Richland County, SC elected officials: county council, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Richland County: 17 seats on 7 elected bodies.

County Council

Richland County Council

OfficeWho holds it now
County Council MemberDerrick Pugh source
County Council MemberPaul Livingston source
County Council MemberAllison Terracio source
County Council MemberGretchen Barron source
County Council MemberCheryl English source
County Council MemberJessica Mackey source
County Council MemberChakisse New- ton source
County Council MemberJason Branham source
County Council MemberDon Weaver source
County Council MemberTish Dozier-Alleyne source
County Council MemberTyra Little source

County officers

OfficeWho holds it now
Clerk of CourtJeanette McBride source
CoronerNaida Rutherford source
Probate JudgeAmy McCullough source
Probate JudgeAlexander S. Imgrund source
SheriffLeon Lott source

Cities and towns

  • Columbia · Mayor Daniel J.Rickenmann Legislative Delegation Office 1400 Pickens St., Suite 200, Columbia 29201 Tel. (803) 576-1908 · 1 seat

How many local governments Richland County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 16 local governments in Richland County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships51
School districts (school boards)20
Special districts (elected boards)80

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Richland County

422,117people
34.4median ageU.S.: 38.9
$63,784 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
17.2%below the U.S.: 12.5%
40.7%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$242,800median home valueU.S.: $332,700
6.4%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
6%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
9.7%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
8.7%U.S.: 8.4%
58.5%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
26.8%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 6.4% · White 39.4% · Black 46.9% · Asian 3% · Other or more than one race 4.3% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Richland County

3.9%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 4.5%. South Carolina: 3.7%.
8,436people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
210,648people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
219,084in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Richland County 0.0%1.5%3.0%4.5%6.0% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)3.9%8,436210,648219,084
August 20264.5%9,769209,360219,129
July 20264.3%9,525209,728219,253
June 20264.5%9,915209,222219,137
May 20264.1%8,896209,752218,648
April 20263.8%8,197208,656216,853
March 20264.3%9,277208,136217,413
February 20265.4%11,846206,528218,374
January 20265.5%12,021205,144217,165
December 20254.9%10,658206,745217,403
November 20255.0%10,960206,165217,125
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20254.5%9,615203,960213,575
August 20254.9%10,434202,616213,050
July 20255.0%10,750203,666214,416
June 20254.8%10,208203,645213,853
May 20254.2%8,842203,270212,112
April 20253.8%8,160204,008212,168
March 20254.2%8,874203,144212,018
February 20254.5%9,610201,893211,503
January 20254.4%9,335202,358211,693
December 20244.1%8,733203,473212,206
November 20244.5%9,495202,755212,250
October 20244.6%9,838203,053212,891
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)4.6%9,768203,770213,538
20244.3%8,966201,269210,235
20233.0%6,175197,954204,129
20223.2%6,471193,042199,513
20214.0%7,949189,002196,951
20205.7%11,202184,770195,972
20192.7%5,295189,441194,736
20183.4%6,532186,436192,968
20174.2%8,179186,949195,128
20164.7%9,289187,465196,754

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. South Carolina's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 4.0% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Richland County

437.2 per 100,0002025. South Carolina: 387.6.
1,788.7 per 100,0002025. South Carolina: 1,676.2.
22murders2025, 1,225 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
20251,225437.25,0121,788.7
20241,512543.45,4541,960.0
20232,041737.17,1002,564.0
20222,076747.57,7952,806.8
20212,171787.98,0622,925.9
20202,084742.29,2583,297.2
20192,404865.810,2813,702.7
20182,085758.910,5423,837.1
20172,014740.311,1554,100.3
20162,063761.810,3493,821.5
By police agency (2)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Richland County Sheriff's Office20251,1854,667269,173
Forest Acres Police Department20254034510,393

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in South Carolina · the U.S.

Police staffing

2.28 per 1,000 residents2025, 2 agencies serving 279,566 people.
637sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
148civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (2), 2025
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Richland County Sheriff's Office612137269,173
Forest Acres Police Department251110,393
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
20256372.281482
20246302.27662
20236162.23592
20225732.07812
20215542.02852
20206362.271092
20195632.031162
20186072.22392
20175942.19462
20165191.921112

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Richland County Clerk of Court?
Jeanette McBride is the Clerk of Court of Richland County, South Carolina.
Who is the Richland County Coroner?
Naida Rutherford is the Coroner of Richland County, South Carolina.
Who is the Richland County Probate Judge?
Amy McCullough is the Probate Judge of Richland County, South Carolina.
Who is the Richland County Probate Judge?
Alexander S. Imgrund is the Probate Judge of Richland County, South Carolina.
Who is the Richland County Sheriff?
Leon Lott is the Sheriff of Richland County, South Carolina.
Who are the Richland County commissioners?
Derrick Pugh (County Council Member); Paul Livingston (County Council Member); Allison Terracio (County Council Member); Gretchen Barron (County Council Member); Cheryl English (County Council Member); Jessica Mackey (County Council Member); Chakisse New- ton (County Council Member); Jason Branham (County Council Member); Don Weaver (County Council Member); Tish Dozier-Alleyne (County Council Member); Tyra Little (County Council Member).
What is the population of Richland County?
About 422,117 people, with a median age of 34.4; the median household income is $63,784 and 17.2% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Richland County?
3.9% in September 2026 (preliminary): 8,436 people unemployed in a labor force of 219,084, against 4.5% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Richland County?
16 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 5 municipal, 2 school district and 8 special district governments.
What cities and towns are in Richland County?
1: Columbia. Each has its own page with its mayor and council.

Officeholders as of October 15, 2026, from the South Carolina Legislative Manual's list of county officers and mayors of county seats; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

Richland County's 2026 ballot and results · Every South Carolina county · South Carolina's members of Congress

See your members of Congress and every race and measure on your ballot in Richland County, from your address. Your address stays in your browser.Look up my races

See something wrong on this page? Report a problem · Corrections