Georgetown

Although a number of Native American tribes already lived in the area and the Spanish had visited, English planters and their African slaves were the first to settle what is now known as Georgetown County.

Although a number of Native American tribes already lived in the area and the Spanish had visited, English planters and their African slaves were the first to settle what is now known as Georgetown County. In 1769 Prince Frederick, All Saints, and Prince George parishes were combined, resulting in Georgetown District. In 1785 the district split into four counties including Winyah County. Winyah County would later be renamed Georgetown County in honor of King George II. Despite the approval of the British that this name suggests, Francis Marion regularly engaged in guerilla warfare from the county’s marshes during the Revolutionary War.

A coastal location has always served as a large source of wealth for Georgetown County. The location favored the growth of plantation crops, especially cotton and Indigo. In fact, Indigo planters became so affluent that they became their own level of high society known formally as the “Winyah Indigo Society.” Later, rice took over and became the crop of choice for Georgetown County plantation owners, but Indigo plants still grow wild in the area. Furthermore, the Georgetown Port, in the county seat of Georgetown, became such a source of income that pirates plagued the county’s coast.

Today one can easily observe a connection between Georgetown County’s past and its future. The African slaves brought over by British planters to farm cotton, Indigo, and rice have preserved the Gullah culture throughout the generations. This culture is especially evident on Sandy Island. Georgetown’s port still anchors the county’s economy. The county’s historical significance, coastal location, beach towns, and nature preserves make it a popular tourism destination.

Georgetown County, A Brief History. Accessed June 03, 2016.
http://www.georgetowncountysc.org/about/history.html

 

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Georgetown, S.C. | Carolina Snaps
Georgetown, S.C. | Carolina Snaps

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Nestled on the coast of South Carolina, Georgetown County embodies resilience and centuries of rich, cultural history. Georgetown, South Carolina was founded in 1729, as the third oldest town in the...
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Pirates of the Carolinas
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The adventures and exploits of pirates and buccaneers have long captured our imaginations. These sea bandits roved the ocean lanes in all parts of the world, from the waters off Africa and Europe and...
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Pirates had a strict list of articles, or laws, that had to be signed by each member of the crew before a voyage began. Those rules governed who would get how much of whatever treasure was captured...
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Episode 6

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For a time, piracy was tolerated. Some would even say encouraged, based on the actions of many public officials in Carolina's port cities. Bargain prices were often paid by town merchants for ill...
Pirates of the Carolinas 3
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Episode 3

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Blackbeard was one of the most infamous pirates. It's thought that his real name was Edward Teach, and he is believed to have been from Bristol, England. A very tall man for the time period, in a time...
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Sandy Island (S.C.) Stop 9
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While strolling through the longleaf pine forest, Rudy and Jim come across a prominent moth. Its color pattern on the wings mimics tree bark near perfectly, making it tougher for predators to spot...
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Sandy Island (S.C.) Stop 3
Episode 4

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Sandy Island features around thirteen plant communities. At their next stop, Rudy and Jim discuss the plant life which resides here. They talk about reindeer moss, a species of lichen, and what...
Sandy Island (S.C.) Stop 2 2
Sandy Island (S.C.) Stop 2
Episode 2

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Jim and Rudy discuss the composition of the sand dunes on Sandy Island, and how wind and water have shifted the dunes over time. The waters between these slopes make perfect hunting ground for local...
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Sandy Island (S.C.) Stop 5
Episode 6

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Sandy Island (S.C.) Stop 1
Episode 1

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Rudy and Jim visit Sandy Island, off the South Carolina coast, near Georgetown. Sandy Island is the largest undeveloped fresh water island on the East coast, consisting mainly of sand dunes, and...
Sandy Island (S.C.) Stop 6 7
Sandy Island (S.C.) Stop 6
Episode 7

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Episode 10

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