HAMPTON COUNTY 5/14/12
Hampton,Hampton,Hampton,Hampton
Date Formed:  1878
Land Area (square miles): 560
County Seat: Hampton
Other Cities and Towns: Brunson, Estill, Furman, Gifford, Luray, Scotia, Varnville, Yemassee
Form of Government: Council-Administrator
Council Members: 5
Method of Election At Large
Term Length 4 years
Council of Government:  Lowcountry
County History
Hampton County and its county seat were named for Confederate General and South Carolina Governor Wade Hampton (1818-1902). The county was formed from Beaufort County in 1878, shortly after Wade Hampton took office as governor. Parts of Hampton County later went to form Jasper (1912) and Allendale (1919) counties. During the Civil War, while the coastal areas of Beaufort County were occupied by federal troops, many planters fled to the area that became Hampton County. General Sherman's troops passed through the county in 1865, fighting several skirmishes with Confederate troops. This section of the state has remained primarily agricultural. Athlete Lucile Ellerbe Godbold (1900-1981), who won two gold medals in track and field at the 1922 Olympics, grew up in Hampton County, and writer Vertamae Grosvenor was also born there. 
Population Trends Value Rank Value Rank
Census Population 1990 18,191 40 Numeric Change Census 1990-2010 2,899 33
Census Population 2000 21,386 39 Numeric Change Pop. Est. 2010-2011 -245 37
Census Population 2010 21,090 40 Percent Change Pop. Est. 2010-2011 -1.2% 41
Population Estimate 2010 21,066 40 Persons Per Square Mile 37.7 41
Population Estimate 2011 20,821 40
Economic Data Value Rank Value Rank
Jobs 2010 5,364 41 Personal Income 2010, in thousands $573,156 41
Jobs 2009 5,385 41 Per Capita Personal Income  2010 $27,208 29
Jobs 2008 5,364 41 % of U.S. Per Capita PI 2010 68% 29
Avg. Ann. Growth Rate Jobs 1990-2010 -0.6% 32 Average Wage Per Job 2010 $36,119 20
Percent Change Jobs 2009-2010 -0.4% 13 % of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2010 77% 20
Numeric Change Jobs 2009-2010 -21 11 Unemployment Rate 2011 13.9% 12
Tax Data Value Value
Assessed Property 2010 $45,393,823 Per Capita Assessed Property 2010 $2,152
County Base Millage Rate 2011 0.19 Additional Sales Tax, if applicable
Value of One Mil 2011 $47,573 Local Option Sales Tax 1.0%
Net Taxable Sales FY10 $72,778,471 Capital Projects Sales Tax Ended 12-09
Admissions Tax Collected FY10 $11,305 School District Sales Tax  
Accommodations Tax Collected FY10 $24,891 Transportation Sales Tax  
County Finance & Employment Data Value
Total Revenues FY10 $15,699,582 Value
Total Expenditures FY10 $18,928,422 Per Capita Revenues FY10 $744
General Fund Budget FY12 $12,217,350 Per Capita Expenditures FY10 $898
Total Debt Outstanding FY11 $775,940 Per Capita Gen. Fund Budget FY12 $579
Payroll FY12 $5,683,660 Per Capita Debt Outstanding FY11 $35
Full-Time Employees FY12 169 Credit Rating(s) FY11
Part-Time Employees FY12 59 Moody's:  
Full-Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents 8.01 Standard & Poor:  
Fitch: