McCormick County was founded in 1916 due to a combination of lands previously belonging to Abbeville, Greenwood, and Edgefield counties. It is known for a variety of outdoor attractions including Hickory Knob, Hamilton Branch, and Baker Creek state parks as well as J. Strom Thurmond Lake. McCormick serves as the county seat.
French Huguenot, Scotch-Irish, and German farmers first settled the area in the mid-18th century. These settlers did not get along well with the Cherokee Indians of the region, and after Cherokees killed several residents the British built Fort Charlotte in order to protect them. When the Revolutionary War began, Fort Charlotte was one of the first forts that Americans conquered.
Mining has had a strong impact on the area. Dorn Gold Mine was constructed soon after the discovery of gold in 1850 to mine gold as well as manganese. In 1869, a man named Cyrus McCormick bought the mine. McCormick later gave away land that would become the county seat of McCormick, and the town of McCormick, as well as McCormick County, was named after him in 1882. Although the mine closed in the early 20th century, the town of McCormick still holds the McCormick Gold Rush Festival annually in honor of its mining heritage.
Historic McCormick County. Accessed June 10, 2016. http://www.mccormickcountysc.org/mccormick_county_history.php
McCormick County Visitors Council. Accessed June 10, 2016. http://mccormickscchamber.org/visitors_council.php?silverheader=3
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There are over 41,000 miles of road in South Carolina. Like veins in a body’s circulatory system, they connect the busy cities and small towns to each other, each serving a vital role throughout our...
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In this segment, Joanna Angle discusses the historic forests and state parks found in McCormick County: 1,000 acres of John de la Howe’s own land, which now serves as a scientific and educational...
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Judy and Jim Keith practice another form of old-fashioned art, just outside the town of McCormick: bending willow wood into graceful home furnishings.
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Price’s Mill is one of the most significant, and most photographed sites in all of McCormick County. Joanna Angle discusses the history of this famous McCormick landmark, which used to play a crucial...
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The downtown area is a center of commercial activity, and specialty stores. Patti McAbee talks about the McCormick Arts Council’s roles in economic, and community growth for McCormick County.
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Found eight miles north of McCormick, this beautiful dairy barn was converted into a country market, run by McCormick’s senior residents, and the youth of the John de la Howe School. Here, these...
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McCormick is known to have the second richest vein of gold in South Carolina. Joanna Angle discusses the early history of McCormick; origins going as far back as Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto’s...
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Audio transcript for: Quilting, Part 1 Early Teaching Quilting, Part 2 Quilting & Sewing, A Family Tradition Quilting, Part 3: Two Of Her Favorite Hymns Quilting, Part 4 Home Remedies
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Audio transcript fro Bob Gilchrist Owner of Lan’s Deli in McCormick, SC (McCormick County). His mother, Alberta Gilchrist, was also interviewed for this project.
