New Census Bureau figures show Pee Dee population stagnant

By Candace Jarrett
Morning News Reporter
Published: July 10, 2008

The Census Bureau’s newly released figures show the population rate in the Pee Dee has remained stagnant since 2000 with few increases or decreases in cities and towns.

“City population has not changed in the last 50 years or so in South Carolina,” said Michael Macfarlane of SC State Data Center Office of Research and Statistics.

Statistics for the Pee Dee show those cities or towns that have had a decline in population are the more rural areas, while the city of Florence, the most urban city in the area, has seen the largest population increase based on 2007 census population estimates.

“We are very pleased with these figures because we certainly feel Florence is growing,” Florence city manager David N. Williams said. “Job opportunities, good medical care and annexation efforts attribute to our growth and I wouldn’t be surprised if the number isn’t higher in the 2010 Census. The fact that the Census shows our growth is a positive sign because in the past two or three figures, we felt our population was undercounted.”

In the 2000 Census, the city’s population was 30,248, but 2007 estimates show Florence’s population at 31,431.

“There’s somewhat of a rural depopulation,” Macfarlane said. “For younger people, it’s employment that causes them to leave the rural areas and the older people leave for services that they need as they age.”

Bishopville, Florence, Lake City, Latta, Olanta, Pamplico, Quinby and Timmonsville all saw population increases.

Macfarlane said annexation is another factor as to why some areas appear to be growing, while, as a whole, population remains the same.

“As far as growth, a lot of times it’s because people that run the city will annex that land outside city limits into the city,” he said.

Pamplico was another area that saw growth. As of July 1, there were an estimated 1,151 people living in the town, compared with 1,139 in 2000.

Pamplico Mayor Gene R. Gainey said people move to Pamplico for more than just a reasonable rate on a home. He said it takes more to sustain population size in any place.

“We’ve been working on projects like our revitalization project to make the downtown look better,” he said. “We’ve had a few businesses come into the area, along with the new city hall that’s almost complete. Things like that may not make too many people move here, but it helps to keep people in the town.”

Some areas that saw a slight decrease in population were Bennettsville, Cheraw, Chesterfield, Darlington, Hartsville, Lamar, McBee, Marion, Mullins and Society Hill, according to the 2007 population estimates.

In March, the bureau released a list of estimated population change in counties. It showed population growth in Florence, Darlington and Georgetown counties and a decline in population growth in Marlboro and Dillon counties.

Nationwide, New Orleans topped the list for being the fastest growing city in 2007. It had the largest population decline in 2000.