Lee

Formed January 1, 1902 (41^st county)

Lee County (16,530), Bishopville (3,015)

The tan brick Classical Revival structure was built in 1909 on the square surrounded by Main, Deschamps, Courthouse, and Gregg streets.  Main Street is United States Highway 15 in the town.  William Augustus Edwards and Frank C. Walter combined on the designs.  The building was renovated in 1974.  It features columns and veteran memorials on the grounds.  The county was founded on January 1, 1902 from parts of Darlington, Kershaw, and Sumter counties as the 41^st county with Bishopville as the only county seat.  It was named for Civil War General Robert E. Lee.  Bishopville is named for settler Jacob Bishop.  Lee County is the birthplace for 1 South Carolina Governor, Thomas G. McLeod. 

Lee County government consists of a sheriff and 7 Council Members.  Four Circuit Court Judges and Three Family Court Judges serve Lee, Clarendon, Sumter, and Williamsburg counties.  The county is in the eastern part of the state.  Columbia, South Carolina is west and Charleston, South Carolina is south of the county.  The county center is 5.1 miles South of Bishopville.  The county is surrounded Chesterfield, Darlington, Florence, Sumter, and Kershaw counties. 

The area of the county is 411 square miles.  It is 41 out of 46 in the state.  It ranks 42 out of 46 in population in the state.  It has a density of 40.2 persons per square mile making it 37 out of 46 in the state.  Lee County has 20.2% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 20 crosses the county from east to west from Darlington County to Kershaw County.  United States Highway 15 comes in from the northeast, Darlington County, and goes to the south, Sumter County.  United States Highway 76 cuts the southeast corner from Florence County to Sumter County.  United States Highway 401 enters from Darlington County and exits into Sumter County.  The county shape resembles a fire hydrant tipped to the northwest.  Bishopville is located in the eastern third of the county.  Bishopville is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 18.2% of the county population.