Historical Markers in
York County, South Carolina

202 East Main Street A House of Untold Stories A Looming Mystery A Valuable Resource that Grows In Trees Allison Creek Presbyterian Church / Clay Hill Graveyard American Victors Americans in Redcoats Americans Vanquished Andrew Jackson Hotel / Vernon Grant Artisan With Fire Backwoods Cabin Barnett Brothers Circus, 1929 ~ 1945 / Bennett Brothers Circus, 1929 ~ 1938 Battle Bigger's Ferry 1780 Be Your Own Officer Bethesda Presbyterian Church Birthplace of Daniel Harvey Hill Black Plantation / Hampton Campaign Blairsville Schools Bratton Home Bratton House Site / Jefferson Davis's Flight Brattonsville Brick Kitchen British Route of March Bullock Creek Presbyterian Church Bullock Creek Revolutionary War Monument Carolina Backwoodsmen Catawba Fort Catawba Indian Memorial Caught in a Crossfire Charging Cold Steel - Three Times Clinton Junior College Col. Asbury Coward Col. Ferguson Fell Col. Frederick Hambright Colonel Patrick Ferguson Memorial Colonel Samuel Watson Columbia Seminary Chapel Confederate Park David E. Finley Birthplace Dickey - Sherer House Dickey / Sherer Home Drive the Enemy East Town Neighborhood Ebenezer Ebenezer Confederate Memorial Elias Hill Homeplace / Liberian Migration Emmett Scott School Episcopal Church of Our Saviour Field of Huck's Defeat Fighting in a Forest Primeval First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church / Dr. Arthur Small Rogers First Home of Winthrop College First National Bank of Sharon First Presbyterian Church First Presbyterian Church / Church Leaders Fort Mill Fort Mill Confederate Memorial From Mall To Main George Fish School God Save the King! Hickory Grove Hickory Grove Schools Historic York Home Sweet Homeplace Huck's Defeat In Honor of Those Who Have Served Our Country James Milton Cherry House Jefferson Davis' Flight Jefferson Davis's Flight South, April 26-27, 1865 Kings Mountain Battlefield Trail Kings Mountain Battleground King's Mountain King's Mountain Battleground King's Mountain Military Academy Site / Micah Jenkins Lacey's Fort Liberty! Lieutenant Colonel James Hawthorn Local Boys & Spies Loyal Carolina Men Major Ferguson Falls Major William Chronicle Major Winston's McConnells McCorkle-Fewell-Long House / Oakland McCrory's Civil Rights Sit-ins / "Friendship Nine" Nation Ford Old Town Fact Old Town Fact President Hoover Presidential Recognition President's House Rock Hill Rock Hill Buggy Company / Anderson Motor Company Rock Hill Cotton Factory Rock Hill Depots / Rock Hill Street Railway Rock Hill High School Rock Hill Printing and Finishing Company / Rock Hill Buggy Company and Anderson Motor Company Sacred to the Memory Monument Sadler Store Shoot Tree to Tree Sims Home Site Site of White's Mill Springfield Plantation St. Anne's Parochial School Standard Cotton Mill / Highland Park Manufacturing Co. That's So Sweet! The A. Friedheim & Bro. And Smith-Fewell Buildings The African American Business District Monument The Battle of Huck’s Defeat The Battle of Kings Mountain Monument The CCC in York County / Tom Johnston Camp, (SCS#10), CCC The Dalton Building The Homestead The White Home The "3C's" Railroad Tighten the Noose To the Faithful Slaves Town of Clover Town of Ebenezer Town of Sharon / Sharon Town of Sharon Stone Marker Town of Smyrna Town of Yorkville / Town of York Trinity M. E. Church, South Two Parks, One Mountain U.S. Post Office and Courthouse / Citizen's Building Unity Academy Unity Presbyterian Church Upper Land's Ford Road Village of Rock Hill / City of Rock Hill Water Trough Welcome to Kings Mountain State Park White Home William Bratton Plantation/Battle of Huck's Defeat William Hill (1741-1816) / Hill's Ironworks Wilson House Women of the Confederacy Memorial World War I Memorial World War II Memorial York County Confederate Monument York County Courthouse York County Courthouses York County Veterans Memorial
The Gullah/Geechee people, who are descendants of enslaved Africans from the Lowcountry region of South Carolina and Georgia, have their own unique culture and language. The Gullah/Geechee language is a creole language that combines elements of English and African languages, and the Gullah/Geechee people have preserved many traditions and customs from their African ancestors, including basket weaving and storytelling.
York County, South Carolina, has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. Native American tribes, including the Catawba and Cherokee, inhabited the area long before European settlers arrived. In the late 1600s, the region became part of the Province of South Carolina, established by the English crown.

During the colonial period, York County was primarily rural, with settlers engaged in agriculture and trade. The area's location along the Catawba River played a crucial role in transportation and trade routes. As tensions escalated between the American colonies and Great Britain, York County saw significant activity during the Revolutionary War. Notably, the Battle of Huck's Defeat in 1780 took place in present-day York County, marking a pivotal point in the Southern Campaign.

After the war, the economy of York County continued to rely on agriculture, particularly cotton cultivation. The arrival of the railroad in the mid-19th century spurred economic growth and facilitated trade with neighboring regions. During this period, textile mills also began to emerge, driving industrialization and transforming the county's economy.

In the 20th century, York County experienced further growth and diversification. The establishment of Winthrop University in 1895 brought a focus on education and helped cultivate a thriving community. The county also became a hub for manufacturing and technology, attracting various industries and contributing to its economic development. Today, York County remains a vibrant region with a blend of historical heritage, natural beauty, and a diverse mix of industries.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of York County, South Carolina.

  • 1785 – York County is established as one of the original seven counties of South Carolina
  • 1823 – Yorkville, later known as York, becomes the county seat
  • 1861-1865 – York County is heavily impacted by the American Civil War
  • 1874 – The Yorkville Female College, later known as Winthrop University, is established in York
  • 1923 – The first paved road is built in York County
  • 1950s – The textile industry booms in the county, leading to significant population growth
  • 1960s – York County experiences significant civil rights movement activity
  • 1990 – Carowinds, a popular amusement park, opens on the border of York County and North Carolina
  • 2003 – The Catawba Indian Nation opens a casino in York County, contributing to its economic growth