South Carolina

Colleton

38,604
2020 population
1800
first census record
23
census records

About Colleton

Colleton, South Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1800, when it recorded a population of 24,903. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 38,604.

Its recorded population peaked at 41,916 in 1860, and has since declined by roughly 8 percent.

On the ground today, 20 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Cusabo Conflict 1671, Westo War 1680, Yamasee War — Pocotaligo Massacre, and 12 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202038,604
201038,892
200038,264
199034,377
198031,776
197027,622
196027,816
195028,242
194026,268
193025,821
192029,897
191035,390
190033,452
189040,293
188036,386
187025,410
186041,916
185039,505
184025,548
183027,256
182026,404
181026,359
180024,903
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Colleton

Military engagements that took place in Colleton, South Carolina.

Cusabo Conflict 1671
1671
Westo War 1680
1680
Yamasee War — Pocotaligo Massacre
1715
Battle of Saltketchers 1715
1715
Yamasee War Battle of Salkehatchie
1715
Yamasee Attack on Pocotaligo Town SC 1715
1715
Yamasee War — Battle of Combahee Ferry
1715
Yamasee War - Battle of Salkehatchie
1715
Yamasee War — Battle of Sycamore Trail
1716
Battle of Parker's Ferry
1781
Battle of the Combahee River
1782
Action at Combahee Ferry SC
1862
Battle of Simmons Bluff SC
1862
Expedition to Combahee River — Col. Montgomery 1863
1863
Action at Whippy Swamp — Colleton County 1865
1865
Action at Midway SC — February 1865
1865
Skirmish at Rivers Bridge — February 2-3 1865
1865
Action at Duck Branch — Lowcountry February 1865
1865
Action at Faust's Mill / Salkehatchie Crossings
1865
Hardee's Retreat from Charleston through Lower SC
1865

Historic places in Colleton

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

Walterboro Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Walterboro
Walterboro Historic District
Walterboro
Old Colleton County Jail
Walterboro
Williams, Tom, House
Williams
Walterboro Library Society Building
Walterboro
Hickory Valley Historic District
Walterboro
St. James the Greater Catholic Mission
Walterboro
Colleton County Courthouse
Walterboro
Browse all South Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Carolina

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

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Everything a full report reveals about Colleton County, South Carolina

This page charts the census history of Colleton 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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Explore South Carolina records

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Frequently asked about Colleton

When does Colleton first appear in the US census?
Colleton, South Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1800, with a recorded population of 24,903.
What is the population of Colleton?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Colleton had a recorded population of 38,604.
When did Colleton's population peak?
Colleton's recorded population peaked at 41,916 in 1860.
Were any battles fought in Colleton?
20 documented military engagements took place in Colleton, including Cusabo Conflict 1671, Westo War 1680, Yamasee War — Pocotaligo Massacre.
How many historic places are in Colleton?
12 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Colleton, South Carolina.
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