Lake City, SC Demographics

A map of Lake City's Population by Race

Lake City, South Carolina has an estimated population of 5,988, a slight increase from the 5,903 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 69.4% Black, 22.6% White, 7.6% Multiracial, 0.4% Hispanic, 0.0% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Lake City, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Lake City has become considerably more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than South Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Lake City, that probability was 35.4% in 2020 and 46.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Lake City is ranked the 94th most populous place in South Carolina, out of 475 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Lake City was ranked the 94th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Lake City's White Population

1,354 residents of Lake City, or 22.6% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Lake City is significantly lower than in South Carolina overall, where 61.9% of the population is White. Lake City ranks 445th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake City's White population has grown by an estimated 45.1%. White residents' share of Lake City's population has increased from 15.8% to 22.6%.

Lake City is more White than neighboring Kingstree (22.5% White). Lake City is less White than neighboring Scranton (43.7% White), Coward (55.1% White), Olanta (41.1% White), and Danwood (96.7% White).

Lake City's Black Population

4,155 residents of Lake City, or 69.4% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Lake City is significantly higher than in South Carolina overall, where 24.6% of the population is Black. Lake City ranks 30th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake City's Black population has declined by an estimated 10.6%. Black residents' share of Lake City's population has decreased from 78.7% to 69.4%.

Lake City is more Black than neighboring Scranton (54.3% Black), Coward (38.5% Black), Olanta (53% Black), and Danwood (0% Black). Lake City is less Black than neighboring Kingstree (71.5% Black).

Lake City's Asian Population

0 residents of Lake City, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Lake City is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 1.7% of the population is Asian. Lake City ranks 247th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake City's Asian population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Asian residents' share of Lake City's population has decreased from 0.5% to 0.0%.

Lake City is less Asian than neighboring Scranton (0.8% Asian), and Kingstree (4.5% Asian).

Lake City's Hispanic Population

25 residents of Lake City, or 0.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Lake City is lower than in South Carolina overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Lake City ranks 315th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake City's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 81.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Lake City's population has decreased from 2.2% to 0.4%.

Lake City is more Hispanic than neighboring Scranton (0% Hispanic), Kingstree (0.3% Hispanic), and Danwood (0% Hispanic). Lake City is less Hispanic than neighboring Coward (4.8% Hispanic), and Olanta (1.9% Hispanic).

Lake City's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Lake City, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Lake City is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Lake City ranks 320th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake City's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Lake City's population has decreased from 0.5% to 0.0%.

Lake City is less Native American/Other than neighboring Kingstree (1.3% Native American/Other), and Danwood (2.3% Native American/Other).

Lake City's Multiracial Population

454 residents of Lake City, or 7.6% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Lake City is slightly higher than in South Carolina overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Lake City ranks 386th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake City's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 236.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Lake City's population has increased from 2.3% to 7.6%.

Lake City is more Multiracial than neighboring Scranton (1.2% Multiracial), Coward (1.6% Multiracial), Olanta (4.1% Multiracial), Kingstree (0% Multiracial), and Danwood (1% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.