Formed January 1, 1791 (23rd county)
Kershaw County (65,407), Camden (7,790)
The Modern red brick structure was built in 1967. The structure is on Broad Street at Lafayette Avenue. United States Highway 521 is Broad Street in this part of town. Ralph Little and Clark, McCall and Leach combined on the designs of this columned facility. There were 1826 and 1906 facilities earlier in Camden, the only county seat. An Administration Building has been added. Kershaw County was formed on January 1, 1791 from parts of Fairfield, Lancaster and Richland counties as the 23rd county. It is named for settler Joseph Kershaw. The county seat was named for Lord Camden. Kershaw County is the birthplace for 2 South Carolina Governors, John G. Richards, Jr., and John C. West, Sr.
The area of the county is 740 square miles. It is 17 out of 46 in the state. It ranks 21 out of 46 in population in the state. It has a density of 88.4 persons per square mile making it 22 out of 46 in the state. Kershaw County has 14.9% of its population in its incorporated areas. Interstate Highway 20 crosses the county east to west from Lee County to Richland County. United States Highway 1 enters the county from Chesterfield County, northeast, and exits into Richland County, southwest. United States Highway 521 comes from Lancaster County, north, and goes to Sumter County, south. United States Highway 601 is joined with United States Highway 521 from Lancaster County, splits and heads southwest into Richland County.
Kershaw County government consists of a sheriff and 7 Council Members. Four Circuit Court Judges and Six Family Court Judges serve Kershaw and Richland counties. The county is in the northeast part of the state. Columbia, South Carolina is directly southwest and Greenville, South Carolina is northwest of the county. The county center is 8.4 miles North of Camden nearer Dekalb. The county is surrounded clockwise by Lancaster, Chesterfield, Darlington, Lee, Sumter, Richland, and Fairfield counties. The county shape looks like a T-shirt with the right arm extended. Camden is located in the southwest quarter of the county. Camden is the county seat and the largest city. It is 11.9% of the county population. The county is pronounced KUR-SHA. This county is in the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Bethune
Camden
Elgin
