Abbeville County SC
Located in Region 2 of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, Abbeville has much to offer both the visitor and resident.
Abbeville County, dating back to the 1700s, is rich in history from time of the Cherokee Indians. Dr. Joannes de la Howe is credited for naming Abbeville after his native city in France, and Jefferson Davis held his last war cabinet meeting at the Burt-Stark Mansion.
Today, Abbeville is a modern county with industrial parks, new schools, colleges, churches, an arts center, community centers, an opera house, 19th century homes, historical sites, recreational areas, state parks, and lakes
Abbeville County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 26,167. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 26,133[1] Its county seat is Abbeville6. It is the first county in the United States alphabetically.
Abbeville County is a blend of the old and the new. The people of the towns are commited to preserving the county's natural beauty and its valuable historic buildings and sites, and to welcoming new businesses, industries, and visitors.
Within the past few years, 80 Mennonite families moving into the area have found that rural Abbeville County meets their cultural needs. The county has also attracted an increasing number of retirees, who enjoy the quieter, slower pace of day to day living, but can still get a taste of cosmopolitan life in the nearby cities.
Historic Sites and Attractions
Historic Abbeville County South Carolina is rich in history and rich in natural resources.
Abbeville County is 508 square miles and encompasses the natural resources of Calhoun Falls State Park and Marina, Richard Russell Dam, and Sumter National Forest. Historically Abbeville County includes the Abbeville Opera House and historic district, the Burk-Stark Mansion circa 1841, and Erskine College located in the town of Due West.
Founded in 1758, Abbeville County is the “Birthplace and Deathbed of the Confederacy” and claims John C. Calhoun as a native son. Abbeville County: A Great Place to Live.
Abbeville was once one of five counties carved out of the old Ninety Six District in 1785. The courthouse town of Abbeville was built on land that once belonged to Revolutionary War Leader Andrew Pickens. It was also the spot where famed statesman John C. Calhoun launched his public career.
Abbeville has been home to many influential people, including nineteenth century black leader Bishop Henry Mcneal Turner, one of the founders of the African Methodist Church,and Thomas D. Howie, twentieth century national hero who was known as "the Major of St. Lo" in World War Two. Antebellum Abbeville was one of the most prosperous towns in the upcountry, and in competition with such towns as Anderson and Greenville, it secured the first branch of the Bank of the State of South Carolina on the eve of the Civil War.
Today in Abbeville, you'll find the elegant Opera House on a tree shaded town square surrounded by specialty and antique shops;the Burt-Stark House, which is the meeting place of the Confederate Council of War; and old Trinity Church, built in 1860 and noted for its Gothic Revival architecture. The Abbeville Historic District includes about 300 other buildings. Guided tours are available through the Greater Abbeville Chamber of Commerce.
Adjacent Counties
Greenville County, South Carolina - north
Anderson County, South Carolina - north
Laurens County, South Carolina - northeast
Greenwood County, South Carolina - east
McCormick County, South Carolina - southeast
Elbert County, Georgia - west
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 26,167 people, 10,131 households, and 7,284 families residing in the county. The population density was 20/km² (52/mi²). There were 11,656 housing units at an average density of 9/km² (23/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.33% White, 30.29% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 10,131 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.20% were married couples living together, 15.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out with 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,635, and the median income for a family was $38,847. Males had a median income of $30,452 versus $21,045 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,370. About 10.10% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.20% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
Abbeville
Antreville (Unincorporated)
Calhoun Falls
Donalds
Due West
Lake Secession (Unincorporated)
Lowndesville
Ware Shoals (Abbeville/Greenwood Counties)
Notable residents
John C. Calhoun, (1782-1850), born in the Abbeville District, United States Congressman and United States Senator from South Carolina, Secretary of War, Secretary of State, and Vice President of the United States
Langdon Cheves, (1776-1857), born in Abbeville County at Rocky River, banker and United States Congressman from South Carolina
Francis Alanson Cunningham, (1804-1864), born in the Abbeville District, physician and United States Congressman from Ohio
Joshua Hill, (1812-1891), born in the Abbeville District, United States Senator from Georgia
Abner Smith Lipscomb, (1816-1890), born in the Abbeville District, member of the Alabama Legislature and Supreme Court Justice of both Alabama and Texas.
James L. Petigru, (1789-1863), born in the Abbeville District, was the attorney general of South
Carolina and a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. He was the leader of the anti-nullificationalists in the state house.
Abbeville County offers a wealth of recreational opportunities on Water and on Land.
Richard B. Russell Dam and Lake
4144 Russell Dam Drive
Elberton, GA 30635-9271
Phone Numbers 706-213-3400
Toll free at 1-800-944-7207
The Russell Project is located in the Piedmont region of Georgia and South Carolina on the upper Savannah River, 30 miles downstream from Hartwell Dam and 37 miles upstream from J. Strom Thurmond Dam. (Georgia counties – Hart and Elbert Counties; South Carolina counties – Anderson and Abbeville counties). Lake Russell contains 26,650 acres of water and 540 miles of shoreline. And 26,500 acres of public land surrounds the lake.
At Russell Lake, almost all recreation areas are leased to and operated and maintained by either Georgia or South Carolina. The project has two Corps-operated recreation areas. These are the two unique and informative visitor centers at the powerhouse and the Natural Resource Management Center, located 20 miles east of Elberton, Georgia and 8 miles west of Calhoun Falls, South Carolina off US 72. In addition the project has 21 state-operated recreation areas (8 in Georgia and 13 in South Carolina); 1 locally-operated recreation area; and 1 Marina lease. The project also includes about 600 prehistoric and historic sites ranging in age from the end of the last Ice Age to the early 20th century – some of which are now under water, but many of which can be visited. In all, the Richard B. Russell Lake and Dam has more than 1.1 million visitors per year enjoying a wide variety of recreational activities including water sports, hunting, hiking, picnicking, camping, and fishing. With a 300-foot collar of public land around Russell Lake, most development on adjacent private property is not visible on the lake. This coupled with the prohibition against private shoreline development, has resulted in Russell having a pristine shoreline that provides abundant wildlife habitat.
Sumter National Forest
Long Cane Ranger Station
810 Buncombe Street
Edgefield, SC 29824
Phone: 803-637-5396
Fax: 803-637-5247
The National Forest Reservation Commission purchased the land in 1928 which later was designated a national forest in 1936 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Previously, this land was significantly utilized for timber or was old farm land which had eroded. However under the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the land was reestablished as productive acreage. Today, the Sumter National Forest is managed by the USDA Forest Service and the land is utilized for a multitude of uses including watershed protection, habitat for wildlife and fish, outdoor recreation, timber production, and wilderness area management.
The Long Cane Ranger District offers a wide range of recreational opportunities in Abbeville County and the surrounding areas. Boat ramps, horse trails, hiking trails, and recreational areas are all available. Check out the brochures listed in the Online Forms section of the web site under Recreation.
No comments:
Post a Comment