South Carolina

Chester

32,294
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Chester

Chester, South Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 6,866. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 32,294.

Its recorded population peaked at 34,068 in 2000, and has since declined by roughly 5 percent.

On the ground today, 8 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Fish Dam Ford, Battle of Mobley's Meeting House Jun 1780, Battle of Rocky Mount, and 43 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202032,294
201033,140
200034,068
199032,170
198030,148
197029,811
196030,888
195032,597
194032,579
193031,803
192033,389
191029,425
190028,616
189026,660
188024,153
187018,805
186018,122
185018,038
184017,747
183017,182
182014,189
181011,479
18008,185
17906,866
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Chester

Military engagements that took place in Chester, South Carolina.

Battle of Fish Dam Ford
1780
Battle of Mobley's Meeting House Jun 1780
1780
Battle of Rocky Mount
1780
Battle of Mobley's Meeting House
1780
Battle of Fishing Creek
1780
Battle of Fishdam Ford
1780
Chester SC — Sherman's March
1865
Confederate Cavalry Action at Beech Creek SC
1865

Historic places in Chester

National Register of Historic Places listings in Chester, South Carolina.

Fishdam Ford
Chester
Elliott House
Richburg
Lewis Inn
Chester
Seaboard Air Line Railway Depot in McBee
McBee
Chester City Hall and Opera House
Chester
McCollum Mound
Chester
Phinney, James, House
Chester
Landsford Plantation House
Landsford Township
People's Free Library of South Carolina
Lowrys
Lando School
Lando
Landsford Canal
Rowell
West Main Street Historic District
Chesterfield
Cheraw Historic District
Cheraw
Kumler Hall
Chester
Great Falls Downtown Historic District
Great Falls
Cornwell Inn
Blackstock
Smalls, Robert, School
Cheraw
Great Falls Depot
Great Falls
Lucas, Dr. Thomas E., House
Chesterfield
East Main Street Historic District
Chesterfield
Colvin-Fant-Durham Farm Complex
Chester
St. David's Episcopal Church and Cemetery
Cheraw
Browse all South Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more South Carolina counties.

AbbevilleAikenAllendaleAndersonBambergBarnwellBeaufortBerkeleyCalhounCharlestonCherokeeChesterfieldClarendonColletonDarlingtonDillonDorchesterEdgefieldFairfieldFlorence
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Everything a full report reveals about Chester County, South Carolina

This page charts the census history of Chester County, South Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Chester

When does Chester first appear in the US census?
Chester, South Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 6,866.
What is the population of Chester?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Chester had a recorded population of 32,294.
When did Chester's population peak?
Chester's recorded population peaked at 34,068 in 2000.
Were any battles fought in Chester?
8 documented military engagements took place in Chester, including Battle of Fish Dam Ford, Battle of Mobley's Meeting House Jun 1780, Battle of Rocky Mount.
How many historic places are in Chester?
43 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Chester, South Carolina.
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