Fairfield County, South Carolina

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Fairfield County, South Carolina
Map
Location in the state of South Carolina
South Carolina's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded	1785
Seat	Winnsboro
Area - Total - Land - Water	710 sq mi (1,839 km²) 687 sq mi (1,779 km²) 23 sq mi (60 km²), 3.29%
Population - (2000) - Density	23,454 34/sq mi (13/km²)

Fairfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 23,454. The 2005 census estimate placed the population at 24,047.^[1] Its county seat is Winnsboro.^[2]

Fairfield County is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.

1 History
2 Geography
- 2.1 Adjacent Counties
3 Demographics
4 Cities and towns
5 References

[edit] History

It is alleged that the county name originated from a statement made by General Cornwallis when he declared "How Fair These Fields" during the British occupation of the area in 1780-81. The house Cornwallis [1] stayed in during the occupation is still standing and has been continuously used as a residence since that time.

Several years before the Revolution, Richard Winn from Virginia moved to what is now called Fairfield County. His lands covered the present site of Winnsboro, and as early as 1777 the settlement was known as "Winnsborough".

The village was laid out and chartered in 1785 upon petition of Richard Winn, John Winn and John Vanderhorst. John, Richard, and Minor Winn all served in the Revolutionary War. Richard was a General and he is said to have fought in more battles than any Whig in South Carolina. John was a Colonel.

In December 1832 Winnsboro was incorporated as a town to be governed by an intendant and wardens.

The most prominent architectural feature of Fairfield County is the Town Clock^[3] in Winnsboro. South Carolina's General Assembly authorized Winnsboro's town fathers to build a market house that "shall not be of greater width than 30 feet" to allow 30 feet of wagon travel on either side. The narrow building was modeled after Independence Hall in Philadelphia and built on the site of a duck pond. A clock was added in 1837, and the building has since been known as the Town Clock. Residents boast the clock is the longest continuously running clock in the United States.

The County Courthouse [2], across from the Town Clock, has watched Winnsboro's daily activities since 1823. Designed by South Carolina architect Robert Mills, the courthouse houses records dating as far back as the middle 1700s.

Fairfield County has numerous churches, some of which have existed for over 200 years. Perhaps the most famous church, built in 1788, is the Old Brick Church [3], where the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Synod of the Carolinas was organized in 1803. A note penciled on the wall of the Old Brick Church is testimony to a Union soldier's regret at the church's floor boards being taken up to build a crossing over the nearby river for General Sherman's troops.

The early settlers in the mid-1700's brought cotton to the County, and it remained the main crop until depletion of the soil and boll weevil called the industry to a halt in the 1920's. Granite deposits in the County led to the early development of quarrying. Winnsboro blue granite, "The Silk of the Trade," is used worldwide in buildings and monuments.

The excellent hunting and fishing that the Indians enjoyed still exist today. Fairfield County, with an abundance of deer and wild turkeys, is a focal point for sportsmen.

The county is also home to the South Carolina Railroad Museum.

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 710 square miles (1,839 km²), of which, 687 square miles (1,778 km²) of it is land and 23 square miles (60 km²) of it (3.29%) is water.

[edit] Adjacent Counties

Chester County, South Carolina - north
Lancaster County, South Carolina - northeast
Kershaw County, South Carolina - east
Richland County, South Carolina - south
Newberry County, South Carolina - west
Union County, South Carolina - northwest

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 23,454 people, 8,774 households, and 6,387 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 10,383 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 39.58% White, 59.09% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.44% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 1.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,774 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.90% were married couples living together, 20.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.10% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,376, and the median income for a family was $35,943. Males had a median income of $29,033 versus $21,197 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,911. About 17.20% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 24.10% of those age 65 or over.