Chesterfield County lies in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is part of the historic Pee Dee region and sits along the border with North Carolina. At the 2020 census the county had a population of 43,273. The county seat is Chesterfield, while the largest town is Cheraw. The county government and local communities manage a largely rural landscape where small towns, farms and forested areas dominate.

Geography and landscape

Chesterfield County occupies a mix of rolling uplands and riverine lowlands characteristic of the Pee Dee region. Its terrain supports agriculture, pine forests, and scattered wetlands. Rivers and streams in the area drain toward larger Pee Dee River systems, and communities have historically developed along these waterways. The county’s location on the state line gives it cross-border connections for commerce and travel.

History and development

The area that became Chesterfield County was settled during the colonial and early national periods. Its communities grew around agriculture, mills and local trade routes. Over time transportation improvements and small-scale industry shaped town centers such as Chesterfield County’s seat and Cheraw, which developed as a local commercial hub on river and road networks.

Economy, land use and community life

The county’s economy is a mix of agriculture, forestry, light manufacturing and services. Family farms, timber operations and food production remain important, alongside retail, healthcare and public services that support residents. Outdoor recreation—hunting, fishing and boating—is popular where public lands and waterways are accessible.

Places of interest and local character

  • Historic small-town centers with civic buildings and churches that reflect 19th- and early-20th-century patterns.
  • Rivers and rural landscapes that attract anglers, paddlers and nature observers.
  • Annual fairs and local festivals that showcase community traditions.

Chesterfield County is best understood as a predominantly rural county in the Pee Dee with long-standing local communities and ties to both agriculture and regional commerce. For maps, government services and more local information see county resources and regional planning agencies that serve northeastern the Pee Dee area and neighboring counties across the border.