EDGEFIELD COUNTY 2/2/2010
Date Formed:  1785
Land Area (square miles): 502
County Seat: Edgefield
Other Cities and Towns:
Johnston, North Augusta, Trenton
Form of Government: Council-Administrator
Council Members: 5
Method of Election Single Member
Term Length 2 years
Council of Government:  Upper Savannah
County History
The origin of the name Edgefield is not clear, although it is usually described as "fanciful." The county was formed in 1785 as part of Ninety Six District; parts of Edgefield later went to form Aiken (1871), Saluda (1895), Greenwood (1897), and McCormick (1916) counties. This part of the upcountry, settled in the late eighteenth century, was the site of several Revolutionary War skirmishes. Although primarily agricultural, Edgefield County developed a thriving pottery industry in the nineteenth century; the old alkaline-glazed Edgefield pottery is highly sought after today. The larger Edgefield County was the home of ten South Carolina governors, including Francis W. Pickens (1805-1869), Benjamin R. Tillman (1847-1918), and Strom Thurmond. Confederate General Martin Witherspoon Gary (1831-1881) was also a resident of Edgefield County.
Population Trends Value Rank Value Rank
Population 1980:  17,528 41 Numeric Change 1980-2000:  7,067 24
Population 1990:  18,375 39 Numeric Change 2000-2008: 951 23
Population 2000:  24,595 36 Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 1980-2000:  2.01% 8
Population Estimate 2007:  25,358 36 Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 2000-2008:  0.48% 21
Population Estimate 2008: 25,546 35 Percent Change 2006-2008: 0.74% 21
Persons Per Square Mile 2008:  50.9 33
Economic Data Value Rank Value Rank
Jobs 1980:  5,884 39 Personal Income (PI) 2007: $678,157 33
Jobs 1990:  5,515 39 Avg. Ann. Growth Rate (PI) 1969-2007: 7.7% 17
Jobs 2000:  7,049 38 Per Capita Personal Income  2007: $26,743 22
Jobs 2006: 6,432 39 % of U.S. PCPI 2007: 69% 22
Jobs 2007: 6,473 39 Average Wage Per Job 2007: $28,567 38
Numeric Change Jobs 2006-2007: 41 27 % of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2007:  65% 38
Avg Ann Growth Rate Jobs 1980-2000:  0.99% 29 Unemployment Rate 2007: 6.8% 34
Avg Ann Growth Rate Jobs 2000-2007: -1.17% 34 Avg. Unemployment 1998-2007:  5.8% 29
Tax Data Value Rank Value Rank
Assessed Property 2007: $72,118,354 35 Per Capita Assessed Property 2007: $2,932 30
County Base Millage Rate 2009: 0.10634 20 Additional Sales Tax (if applicable) 
Value of One Mil 2009: $69,672 33 Local Option Sales Tax: 1.0%
Millage Cap FY10: 4.6% 21 Capital Projects Sales Tax:  
Net Taxable Sales FY07: $61,701,544 41 School District Sales Tax:  
Admissions Tax Collected FY07: $76,789 20 Transportation Sales Tax:  
Accommodations Tax Collected FY07:  $12,056 40
Financial & Employment Data Value Rank Value Rank
Total Revenues FY08: $12,958,382 40 Per Capita Revenues FY08: $527 35
Total Expenditures FY08: $11,777,039 40 Per Capita Expenditures FY08: $479 36
General Fund Budget FY10:  $8,246,614 42 Per Capita General Fund Budget FY10: $335 42
Total Debt Outstanding FY08: $2,391,590 40 Per Capita Debt Outstanding FY08: $90 28
Payroll FY 2008: $5,521,734 34 Credit Rating(s) FY08
Full-Time Employees FY10:  142 40 Moody's:  
Part-Time Employees FY10: 8 44 Standard & Poor:  
Full Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents:   5.77 31 Fitch:  
updated  2/2/2010