South Carolina

Dorchester

161,540
2020 population
1900
first census record
13
census records

About Dorchester

Dorchester, South Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1900, when it recorded a population of 16,294. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 161,540.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Yamasee War – Battle of Schenkingh's Cowpen 1715, Battle of Fort Balfour, Battle of Parker's Ferry Aug 30 1781, and 33 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020161,540
2010136,555
200096,413
199083,060
198058,761
197032,276
196024,383
195022,601
194019,928
193018,956
192019,459
191017,891
190016,294
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Dorchester

Military engagements that took place in Dorchester, South Carolina.

Yamasee War – Battle of Schenkingh's Cowpen 1715
1715
Battle of Fort Balfour
1781
Battle of Parker's Ferry Aug 30 1781
1781

Historic places in Dorchester

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

Newington Plantation
Stallsville
St. Paul Camp Ground
Harleyville
Old White Meeting House Ruins and Cemetery
Summerville
Indian Fields Methodist Campground
St. George
Carroll Place
St. George
Summerville Historic District
Summerville
Middleton Place
Summerville
Old Dorchester
Summerville
Cypress Methodist Camp Ground
Ridgeville
Browse all South Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Carolina

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

MarionMarlboroMcCormickNewberryOconeeOrangeburgPendletonPickensRichlandSaludaSpartanburgSumterUnionWilliamsburgYorkAbbevilleAikenAllendaleAndersonBamberg
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Everything a full report reveals about Dorchester County, South Carolina

This page charts the census history of Dorchester 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 Dorchester

When does Dorchester first appear in the US census?
Dorchester, South Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1900, with a recorded population of 16,294.
What is the population of Dorchester?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Dorchester had a recorded population of 161,540.
Were any battles fought in Dorchester?
3 documented military engagements took place in Dorchester, including Yamasee War – Battle of Schenkingh's Cowpen 1715, Battle of Fort Balfour, Battle of Parker's Ferry Aug 30 1781.
How many historic places are in Dorchester?
33 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Dorchester, South Carolina.
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