Lancaster County

Open up Lancaster County, S.C., and it reads like a Southern novel - full of history, fascinating characters and plenty of hospitality. Lancaster is one of seven S.C. counties that make up the Olde English District, an area settled by the English in the mid-1700s and where several Revolutionary War battles were fought. Lancaster is the home of the seventh U.S. president, Andrew Jackson, and the site of what's thought to be the last American witch trial.

But Lancaster County is also speeding into the future. Lancaster County has a population of approximately 59,000 people and includes three incorporated towns, Lancaster, Kershaw and Heath Springs. It's the home of one of the nation's largest textile manufacturers, and new industry is locating here every year, in part because of Lancaster's easy access to U.S. 521, which bisects the county, I-77 and I-85.

Lancaster is the largest of the county's three towns, and it's also the county seat. Downtown Lancaster offers a study in turn-of-the-century architecture. Twelve buildings in the downtown historic area were built between 1880 and 1935, including the oldpost office , Springs Block, Farmer's Bank and Trust Co. and the Opera House. The Lancaster County Courthouse, also downtown, was designed by architect Robert Mills, who designed the Washington Monument. But the courthouse is famous in its own right as the suspected site of the last American witchcraft trial in 1813. Lancaster has sought to revitalize its downtown in the past few years and is beginning the construction of new streetscape lighting and sidewalks to draw new retailers to the area. The City of Lancaster recently completed a new office complex, and Lancaster County is planning a new facility.

Lancaster County's commitment to constant improvement has been a major attraction to new industry. Textiles have remained an important industry to Lancaster County ever since the establishment of Lancaster Cotton Mill by Col. Leroy Springs during the Industrial Revolution. Springs Industries remains one of the largest textile manufacturers in the world and Lancaster County's largest employer. The company operates plants in Lancaster and Fort Lawn. Today, Lancaster County's industrial base has expanded to include a variety of businesses employing a diverse workforce. Aside from sheets and towels, other products manufactured in Lancaster County include batteries, electronics, metalworking, coaxial cable, heavy truck parts and bricks.

New businesses have set up operations in several business parks, including a 162-acre industrial park along the U.S. 521/S.C. 9 bypass, which houses Synteen Technologies, Lemforder Corp. and Nibrol Inc. The Kershaw Correctional Institution, located northeast of the town of Kershaw, was completed in 1997 and was a major economic project for Lancaster County. It employs 350 people.

Those who chose to work and live in Lancaster County find the area abounds with recreational attractions and historic landmarks. There's a state park honoring former president Andrew Jackson located nine miles north of Lancaster on U.S. 521. This 360-acre park was created as a memorial to Jackson, who spent his childhood in this area known as the Waxhaws. The park includes a museum, an 18th-century one-room schoolhouse and a sculpture of Jackson. It also has two nature trails, an 18-acre lake for bass fishing, fishing boat rentals, and picnic shelters for group outings. The park offers 25 campsites and hot-water showers. A large meetinghouse can be rented for weddings, reunions and other group functions. Be sure to check out the birthday celebration for Jackson each March.?/DIV>

Another popular outdoor day trip in Lancaster County is the Flat Creek Heritage Preserve, a 1,324-acre property that features Forty Acre Rock, one of the largest granite flat rocks east of the Mississippi. The park is a great place to see wild-flowers and nearly a dozen rare and endangered plants. The park is located off S.C. Secondary 27 on Conservancy Road.

Aside from the history lessons learned out-of-doors at the area's many parks, Lancaster County offers excellent educational opportunities for students young and old. During the past decade, the Lancaster County School District has worked with parents, community leaders and business people to build a strong system for the county's students. A number of new schools opened in the last decade, including two of the county's four high schools. The University of South Carolina operates a regional campus in Lancaster. USC Lancaster offers two-year associate's degrees in art or science at the nonresidential campus, as well as three career-oriented degrees in criminal justice, nursing and business. The campus's Medford Library is a community resource for all citizens.

The latest advancements in health care are found at Springs Memorial Hospital, a 194-bed medical center. More than 125 physicians representing 30 specialties are associated with Springs Memorial. The hospital recently completed an expansion of its emergency department and outpatient surgery center and established a new Women and Children's Center.

As the home of one of the nation's largest textile manufacturers, you can bet there's plenty of good shopping to be found on home fashions in Lancaster County. Springs Industries operates the Springmaid/Wamsutta outlet on S.C. 9 offering fashions for bed and bath. In downtown Lancaster, you'll find other regional retail draws, including a Belk department store on U.S. 521. And of course, in the summer months you'll always find a friendly roadside fruit stand offering peaches or fresh strawberries.