Some 90,004 people live in the Promise Zone designation area, which generally is located west of Interstate 95 and includes all or part of Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties. Some demographics:
Poverty: An estimated 28.12 percent of residents in the six-county zone live at or below the federal poverty rate.
Unemployment: The jobless rate is just under 15 percent in the Promise Zone, according to 2014 figures.
Income: The median income for those in the area is $32,705, or 25 percent less than the state’s median household income and 45 percent less than the federal average.
Other: According to a USDA fact sheet on the zone, “educational attainment and employment rates are low among residents and quality affordable housing is scarce.”
