Richland County, South Carolina
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{{Infobox U.S. County|
county = Richland County|
state = South Carolina |
map size = 225|
founded = [[1785]]|
seat = [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]] |
largest city = [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]] |
area_total_sq_mi =772 |
area_land_sq_mi =756 |
area_water_sq_mi =15 |
area percentage = 1.98% |
census yr = 2000|
pop = 357734 |
census yr = 2007|
density_mi2 = 424/sq mi
web = www.richlandonline.com|
|}}
'''Richland County''' is a [[county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[South Carolina]]. The [[2000 U.S. census]] recorded its population to be 320,677. In [[2007]], the [[U.S. Census Bureau]] estimated that its population had reached 357,734. It is the second most populous county in South Carolina, behind only [[Greenville County, South Carolina|Greenville County]]. The [[county seat]] is [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]],{{GR|6}} the state capital. It is also the [[center of population]] of South Carolina.<ref>http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/statecenters.txt</ref>
Richland County is part of the Columbia, South Carolina [[Columbia, South Carolina metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].
==History==
Richland County was probably named for its "rich land." The county was formed in 1785 as part of the large Camden District. A small part of Richland later went to Kershaw County (1791). The county seat is [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]], which is also the state capital. In 1786 the state legislature decided to move the capital from Charleston to a more central location. A site was chosen in Richland County, which is in the geographic center of the state, and a new town was laid out. Cotton from the surrounding plantations was shipped through Columbia and later manufactured into textiles there. General William T. Sherman captured Columbia during the Civil War, and his troops burned the town and parts of the county on February 17, 1865. The U. S. Army returned on more friendly terms in 1917, when Fort Jackson was established, which is now the largest and most active Initial Entry Training Center in the U.S. Army.
==Governance==
Richland County is governed by an eleven-member [[County Council]], who hold concurrent four year terms. Richland county is governed under the Council-Administrator form of government, which is very similar to the [[Council Manager]] form of government. The major difference between the Council Manager and Council Administrator forms of government is the title of the chief executive, being manager in one in administrator in the other.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"| Board of Commissioners
|-
! District
! Commissioner
|-
| District 1
| Bill Malinowski
|-
| District 2
| Joyce Dickerson
|-
| District 3
| Damon Jeter
|-
| District 4
| Paul Livingston
|-
| District 5
| Kit Smith
|-
| District 6
| L. Gregory Pearce, Jr.
|-
| District 7
| Joseph McEachern
|-
| District 8
| Mike Montgomery
|-
| District 9
| Val Hutchinson
|-
| District 10
| Bernice G. Scott
|-
| District 11
| Norman Jackson
|}
==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of 772 [[square mile]]s (1,999 [[km²]]), of which, 756 square miles (1,959 km²) of it is land and 15 square miles (40 km²) of it (1.98%) is water. Richland County is situated in the center of South Carolina.
=== Municipalities ===
Richland County contains five (5) municipalities including the City of [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]] and the City of [[Forest Acres, South Carolina|Forest Acres]], the towns of [[Irmo, South Carolina|Irmo]], [[Blythewood, South Carolina|Blythewood]], and [[Eastover, South Carolina|Eastover]].
There are three common school districts, Richland District One, Richland District Two, and Richland-Lexington District Five serving the county.
=== Adjacent counties ===
*[[Fairfield County, South Carolina]] - north
*[[Kershaw County, South Carolina]] - northeast
*[[Sumter County, South Carolina]] - east
*[[Calhoun County, South Carolina]] - south
*[[Lexington County, South Carolina]] - west
*[[Newberry County, South Carolina]] - Northwest
===National [[protected area]]===
* [[Congaree National Park]]
==Demographics==
{{USCensusPop
|1900 = 45589
|1910 = 55143
|1920 = 78122
|1930 = 87667
|1940 = 104843
|1950 = 142565
|1960 = 200102
|1970 = 233868
|1980 = 269735
|1990 = 285720
|2000 = 320677
|estimate=357734
|estyear=2007}}
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 320,677 people, 120,101 households, and 76,384 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was 424 people per square mile (164/km²). There were 129,793 housing units at an average density of 172 per square mile (66/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 50.29% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 45.16% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.24% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.72% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.08% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.16% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.35% from two or more races. 2.72% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.
