SALUDA COUNTY 5/14/12
Date Formed:  1895 Saluda,Saluda,Saluda,Saluda
Land Area (square miles): 452
County Seat: Saluda
Other Cities and Towns: Batesburg-Leesville, Monetta, Ridge Spring, Ward
Form of Government: Council
Council Members: 5
Method of Election Single Member/ Chair at Large
Term Length 4 years
Council of Government:  Upper Savannah
County History
Saluda County was named for the Saluda River, which forms one of its borders. The county was established in 1895 from part of Edgefield County. The Cherokee Indians lived in this area for many years. In 1755 they signed a treaty with the British at their settlement, known as Saluda Old Town. Scotch-Irish and English settlers subsequently began moving into the area, while the Cherokees moved farther to the north. Two famous heroes of the Alamo, William Barrett Travis (1809-1836) and James Butler Bonham (1807-1836) were natives of what is now Saluda County.
Population Trends Value Rank Value Rank
Census Population 1990 16,357 42 Numeric Change Census 1990-2010 3,518 31
Census Population 2000 19,181 42 Numeric Change Pop. Est. 2010-2011 -44 25
Census Population 2010 19,875 41 Percent Change Pop. Est. 2010-2011 -0.2% 26
Population Estimate 2010 19,926 41 Persons Per Square Mile 44.0 36
Population Estimate 2011 19,882 41
Economic Data Value Rank Value Rank
Jobs 2010 4,836 42 Personal Income 2010, in thousands $656,136 37
Jobs 2009 4,862 42 Per Capita Personal Income  2010 $32,929 10
Jobs 2008 4,836 42 % of U.S. Per Capita PI 2010 82% 10
Avg. Ann. Growth Rate Jobs 1990-2010 0.5% 15 Average Wage Per Job 2010 $28,124 45
Percent Change Jobs 2009-2010 -0.5% 14 % of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2010 60% 45
Numeric Change Jobs 2009-2010 -26 12 Unemployment Rate 2011 8.9% 39
Tax Data Value Value
Assessed Property 2010 $50,528,340 Per Capita Assessed Property 2010 $2,542
County Base Millage Rate 2011 0.1346 Additional Sales Tax, if applicable
Value of One Mil 2011 $50,528 Local Option Sales Tax 1.0%
Net Taxable Sales FY10 $41,751,413 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 $11,015,561 Value
Total Expenditures FY10 $9,055,973 Per Capita Revenues FY10 $554
General Fund Budget FY12 $8,800,074 Per Capita Expenditures FY10 $456
Total Debt Outstanding FY11 $2,228,892 Per Capita Gen. Fund Budget FY12 $443
Payroll FY12 $3,572,300 Per Capita Debt Outstanding FY11 $116
Full-Time Employees FY12 118 Credit Rating(s) FY11
Part-Time Employees FY12 20 Moody's:  
Full-Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents 5.94 Standard & Poor:  
Fitch: