Marlboro County, South Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marlboro County
U.S. county
Marlboro County Courthouse, Bennettsville
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
South Carolina's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
Founded	1785
Named for	John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
Seat	Bennettsville
Largest city	Bennettsville
Area
• Total	485 sq mi (1,260 km2)
• Land	480 sq mi (1,200 km2)
• Water	5.6 sq mi (15 km2)  1.2%%
Population  (2010)
• Total	28,933
• Estimate  (2020)	25,844
• Density	59.66/sq mi (23.033/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	7th

Marlboro County is a county located in the Pee Dee region on the northern border of the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, its population was 28,933. Its county seat is Bennettsville. The Great Pee Dee River runs through it. Marlboro County comprises the Bennettsville, SC Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Marlboro County is home to the Pee Dee Indian Tribe. They are a relatively small American Indian tribe that has occupied the Pee Dee region for several centuries. The tribe was officially recognized by the Government of South Carolina around the beginning of the 21st Century, they have been seeking federal acknowledgment since 1976. While today the tribe consists of just over 200 enrolled members, they were once a significant cultural and political power in the region. Their profound influence and continual presence in the area is why the region bears the Pee Dee name. Since 1976, the tribe's official seat of government has operated on land awarded to the tribe in Marlboro County.

History

Succeeding indigenous peoples occupied this area for thousands of years. At the time of European encounter, the inhabitants of the area were the historic Pee Dee. Some had moved into this area from the Lowcountry as a result of colonial pressures along the coast. They are believed to have spoken either a Siouan language, as did tribes in the Piedmont, or one of the Algonquian languages family, which were common among coastal peoples. Descendants identifying as Pee Dee still live in the county and region. More recent research suggests they were based in this area, as part of a group called the South Appalachian Mississippian culture.

The first European colonists to arrive in the area were Welsh settlers, part of the British Isles colonists, migrating south from Pennsylvania. In 1737, they established the first European-American settlement, called Welsh Neck.; these original settlers organized a Baptist church in January 1738.

On 12 March 1785, Marlboro County was established by law. It was named for the Duke of Marlborough. The first courthouse was near the Great Pee Dee River, just North of Crooked Creek, in a village called Carlisle, named for Richard Carlisle. In an effort to provide a more central location for the courthouse, the state legislature created the new county seat of Bennettsville, founded in 1819. A Robert Mills-designed courthouse was selected to be built. Construction began in 1820 and was completed in 1824. It was replaced in the later 19th century, and the second courthouse was expanded and renovated in 1953-1954.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 485 square miles (1,260 km²), of which 480 square miles (1,200 km²) is land and 5.6 square miles (15 km²) (1.2%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Marlboro County population distribution by age and sex, 2000 census

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 28,933 people, 10,383 households, and 6,903 families in the county. The population density was 60.3 inhabitants per square mile (23.3/km²). There were 12,072 housing units at an average density of 25.2 per square mile (9.7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 50.9% black or African American, 41.4% white, 4.5% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, and 9.7% were American.

Of the 10,383 households, 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.8% were married couples living together, 24.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.5% were non-families, and 30.0% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 38.8 years.

The median household income was $27,688 and the median family income was $32,485. Males had a median income of $31,170 versus $24,885 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,817. About 23.3% of families and 27.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.4% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 26,667 people, 9,613 households, and 6,069 families residing in the county.

Transportation

Airports

• Marlboro County Jetport
• Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) 76.8 Miles South - South - East of Bennettsville
• Charlotte International Airport (CLT) 81.3 Miles West - North - West of Bennettsville

Communities

Cities

• Bennettsville (county seat)

Towns

• Blenheim
• Clio
• McColl
• Tatum

Census-designated places

• Wallace

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Marlboro para niños