Personal loans in Smoaks, SC

With an estimated 98 residents, Smoaks is the 258th-largest of 271 places in South Carolina. Smoaks is a small community in South Carolina, with an estimated 98 residents, and every licensed lender here follows the same state rulebook.

By the Personalloaner Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-09-16

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A 2020-to-2023 comparison shows Smoaks down by about 1.0%. Decide the purpose of the loan and your repayment plan before sharing any details with a Smoaks lender. Consumer lending that reaches Smoaks's 98 residents is governed by South Carolina statute; no city ordinance changes it. The closest larger place is Branchville, SC about 11 miles away.

What the Census records for Smoaks

The figures below are Smoaks's own — Census population, land area and coordinates — followed by the South Carolina rules.

Population: the Census counts 98 residents in Smoaks (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate), the 258th-largest figure among South Carolina's 271 places.
Population trend: A drop of about 1.0% from 2020 to 2023.
Net change: roughly 1 fewer people than the 2020 Census counted.
Size percentile: Smoaks's 98 people outrank roughly 5% of the places in South Carolina.
Density: the Census land area of 1.6 sq mi holds about 60 people per square mile.
By land area: Smoaks ranks 181st among South Carolina's 271 places, at 1.6 sq mi.
Share of state population: Smoaks's 98 residents are about 0.0% of South Carolina.
National standing: Smoaks ranks 18,170th of 19,457 US places.
Growth rank: Smoaks ranks 182nd among South Carolina's 271 places for the 2020-to-2023 change.
Against the state trend: Smoaks's 1.0% change compares with a South Carolina average of +2.6% across its 271 places.
Density rank: Smoaks is the 264th most densely settled place in South Carolina.
Against the state median: Smoaks runs about 60 residents per square mile, where the South Carolina median is 584.
Location: coordinates 33.0895, -80.8142 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
Nearest larger cities: Branchville (11 mi); Ehrhardt (12 mi); Reevesville (12 mi); St. George (15 mi); Walterboro (15 mi). Lenders licensed in the state serve Smoaks whether or not they keep a local branch.
Smaller communities close by: Williams (4 mi); Lodge (8 mi); Govan (23 mi), each with its own Census population profile.
Within a 50-mile radius: 6 smaller Census places.
Larger places within 100 miles: 205.

A pre-application checklist for Smoaks

Complete these steps first when you borrow in Smoaks (98 residents):

Order your free credit reports and dispute anything inaccurate — it is the cheapest way to move the rate you are offered.
Run the numbers on the personal loan calculator so you know the payment before you apply.
Line up several pre-qualified offers and let the APR decide.
Confirm the lender holds a South Carolina licence by checking the regulator named above.
Pick the shortest term whose payment you can comfortably afford.
Keep the amount to the expense; an approval is not a reason to take more.
Be clear on what the loan is for and how it gets repaid.

What differs between Smoaks and the rest of South Carolina is not the process but the borrower's own file, among the 98 people here.

What is available to Smoaks borrowers

With about 60 residents per square mile, Smoaks is sparsely settled, and 64 larger Census places sit within 50 miles. Lenders licensed in South Carolina reach Smoaks's 98 residents online, so the nearest branch is not what sets your APR. The nearest larger city, Branchville, SC about 11 miles away.

How Smoaks compares across South Carolina

Among South Carolina's 271 places, Smoaks sits at 258th for population, a share of roughly 0.0% of the state. For population change between 2020 and 2023, Smoaks ranks 182nd of 271 in South Carolina (about the 33th percentile). Its roughly 60 residents per square mile place it 264th among South Carolina's places. Between 2020 and 2023 the count changed by roughly 1 residents.

Smoaks: area, density and distance

Smoaks's land area is roughly 1.6 square miles, and the Gazetteer records no significant water area within it. Spread across it are roughly 60 residents per square mile. Charleston, the largest place in South Carolina, is about 52 miles from Smoaks. Counting outward 50 miles, 64 larger communities surround Smoaks. Within the same 50 miles lie 6 smaller Census places.

How South Carolina law applies in Smoaks

This table holds the South Carolina rate and licensing rules for consumer loans made to Smoaks's 98 residents.

Rule	Detail	Source
State lending regulator	South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions - Consumer Finance Division (Office of the Commissioner of Consumer Finance) Source says: "South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions Office of the Commissioner of Consumer Finance" (site heading).	South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions - Consumer Finance Division as of 2026-09-16
Small-loan / installment lender licensing	Consumer Finance Division licenses and regulates companies making consumer loans with APRs exceeding 12% (Title 37 Consumer Protection Code; Consumer Finance Act, Title 34, ch. 29). Source says: "The Consumer Finance Division (CFD) licenses and regulates the business activities of all companies... that make consumer loans which have annual percentage rates exceeding 12%."	South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions - Consumer Finance Division as of 2026-09-16
Supervised loan threshold (state-specific rule)	Consumer loans with a finance charge above 12%/year are "supervised loans" requiring licensed supervised lenders; supervised lenders may charge up to 18% per year on unpaid balances. Source says: "Supervised loan means a consumer loan in which the rate of the loan finance charge exceeds twelve percent per year" (37-3-301); "eighteen percent per year on the unpaid balances of principal" (37-3-201(2)(c)).	South Carolina Legislature (S.C. Code of Laws) as of 2026-09-16

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Common questions

What are my options in Smoaks if my credit is poor?

Borrowing is still possible, but expect a higher APR and a smaller approved amount. Lenders that accept lower scores hold statewide licences, so what is open to you in Smoaks is the same as anywhere in South Carolina.

What loan size can I expect in Smoaks?

Most personal loans sit somewhere between $1,000 and $50,000, though the figure you are approved for turns on the lender, your income and your credit. Model the monthly payment first with our personal loan calculator.

Do I have to pledge anything to borrow in Smoaks?

For an unsecured personal loan, no — there is nothing to pledge. A secured loan, such as home equity or one secured by a vehicle, does require collateral, and default puts that asset at risk.

Does comparing loans in Smoaks cost me credit score points?

Not during pre-qualification, which normally uses a soft pull and leaves your score alone. Submitting a full application triggers a hard inquiry, which can trim a few points briefly.

Nearby places

Williams, SC — population 96
Lodge, SC — population 82
Branchville, SC — population 971
Ehrhardt, SC — population 442
Reevesville, SC — population 195
Walterboro, SC — population 5,475
St. George, SC — population 1,834
Rowesville, SC — population 246