National Register Listing

Abbeville Historic District (Boundary Decrease)

a.k.a. See Also:Abbeville Historic District

Roughly E of Magazine St., S of Whitehall St., NW along Long Branch St., W of Lemon St., N along Washington St., Abbeville, SC

The Abbeville Historic District is comprised of a large portion of the city of Abbeville, the county seat of Abbeville County, South Carolina. The focal point of the district is Court Square, on which are located the County Courthouse, Municipal Building, and a well-preserved collection of late nineteenth-century commercial buildings. The district also includes the older residential sections of the city, several of the city's early churches, two school buildings, and three buildings associated with the city's railroad history. Of the 528 properties in the district, 319 are considered to contribute to its historical character. The city of Abbeville was formed in the late eighteenth century; however, most of the properties included in the district reflect the city's history throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. As a result, the buildings display a wide variety of architectural styles. In addition, the district reflects the city's role as a commercial center for the surrounding county. The city is also noted for its role in the political and governmental development of the area. Several residences important for their association with persons or events of historical significance are located within the boundaries of the district.

What is today the city of Abbeville grew up around the home and blockhouse, or fort, of Andrew Pickens, which was located to the east of the designated historic district. The sole tangible remnant of Pickens's occupancy is the Town Spring, which he is said to have set aside for public use. It is not known when the settlement developed into a village, but the Quay-Wardlaw House is known to have been built during the last quarter of the eighteenth century, along with several other residences and public buildings no longer standing.! A post office was established in 1795.

Abbeville County was formed in 1785 when the Ninety Six Judicial District was subdivided into smaller governmental units. The town of Ninety-Six (later Cambridge) continued to serve as the district capital, but the centrally located village of Abbeville became the county seat. Dissatisfaction with the county court system caused the legislature to revise the Act of 1785, and in 1800 a new system of districts came into being. The county then became known as the Abbeville District, with the town of Abbeville as its judicial center."

Local significance of the district:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1972.