“S” is for Sumter County (665 square miles; 2020 population 105,556.) Located in central South Carolina, Sumter County is bounded by the Santee and Wateree Rivers on the west and Lynch's River on the east. Most eighteenth century residents were small farmers, but with the arrival of the cotton gin, the first commercial cotton crops were harvested in 1796—and the county prospered.In 1860 Sumter County, on a per capita basis, was the wealthiest county in the state of South Carolina. After the Civil War, thanks to its substantial railroad network, the county remained a busy cotton market and shipping center. Sumter entered the twentieth century with an increasingly vibrant economy. In the twenty-first century, Sumter County’s economy is a blend of agriculture and manufacturing along with the strong military presence of Shaw Air Force Base.
“S” is for Sumter County
