Laurens County lies in the Piedmont of South Carolina, with the Enoree River, the Saluda River, and Lake Greenwood comprising some of its borders. The county was founded in 1785 with land from the Ninety-Six District. Laurens serves as the county seat.
Cherokee Indians lived in the area first. However, in 1753 John Duncan, a native of Scotland, moved from Pennsylvania and established the first settlement in the area. As a result, a great number of Scotch-Irish and English moved to the settlement, leading to a unique amount of loyalty to the British during the Revolutionary War.
The Revolutionary War had a great impact on Laurens County. A number of Revolutionary War battles, such as the battle of Musgrove’s Hill, occurred in Laurens County. Additionally, the county and its seat are named after Henry Laurens, who served as president of the Continental Congress.
Cotton has played a large role in Laurens County throughout much of its history. Before the Civil War, cotton plantations dominated the county’s economy. After the Civil War, the county continued to rely on growing cotton, this time in the form of sharecropping. The county easily transitioned from the sharecropping of cotton into the spinning of cotton and the textile industry. Mill villages arose out of this industry and defined the county’s economy and culture through World War II.
More recently, the textile and agricultural industries that once dominated Laurens County have diminished. The county’s economy now relies much more on manufacturing and distribution.
Continental Congress. June 09, 2016. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1776-1783/continental-congress
Video
Julia Mood Peterkin’ stories of plantation life and realistic African American characters captured the world’s attention. Julia Mood was born in Laurens County on Halloween in 1880. Her mother died...
Audio
"H" is for Hunter, John (d. 1802). Congressman, U.S. senator. Little is known about Hunter’s early life. He owned considerable real estate in Pendleton District. In 1785, he was elected to the General...
Video
The town and county of Laurens were named after Charleston aristocrat Henry Laurens, a patriot and statesman who became the president of the Continental Congress. While on a trip to Holland in 1779...
Video
The town of Laurens is a preservationists dream. People living in Laurens county take pride in preserving and restoring the old homes within their neighborhoods. One such home is the Charles H...
Video
The Washington Williams Home, originally a wedding present for his daughter, is now a museum, housing priceless Southern antiques. Architect Martin Meek talks about the construction of this house, its...
Video
Another historic home in Laurens is the winter town house of Colonel John Drayton Williams, and its Italian Villa style architecture. This style house was the first of its kind in Laurens.
Video
The house covered in this segment was built by Presbyterian clergyman and educator, Zelotes Lee Holmes, in 1858. This home is unusual for its octagonal shape and method of construction, both...
Video
Martin Meek is also in charge of restoring the Church of the Epiphany. This church is the oldest one in Laurens County, constructed in 1846. Martin Meek returns to discuss the history of this church...
Photo
Football uniforms and equipment have changed a great deal during the 20th century. The helmets and nose guards of these players at Laurens High School in 1909 were made of leather. Courtesy of the...
Photo
Laurens, carved out of the Ninety Six District in 1785 and named after Henry Laurens (see Henry Laurens ), was, like much of the backcountry, settled by Scotch-Irish in the pre-Revolutionary period...