CALHOUN COUNTY 5/14/12
Date Formed:  1908 Calhoun,Calhoun,Calhoun,Calhoun
Land Area (square miles): 380
County Seat: St. Matthews
Other Cities and Towns: Cameron
Form of Government: Council
Council Members: 5
Method of Election Single Member
Term Length 4 years
Council of Government:  Lower Savannah
County History
Calhoun County was named for John C. Calhoun (1782-1850), who served as U.S. Vice President, Secretary of War, Secretary of State, and Senator. The county seat, the town of St. Matthews, was settled around 1841 in an area that was known for its cotton plantations. The county itself was formed in 1908 from parts of Orangeburg and Lexington counties. During the Revolutionary War a famous incident took place at Fort Motte in present day Calhoun County. Rebecca Motte (1738-1815), a local plantation owner, helped the Revolutionary troops drive the British out of her plantation house; she reportedly provided the soldiers with a burning arrow to destroy her own dwelling. Another famous resident of the area was Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Julia Peterkin (1880-1961), who lived at Lang Syne Plantation. 
Population Trends Value Rank Value Rank
Census Population 1990 12,753 44 Numeric Change Census 1990-2010 2,422 34
Census Population 2000 15,185 44 Numeric Change Pop. Est. 2010-2011 4 23
Census Population 2010 15,175 44 Percent Change Pop. Est. 2010-2011 0.0% 21
Population Estimate 2010 15,141 44 Persons Per Square Mile 39.9 39
Population Estimate 2011 15,145 44
Economic Data Value Rank Value Rank
Jobs 2010 4,306 43 Personal Income 2010, in thousands $503,876 42
Jobs 2009 4,482 43 Per Capita Personal Income  2010 $33,279 9
Jobs 2008 4,306 43 % of U.S. Per Capita PI 2010 83% 9
Avg. Ann. Growth Rate Jobs 1990-2010 0.4% 17 Average Wage Per Job 2010 $38,720 12
Percent Change Jobs 2009-2010 -3.9% 40 % of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2010 82% 12
Numeric Change Jobs 2009-2010 -176 21 Unemployment Rate 2011 12.1% 21
Tax Data Value Value
Assessed Property 2010 $79,493,448 Per Capita Assessed Property 2010 $5,238
County Base Millage Rate 2011 0.1125 Additional Sales Tax, if applicable
Value of One Mil 2011 $53,200 Local Option Sales Tax 1.0%
Net Taxable Sales FY10 $42,387,827 Capital Projects Sales Tax  
Admissions Tax Collected FY10  ***  School District Sales Tax  
Accommodations Tax Collected FY10  *** Transportation Sales Tax  
County Finance & Employment Data Value
Total Revenues FY10 $15,921,099 Value
Total Expenditures FY10 $15,878,510 Per Capita Revenues FY10 $1,049
General Fund Budget FY12 $11,123,164 Per Capita Expenditures FY10 $1,046
Total Debt Outstanding FY11 $2,832,158 Per Capita Gen. Fund Budget FY12 $733
Payroll FY12 $4,759,569 Per Capita Debt Outstanding FY11 $185
Full-Time Employees FY12 142 Credit Rating(s) FY11
Part-Time Employees FY12 24 Moody's:  
Full-Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents 9.36 Standard & Poor:  
Fitch: