About Sumter, South Carolina! The City of Sumter is the largest city, and the eighth-largest metropolitan area in the state of South Carolina. The city and county of Sumter bear the name of General Thomas Sumter, the “Fighting Gamecock” of the American Revolutionary War. The City has a rich and diverse military history and is the home of Shaw Air Force Base. The city boasts several different styles of homes including new home communities, historic homes, waterfront properties, and sprawling farms.