Calhoun County is a county in South Carolina, United States, part of the Columbia metropolitan area and one of the smallest counties in the state by land area. It had a population of 14,119 people at the 2020 census and covers 392 square miles (1,020 km2), centred near 33°40′N 80°47′W.
St. Matthews is the county seat, and its postal code is 29135. The county has two incorporated towns, roughly fifteen unincorporated communities, no civil townships, and sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Calhoun County
Calhoun County has just two incorporated municipalities — St. Matthews (the seat) and Cameron — alongside a scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities that carry the county’s rural, cotton-belt place names. Neither town has grown large enough to gain a separate census-designated-place split, so the list below covers every place the county recognises.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Matthews | Town · seat | 1,841 | 29135 |
| Cameron | Town | 376 | 29030 |
| Fort Motte | Unincorp. | — | 29135 |
| Creston | Unincorp. | — | 29135 |
| Lone Star | Unincorp. | — | 29030 |
| Sandy Run | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Midway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Riley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Singleton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tina | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Totness | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hammond Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Staley Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wertz Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wiles Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Weeks Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
“Enos” from the old list could not be independently confirmed as a distinct Calhoun County place and has been dropped — see notes.
ZIP Codes
- 29135 — St. Matthews (also serves Fort Motte and Creston)
- 29030 — Cameron (also serves Lone Star)
Every other community listed above shares one of these two post offices; Calhoun County has no other standalone ZIP code.
Geography
Calhoun County sits in South Carolina’s Midlands, a flat-to-gently-rolling upland of the Coastal Plain that was long given over to cotton plantations — part of the historic Black Belt of the South. The Congaree River forms part of the county’s northern edge and the Santee–Cooper river system drains its eastern side; roughly 3 percent of the county’s total area is water. Calhoun borders Richland County to the north, Sumter County to the northeast, Clarendon County to the east, Orangeburg County to the south, and Lexington County to the northwest.
Demographics
Calhoun County had 14,119 residents at the 2020 census, spread over 381 square miles of land for a density of about 37 people per square mile — among the lowest in the state. St. Matthews and Cameron are the county’s two largest communities, together holding roughly a sixth of the county’s population within incorporated limits; most residents live in unincorporated rural areas. Household income in Calhoun County has historically trailed the South Carolina median of $67,804, reflecting the county’s agricultural economic base.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture and food manufacturing anchor the local economy. Devro, a manufacturer of collagen sausage casings, and a Starbucks coffee-roasting plant are among the county’s largest employers, alongside county government and the St. Matthews-based school district. Cotton, soybeans, and timber remain part of the rural economy that has defined Calhoun County since its founding.
History
Calhoun County was organized in 1908 from portions of Lexington and Orangeburg counties, making it one of South Carolina’s youngest counties. It is named for John C. Calhoun, the South Carolina statesman who served as U.S. vice president, senator, representative, and cabinet secretary — though Calhoun himself was born in Abbeville County, not within the county that now bears his name. The area’s economy was built on cotton plantation agriculture through the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Getting There
U.S. Route 601 and U.S. Route 176 cross the county, linking St. Matthews to the wider Midlands highway network; Interstate 26 passes just south of the county line near Orangeburg.
- Columbia — about 35 miles northwest
- Orangeburg — about 20 miles south
- Sumter — about 30 miles northeast
- Charleston — about 90 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Calhoun County, South Carolina?
It is in the Midlands of central South Carolina, part of the Columbia metropolitan area, roughly 35 miles northwest of the county seat to Columbia.
What is the population of Calhoun County?
14,119 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Calhoun County?
392 square miles (1,020 km2) total, one of the smallest counties in South Carolina by land area.
What is the county seat of Calhoun County?
St. Matthews is the county seat.
How many towns are in Calhoun County?
Two incorporated towns — St. Matthews and Cameron — plus about fifteen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Calhoun County?
29135 (St. Matthews) and 29030 (Cameron) cover the entire county.
Who is Calhoun County named after?
John C. Calhoun, the South Carolina statesman and former U.S. vice president, although he was born in Abbeville County.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in South Carolina.