Demographics are an initial set of characteristics of population and socioeconomic factors often used to initially evaluate a community. Typically, this information is compiled from the U.S. Census and other sources of data.  These certainly are important in initial assessment, but they often do not tell the whole story. They provide only a snapshot and data for various tables and charts.

As you will easily determine in the following data, Sumter County and the Black Belt have been neglected and in decline for many years.  But don’t let that fool you. For it is in a personal visit to meet our people and hear from our leaders that you’ll quickly learn there is a spirit of determination, unity and creativity that is leading the way for a Sumter Renaissance.