History of Lancaster

Welcome to Lancaster, South Carolina, a place where you really can "have it all". Small town at heart, Lancaster is comfortably nestled between the metropolitan areas of Charlotte, North Carolina, 40 miles north, and South Carolina's capital city of Columbia, about 60 miles south. Benefitting from its location, Lancaster continues to attract new residents and businesses who quickly learn that Southern hospitality has true meaning here, and everyone is welcomed with genuine friendliness and a spirit of caring.

Located centrally along the northern border of the state, Lancaster County covers 549 square miles and has a population of approximately 59,000. The county comprises three incorporated communities - Lancaster, Kershaw, and Heath Springs. Bordered by the Catawba River and close to a number of lakes and waterways, Lancaster is just three hours away from the North Carolina mountains, and a little more than two hours from the beautiful shores of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Lancaster County is enjoying successful growth and focusing on its future, yet the area is steeped in history, and residents are proud of their heritage.

The area abounds with landmarks of historical significance. Famous Lancastrians include: Andrew Jackson, seventh President of the United States of America; Charles Duke, astronaut; Nina Mae McKinney, actress and Broadway star; Elliott White Springs, textile industrialist; and Dr. J. Marion Sims, who is known as the "father of modern gynecology."

Originally inhabitted by the Catawba and Waxhaw Indians, the Lancaster area was settled in the 1700s by Scotch-Irish farmers. South of Heath Springs, the first courthouse was in the home of John Ingram. In 1795, a log courthouse was built in Barnettsville; a second was constructed in 1802 and the town was renamed Lancasterville. Designed by the architect Robert Mills of Washington Monument fame, the present courthouse was built in 1828 and is now a national landmark.

The establishment of Lancaster Cotton Mill by Col. Leroy Springs brought the Industrial Revolution to Lancaster. Textiles have remained an important industry ever since.

Lancaster was involved in both the Revolutionary and Civil wars. At the site of Buford's Massacre, British Col. Banastre Tarleton devastated Col. Abraham Buford's retreating forces in 1780. The colonists were avenged when troops under the leadership of Gen. Thomas Sumter defeated the British at the Battle of Hanging Rock.

Lancastrians at Hanging Rock included Maj. Robert Crawford and Maj. William Richardson Davie. As a young boy, Andrew Jackson served as an aide to Davie. During the Civil War, several buildings were burned and Lancaster was looted by Gen. William T. Sherman's soldiers, who stabled their horses in the old Presbyterian Church while in the area.

Local sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places include:

The Robert Barnwell Allison House, a late 19th-century residence featuring Queene Anne architecture.

Buford's Massacre Site, the site of Col. Buford's 1780 defeat by the British after the fall of Charles Town, with memorials to those who died in the Revolutionary War.

Dr. William Columbus Cauthen House, Oakview Farm, a mid-19th century farmhouse.

Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church, the first separate black church in the Kershaw area. Built in 1909, it features Gothic revival architecture.

Craig House, an 1860 farmhouse which remains in the Craig family today.

Heath Springs Depot, which was built by Southern Railway in 1903.

Thomas Walker Huey House, home of a former member of the state Senate, which was built in 1848 and features Greek revival architecture.

Kilburnie, the oldest standing Lancaster residence. Built in the 1820's, the house has been moved to Craig Farm Road.

Lancaster Cotton Oil Company, which produced cottonseed and cotton oil from the turn of the century to the 1960s.

Massey-Doby-Nisbet House, a farmhouse built in the late 18th century.

The Mt. Carmel A.M.E. Zion Campground, which was established by the freedmen and has been a meeting site since the 1870s.

Old Presbyterian Church and Cemetery, the first brick church in the region. Built in 1862, it features Gothic revival architecture and is currently the home of the Lancaster County Society for Historical Preservation.

Russell-Heath House, an early 19th century Federal style farmhouse.

William Harrison Sapp House, an 1897 structure showing rural Colonial revival architecture.

Nearby are Sapp's Crossroads, named in honor of Dr. Sapp, and his office and drugstore.

Wade-Beckham House, today a bed and breakfast inn, mid-1800s Greek revival style.

Waxhaw Presbyterian Church and Cemetery, the first church in the area. Graves dating back to 1758 include those of Andrew Jackson Sr., the Rev. William Richardson and the Revolutionary War casualties.

Unity Baptist Church, an example of Gothic revival church arhcitecture, which was built in 1910.

North Carolina-South Carolina Cornerstone, placed in 1813 after a long-standing boundary dispute between the two states.

Downtown Historic District, 12 buildings in the downtown area which were built between 1880 and 1935, including the old Post Office, Springs Block, Farmer's Bank and Trust Co. Building and Bank of Lancaster/Opera House.

Matson Street Historical District, composed of residences and religious buildings in Kershaw which were built from 1890-1940.

East Richland Street-East Church Street Historic District, 28 structures ranging in architectural styles dating from 1890-1940.

The Springs' Home, Col. Elliott White Springs' birthplace. Built in 1825, the home was purchased from the Springs family in 1957 by the City of Lancaster, and served as City Hall until May 1999. The Building is now home to Lancaster County Council of the Arts.

Lancaster features two national landmarks:

Lancaster County Courthouse

The courthouse, designed by Robert Mills, is rumored to be the site of the last American witchcraft trial in 1813. In front of the courthouse is a monument of Lancastrian Confederate soldier Capt. Amos McManus, which was dedicated by the United Daughters of the Confederacy of Lancaster.

The Old Lancaster County Jail

The county jail, which was used from 1823-1979, also was designed by Robert Mills. It is now used for county offices.

In addition to these landmarks, the area abounds in sites of historical significance, many of which are noted with markers, including:

The birthplaces of President Andrew Jackson and Dr. James Marion Sims.

The site where King Haigler, Chief of the Catawba Nation in the mid-18th century, was slain.

Barr's Tavern Site, where president George Washington paid for his breakfast with half of a Spanish dollar which he had cut with his sword.

The site of Lancaster Academy, the oldest continous public school in the county, which was established in 1799.