South Carolina

Lancaster

96,016
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Lancaster

Lancaster, South Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 6,302. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 96,016.

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

On the ground today, 15 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Catawba War / Iroquois-Catawba Conflict 1707, Battle of the Waxhaws 1715, Battle of Hanging Rock Aug 6 1780, and 28 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202096,016
201076,652
200061,351
199054,516
198053,361
197043,328
196039,352
195037,071
194033,542
193027,980
192028,628
191026,650
190024,311
189020,761
188016,903
187012,087
186011,797
185010,988
18409,907
183010,361
18208,716
18106,318
18006,012
17906,302
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Lancaster

Military engagements that took place in Lancaster, South Carolina.

Catawba War / Iroquois-Catawba Conflict 1707
1707
Battle of the Waxhaws 1715
1715
Battle of Hanging Rock Aug 6 1780
1780
Battle of Hanging Rock
1780
Battle of Hanging Rock NJ
1780
Battle of Waxhaws (Buford's Massacre)
1780
Battle of Fishing Creek (SC)
1780
Battle of Rocky Mount Jul 30 1780
1780
Battle of Hanging Rock (sub-action)
1780
Battle of the Waxhaws (Buford's Massacre)
1780
Battle of Waxhaws
1780
Action at Mobley's Meeting House (1780)
1780
Battle of Rocky Mount (SC)
1780
Waxhaws Massacre
1780
Skirmish at Lancaster Court House SC — February 1865
1865

Historic places in Lancaster

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

Cureton House
City Unavailable
Battle of Hanging Rock Historic Site
Heath Springs
Lancaster Downtown Historic District
Lancaster
North Carolina-South Carolina Cornerstone
Lancaster
Lancaster Cotton Oil Company
Lancaster
Wade-Beckham House
Lancaster
Cauthen, Dr. William Columbus, House
Kershaw
Clinton AME Zion Church
Kershaw
Lancaster Presbyterian Church
Lancaster
Mount Carmel A.M.E. Zion Campground
Lancaster
Waxhaw Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Lancaster
Springs, Leroy, House
Lancaster
Craig House
Lancaster
Sapp, William Harrison, House
Tradesville
Kershaw Depot
Kershaw
Matson Street Historic District
Kershaw
Buford's Massacre Site
Tradesville
East Richland Street-East Church Street Historic District
Kershaw
Lancaster County Jail
Lancaster
Lancaster County Courthouse
Lancaster
Browse all South Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Carolina

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

GreenwoodHamptonHorryJasperKershawLaurensLeeLexingtonMarionMarlboroMcCormickNewberryOconeeOrangeburgPendletonPickensRichlandSaludaSpartanburgSumter
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Everything a full report reveals about Lancaster County, South Carolina

This page charts the census history of Lancaster 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 Lancaster

When does Lancaster first appear in the US census?
Lancaster, South Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 6,302.
What is the population of Lancaster?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lancaster had a recorded population of 96,016.
Were any battles fought in Lancaster?
15 documented military engagements took place in Lancaster, including Catawba War / Iroquois-Catawba Conflict 1707, Battle of the Waxhaws 1715, Battle of Hanging Rock Aug 6 1780.
How many historic places are in Lancaster?
28 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lancaster, South Carolina.
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