Berkeley County


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Berkeley County, S.C. Data Profile

 Statistical Profile  
Total Area (land and water) 1,229 sq mi (3,183 sq km)
County Seat Moncks Corner
Form of Government Council/Supervisor
Gross Retail Sales (2008)1 $4 billion


Population and Demographics2
Population 2000 2008 % Change 2020 Projection
Berkeley County 142,651 169,327 18.7% 192,450
Population by Age 2000 2008
19 or younger 32.2% 29.8%
20-24 7.6% 7.1%
25-34 14.7% 14.1%
35-54 29.4% 28.4%
55-64 8.2% 11.3%
65+ 7.9% 9.3%
Median Age 32.2 34.4
Population by Gender 2000 2008
Male 50.8% 50.2%
Female 49.2% 49.8%
Population by Race 2000 2008
White 68.0% 68.3%
Black or African-American 26.6% 26.1%
Asian 1.9% 2.0%
Other 4.5% 3.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)3 2.8% 4.1%
Households 2000 2008
Total Households 49,868 55,326
Median Household Income $39,908 $48,320
Average Household Income $46,791 $60,196
Educational Attainment 2000 2008
High School Diploma (or equivalent) or higher 80.2% 86.2%
Bachelors Degree or higher 14.4% 17.7%
Advanced Degree 4.3% 4.2%


Labor Force4
Labor Market 2000 2008 % Change
Civilian Labor Force 65,670 79,544 21.1%
Employment 63,570 74,607 17.4%
Unemployment rate (%) 3.2% 6.2%
Employment by Sector 20025 2008 % Change
County-wide employment 32,525 40,234 15.6%
Natural resources / mining / construction 12.5% 9.9%
Manufacturing 21.0% 16.1%
Trade / transportation / utilities 22.0% 17.6%
Information 0.9% 2.3%
Financial activities 2.1% 3.3%
Professional & business services 4.2% 13.0%
Educational & health services 5.1% 5.3%
Leisure & hospitality industries 8.6% 8.3%
Other services 1.8% 3.4%
Government / public administration 21.7% 20.8%


Selected Leading Employers6
Firm Product or Service # of Employees
Naval Weapons Station Charleston 41 military tenants and installations 13,000
SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic ** U.S. Navy electronics, engineering & integration center 4,700
Blackbaud, Inc. Nonprofit software and service 2,000
Santee Cooper Electric and water utility 1,750
Nucor Steel Manufacturing - steel roll & steel beam 900
Alcoa Mt. Holly Primary aluminum ingot; aluminum smelting 600
Piggly Wiggly Distribution Center Distribution - grocery items 600
CR Bard, Inc. Medical products- specialty catheter manufacturing 470
T-Mobile Customer service center 450
Benefitfocus Software/services for healthcare benefits 400
J.W. Aluminum Aluminum foil and sheet products 350
AAI Services Corporation Software/hardware - aircraft simulators 300
American LaFrance Manufacture heavy duty work trucks 280
Google, Inc. Computer data center 200


Notes & Sources:
(1) S.C. Dept of Revenue
(2) U.S. Census Bureau's 2008 American Community Survey and 2000 Census;
population projections from SC Budget and Control Board, Office of Research & Statistics
(3) Persons of Hispanic/Latino origin may be of any race.
(4) S.C. Employment Security Commission
(5) NAICS comparable historic data only available back to 2002 by county
(6) Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 10/2009