Williamsburg County is a county in South Carolina, United States, in the Pee Dee region between the Black River and the upper Santee River basin. It had a population of 31,026 at the 2020 census, one of the more rural counts in the state. The county covers 937 square miles (2,427 km2), of which 934 square miles (2,420 km2) is land and 2.9 square miles (7 km2) is water, centred near 33°38′N 79°43′W.
Kingstree is the county seat and largest city; its postal code is 29556. The county contains one city, four towns, and several unincorporated communities. Williamsburg County sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Williamsburg County
Kingstree anchors the county’s small-town network along US 52 and US 521, with Andrews, Greeleyville, Hemingway, Lane, and Stuckey serving surrounding farm communities.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingstree | City · seat | 3,244 | 29556 |
| Andrews | Town | 2,575 | 29510 |
| Hemingway | Town | 504 | 29554 |
| Lane | Town | 472 | 29564 |
| Greeleyville | Town | 384 | 29056 |
| Stuckey | Town | 200 | 29554 |
| Cades | Unincorp. | — | 29518 |
| Indiantown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nesmith | Unincorp. | — | 29580 |
| Salters | Unincorp. | — | 29590 |
| Trio | Unincorp. | — | — |
Andrews straddles the Williamsburg–Georgetown county line, with most of its incorporated area in Williamsburg County.
ZIP Codes
- 29556 — Kingstree (also serves surrounding rural routes)
- 29510 — Andrews (also serves the Georgetown County side of town)
- 29554 — Hemingway (also serves Stuckey)
- 29564 — Lane
- 29056 — Greeleyville
- 29518 — Cades
- 29580 — Nesmith
- 29590 — Salters
Indiantown and Trio have no dedicated post office and are served by neighboring ZIP codes.
Geography
Williamsburg County lies in the coastal plain of eastern South Carolina, drained by the Black River along its southern edge and by Lake Swamp and Cedar Swamp in the interior. The terrain is flat to gently rolling, with extensive pine forest and row-crop farmland; wetlands line the Black River corridor. The county borders Florence County to the north, Marion County to the northeast, Georgetown County to the east, Berkeley County to the south, and Clarendon County to the west.
Demographics
Williamsburg County had 31,026 residents at the 2020 census, with a 2025 estimate of about 29,662, a continued decline typical of rural Pee Dee counties. Kingstree and Andrews are the two largest communities. The county’s median household income trails the South Carolina figure of $67,804, and roughly 83 percent of residents live in rural, unincorporated areas. Population density is about 33 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Manufacturing is the county’s largest employment sector at 30.2 percent, followed by public administration at 13.3 percent and health care at 10.5 percent. Named employers include a federal Department of Justice facility, Food Lion, Tupperware, and Williamsburg Technical College. County GDP reached roughly $856 million in 2022. Farming remains central to local life, with cotton, soybeans, and timber the leading crops, and the annual Williamsburg County Peanut Party in Hemingway draws visitors each September.
History
Williamsburg County traces its roots to the Williamsburg Township settled by Scots-Irish and Ulster Scots colonists in the 1730s, and takes its name from William of Orange, later William III of England. The area became Williamsburg District and was reorganized as a modern county in 1868 under South Carolina’s post-Civil War state constitution. Kingstree, named for a large pine reserved as a mast tree for the British Royal Navy, has served as the seat since the district’s earliest courts.
Getting There
US 52, US 378, and US 521 cross the county, along with state routes SC 41, SC 51, SC 261, SC 375, SC 377, SC 512, SC 513, and SC 527.
- Florence — 25 miles north
- Georgetown — 30 miles southeast
- Sumter — 35 miles west
- Myrtle Beach — 55 miles east
Kingstree has its own Amtrak stop, Kingstree Station, on the Silver Meteor/Silver Star line. Williamsburg Regional Airport serves general aviation; the nearest commercial airport is Florence Regional Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kingstree postcode?
29556.
What county is Kingstree in?
Kingstree is the county seat and largest city of Williamsburg County, South Carolina.
How many people live in Williamsburg County?
The county had a population of 31,026 at the 2020 census.
How big is Williamsburg County?
It covers 937 square miles (2,427 km2), of which 934 square miles is land.
What counties border Williamsburg County?
Florence to the north, Marion to the northeast, Georgetown to the east, Berkeley to the south, and Clarendon to the west.
What is the largest town in Williamsburg County besides Kingstree?
Andrews, with 2,575 residents at the 2020 census.
Does Williamsburg County have an Amtrak station?
Yes, Kingstree Station serves Amtrak’s Silver Meteor and Silver Star routes.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in South Carolina.