# Saluda County, South Carolina

Saluda County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 18,862. Its county seat is Saluda. The county was formed from northern and eastern portions of Edgefield County. Saluda County is part of the Columbia metropolitan statistical area.

## History

The county was founded in 1895 with portions of Edgefield County, and was named after the nearby Saluda River. The largest community and county seat is Saluda.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 461.64 square miles (1,195.6 km$^2$), of which 8.92 square miles (23.1 km$^2$) (1.93%) are covered by water. Saluda County is largely in the Saluda River basin with a small portion of western Saluda in the Savannah River basin.

### National protected area

* Sumter National Forest (part)

### Major water bodies

* Lake Murray
* Saluda River

### Adjacent counties

* Newberry County – north
* Lexington County – east
* Aiken County – south
* Edgefield County – southwest
* Greenwood County – northwest
* McCormick County – west

### Major highways

* US 1
* US 178
* US 178 Conn.
* US 378
* SC 23
* SC 39
* SC 121
* SC 193
* SC 194
* SC 391
* SC 395
* SC 702

### Major infrastructure

* Saluda County Airport

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Saluda County racial composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 11,264 | 59.72% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4,028 | 21.36% |
| Native American | 44 | 0.23% |
| Asian | 35 | 0.19% |
| Other/mixed | 479 | 2.54% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,012 | 15.97% |
As of the 2020 census, 18,862 people, 7,094 households, and 5,132 families resided in the county.

### 2010 census

At the 2010 census, 19,875 people, 7,527 households, and 5,393 families were living in the county. The population density was 43.9 inhabitants per square mile (16.9/km$^2$). The 9,289 housing units had an average density of 20.5 per square mile (7.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 61.1% White, 26.3% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 0.2% Asian, 10.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 14.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 17.8% were American, 14.7% were German, 8.6% were English, and 8.2% were Irish.
Of the 7,527 households, 32.5% had children under 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.4% were not families, and 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 39.6 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,508 and for a family was $45,173. Males had a median income of $31,264 versus $28,344 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,717. About 11.7% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under 18 and 15.0% of those 65 or over.

### 2000 census

At the 2000 census, 19,181 people, 7,127 households, and 5,295 families lived in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile (16 people/km$^2$). The 8,543 housing units had an average density of 19 per square mile (7.3/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 65.80% White, 29.99% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 3.30% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. About 7.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 7,127 households, 31.8% had children under 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were not families. About 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county, the age distribution was 24.9% under 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,774, and for a family was $41,603. Males had a median income of $29,221 versus $21,395 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,328. About 12.00% of families and 15.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.4% of those under 18 and 16.3% of those 65 or over.

## Law and government
### Law enforcement

In 2012, Saluda County Sheriff Jason Booth pled guilty to charges of misuse of office after using an inmate to make improvements at his home.

### Politics

United States presidential election results for Saluda County, South Carolina :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 6,452 | 71.58% | 2,454 | 27.22% | 108 | 1.20% |
| 2020 | 6,210 | 66.96% | 2,963 | 31.95% | 101 | 1.09% |
| 2016 | 5,526 | 64.53% | 2,813 | 32.85% | 225 | 2.63% |
| 2012 | 5,135 | 59.96% | 3,328 | 38.86% | 101 | 1.18% |
| 2008 | 5,191 | 60.34% | 3,323 | 38.63% | 89 | 1.03% |
| 2004 | 4,537 | 59.87% | 3,001 | 39.60% | 40 | 0.53% |
| 2000 | 4,098 | 59.47% | 2,682 | 38.92% | 111 | 1.61% |
| 1996 | 2,825 | 49.56% | 2,486 | 43.61% | 389 | 6.82% |
| 1992 | 2,968 | 47.80% | 2,393 | 38.54% | 848 | 13.66% |
| 1988 | 3,225 | 61.64% | 1,984 | 37.92% | 23 | 0.44% |
| 1984 | 3,515 | 63.90% | 1,962 | 35.67% | 24 | 0.44% |
| 1980 | 2,450 | 47.40% | 2,651 | 51.29% | 68 | 1.32% |
| 1976 | 2,085 | 43.09% | 2,715 | 56.11% | 39 | 0.81% |
| 1972 | 3,095 | 73.85% | 1,022 | 24.39% | 74 | 1.77% |
| 1968 | 1,466 | 30.53% | 1,200 | 24.99% | 2,136 | 44.48% |
| 1964 | 2,524 | 64.17% | 1,409 | 35.83% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,268 | 48.38% | 1,353 | 51.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 341 | 14.92% | 1,080 | 47.24% | 865 | 37.84% |
| 1952 | 1,396 | 46.72% | 1,592 | 53.28% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 15 | 0.78% | 187 | 9.77% | 1,712 | 89.45% |
| 1944 | 14 | 1.30% | 924 | 85.56% | 142 | 13.15% |
| 1940 | 15 | 1.33% | 1,115 | 98.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 10 | 0.75% | 1,324 | 99.25% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 7 | 0.53% | 1,307 | 99.47% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 5 | 0.62% | 796 | 99.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 3 | 0.27% | 1,094 | 99.55% | 2 | 0.18% |
| 1920 | 3 | 0.27% | 1,111 | 99.55% | 2 | 0.18% |
| 1916 | 1 | 0.08% | 1,227 | 99.51% | 5 | 0.41% |
| 1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 850 | 98.04% | 17 | 1.96% |
| 1904 | 7 | 0.74% | 938 | 99.26% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1900 | 7 | 0.55% | 1,269 | 99.45% | 0 | 0.00% |

## Economy

In 2022, the gross domestic product (GDP) was $572.2 million (about $29,921 per capita), and the real GDP was $495.6 million (about $25,918 per capita) in chained 2017 dollars.
As of April 2024, some of the top employers of the county include Food Lion.
Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Saluda County, South Carolina - Q3 2023 :
| Industry | Employment counts | Percentage (%) | Average annual wage ($) |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 208 | 4.6 | 14,872 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 42 | 0.9 | 37,076 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 443 | 9.9 | 53,040 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 62 | 1.4 | 26,208 |
| Construction | 136 | 3.0 | 44,980 |
| Finance and Insurance | 48 | 1.1 | 58,448 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 591 | 13.2 | 39,780 |
| Manufacturing | 1,921 | 42.9 | 49,868 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 68 | 1.5 | 47,060 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 107 | 2.4 | 47,892 |
| Public Administration | 336 | 7.5 | 44,044 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 24 | 0.5 | 38,948 |
| Retail Trade | 295 | 6.6 | 28,652 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 67 | 1.5 | 54,912 |
| Utilities | 33 | 0.7 | 69,680 |
| Wholesale Trade | 96 | 2.1 | 52,572 |
| Total | 4,477 | 100.0% | 45,016 |

## Communities
### Towns

* Batesburg-Leesville (mostly in Lexington County)
* Monetta (mostly in Aiken County)
* Ridge Spring
* Saluda (county seat and largest community)
* Ward

### Unincorporated communities

* Mount Willing

## Education

School districts covering sections of the county include:
* Saluda County School District
* Aiken County School District
* Lexington School District 3

## Notable person

* William B. Travis, Texas lieutenant colonel leading defense in the Battle of the Alamo