Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in South Carolina

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April 15, 2021
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Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in South Carolina

In certain corners of the U.S., the only way you’ll ever be considered a local is if you were born there. Elsewhere, particularly in major metropolitan centers, the constant influx of new businesses, college students, and families can transform neighborhoods every few years and certainly decade over decade.

Americans change their addresses at higher rates than most other countries, but that “move, move, move” mentality may be shifting. In 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that only 11.2% of respondents had moved within the last year. Additionally, 72% of Americans reported living in or close to the city they grew up in. To learn more about where people are staying put, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in South Carolina using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents that were born in the state as of 2019.

Keep reading to discover which counties in your state have the most born-and-bred residents.

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KudzuVine // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Pickens County

- Population: 124,029
- Born in South Carolina: 75,927 (61.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 42,955 (34.6% of population)
--- Midwest (6.3%), Northeast (8.5%), South (17.6%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 4,445 (3.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (1.6%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (1.2%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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#29. Spartanburg County

- Population: 307,617
- Born in South Carolina: 194,870 (63.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 91,467 (29.7% of population)
--- Midwest (5.5%), Northeast (6.8%), South (14.9%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 19,419 (6.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (1.5%), Europe (1.4%), Latin America (3.2%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Chesterfield County

- Population: 45,953
- Born in South Carolina: 29,707 (64.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 14,861 (32.3% of population)
--- Midwest (2.2%), Northeast (3.6%), South (25.2%), West (1.0%)
- Born in another country: 1,244 (2.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (1.8%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Pollinator // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Kershaw County

- Population: 65,112
- Born in South Carolina: 42,749 (65.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 20,240 (31.1% of population)
--- Midwest (5.6%), Northeast (7.3%), South (15.5%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 1,553 (2.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (1.6%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Pollinator // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Sumter County

- Population: 106,757
- Born in South Carolina: 70,721 (66.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 31,445 (29.5% of population)
--- Midwest (4.5%), Northeast (7.4%), South (13.6%), West (3.8%)
- Born in another country: 3,140 (2.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (1.2%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (1.3%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Anderson County

- Population: 198,064
- Born in South Carolina: 131,907 (66.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 58,922 (29.7% of population)
--- Midwest (5.5%), Northeast (6.7%), South (15.0%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 6,079 (3.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.7%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (1.6%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Barnwell County

- Population: 21,346
- Born in South Carolina: 14,438 (67.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,554 (30.7% of population)
--- Midwest (3.2%), Northeast (4.1%), South (21.7%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 332 (1.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (1.2%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Morder // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Cherokee County

- Population: 56,895
- Born in South Carolina: 39,940 (70.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 15,192 (26.7% of population)
--- Midwest (3.1%), Northeast (4.9%), South (17.4%), West (1.3%)
- Born in another country: 1,367 (2.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (1.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Bill Fitzpatrick // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Greenwood County

- Population: 70,411
- Born in South Carolina: 50,499 (71.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 16,815 (23.9% of population)
--- Midwest (3.9%), Northeast (5.3%), South (12.5%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 2,944 (4.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.9%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (2.8%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Bill Fitzpatrick // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Saluda County

- Population: 20,303
- Born in South Carolina: 14,619 (72.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,804 (18.7% of population)
--- Midwest (1.6%), Northeast (3.1%), South (11.8%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 1,727 (8.5% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (7.9%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Clarendon County

- Population: 33,957
- Born in South Carolina: 24,870 (73.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 8,105 (23.9% of population)
--- Midwest (3.9%), Northeast (9.2%), South (9.8%), West (1.0%)
- Born in another country: 731 (2.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (1.4%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Bill Fitzpatrick // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Laurens County

- Population: 66,846
- Born in South Carolina: 48,963 (73.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 15,624 (23.4% of population)
--- Midwest (4.3%), Northeast (5.2%), South (11.4%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 1,833 (2.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (1.9%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Marlboro County

- Population: 26,753
- Born in South Carolina: 19,838 (74.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,251 (23.4% of population)
--- Midwest (1.4%), Northeast (3.1%), South (17.9%), West (0.8%)
- Born in another country: 581 (2.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (1.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Robert Thomas Mckenzie Jr // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Florence County

- Population: 138,475
- Born in South Carolina: 103,234 (74.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 30,841 (22.3% of population)
--- Midwest (2.9%), Northeast (6.9%), South (11.2%), West (1.2%)
- Born in another country: 3,868 (2.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (1.1%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.9%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.1%)
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Bill Fitzpatrick // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Bamberg County

