Lexington County lies in the Midlands region of South Carolina. Both the county and its seat were named after the Revolutionary War’s first battle, the battle of Lexington. This name is fitting seeing as a number of Revolutionary War battles were fought in the county.
First known as the Saxe Gotha township in 1733, the area acquired its current name in 1785. However, from 1791 to 1804 the county was added to Orangeburg District before becoming its own county again. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the county became smaller as lands belonging to this county were used to create Aiken and Calhoun counties.
The British were the first Europeans to settle in the area. This group created a trading post, later known as Granby, on the Congaree River. In the 18th century, a large number of Swiss, German, and Scotch-Irish immigrants came to the area and began small farms. Many of these small farms became submerged when Lake Murray was made from the Saluda River. However, the economy’s reliance on agriculture created by these small farms continues today. Various types of manufacturing as well as steel processing have also become popular means of income in the county.
Home. Accessed June 09, 2016. http://www.lex-co.sc.gov
Industry Data. Accessed June 09, 2016. http://www.lexingtoncountyusa.com/workforce/workforce_data/industry_data/
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Lake Murray is a 50,000-acre reservoir with roughly 650 miles of sparkling shoreline. Fed by the Saluda River, the lake isn’t just a recreational attraction for locals, but also serves as an essential...
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"B" is for Brodie, Laura (1908-2004). Herpetologist. Born on a farm in Lexington County, Brodie began collecting snakes and frogs as a young child. By her teens she had converted an outbuilding into...
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Rudy and Jim talk about some of the species of shrub which grow here: Rosemary and Sand Myrtle. Young Longleaf pines, False Foxglove, lichens, Bluejack oak, and Spiked moss also do well in low...
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Peachtree Rock – Rudy and Jim visit the actual rock in which the area gets its name. Contrary to popular belief, it is not actually a rock, but merely a large outcropping of sand held together by iron...
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Further up the trail where the area has less moisture, we see Turkey Oaks and Longleaf Pines make a return. Sparkleberry, Blazing Star, and Jointweed flowers are common in this area. On one of the...
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While walking along the trail, Rudy and Jim find a Fence Lizard resting on a tree trunk. Its camouflage skin is perfect for blending in with its environment, making it difficult for predators to spot...
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A little further down the trail, Rudy and Jim come across a sandstone rock, which has cemented over time, due to the abundance of iron in the soil.
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Hardwood Forest - On lower ground, where there is much more moisture, Red Maple, Maple Leaf Viburnum, Mountain Laurel, and White Oak trees grow very well in areas like this. Rudy and Jim come across...
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Here in this wide open, white sandy area, we see more Turkey oaks and Longleaf pines.
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Continuing down the trail, Rudy and Jim find a Black Gum tree, whose leaves are among the earliest to change color in the fall. Blackjack Oak is tree which grows well in poor soils. They come across...