Chester County, South Carolina

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Chester County, South Carolina

Leader of this Project is Paula J

Coordinator is Mary Richardson

History/Timeline

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Catawba and Cherokee Indians were the first inhabitants of Chester county area..^[1]

1700s - Next white traders explored the area in the early 1700s. ^[1]

1750-55 Original settlers arrived by 1750-1755 in the Rocky Creek and Fishing Creek areas. These settlers were considered part of the Sots-Irish immigration southward on the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania. ^[1]A few arrived from Charles Town. The western portion of Chester county was mostly English settlers from Virginia. ^[1]Early settlers were part of the great Scots-Irish immigration south from Pennsylvania on the Great Wagon Road. Others came up from the port of Charlestown. The western part of the county was settled for the most part by immigrants from Virginia, most of English extraction.^[1]They settled in the Rocky Creek and Fishing Creek areas..^[2] Many of the early settlers belonged to the Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church.^[3]

UTube:

• Video of Rocky Creek, South Carolina

Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church, Chester Co.

Two rivers divide the land located known also as the Occanechi Path or the Great Warrior Trading Land. This was the Path to the Catawba, the Catawba Road, Indian Trading Path, Warriors' Path. All "Paths eventually melded and became part of the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road. This road went over the top of the hill in the city of Chester, SC. The Saluda Gap Road (another major path crossed the Indian trading Path in Chester County.^[2]

1776 - first court was held at Walkers, (now Lewis Turnout) in 1776. ^[2] The present courthouse in the town of Chester was the third in town and was built in 1852. ^[2]

1776-1780 Revolutionary War battles, such as Beckhamville, Fishing Creek, and Fish Dam Ford occurred.^[3]

Aug 18, 1780 Revolutionary War, American forces under Colonel Thomas Sumter were defeated here at the battle of Fishing Creek. the Americans were victorious at Fish Dam Ford in November of the same year.^[1]

1785 the state was divided into 37 judicial districts, bringing Chester county into life.^[2]

1785 - Thirty three counties were created within existing South Carolina Districts. Chester County was created within Camden District.^[3][1]

logo

1785 Chester County as well as the county seat, Chester, S.C. were named for Chester County, Pennsylvania. The county was formed in 1785 as part of the larger Camden District then it became part of Pinckney District (1791-1800). it became a separate district (county) in 1800. Scots-Irish settlers from Pennsylvania and Virginia moved into this upstate region.. ^[1]

1790 The county was formed and courthouse established. The city of Chester, S.C. built around this site of the court house, founded at the site in the 1790s. At first Chester, S.C. was the trade center for the farms of the area. ^[3]

1791 - Chester was transferred to the newly created Pinckney District.^[3]

1800 - Chester was re-christened a district and Pinckney District was abolished.^[3]

1823 The Landsford Canal was built. This allowed boats, barges past the Catawba River rapids. Currently the Canal is open as a state park. ^[1]

Chester State Park, S.C..

1850s availability of hydroelectric power enabled textile mill establishment. to allow boats and barges to bypass rapids on the Catawba River; this canal is now open as a state park. In later years the availability of hydroelectric power encouraged the establishment of textile mills in the area. ^[1]

Slavery Slavery on the Move

1851- Later Chester grew following the railroad through the area..^[3]

1862-65 -Civil War, Chester county provided large numbers of Confederate soldiers to fight in the Cause.^[3]

Spring, 1865 - A part of Union troops led by General William T. Sherman’s troops moved through the county wreaking destruction. ^[3]

1868-1870 The Civil War and Reconstruction period caused stressful economic times for Chester Co. people. .^[3]

1868 - Chester and all other districts became counties.^[3]

1888- Economy changed from agriculture to manufacturing economy with the Chester Manufacturing Company and Catawba Manufacturing Company (1892). Both of these textile mills later became part of the Springs Industries textile organization. ^[1]

Later mills were built in Great Falls and Lando

South Carolina governor, United States senator, and judge Donald S. Russell (1906-1998) lived in Chester as a boy. http://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/chester_county_sc.html

1920s county has a textile economy.^[1]

2002 Local industries are more diversified. ^[1]

Government Offices

1776 - first court was held at Walkers, (now Lewis Turnout).

2nd Courthouse--

3rd Courthouse, 1852 The present courthouse in the town of Chester was the third in town and was built in 1852.^[4]

1852 Courthouse

Geography

http://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/chester_county_sc.html

Chester, SC is the county seat of Chester County, South Carolina. This was named of the town of Chester, Pennsylvania (previous home of many settlers. Chester Pennsylvania is named for Chester in England.

Size - 592 square miles, 378,880 acres

Chester Co. - north-central county bounded on the east by the

Rivers -Catawba River is the Eastern boundary, Boad River is the Western boundary.

Soil, 29.9%- Cecil sandy loam, located in the Eastern Section. Red Clay is the common name. Iredell clay loam or "Black tack land" is 16.2% throught the center of the county running in SE direction. Cecil Coarse sandy loam is 12.6% found on the belt rimming the Southwest.Cecil clay loam is 21.2% Red Clay

Topography - most of it in the county's eastern section, where it is a gently-rolling country.

Crops principally cotton, corn, oats, and fruits.

Resources - brick clay, soapstone and mad, or bog manganese in quantities, rich in prospects for development.

