LEE COUNTY 5/14/12
Date Formed:  1902 Lee,Lee,Lee,Lee
Land Area (square miles): 410
County Seat: Bishopville
Other Cities and Towns: Lynchburg
Form of Government: Council-Administrator
Council Members: 7
Method of Election Single Member
Term Length 4 years
Council of Government:  Santee Lynches
County History
Lee County was named for Confederate General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870). The county was formed in 1902 from parts of Darlington, Kershaw, and Sumter counties. A Revolutionary War skirmish took place in 1781 at Ratcliff's Bridge, and during the Civil War Confederate and Union troops skirmished at Mount Elon and Spring Hill in 1865. Lee County was also the site in 1880 of the last fatal duel fought in South Carolina. Cotton farming has long been associated with this area. U.S. Senator Ellison Durant Smith (1864-1944), a native of Lee County, was nicknamed "Cotton Ed" because of his support for cotton farmers.
Population Trends Value Rank Value Rank
Census Population 1990 18,437 38 Numeric Change Census 1990-2010 783 40
Census Population 2000 20,119 41 Numeric Change Pop. Est. 2010-2011 -223 36
Census Population 2010 19,220 42 Percent Change Pop. Est. 2010-2011 -1.2% 40
Population Estimate 2010 19,199 42 Persons Per Square Mile 46.9 35
Population Estimate 2011 18,976 42
Economic Data Value Rank Value Rank
Jobs 2010 4,063 44 Personal Income 2010, in thousands $493,582 43
Jobs 2009 4,283 44 Per Capita Personal Income  2010 $25,709 39
Jobs 2008 4,063 44 % of U.S. Per Capita PI 2010 64% 39
Avg. Ann. Growth Rate Jobs 1990-2010 -1.0% 39 Average Wage Per Job 2010 $31,506 36
Percent Change Jobs 2009-2010 -5.1% 43 % of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2010 67% 36
Numeric Change Jobs 2009-2010 -220 24 Unemployment Rate 2011 13.3% 16
Tax Data Value Value
Assessed Property 2010 $35,400,186 Per Capita Assessed Property 2010 $1,842
County Base Millage Rate 2011 0.1685 Additional Sales Tax, if applicable
Value of One Mil 2011 $35,250 Local Option Sales Tax 1.0%
Net Taxable Sales FY10 $40,836,784 Capital Projects Sales Tax  
Admissions Tax Collected FY10 $4,362 School District Sales Tax  
Accommodations Tax Collected FY10 *** Transportation Sales Tax  
County Finance & Employment Data Value
Total Revenues FY10 $11,980,522 Value
Total Expenditures FY10 $10,098,752 Per Capita Revenues FY10 $623
General Fund Budget FY12 $11,052,112 Per Capita Expenditures FY10 $525
Total Debt Outstanding FY11 $1,548,994 Per Capita Gen. Fund Budget FY12 $575
Payroll FY12 $4,882,184 Per Capita Debt Outstanding FY11 ***
Full-Time Employees FY12 133 Credit Rating(s) FY11
Part-Time Employees FY12 62 Moody's:  
Full-Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents 6.92 Standard & Poor:  
Fitch: