Dillon County, South Carolina

Dillon County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 28,292.

History

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. It stimulated greater prosperity 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 , of which is land and (0.43%) is water. It is the fifth-smallest county in South Carolina by area.

State and local protected areas/sites

Bass Community Park
Dillon County Museum
Little Pee Dee State Park
Little Pee Dee State Park Bay Heritage Preserve

Major water bodies

Cud Swamp
Great Pee Dee River
Little Pee Dee River
Lumber River
Maidendown Swamp
Reedy Creek

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

Major infrastructure

Dillon County Airport
Dillon Station
Inland Port Dillon, major rail depot in the county

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Dillon County, South Carolina – Racial and ethnic composition

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 1980

!Pop 1990

!Pop 2000

!Pop 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020

!% 1980

!% 1990

!% 2000

!% 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020

|White alone (NH)

|17,467

|15,844

|15,309

|15,152

|style='background: #ffffe6; |12,987

|56.19%

|54.42%

|49.83%

|47.26%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |45.90%

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|12,806

|12,705

|13,879

|14,730

|style='background: #ffffe6; |12,709

|41.20%

|43.64%

|45.18%

|45.94%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |44.92%

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|412

|423

|664

|751

|style='background: #ffffe6; |603

|1.33%

|1.45%

|2.16%

|2.34%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.13%

|Asian alone (NH)

|57

|65

|100

|76

|style='background: #ffffe6; |63

|0.18%

|0.22%

|0.33%

|0.24%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.22%

|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1

|0.03%

|0.02%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%

|Other race alone (NH)

|21

|34

|style='background: #ffffe6; |75

|0.00%

|0.07%

|0.11%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%

|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|202

|478

|style='background: #ffffe6; |998

|0.66%

|1.49%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.53%

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|341

|76

|539

|833

|style='background: #ffffe6; |856

|1.10%

|0.26%

|1.75%

|2.60%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.03%

|Total

|31,083

|29,114

|30,722

|32,062

|style='background: #ffffe6; |28,292

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 28,292, 11,195 households, and 7,016 families residing within its borders.

The racial makeup of the county was 46.5% White, 45.0% Black or African American, 2.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.9% from some other race, and 4.1% from two or more races, while Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.0% of the population.

The median age was 41.0 years, with 24.0% of residents under the age of 18 and 18.5% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 83.6 males age 18 and over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 32,062 people, 11,923 households, and 8,342 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 13,742 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 48.0% white, 46.1% black or African American, 2.5% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 1.5% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.6% of the population.

Of the 11,923 households, 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 23.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.0% were non-families, and 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.20. The median age was 36.7 years.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 30,722 people, 11,199 households, and 8,063 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 12,679 housing units at an average density of . 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.

Government and politics

Dillon County was one of the few counties nationwide that voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Donald Trump in 2020.

Economy

In 2022, the GDP of Dillon County as $887.9 million (about $32,055 per capita). In chained 2017 dollars, the real GDP was $742.1 million (about $27,808 per capita). Between 2022 through 2024, the unemployment rate of the county has fluctuated between 3.6 and 5.7%.

Food Lion, Harbor Freight Tools, McLeod Health, Perdue Farms, and Walmart comprise some of the largest employers in the county.

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Dillon County, South Carolina