There were 120,101 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.70% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.40% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.20% under the age of 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 31.60% from 25 to 44, 20.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,961, and the median income for a family was $49,466. Males had a median income of $34,346 versus $25,909 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $20,794. About 10.10% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.50% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of those age 65 or over.
== Attractions ==
*[[Congaree National Park]]
*[[Lake Murray (South Carolina)|Lake Murray]]
*[[Riverbanks Zoo]]
*[[Sesquicentennial State Park]]
*[[South Carolina State Museum]]
*[[Martin Luther King Park]]
*[[Woodrow Wilson boyhood home]]
*[http://www.richland.lib.sc.us Richland County Public Library]
==Communities==
===Cities and towns===
*[[Arcadia Lakes, South Carolina|Arcadia Lakes]] (pop. 833)
*[[Ballentine, South Carolina|Ballentine]]
*[[Blythewood, South Carolina|Blythewood]] (pop. 170)
*[[Cayce, South Carolina|Cayce]] (Part) (pop. 12,597)
*[[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]] (pop. 122,819)
*[[Eastover, South Carolina|Eastover]] (pop. 830)
*[[Forest Acres, South Carolina|Forest Acres]] (pop. 10,908)
*[[Irmo, South Carolina|Irmo]] (pop. 11,039)
===Unincorporated communities===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*[[Arthurtown, South Carolina|Arthurtown]]
*[[Boyden Arbor, South Carolina|Boyden Arbor]]
*[[Dentsville, South Carolina|Dentsville]] (Pop. 13,009)
*[[Gadsden, South Carolina|Gadsden]]
*[[Harbison, South Carolina|Harbison]]
*[[Hilton, South Carolina|Hilton]]
*[[Hopkins, South Carolina|Hopkins]]
*[[Horrell Hill, South Carolina|Horrell Hill]]
*[[Killian, South Carolina|Killian]]
*[[Kingville, South Carolina|Kingville]]
*[[Lake Murray of Richland, South Carolina|Lake Murray]]
{{col-2}}
*[[Leesburg, South Carolina|Leesburg]]
*[[Lykes, South Carolina|Lykes]]
*[[Olympia, South Carolina|Olympia]]
*[[Pontiac, South Carolina|Pontiac]]
*[[St. Andrews, South Carolina|St. Andrews]] (Pop. 21,814)
*[[Spring Hill, South Carolina|Spring Hill]]
*[[State Park, South Carolina|State Park]]
*[[Wateree, South Carolina|Wateree]]
*[[Windsor Estates, South Carolina|Windsor Estates]]
*[[White Rock, South Carolina|White Rock]]
*[[Woodfield, South Carolina|Woodfield]] (Pop. 9,238)
{{col-end}}
===Regions===
*Dutch Fork
*Lower Richland
*Northeast Richland
*Fort Jackson
== Rivers and lakes ==
*[[Broad River (Carolinas)|Broad River]]
*[[Congaree River]]
*[[Lake Murray (South Carolina)|Lake Murray]]
*[[Saluda River]]
*[[Wateree River]]
==External links==
* [http://www.richlandonline.com/ Official Website]
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{Richland County, South Carolina}}
{{South Carolina}}
{{coord|34.03|-80.91|display=title|type:adm2_region:US-SC_source:UScensus1990}}
[[Category:South Carolina counties]]
[[Category:Richland County, South Carolina| ]]
[[Category:Columbia, South Carolina metropolitan area]]
[[de:Richland County (South Carolina)]]
[[es:Condado de Richland (Carolina del Sur)]]
[[fr:Comté de Richland (Caroline du Sud)]]
[[bpy:রিচল্যান্ড কাউন্টি, সাউথ ক্যারোলাইনা]]
[[it:Contea di Richland (Carolina del Sud)]]
[[nl:Richland County (South Carolina)]]
[[no:Richland County i Sør-Carolina]]
[[nds:Richland County (Süüd-Carolina)]]
[[pt:Condado de Richland (Carolina do Sul)]]
[[sv:Richland County, South Carolina]]
[[zh:里奇蘭縣 (南卡羅萊納州)]]