Bamberg County is a county in South Carolina, United States, in the state’s southwestern coastal plain along the Edisto and Salkehatchie river basins. It had a population of 13,311 at the 2020 census, the third-least populous county in South Carolina, and covers 395.6 square miles (1,024 km2) centred near 33°12′N 81°03′W.
Bamberg is the county seat, and its postal code is 29003. The county has two cities, three towns, and several unincorporated communities, all in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Bamberg County
Bamberg County has two incorporated cities, three incorporated towns, and a scattering of unincorporated crossroads communities. Places labelled “Unincorp.” below have no municipal government of their own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bamberg | City · seat | — | 29003 |
| Denmark | City | — | 29042 |
| Ehrhardt | Town | — | 29081 |
| Govan | Town | — | — |
| Olar | Town | — | 29843 |
| Finland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sweden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bobcat Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bufords Bridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clear Pond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Edisto Club | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Embree | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Farrell Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hughes | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lees | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Midway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sato | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Schofield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Springtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whetstone Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
Govan sits between Bamberg and Denmark and is generally served by the Bamberg post office; no separate ZIP is assigned to it. Denmark and Bamberg, four miles apart on US 301/321, are the county’s two commercial centres.
ZIP Codes
- 29003 — Bamberg (also serves Govan)
- 29042 — Denmark
- 29081 — Ehrhardt
- 29843 — Olar
The unincorporated communities of Finland, Sweden, and the various crossroads settlements have no ZIP code of their own and use the nearest post-office town’s code.
Geography
Bamberg County lies in the upper coastal plain, a flat to gently rolling landscape of pine forest and farmland drained by the Edisto River along its eastern edge and Salkehatchie River tributaries to the west. Of its total area, 393.4 square miles is land and 2.2 square miles is water.
The county borders Orangeburg County to the north, Dorchester County to the east, Colleton County to the southeast, Hampton County to the south, Allendale County to the southwest, and Barnwell County to the west, from which Bamberg County was carved.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 13,311 residents, a density of about 34 people per square mile. Bamberg and Denmark are the two largest communities. The county is majority Black or African American (about 58%), with a White population of roughly 38%; median age is 44.7 years, older than the state as a whole. Household income runs well below the South Carolina median of $67,804, one of the lower figures among the state’s 46 counties.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, timber, and public education anchor the local economy, alongside two higher-education institutions in Denmark: Denmark Technical College and Voorhees University, a historically Black university founded in the late 1800s with ties to the Episcopal Church. County government and the local school district are among the largest employers. The county recorded a gross domestic product of roughly $380 million in 2022.
History
Bamberg County was created in 1897 from the eastern part of Barnwell County, under the reorganisation authorised by South Carolina’s 1895 constitution. It is named for General Francis Marion Bamberg, a local planter and state legislator who helped secure the county’s formation. Denmark and Bamberg both grew up as depots on the South Carolina Railroad in the 19th century, and the county has stayed predominantly agricultural since.
Getting There
US Highway 301/321 runs north–south through Bamberg and Denmark, and US 78 crosses the county’s southern half; both connect to Interstate 95, roughly 15 miles to the east.
- Orangeburg — 20 miles north
- Walterboro — 25 miles southeast
- Aiken — 35 miles west
- Charleston — 65 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Columbia Metropolitan Airport, about 55 miles northwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bamberg County?
It is in the southwestern coastal plain of South Carolina, along the Edisto and Salkehatchie river basins.
What is the population of Bamberg County?
13,311, according to the 2020 census.
How big is Bamberg County?
395.6 square miles (1,024 km2), of which 393.4 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Bamberg County?
Bamberg is the county seat.
How many towns are in Bamberg County?
Two cities (Bamberg, Denmark) and three towns (Ehrhardt, Govan, Olar), plus several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Bamberg County?
29003 (Bamberg), 29042 (Denmark), 29081 (Ehrhardt), and 29843 (Olar).
What college is in Bamberg County?
Voorhees University, a historically Black university in Denmark founded in the late 1800s, along with Denmark Technical College.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in South Carolina.