Charleston, SC Economic Development

Dorchester County


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Dorchester County SC Data Profile

Statistical Profile 
Total Area (land and water) 576 sq mi (1,492 sq km)
County Seat St. George
Form of Government Council/Administrator
Gross Retail Sales (2006)1 $1.7 billion


Population & Demographics2
Population 2000 2006 % Change 2010 Projection
Dorchester County 96,413 118,979 23.4% 122,170
Population by Age 2000 2006
19 or younger 31.4% 29.5%
20-24 5.2% 6.8%
25-34 14.0% 12.7%
35-54 31.7% 30.6%
55-64 8.6% 11.3%
65+ 9.1% 9.1%
Median Age 34.7 35.5
Population by Gender 2000 2006
Male 48.9% 48.8%
Female 51.1% 51.2%
Population by Race 2000 2006
White 71.0% 70.3%
Black or African-American 25.1% 25.6%
Asian 1.1% 1.7%
Other 2.8% 2.4%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)3 1.8 2.8%
Households 2000 2006
Total Households 34,688 41,657
Median Household Income $43,316 $50,332
Average Household Income $51,882 $56,595
Educational Attainment 2000 2006
High School Diploma (or equivalent) or higher 82.2% 87.2%
Bachelors Degree or higher 21.4% 21.3%
Advanced Degree 7.3% 5.5%


Labor Force4
Labor Market 2000 2006 % Change
Civilian Labor Force 47,170 58,810 24.7%
Employment 45,760 55,760 21.9%
Unemployment rate (%) 3.0% 5.2%
Employment by Sector 20025 2006 % Change
County-wide employment 28,071 30,295 7.9%
Natural resources / mining / construction 8.5% 9.9%
Manufacturing 18.5% 16.9%
Trade / transportation / utilities 21.5% 20.8%
Information 0.7% 0.9%
Financial activities 2.3% 3.2%
Professional & business services 8.9% 7.3%
Educational & health services 9.2% 8.3%
Leisure & hospitality industries 9.4% 11.7%
Other services 3.2% 3.3%
Government / public administration 17.8% 17.6%


Selected Leading Employers6
Firm Product or Service # of Employees
Robert Bosch Corporation Manufacturing - fuel injectors, antilock braking systems 2,100
Giant Cement Holdings Manufacturing and headquarters - Portland cement 850
Six Continents Hotel Reservations center 400
LINQ Industrial Fabrics Manufacturing - industrial textiles 350
Showa Denko Carbon Manufacturing - graphite electrodes for steel-making industry 200
First Data Inbound call center 200
MeadWestvaco Forestry products / lumber 150
Scout Boats Inc. Manufacturing - fiberglass boats 150
Lafarge Building Materials Manufacturing - Portland cement 100
Carolina Truss Systems Manufacturing - wooden roof & floor trusses 100


Notes & Sources:
(1) SC Dept of Revenue
(2) U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 American Community Survey and 2000 Census; 2010 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, 2007
(5) NAICS comparable historic data only available back to 2002 by county
(6) Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber, 7/06