Woodland --25% ( 99,977 acres) of the farm area of the county is in farm woodland,

Trees -short-leaf pine -most common. Hardwoods -- valuable hardwoods, as oak, hickory, and walnut.

Climate is mild and healthful, makes open-air farming practicable nearly all of the year, and facilitates crop production in great variety.

Growing season is 215 days. Sleet or snow is occasional.

Fishing Creek Reservoir, South Carolina, USA is also called Nitrolee Dam, Fishing Creek Lake.

Fishing Creek Reservoir, on the Catawba River in the Old English Region of South Carolina- the 3112-Acre lake yields a steady supply of water to the county.. fishing, and recreation such as paddling can be found here. The reservoir is one of 13 reservoirs serving yielding hydroelectric power for Duke Energy on the Catawba River. Boat access sites are available. Fish include bluegill, largemouth bass, gizzard shad, crappie and catfish. ^[5]

http://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/chester_county_sc.html

Plantations

• Oaks of Mamre - Chester - also called Walker-Mills

Adjacent counties

• York County - north

map within S.C.

• Lancaster County - east
• Fairfield County - south
• Union County - west

Protected areas

• Sumter National Forest (part)

Demographics

• 1920, it had 13,996 whites and 19,338 colored inhabitants, 54 foreign born, and one Chinese, the total population being 33,389, estimated in 1925 at 35,635.

In 2000, there were 34,068 people living in the county with a population density of 59 people/sq. mi. The racial makeup of the county was 59.93% White, 38.65% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The median income for a household in the county was $32,425, and the median income for a family was $38,087. Males had a median income of $30,329 versus $21,570 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,709. About 11.90% of families and 15.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.20% of those under age 18 and 14.90% of those age 65 or over. By 2010 the census reported less people.^[6]

• High Schools -7 accredited high schools.
• Chester has a population of 5,557.
• Industry- 3 cotton mills with 71,800 spindles and 2,036 looms. Other textile mills in the county have 92,706 spindles and 2,672 looms. Other manufacturing industries:- machine and lumber companies, ice and fuel company, cotton oil company, tool works, fertilizer works, roller mill, marble and granite company, creamery, ice cream company, a poultry hatchery, bakery, and bottling works.

Chester County map.

• Chester is one of the typically-prosperous and well-settled upcountry counties.
• Economy - Predominantly agricultural, it has the advantage of nearness to such markets as Charlotte and Columbia, and manufacturing districts west of it.
• Improved and developed lands command good prices, but low-priced lands easily brought up are abundant.

• Great Falls, in Chester County, is the site of one of the principal stations of the Southern Power company; two miles south is its Rocky Creek station; five miles north its Dishing Creek station, while its Wateree station is 30 miles south. Across the river from Great Falls is the Dearborn station. Three of these hydro-electric stations generating 173,750 hp are in the county and plants of 214,000 hp capacity are within 40 miles of the city of Chester, the county seat. Chester County is one of the chief centers of power development in the southern states.^[7]

Cities/Communities

• Chester (county seat)

Towns

• Fort Lawn
• Great Falls
• Lowrys
• Richburg

Census-des places

• Eureka Mill
• Gayle Mill

Unincorp communities

• Blackstock
• Edgemoor
• Lando
• Leeds
• Wilksburg

Notables

• John Adair, (1757–1840), born in Chester County (although at the time it was believed to be part of Anson County, North Carolina), would become a member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and governor of Kentucky
• Thomas and Meeks Griffin wrongly executed in South Carolina's electric chair in 1915. They were framed in Chester County in 1913 and pardoned in 2009

County Resources

• Chester County website
• Chester County history and images
• Chester County Historical Society

Chester County Historical Museum Old English District

Census

1790 --- 6,866 —

1800 --- 8,185 19.2%

1810 --- 11,479 40.2%

1820 --- 14,189 23.6%

1830 --- 17,182 21.1%

1840 --- 17,747 3.3%

1850 --- 18,038 1.6%

1860 --- 18,122 0.5%

1870 --- 18,805 3.8%

1880 --- 24,153 28.4%

1890 --- 26,660 10.4%

1900 --- 28,616 7.3%

1910 --- 29,425 2.8%

1920 --- 33,389 13.5%

1930 --- 31,803 −4.8%

1940 --- 32,579 2.4%

1950 --- 32,597 0.1%

1960 --- 30,888 −5.2%

1970 --- 29,811 −3.5%

1980 --- 30,148 1.1%

1990 --- 32,170 6.7%

2000 --- 34,068 5.9%

2010 --- 33,140 −2.7%

Est. 2016 --- 32,181

Cemeteries

• Catholic Presbyterian Church Cemetery
• Hopewell Reformed Presbyterian Church Cemetery
• Fishing Creek Presbyterian Cemetery
• Union ARP Church Cemetery
• Old Covenanter Cemetery (near Chester)

• FindaGrave Cemeteries
• FindaGrave Cemeteries2
• Chester County, SC Cemeteries

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12} http://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/chester_county_sc.html
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} http://chesterschistory.org/index.html
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10} https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Chester_County,_South_Carolina_Genealogy
4. ↑ http://chesterschistory.org/index.html
5. ↑ http://www.lakelubbers.com/fishing-creek-reservoir-267/
6. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_County,_South_Carolina
7. ↑ http://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/chester_county_sc.html

• Chester County Historical Society