Pickens County Demographics

A map of Pickens County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	111,318	107,247	82.7%	81.6%
Black	7,685	8,421	5.7%	6.4%
Hispanic	7,236	6,572	5.4%	5.0%
Multiracial	5,333	5,674	4.0%	4.3%
Asian	2,197	2,723	1.6%	2.1%
Native American/Other	860	767	0.6%	0.6%

Pickens County, South Carolina has an estimated population of 134,629, a slight increase from the 131,404 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 82.7% White, 5.7% Black, 5.4% Hispanic, 4.0% Multiracial, 1.6% Asian, and 0.6% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Pickens County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Pickens has become less 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 Pickens County, that probability was 32.5% in 2020 and 30.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Pickens County is ranked the 14th most populous county in South Carolina, out of 46 counties. Pickens County was ranked the 14th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Pickens County's White Population

111,318 residents of Pickens County, or 82.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Pickens County is significantly higher than in South Carolina overall, where 61.9% of the population is White. Pickens County ranks 2nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Pickens County's White population has grown by an estimated 3.8%. White residents' share of Pickens County's population has increased from 81.6% to 82.7%.

Pickens County is more White than neighboring Greenville County (65.2% White), Anderson County (75.1% White), and Henderson County (79.5% White). Pickens County is less White than neighboring Transylvania County (87.6% White), and Oconee County (83.1% White).

Pickens County's Black Population

7,685 residents of Pickens County, or 5.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Pickens County is significantly lower than in South Carolina overall, where 24.6% of the population is Black. Pickens County ranks 46th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Pickens County's Black population has declined by an estimated 8.7%. Black residents' share of Pickens County's population has decreased from 6.4% to 5.7%.

Pickens County is more Black than neighboring Transylvania County (3.6% Black), Oconee County (5.2% Black), and Henderson County (2.6% Black). Pickens County is less Black than neighboring Greenville County (15.3% Black), and Anderson County (13.5% Black).

Pickens County's Asian Population

2,197 residents of Pickens County, or 1.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Pickens County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 1.7% of the population is Asian. Pickens County ranks 7th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Pickens County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 19.3%. Asian residents' share of Pickens County's population has decreased from 2.1% to 1.6%.

Pickens County is more Asian than neighboring Transylvania County (0.7% Asian), Oconee County (0.7% Asian), Anderson County (1% Asian), and Henderson County (1.1% Asian). Pickens County is less Asian than neighboring Greenville County (2.5% Asian).

Pickens County's Hispanic Population

7,236 residents of Pickens County, or 5.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Pickens County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Pickens County ranks 21st statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Pickens County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 10.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Pickens County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 5.4%.

Pickens County is more Hispanic than neighboring Transylvania County (5.2% Hispanic), and Anderson County (5.2% Hispanic). Pickens County is less Hispanic than neighboring Greenville County (11.6% Hispanic), Oconee County (6.2% Hispanic), and Henderson County (13.1% Hispanic).

Pickens County's Native American/Other Population

860 residents of Pickens County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Pickens County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Pickens County ranks 31st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Pickens County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 12.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Pickens County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Pickens County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Greenville County (0.8% Native American/Other), Anderson County (0.8% Native American/Other), and Henderson County (0.9% Native American/Other).

Pickens County's Multiracial Population

5,333 residents of Pickens County, or 4.0% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Pickens County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Pickens County ranks 4th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Pickens County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 6.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Pickens County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.0%.

Pickens County is more Multiracial than neighboring Transylvania County (2.3% Multiracial), and Henderson County (2.7% Multiracial). Pickens County is less Multiracial than neighboring Greenville County (4.7% Multiracial), Oconee County (4.1% Multiracial), and Anderson County (4.4% 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.