Upstate Counties

Learn about significant places in upstate South Carolina.

Learn about significant places in the following upstate counties: Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union, and York.

Anderson County - Faith Cabin Library

Photo

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Because of near total neglect by state and county governments, black schools seldom had adequate libraries in the early twentieth century. This small log building was constructed by community...

Chester County - Brainerd Institute & Kumler Hall

Photo

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

This institute grew out of an 1866 school for freedmen; it became Brainerd Institute in 1868 and operated until 1941. From its founding until the turn of the century Brainerd was the only school...

Greenville County - Working Benevolent Society Hospital

Photo

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The Working Benevolent Society Hospital, first known as St. Luke Colored Hospital, was a two-story frame building standing here at the corner of Green Avenue and Jenkins Street. Founded in 1920, it...

Greenville County - Working Benevolent Temple & Professional Building

Photo

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The working Benevolent State Grand Lodge of South Carolina was a health, welfare, and burial benefit society for African Americans in South Carolina. The Lodge designed, built, and financed this...

Laurens County - Laurens County Training School

Photo

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Laurens County Training School opened in 1924 in a building constructed with assistance from the Rosenwald Fund, taught grades 8-11 until 1948. This school, at first emphasizing farming and homemaking...

Newberry County - Howard Junior High School

Photo

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Howard Junior High School (also known as Shiloh School) was built on the site of an earlier school constructed by the Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal Church. This one-story, wood frame building...

Oconee County - Oconee County Training School

Photo

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Oconee County Training School, which educated the African American children of this county from 1925 to 1955, was the successor to the Seneca Colored Graded School. This school, also known as OCTS...

Union County - Union Community Hospital

Photo

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Union Community Hospital was founded in 1932 under the leadership of Dr. Lawrence W. Long (1906?-1985). Dr. Long was a pioneer in providing medical services to the African American population. A...

York County - Afro-American Insurance Co.

Photo

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The Afro-American Insurance Company Building was constructed c. 1909 by William W. Smith, an African American architect and builder from Charlotte, North Carolina. It housed the local office of the...

York County - Catawba Indian School | Road Trip

Photo

Grades: 6 7 8

Although recognized by South Carolina, the Catawba did not receive federal recognition until 1941. In 1959 they petitioned Congress to terminate their tribal status, and tribal landholdings were...

York County - Emmett Scott School

Photo

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

This school, founded in 1920, was the first public school for blacks in Rock Hill. Named for Emmett J. Scott (1873-1957), a prominent educator who was then secretary of Howard University, Emmett Scott...

York County - Friendship College

Photo

Grades: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Friendship Junior College was founded in 1891 under the name Friendship Institute. The first class, with an enrollment of eleven pupils, was held October 11, 1891. Rev. Mansel P. Hall was the teacher...

York County: McCrory's Civil Rights Sit-ins | Road Trip

Photo

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8

This building, built in 1901, was occupied by McCrory's Five & Dime from 1937 to 1997. On February 12, 1960, black students from Friendship Jr. College in Rock Hill were denied service at the McCrory...