Chester County Communities
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY
Chester County and its county seat, the town of Chester, were named for Chester County, Pennsylvania. The county was formed in 1785 as part of the larger Camden District but was later transferred to Pinckney District (1791-1800); it became a separate district in 1800.
Scotch-Irish settlers from Pennsylvania and Virginia moved into this upstate region beginning about 1755. During the Revolutionary War, American forces under General Thomas Sumter were defeated here at the battle of Fishing Creek in August 1780; the Americans were victorious at Fishdam Ford in November of the same year.
The Landsford Canal was built in 1823 to allow boats and barges to bypass rapids on the Catawba River; this canal is now open as a state park. In later years the availability of hydroelectric power encouraged the establishment of textile mills in the area. South Carolina governor, United States senator, and judge Donald S. Russell (1906-1997) lived in Chester as a boy.
Today, Chester County is located in one of the most dynamic areas of South Carolina. Ideally situated just to the South of the Charlotte Metropolitan Area and just North of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, the Chester County region is in the earlys stages of economic growth and vitality.
CITY OF CHESTER (POPULATION: 6,955)
Chester is South Carolina's "Pretty Little City on the Hill". The county seat and the largest municipality in Chester County, the city abounds with historic and architecturally significant buildings.
The City's Historical District actually encompasses 250 acres and boasts some 475 different properties, including the City's downtown area, or "Hill District".
Chester's infamous hill features many handsome structures in a number of architectural styles with their original Victorian-era facades still standing.
Since the 1980s a number of individual merchants have taken the lead to revitalize the downtown area. The most significant improvement was the city-sponsored streetscape project of 1996. Completed with the help of substantial grant awards, the $1.8 million project further improved the beauty of this charming Southern town. The project has been so successful that visitors from other towns and cities have come to Chester to gain ideas and input on downtown revitalization.
TOWN OF GREAT FALLS (POPLUATION: 2,161)
Winding streets and enormous rock outcroppings are among the unique features of Chester County's river town - Great Falls.
Great Falls is the County's second largest municipality and got its name from the nearby waterfalls on the Catawba River. Industrialist James B. Duke, founder of Duke Power Company, played a major role in the early development of the town. In the early 1900s, Duke led the effort to harness the power of rapids in the nearby Catawba River with the construction of a hydroelectric plant.
TOWN OF FORT LAWN (POPULATION: 819)
Fort Lawn is Chester County's third larges municipality. Two of the county's busiest highways (S.C. 9 and U.S. 21) converge in Fort Lawn. the name of the town was derived from one of the town's earliest families, the Forts. The town was chartered in 1892. The town is home to the County's largest employer- Springs Industries.
TOWN OF RICHBURG (POPULATION: 409)
The small town of Richburg is located in the heart of the County's major growth area along Interstate 77. The interstate access as well as available industrial land, water and sewer service has made this area of Chester County attractive to new industry.
TOWN OF LOWRY'S (POPULATION: 204)
Lowry's is a sleepy, little town nestled in the northwestern section of Chester County. Only about 200 people inhabit the small town with the main industry being farms.
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