Marion County is a county located in the coastal plain of the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 29,183. Its county seat is Marion. It is a majority-minority county.

History Early European traders in the Carolinas settled along the Pee Dee River from the 17th century, including in an isolated area called Sandy Bluff. They did business with numerous tribes, including the Choctaw and Chickasaw to the South. Crossed by several rivers, the county was organized by European Americans in 1785 soon after the American Revolutionary War and was originally known as Liberty County. However, four years later it was renamed as Marion County, in honor of Brigadier General Francis Marion, the famous "Swamp Fox" and a hero of the American Revolutionary War. In 1910, a portion of the county was taken to be organized as adjacent Dillon County.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.97%) is water.

National protected area Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge (part)

State and local protected areas Little Pee Dee Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area Marsh Wildlife Management Area Woodbury Wildlife Management Area

Major water bodies Cud Swamp Great Pee Dee River Lumber River Maidendown Swamp Waccamaw River

Adjacent counties Dillon County – north Horry County – east Georgetown County – south Williamsburg County – southwest Florence County – west

Major highways

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Marion County, South Carolina – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980 Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)16,19115,09514,58913,23011,08047.37%44.53%41.14%40.02%37.97%Black or African American alone (NH)17,55218,47919,86018,36516,33351.35%54.51%56.00%55.55%55.97%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)5385861331090.16%0.25%0.24%0.40%0.37%Asian alone (NH)49123981761280.14%0.36%0.28%0.53%0.44%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census220xx0.01%0.01%0.00%Other race alone (NH)572716420.01%0.02%0.08%0.05%0.14%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census170349781xx0.48%1.06%2.68%Hispanic or Latino (any race)3291106347917100.96%0.32%1.79%2.39%2.43%Total34,17933,89935,46633,06229,183 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, there were 29,183 people, 12,272 households, and 7,532 families residing in the county.

As of the 2020 census, the median age was 44.4 years, with 21.7% of residents under the age of 18 and 21.5% aged 65 years or older. For every 100 females there were 85.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 81.6 males.

As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of Marion County was 38.4% White, 56.2% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.4% from some other race, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.4% of the population.

As of the 2020 census, 40.9% of residents lived in urban areas while 59.1% lived in rural areas.

Of the 12,272 households, 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 41.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

As of the 2020 census, there were 14,253 housing units, of which 13.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.9% were owner-occupied and 31.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.1%.

2010 census At the 2010 census, there were 33,062 people, 13,058 households, and 8,881 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 14,953 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 55.9% black or African American, 40.6% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 7.8% were American, 6.3% were English, and 5.2% were Irish.

Of the 13,058 households, 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 24.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.0% were non-families, and 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 39.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,629 and the median income for a family was $38,043. Males had a median income of $32,414 versus $24,929 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,653. About 21.4% of families and 25.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.8% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census At the 2000 census, there were 35,466 people, 13,301 households, and 9,510 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 15,143 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 56.35% Black or African American, 41.69% White, 0.25% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. 1.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,301 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.30% were married living together, 23.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.60% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 85.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,526, and the median income for a family was $32,932. Males had a median income of $26,133 versus $18,392 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,878. About 18.90% of families and 23.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.30% of those under age 18 and 23.50% of those age 65 or over.

Religion According to the 2010 U.S. Religious Census, residents of Marion County are predominately Protestant. But the county had the highest concentration of followers of the Baháʼí Faith of any county in the United States, at 5.5%. Government and politics

Marion County is strongly Democratic in presidential elections, having not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since Richard Nixon in 1972. In 2024, Marion County saw one of the strongest Republican shifts in the state, marking the closest election since 1988, despite Democrat Kamala Harris still carrying the county.

Economy In 2022, the GDP was $728.2 million (about $25,545 per capita), and the real GDP was $610.4 million (about $21,413 per capita) in chained 2017 dollars.

As of April 2024, some of the largest employers in the county include Coca-Cola Consolidated, the city of Mullins, Domtar, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and Walmart. + Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Marion County, South Carolina - Q3 2023 Industry Employment Counts Employment Percentage (%) Average Annual Wage ($) Accommodation and Food Services 630 10.2 21,944 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 298 4.8 28,600 Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 73 1.2 40,560 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 19 0.3 7,436 Construction 220 3.6 54,652 Finance and Insurance 317 5.2 58,968 Health Care and Social Assistance 1,681 27.3 51,064 Information 41 0.7 41,548 Management of Companies and Enterprises 26 0.4 57,200 Manufacturing 364 5.9 57,616 Other Services (except Public Administration) 56 0.9 28,028 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 69 1.1 57,720 Public Administration 551 9.0 39,208 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 57 0.9 48,776 Retail Trade 906 14.7 26,520 Transportation and Warehousing 674 11.0 47,788 Utilities 48 0.8 57,356 Wholesale Trade 120 2.0 52,156 Total 6,150 100.0% 42,496

Communities

Cities Marion (county seat and largest community) Mullins

Towns Nichols Sellers

Census-designated places Centenary Daviston Rains Zion

Other unincorporated communities Ariel Crossroad Brittons Neck Friendship Gresham Temperance Hill

See also List of counties in South Carolina National Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, South Carolina Chaloklowa Chickasaw, state-recognized group that resides in the county

References

Further reading

External links