- Population: 14,376
- Born in South Carolina: 10,781 (75.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,069 (21.3% of population)
--- Midwest (1.9%), Northeast (7.5%), South (10.0%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 517 (3.6% of population)
--- Africa (2.7%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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#15. Chester County

- Population: 32,311
- Born in South Carolina: 24,400 (75.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 7,412 (22.9% of population)
--- Midwest (3.0%), Northeast (3.6%), South (15.3%), West (1.0%)
- Born in another country: 422 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.7%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Bill Fitzpatrick // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Calhoun County

- Population: 14,663
- Born in South Carolina: 11,123 (75.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,209 (21.9% of population)
--- Midwest (2.5%), Northeast (6.8%), South (10.9%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 273 (1.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (1.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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NatalieMaynor // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Newberry County

- Population: 38,194
- Born in South Carolina: 29,012 (76.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 7,108 (18.6% of population)
--- Midwest (2.2%), Northeast (4.0%), South (10.8%), West (1.3%)
- Born in another country: 1,879 (4.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.3%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (4.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Brian Scott // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Abbeville County

- Population: 24,627
- Born in South Carolina: 18,819 (76.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,281 (21.4% of population)
--- Midwest (3.1%), Northeast (5.3%), South (11.2%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 432 (1.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (1.1%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Colleton County

- Population: 37,585
- Born in South Carolina: 29,334 (78.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 7,200 (19.2% of population)
--- Midwest (2.4%), Northeast (6.7%), South (8.3%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 874 (2.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (2.0%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Jud McCranie // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Darlington County

- Population: 67,027
- Born in South Carolina: 53,088 (79.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 12,605 (18.8% of population)
--- Midwest (3.3%), Northeast (5.5%), South (9.0%), West (0.9%)
- Born in another country: 1,123 (1.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.9%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Allendale County

- Population: 9,024
- Born in South Carolina: 7,163 (79.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,635 (18.1% of population)
--- Midwest (1.0%), Northeast (5.4%), South (11.0%), West (0.5%)
- Born in another country: 154 (1.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.1%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (1.4%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Lee County

- Population: 17,365
- Born in South Carolina: 13,984 (80.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,096 (17.8% of population)
--- Midwest (1.2%), Northeast (6.0%), South (9.1%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 262 (1.5% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (1.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Ffuhr // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Hampton County

- Population: 19,564
- Born in South Carolina: 15,775 (80.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,052 (15.6% of population)
--- Midwest (1.4%), Northeast (4.9%), South (8.2%), West (0.7%)
- Born in another country: 609 (3.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.7%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (2.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Ammodramus // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Orangeburg County

- Population: 87,687
- Born in South Carolina: 71,292 (81.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 14,957 (17.1% of population)
--- Midwest (2.2%), Northeast (6.2%), South (7.3%), West (1.2%)
- Born in another country: 1,140 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Bill Fitzpatrick // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Dillon County

- Population: 30,689
- Born in South Carolina: 25,093 (81.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,756 (15.5% of population)
--- Midwest (0.9%), Northeast (4.3%), South (9.5%), West (0.9%)
- Born in another country: 695 (2.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.7%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (1.5%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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ProfReader // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Marion County

- Population: 31,308
- Born in South Carolina: 25,606 (81.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,919 (15.7% of population)
--- Midwest (1.2%), Northeast (3.8%), South (9.6%), West (1.1%)
- Born in another country: 684 (2.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.5%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (1.7%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Fairfield County

- Population: 22,565
- Born in South Carolina: 18,626 (82.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,636 (16.1% of population)
--- Midwest (1.8%), Northeast (4.6%), South (8.7%), West (1.0%)
- Born in another country: 163 (0.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (0.7%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)
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Pollinator // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Williamsburg County

- Population: 31,324
- Born in South Carolina: 25,947 (82.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,659 (14.9% of population)
--- Midwest (0.5%), Northeast (4.9%), South (8.0%), West (0.7%)
- Born in another country: 571 (1.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.0%), Latin America (1.3%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)
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#1. Union County

- Population: 27,490
- Born in South Carolina: 22,835 (83.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,318 (15.7% of population)
--- Midwest (2.1%), Northeast (3.6%), South (8.9%), West (1.2%)
- Born in another country: 261 (0.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.8%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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