Barnwell County

Barnwell County, SC has an estimated population of around 20,482 people. The racial composition is approximately 57.6% White, 39.8% Black or African American, 1.2% Hispanic or Latino, and 1.4% other races. The median age is about 42.6 years. The median household income is roughly $34,950, with around 25.1% of the population living below the poverty line. Educational attainment shows that about 79.3% of residents have a high school diploma or higher, and 13.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

As of the latest data, Barnwell County, SC, has a median home value of approximately $75,000. The median rent is around $650 per month. The homeownership rate stands at roughly 68%, with an average of 2.5 people per household. Housing units total about 10,500, with approximately 13% of these vacant. Recent trends indicate a moderate annual appreciation rate of about 3%.

Barnwell County, SC, holds elections for various local and state positions. As of the 2022 midterm elections, key races included Barnwell County Council seats and the South Carolina House of Representatives. For example, in the District 91 State House race, Republican Cody Mitchell and Democrat E.C. Williams were primary candidates.

Voter turnout in Barnwell County has historically been below the national average; in the 2020 General Election, approximately 60% of the county's registered voters cast ballots. The county had roughly 16,000 registered voters at that time.

Barnwell also votes in federal elections, contributing to the 2nd Congressional District represented by Joe Wilson (R). Precise candidate rosters and numerical outcomes vary by election cycle, so checking local resources like the Barnwell County Voter Registration and Elections office is advisable for the latest information.

Barnwell County, South Carolina, exhibits educational attainment levels that are generally lower than both state and national averages. According to recent data:

• High school graduation rate: Approximately 80%
• Bachelor's degree attainment: Around 10%

Comparatively, the national average for a high school diploma is about 88%, and for a bachelor's degree, it's around 33%. In South Carolina, these rates are approximately 85% and 27%, respectively.

These figures indicate that Barnwell County trails behind both state and national averages in terms of educational attainment. Efforts to improve education in the county are essential to closing these gaps and fostering better economic and social outcomes for its residents.

As of the latest data, Barnwell County, SC has an unemployment rate of approximately 5.7%, slightly higher than the national average of around 4.8% and the South Carolina state average of 4.5%. The county's labor force participation rate is 56.2%, lower than the national rate of 61.7% and the state rate of 58.4%.

Top industries in Barnwell County include manufacturing (25%), healthcare and social assistance (15%), and retail trade (13%). Manufacturing is particularly prominent compared to the national average (8.5%) and the state average (15%), largely driven by the presence of companies like Dayco Products and Zeus Industrial Products. Healthcare and social assistance are close to both the national (14.5%) and state averages (14%), while the retail trade sector is comparable to the national level (13%) and slightly below the state level (14%).

Overall, Barnwell County's economic profile reflects a strong manufacturing sector, bolstering local employment but contributing to a slightly higher unemployment rate than broader averages.

As of the most recent data, the median household income in Barnwell County, South Carolina, is approximately $36,805. When comparing this to the state and national averages, Barnwell County falls below both. The median household income for the state of South Carolina is about $57,340, while the national median is approximately $68,703.

These figures underscore the economic disparities between Barnwell County and broader averages at both state and national levels.

As of the latest available data, Barnwell County, SC has a crime rate above the national average. The violent crime rate stands at approximately 5.9 per 1,000 residents, whereas the national average is 4. The property crime rate is around 30 per 1,000 residents, compared to a national average of 22. Here is a breakdown of specific crime types:

This data indicates that Barnwell County experiences higher rates of both violent and property crimes compared to national averages, necessitating ongoing community safety efforts.