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. 

York County - Friendship College
York County - Friendship College

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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 - Emmett Scott School
York County - Emmett Scott School

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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 - Afro-American Insurance Co.
York County - Afro-American Insurance Co.

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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
York County - Catawba Indian School | Road Trip

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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 - McCrory's Civil Rights Sit-ins
York County - McCrory's Civil Rights Sit-ins

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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...
Chester County - Brainerd Institute & Kumler Hall
Chester County - Brainerd Institute & Kumler Hall

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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...
Oconee County - Oconee County Training School
Oconee County - Oconee County Training School

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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
Union County - Union Community Hospital

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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...