Community Information

Nestled in the heart of the state, the city of Sumter is the seat of Sumter County, South Carolina, located in the midland region of the state approximately 45 miles east of Columbia, the state capital. The community is a short drive from Interstates 20, 26, 77 and 95, and encompasses US Highways 15, 521, 76 and 378.

Settled in the 1700's and officially incorporated as Sumterville in 1845, the city and county are named for General Thomas Sumter, the "Fighting Gamecock" of the American Revolutionary War. Once a sleepy, primarily agricultural community, Sumter took a leap into the future with the opening of Shaw Air Force Base (home of the 20th Fighter Wing) in 1941. The economic boost provided by the base enabled the area to grow and diversify, with the result that today's citizens are hard at work in our expanding manufacturing and biotech industries, a thriving retail environment and one of the largest health care systems in the state. A city of culture and leisure, Sumter boasts more than 100 clubs and community organizations devoted to a wide range of interests, from the arts to historic and environmental preservation, sports and more.

Population
City of Sumter: 42,700
Sumter County: 108,000

Climate
Temperate, with warm spring and autumn, hot summers and mild winters. The annual average temperature is 64, and the average summer temperature is 80. Average humidity is 83% at 1 a.m., 75% at 7 a.m. and 50% at 1 p.m. Average precipitation is 47 inches.