Lexington County, South Carolina


Lexington County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 262,391, and the 2019 population estimate was 298,750. Its county seat and largest town is Lexington. The county was chartered in 1785 and was named in commemoration of Lexington, Massachusetts, the site of the Battle of Lexington in the American Revolutionary War. Lexington County is the sixth-largest county in South Carolina and is part of the Columbia, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. The largest body of water is Lake Murray, while other waterways include the Broad River, the Saluda River and the Congaree River. Lexington County has urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. Much of the county's urbanization is in its eastern and northeastern areas.

Adjacent counties

Lexington County averages 48 inches of rain per year; the U.S. average is 37. The average snowfall is 2 inches; the U.S. average is 25 inches. The average number of days with any measurable precipitation is 104.
On average, there are 218 sunny days per year in Lexington County. The July high is around 92 degrees and the January low is 33. The comfort index, which is based on humidity during the warmest months, is a 29 out of 100, where higher is more comfortable. The U.S. average on the comfort index is 44.

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 216,014 people, 83,240 households, and 59,849 families living in the county. The population density was 309 people per square mile. There were 90,978 housing units at an average density of 130 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 84.18% White, 12.63% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 83,240 households out of which 35.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 22.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.10% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 31.60% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 10.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,659, and the median income for a family was $52,637. Males had a median income of $36,435 versus $26,387 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,063. About 6.40% of families and 9.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.10% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 262,391 people, 102,733 households, and 70,952 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 113,957 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 79.3% white, 14.3% black or African American, 1.4% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 2.7% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 17.2% were German, 14.0% were American, 12.5% were English, and 11.8% were Irish.
Of the 102,733 households, 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.9% were non-families, and 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 37.9 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $52,205 and the median income for a family was $64,630. Males had a median income of $44,270 versus $34,977 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,393. About 8.5% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

TypeNamePop. Notes
TownLexington22,157County Seat
CityWest Columbia17,998
CityCayce14,009Partly in Richland County
CityColumbiaMostly in Richland County
TownIrmo12,483Partly in Richland County
TownBatesburg-Leesville5,415Partly in Saluda County
TownSpringdale2,636
TownSouth Congaree2,306
TownPine Ridge2,064
TownGaston1,645
TownChapin1,445
TownSummit827
TownPelion674
TownGilbert565
TownSummit402
TownGranby0Former town

NamePop
Seven Oaks15,755
Oak Grove10,291
Red Bank8,811

NamePopulation
Harbison5,204

Education

Transportation

Public Transportation

Public transportation in Lexington County is provided by the COMET, or officially the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority. The bus system is the main public transit system for the greater Columbia area. In Lexington County, the bus system runs in the areas of West Columbia, Cayce, Irmo, Springdale, Seven Oaks, and Harbison. Additionally, COMET offers Dial-a-ride transit, which provides personalized service passengers with disabilities. COMET no longer offers services to the town of Lexington.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport

The Columbia Metropolitan Airport serves as the main airport system for the greater Columbia area. In 2018, the airport served 1,197,603 passengers with 12,324 flight. Additionally, the airport is also the regional hub for UPS Airlines, transporting 136.7 million pounds of freight/mail in 2018. The airport was named Lexington County Airport, and during World War II, trained pilots for B-25 Mitchell crews.

Interstates

RankEmployerEmployees
1Lexington Medical Center6,450
2Lexington School District 13,550
3Amazon2,825
4Michelin2,425
5Lexington School District Five2,354
6State government2,327
7Wal-Mart2,013
8SCANA1,790
9County of Lexington1,741
10Lexington School District 21,267

Referendums and elections

On November 4, 2014, Lexington County residents voted against a proposed sales tax increase. The money generated from this tax would have mostly been used to improve traffic conditions upon roadways. Likewise on November 4, 2014, residents voted to repeal a ban on alcohol sales on Sundays within the county.

Politics

Politics in Lexington County are largely controlled by the Republican Party. The last Democrat to carry the county at a presidential level was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944. In the 2016 Presidential election, Lexington County voted 65.55% in favor of Republican Donald Trump and 28.86 percent in favor of Democrat Hillary Clinton.
In other elections, Lexington County is similarly Republican. It has supported the Republican party for governor in every election since 1982 when Richard Riley carried every county in the state, although as late as 2006 Tommy Moore did manage 44 percent of the vote. The last Democratic senatorial nominee to pass 30 percent of the county's ballots was Inez Tenenbaum in 2004, and no Democratic nominee has won the county for this office since Ernest "Fritz" Hollings did so in 1980: in 1986 it was the only county to support Hollings' GOP opponent Henry McMaster.