RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 46 SHOWN OF 46

Most sparsely populated, South Carolina counties · 1990

South Carolina counties with the fewest residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 46 counties in South Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Fastest shrinking Most densely populated Best broadband access Worst broadband access

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Jasper County, SCSC38,53324−25%

02McCormick County, SCSC10,21525−11%

03Allendale County, SCSC7,35529+5%

04Hampton County, SCSC18,17432−15%

05Fairfield County, SCSC20,34032−5%

06Colleton County, SCSC39,38233−10%

07Calhoun County, SCSC14,18833−16%

08Saluda County, SCSC19,68036−15%

09Edgefield County, SCSC29,80837−25%

10Barnwell County, SCSC20,65337−14%

11Williamsburg County, SCSC29,66239−1%

12Bamberg County, SCSC12,79643+1%

13Lee County, SCSC15,73045−8%

14Clarendon County, SCSC31,04347−12%

15Chesterfield County, SCSC44,74048−10%

16Abbeville County, SCSC24,83649−9%

17Newberry County, SCSC39,56153−8%

18Chester County, SCSC33,00155−6%

19Georgetown County, SCSC65,91257−17%

20Union County, SCSC26,79959+2%

21Kershaw County, SCSC73,16660−17%

22Marlboro County, SCSC25,48861+2%

23Marion County, SCSC28,24269−4%

24Dillon County, SCSC27,45872−5%

25Orangeburg County, SCSC83,17777−7%

26Laurens County, SCSC71,84881−16%

27Oconee County, SCSC83,77592−13%

28Lancaster County, SCSC114,29699−11%

29Darlington County, SCSC62,888110−8%

30Aiken County, SCSC181,515113−15%

31Cherokee County, SCSC58,275113−15%

32Berkeley County, SCSC274,666117−10%

33Horry County, SCSC427,551127−27%

34Greenwood County, SCSC70,379131−10%

35Florence County, SCSC138,504143−9%

36Dorchester County, SCSC178,397146−14%

37Beaufort County, SCSC204,433150−29%

38Sumter County, SCSC105,067154−2%

39Pickens County, SCSC139,198189−15%

40York County, SCSC306,887193−20%

41Anderson County, SCSC219,930203−12%

42Lexington County, SCSC317,588240−22%

43Spartanburg County, SCSC380,857281−11%

44Charleston County, SCSC436,200321−5%

45Richland County, SCSC434,956377−11%

46Greenville County, SCSC583,125407−16%

SHOWING 1–46 OF 46

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES