield
• Cheraw
• Pageland
• McBee
• Jefferson
• Mount Croghan
• Patrick

Unincorporated Communities

• Ruby
• Angelus
• Cash
• Dudley
• Middendorf

Notable People

• Dizzy Gillespie, a famous jazz trumpeter, was born in Cheraw.
• John Lowndes McLaurin, a U.S. Senator from South Carolina, was born in Red Bluff.

See Also

• List of counties in South Carolina
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Chesterfield County, South Carolina
• South Carolina