South Carolina

Richland

416,147
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Richland

Richland, South Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 3,930. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 416,147.

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

On the ground today, 13 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them De Soto at Cofitachequi 1540, South Carolina Regulator Conflicts 1767-1769, Battle of Fort Motte (SC), and 193 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020416,147
2010384,504
2000320,677
1990285,720
1980269,735
1970233,868
1960200,102
1950142,565
1940104,843
193087,667
192078,122
191055,143
190045,589
189036,821
188028,573
187023,025
186018,307
185020,243
184016,397
183014,772
182012,321
18109,027
18006,097
17903,930
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Richland

Military engagements that took place in Richland, South Carolina.

De Soto at Cofitachequi 1540
1540
South Carolina Regulator Conflicts 1767-1769
1767
Battle of Fort Motte (SC)
1781
Capture of Columbia SC
1865
Skirmish at Gunter's Bridge — Wateree River
1865
Union Seizure of Columbia SC — Wheeler's Departure
1865
Burning of Columbia SC — February 17-18 1865
1865
Confederate Evacuation of Columbia — February 16-17 1865
1865
Skirmish at Broad River Bridge — Sherman's Approach
1865
Sack of Columbia South Carolina
1865
Confederate Burning of Cotton — Columbia Evacuation
1865
Burning of Columbia
1865
Union Troops Enter Columbia — February 17 1865
1865

Historic places in Richland

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

Hampton-Preston House
Columbia
Miller Brothers Cotton Warehouse
Columbia
Southwest Boundary Dike
Hopkins
Oakwood
Gadsden
South Carolina State Hospital, Mills Building
Columbia
Veterans Hospital
Columbia
Millwood
Columbia
Bellevue-Newman's Field-Gracelynn Terrace Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Columbia
McMaster School
Columbia
Magnolia
Gadsden
Sidney Park Colored Methodist Episcopal Church
Columbia
Kensington Plantation House
Eastover
Lorick, Preston C., House
Columbia
Richland Cotton Mill
Columbia
Hale-Elmore-Seibels House
Columbia
Granby Mill Village Historic District
Columbia
Columbia Historic District I
Columbia
Columbia Township Auditorium
Columbia
Horry-Guignard House
Columbia
Columbia Historic District II
Columbia
Hall, Ainsley, House
Columbia
Mann-Simons Cottage
Columbia
BROWN'S FERRY VESSEL
Columbia
Price, George R., House
Columbia
Browse all South Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Carolina

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

HorryJasperKershawLancasterLaurensLeeLexingtonMarionMarlboroMcCormickNewberryOconeeOrangeburgPendletonPickensSaludaSpartanburgSumterUnionWilliamsburg
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Richland County, South Carolina

This page charts the census history of Richland 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 Richland

When does Richland first appear in the US census?
Richland, South Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 3,930.
What is the population of Richland?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Richland had a recorded population of 416,147.
Were any battles fought in Richland?
13 documented military engagements took place in Richland, including De Soto at Cofitachequi 1540, South Carolina Regulator Conflicts 1767-1769, Battle of Fort Motte (SC).
How many historic places are in Richland?
193 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Richland, South Carolina.
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