2/2/2010

Date Formed:

1800

Land Area (square miles):

665

County Seat:

Sumter

Other Cities and Towns:

Mayesville, Pinewood

Form of Government:

Council-Administrator

Council Members:

Method of Election

Single Member

Term Length

4 years

Council of Government:

Santee Lynches

County History

Sumter County and its county seat were named for Revolutionary War General Thomas Sumter (1734-1832), who was a resident of the area. This county has changed its name and boundaries several times. In 1785 Claremont County was formed as a part of Camden District; a part of the county was later split off in 1791 to form Salem County. Claremont, Clarendon, and Salem counties were combined into Sumter District in 1800. Clarendon was once again split off in 1857, however, and another small part of Sumter County went to form Lee County in 1902. This part of the state began attracting English settlers from the lowcountry and from Virginia in the mid-eighteenth century. The area known as the High Hills of Santee, a narrow ridge along the Wateree River, was famous for its healthy climate and rich soil. Sumter County eventually became a leading agricultural region. In 1941, Shaw Air Force Base was established near Sumter, and it continues today as an active duty fighter base. Confederate General Richard Heron Anderson (1821-1879) was a Sumter resident, as were opera singer Clara Louise Kellogg (1842-1916) and educator Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955).

Population Trends

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Population 1980:

88,243

Numeric Change 1980-2000:

16,403

Population 1990:

102,637

Numeric Change 2000-2008:

-498

Population 2000:

104,646

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 1980-2000:

0.92%

Population Estimate 2007:

104,008

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 2000-2008:

-0.06%

Population Estimate 2008:

104,148

Percent Change 2006-2008:

0.13%

Persons Per Square Mile 2008:

156.6

Economic Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Jobs 1980:

36,121

Personal Income (PI) 2007:

$2,868,105

Jobs 1990:

43,721

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate (PI) 1969-2007:

7.4%

Jobs 2000:

50,482

Per Capita Personal Income 2007:

$27,576

Jobs 2006:

46,796

% of U.S. PCPI 2007:

71%

Jobs 2007:

46,601

Average Wage Per Job 2007:

$32,456

Numeric Change Jobs 2006-2007:

-195

% of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2007:

74%

Avg Ann Growth Rate Jobs 1980-2000

1.99%

Unemployment Rate 2007:

8.6%

Avg Ann Growth Rate Jobs 2000-2007

-1.10%

Avg. Unemployment 1998-2007:

6.5%

Tax Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Assessed Property 2007:

$294,602,180

Per Capita Assessed Property 2007:

$2,815

County Base Millage Rate 2009:

0.1446

Additional Sales Tax (if applicable)

Value of One Mil 2009:

$253,200

Local Option Sales Tax:

1.0%

Millage Cap FY10:

4.0%

Capital Projects Sales Tax:

Net Taxable Sales FY07:

$840,585,950

School District Sales Tax:

Admissions Tax Collected FY07:

$164,061

Transportation Sales Tax:

Accommodations Tax Collected FY07

$233,532

Financial & Employment Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Total Revenues FY08:

$75,956,463

Per Capita Revenues FY08:

$726

Total Expenditures FY08:

$58,870,926

Per Capita Expenditures FY08:

$563

General Fund Budget FY10:

$41,836,436

Per Capita General Fund Budget FY10:

$400

Total Debt Outstanding FY08:

$40,796,004

Per Capita Debt Outstanding FY08:

$378

Payroll FY 2008:

$17,375,760

Credit Rating(s) FY08

Full-Time Employees FY10:

532

Moody's:

Part-Time Employees FY10:

Standard & Poor:

Full Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents:

5.08

Fitch:

updated

2/2/2010