LOCAL

U.S. Census: Horry, Greenville, Lexington, Spartanburg among counties that grew most in S.C.

Mike Ellis
Greenville News
The South Carolina capitol building.

Greenville County remains one of the state's fastest-growing counties, according to preliminary data released Tuesday from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The county grew by 5% or about 25,000 people in the past year, according to the new data.

The data released Tuesday is not the full 2020 Census count, it is an estimation used to gauge how accurate the full Census count will be when it is released later this year.

State population figures were released last week and showed the state was among the nation's faster-growing states but it's impressive 10% growth over a decade is a slow down compared to previous decades.

More:SC grew by 500,000 in last decade, no Congressional change; N.C. gains seat

Horry County had the most dramatic growth in the latest figures, it has the second-fastest rate of growth, behind small Jasper County.

And Horry County had the highest increase in population, an estimated increase of 33,277 people in a single year or about 10% growth.

Greenville County had the eighth-fastest growth and the second-highest increase in population. The county grew by an estimated 25,483 people in a year or about 5%.

Spartanburg County grew by an estimated 18,588 people in a year or about 6%.

Most of the fastest-growing counties by percentage are under 40,000 people.

Other population winners were Lexington and Charleston counties. South Carolina grew by 10% in population from 2010 to 2020, including big growth in the state's biggest counties.

State figures were announced last week and county figures were announced Tuesday, city population estimates and other demographic information is expected later this month.

The new Census data confirms that Greenville is one of the fastest-growing areas of the state.

Nationwide, it was the second-slowest decade of growth. South Carolina grew at an impressive 10.7% but that is the slowest growth since 1970, in the previous two decades the state had 15% growth.

More:From electricity for your alarm to water in your shower, how the Census affects your life

More:SC grew by 500,000 in last decade, no Congressional change; N.C. gains seat

Select county populations

Population in 2019 and 2020 and percentage growth, according to American Community Survey and U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Sorted in order of estimated population growth.

  1. Horry County, 332,172 (2019), 365,449 (2020), 10%
  2. Greenville County, 507,003 (2019), 532,486 (2020), 5%
  3. York County, 265,872 (2019), 289,105 (2020), 8.7%
  4. Berkeley County, 215,044 (2019), 235,987 (2020), 9.7%
  5. Spartanburg County, 307,617 (2019), 326,205 (2020), 6%
  6. Charleston County, 401,165 (2019), 417981 (2020), 4.2%
  • 12. Anderson County, 198,064 (2019), 204,353 (2020), 3.2%
  • 14. Pickens County, 124,029 (2019), 127,983 (2020), 3.2%
  • 16. Oconee County, 77,528 (2019), 80,015 (2020), 3.2%

Growing but slowing

From 2010 to 2019, Greenville was the ninth-fastest growing county by percentage and added the second-highest number of people added.

There are 23 counties that are expected to lose population. 

There are two kinds of major Census reports: The once-a-decade Census is an actual count of everyone as of April 1. There is also a yearly estimate, based on the Census and called the American Community Survey. 

Fastest growing counties from 2010-2019

  1. Horry County, 23% growth, added 62,881
  2. Berkeley County, 21% growth, added 37,201
  3. Lancaster County, 20% growth, added 15,656
  4. York County, 18% growth, added 39,799
  5. Dorchester County, 16% growth, added 21,744
  6. Jasper County, 16% growth, added 3,880
  7. Beaufort County, 15% growth, added 23,862
  8. Charleston County, 14.5%, added 50,956
  9. Greenville County, 12%, added 55,778
  10. Lexington County, 11%, added 27,887
  11. Spartanburg County, 8%, added 23,310
  12. Richland County, 7%, added 26,853
  13. Anderson County, 6%, added 10,938

And select Upstate counties

16. Oconee County, 4%, added 3,255

17. Pickens County, 4%, added 4,805

Please subscribe to The Greenville News by visiting greenvillenews.subscriber.services

Mike Ellis tells South Carolina stories with a focus on Easley, Powdersville and Pickens County along with faith and religion. He's always looking for the next story that people need to read, please send any tips or feedback to mellis@gannett.com