Edgefield County is a county in South Carolina, United States, on the Savannah River across from Georgia, in the western part of the state. It had a population of 25,657 at the 2020 census and covers 507.00 square miles (1,313.1 km2), of which 500.71 square miles (1,296.8 km2) is land, centred near 33°47′N 81°58′W.
Edgefield is the county seat, and its postal code is 29824. The county has three incorporated municipalities (Edgefield, Johnston and Trenton), one census-designated place, and roughly two dozen unincorporated crossroads communities. Edgefield County has no civil townships. It sits in the Eastern time zone and carries FIPS code 45037.
Towns & Villages in Edgefield County
Edgefield County’s map is dominated by small, dispersed rural crossroads rather than large towns. Below, “Town” marks the county’s incorporated municipalities, “CDP” is a Census Bureau statistical community with no town government, and “Unincorp.” covers the rest — hamlets and crossroads with a recognised name but no municipal boundary.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgefield | Town · seat | — | 29824 |
| Johnston | Town | — | 29832 |
| Trenton | Town | — | 29847 |
| Murphys Estates | CDP | — | — |
| North Augusta (part) | City | — | — |
| Antioch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bouknight | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brunson Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cleora | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Colliers | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harmony | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Huets Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Huntington Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Johnson Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lake Forest Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Limestone | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mathais Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mayson Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Meeting Street | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Millers Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Morgana | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Parkhill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine House Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Lane | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Poverty Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ropers Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rotalata | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sullivan Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tompkins Cross Roads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| West Store Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
North Augusta is chiefly an Aiken County city; only a small edge of its footprint touches Edgefield County, so most North Augusta addresses belong to the neighboring county’s page.
ZIP Codes
- 29824 — Edgefield (also serves most rural addresses in the county’s north and center)
- 29832 — Johnston
- 29847 — Trenton
The unincorporated crossroads communities have no ZIP code of their own and use the nearest post-office town’s code above.
Geography
Edgefield County sits in South Carolina’s Piedmont/Sandhills transition, a rolling landscape of pine and hardwood forest cut by small creeks. The Savannah River forms the county’s entire western and southwestern border, separating it from Georgia; on the far bank sit Columbia County and Richmond County, Georgia (home to Augusta). Edgefield County borders Greenwood County to the northwest, Saluda County to the northeast, Aiken County to the east, and McCormick County to the west, in addition to Columbia and Richmond counties in Georgia across the river.
Demographics
Edgefield County had 25,657 residents at the 2020 census, with a population density of roughly 51 people per square mile — well below South Carolina’s statewide average, reflecting the county’s largely rural character (about 88% of residents live outside any urban area). Edgefield, the county seat, and Johnston are the county’s two largest incorporated towns. Median household income in the county trails the South Carolina median of $67,804, consistent with the county’s rural, lower-density economic base.
Economy & Local Life
Edgefield County’s economy mixes agriculture, light manufacturing, and public-sector employment, with many residents commuting to jobs across the Savannah River in the Augusta, Georgia metro area (the county is part of the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Combined Statistical Area). A federal correctional institution operated by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons is a significant county employer. Peach and timber production remain part of the rural economy, and the county is historically known for its 19th-century alkaline-glazed stoneware pottery tradition, including work made by enslaved potters at Old Edgefield District kilns.
History
Edgefield County was established on March 12, 1785, carved from the old Edgefield District of the colonial-era Ninety Six District. It is nicknamed the “Home of Ten Governors” for the number of South Carolina and U.S. governors with roots in the county. The Old Edgefield pottery district, active from the early 1800s, produced some of the American South’s best-documented enslaved-artisan stoneware, including large storage vessels signed and inscribed by the potter known as Dave (later David Drake).
Getting There
US Route 25 and South Carolina Highway 23 are the county’s principal roads, connecting Edgefield and Trenton to Augusta, Georgia to the southwest and Greenwood to the northwest.
- Augusta, Georgia — about 20 miles southwest
- Aiken, South Carolina — about 20 miles east
- Greenwood, South Carolina — about 30 miles northwest
- Columbia, South Carolina — about 65 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Augusta Regional Airport (Bush Field), across the Savannah River in Georgia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Edgefield County?
It is in western South Carolina, on the Georgia state line along the Savannah River, part of the Augusta metro area.
What is the population of Edgefield County?
25,657 as of the 2020 census.
How big is Edgefield County?
507.00 square miles (1,313.1 km2), of which 500.71 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Edgefield County?
Edgefield is the county seat.
How many towns are in Edgefield County?
Three incorporated towns — Edgefield, Johnston and Trenton — plus one census-designated place and about two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Edgefield County?
29824 (Edgefield), 29832 (Johnston) and 29847 (Trenton) are the county’s main ZIP codes.
Why is Edgefield County called the “Home of Ten Governors”?
Ten South Carolina and U.S. governors were born in or had strong family roots in Edgefield County, more than any other county in the state.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in South Carolina.