According to collegetoppicks, Cherokee County, South Carolina has a rich history dating back to the colonial period. The area was originally inhabited by the Cherokee Indians, who gave it its name. The first European settlers arrived in the area in the mid-1700s and began to establish farms and plantations. The county was officially formed in 1897 from parts of York and Spartanburg counties. In the early 1800s, Cherokee County experienced significant growth due to its location on the railroad lines running through South Carolina and Georgia. This allowed for increased trade with other parts of the region, and also provided a convenient way for people to travel to nearby cities such as Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia. During the Civil War, Cherokee County was part of South Carolina’s secessionist movement, sending troops to fight for the Confederacy. Afterward, Reconstruction brought a period of economic hardship as freed slaves sought economic opportunities in other parts of the country. The turn of the twentieth century saw great changes in Cherokee County’s economy as cotton production declined and new industries such as textiles began to move into the area. This industrialization led to an influx of workers from all over the world including Europe and Asia. The population grew rapidly during this time with many new businesses opening up around Gaffney and Blacksburg during this period. Today, Cherokee County is home to a diverse population with a variety of industries including agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and tourism driving its economy forward. It is also home to several historic sites including Kings Mountain National Military Park which commemorates an important battle during the Revolutionary War; Cowpens National Battlefield which marks another major battle from that same war; Cowpens Depot which served as a stop along several railroad lines; and Limestone College which is one of South Carolina’s oldest colleges founded by Baptists in 1845. Cherokee County, South Carolina is home to several school districts that serve the needs of its diverse population. The school district in Cherokee County consists of seven public schools and two private schools. The public schools are Cherokee County Elementary School, Gaffney High School, Blacksburg High School, Limestone College Preparatory Academy, Gowensville Elementary School, Kings Mountain Elementary School and Boiling Springs Middle School. These public schools offer a variety of educational opportunities for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The Cherokee County Schools District also offers several specialized programs such as the Advanced Placement program and the International Baccalaureate program. These programs provide students with the opportunity to take college-level courses while still in high school and can help prepare them for college success. Additionally, the district offers career and technical education courses as well as dual enrollment courses that allow students to earn college credit while still attending high school. In addition to its seven public schools, Cherokee County is also home to two private schools: Limestone College Preparatory Academy and Kings Mountain Christian Academy. Limestone College Preparatory Academy is a K-12 Christian-based school that provides an academically challenging curriculum that prepares students for college and beyond. Kings Mountain Christian Academy is an elementary and middle school that provides a Bible-based education with an emphasis on character development and spiritual growth. Cherokee County Schools offer a wide range of extracurricular activities including sports teams such as football, basketball, baseball, softball and track; clubs such as drama club, student government association (SGA), debate team and National Honor Society; honor societies such as National Honor Society (NHS) or Science National Honor Society (SNHS); band; choir; orchestra; art clubs; foreign language clubs; chess club; robotics club; yearbook staff; literary magazine staff; student newspapers staffs; computer programming teams; community service organizations such as Key Club or Interact Club; scouting organizations such as Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts of America; student council associations (SCA); Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA); Future Farmers of America (FFA); 4H Clubs; Academic Quiz Bowls teams; mock trial teams; chess clubs; robotics teams; DECA/FBLA/VICA competitions; Model United Nations competition teams; science fairs/competitions; technology fairs/competitions; field trips & more. Cherokee County Schools also offer a variety of after-school activities such as dance classes, art classes, music lessons, martial arts classes and sports leagues. These activities provide students with the opportunity to explore interests outside of the classroom and make new friends in the process. Check topschoolsoflaw.com for brief history of the state of South Carolina.
Bamberg, South Carolina is a small town located in the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry region. The town is situated at the confluence of two major rivers, the Little Salkehatchie River and the Edisto River, and is surrounded by rich farmland and beautiful wetlands. Bamberg is roughly 25 miles from Orangeburg, SC and 85 miles […]
South Carolina is located in the southeastern United States, bordered by North Carolina to the north, Georgia to the south and east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The capital of South Carolina is Columbia. Other major cities include Charleston, North Charleston, Greenville, Rock Hill and Sumter. The state is home to numerous beaches, […]
Lander University was founded in 1872 as Williamston Female College by Rev. Samuel Lander and his wife, Sarah. It was the first college in South Carolina to be established exclusively for women and offered a classical education that included English, Latin, Greek, French and German. The school moved to Greenwood in 1904 and changed its […]
Limestone College was established in 1845 in Gaffney, South Carolina. Founded by Dr. Thomas Curtis and the Reverend Josephus C. Kirkland, the college was originally known as Limestone Springs Female High School and was the first women’s college in South Carolina. The name of the school was changed to Limestone Female College in 1855 and […]
The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) was founded in 1824, making it one of the oldest medical schools in the country. It is a public research university located in Charleston, South Carolina. It is well-known for its research and education in the health sciences and has been ranked as one of the top medical […]
Morris College was established in 1908, founded by the Baptists of Sumter County. The college was originally named Sumter Baptist Institute and was located in the town of Pinewood, South Carolina. It initially served as a training ground for young African-American men and women to become teachers. In 1910, the school changed its name to […]
Newberry College was established in 1856 as a private, coeducational liberal arts college. It was founded by the Lutheran Church of South Carolina and is affiliated with the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The school’s original name was Newberry Male and Female Collegiate Institute, and its first president was Dr. […]
North Greenville University (NGU) was founded in 1892 by the North Greenville Baptist Association. It was established to provide a Christian education to local students. The first classes were held in a one-room building with only three faculty members and seven students. Over the years, NGU has grown to include more than 2,000 students and […]
Presbyterian College was founded in 1880 by the Rev. William Plumer Jacobs, a Presbyterian minister and professor at nearby Furman University. Jacobs had a vision to create an institution of higher learning that would provide an education to students of all backgrounds, regardless of race or gender. He believed that education should be available to […]
South Carolina State University (SCSU) was founded in 1896 as the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina. It was established by the South Carolina General Assembly as a land grant institution for African Americans. The college was initially located in a former plantation house near Orangeburg and opened its doors to […]
Southern Wesleyan University (SWU) was founded in 1906 by the Central South Carolina Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. The first classes were held in a one room schoolhouse located in Central, South Carolina with only twenty-four students. As enrollment increased, the school moved to its current location in nearby Central. In its early years, […]
The Citadel was founded in 1842 by William Gilmore Simms, a noted South Carolina author and historian. Simms wanted to create a military college that would provide a quality education to the sons of the South. He believed that such an institution would help preserve the culture and values of Southern society, as well as […]
The University of South Carolina was founded in 1801, making it the oldest public university in the state. It was originally located near the Congaree River and was known as South Carolina College. The college began with just 10 students and one faculty member, but it quickly grew to become one of the largest universities […]
The University of South Carolina at Aiken was established in 1961 as an extension of the University of South Carolina. It was created to provide higher education opportunities for the citizens of Aiken and the surrounding area. Originally, classes were held in a renovated elementary school building and enrollment was only around 200 students. The […]
The University of South Carolina at Beaufort (USCB) was founded in 1959 as a two-year college. It was originally named the University of Beaufort and was located in the historic city of Beaufort, South Carolina. The university was established to provide educational opportunities to local residents and to help them transition from high school to […]
The University of South Carolina Upstate was established in 1967 as a two-year branch campus of the University of South Carolina. It was originally known as “USC Spartanburg” and was located in downtown Spartanburg. The school offered only junior and senior level classes, but by 1970 it had expanded to offer freshman and sophomore classes […]
Voorhees College was established in 1897 as a private, historically black liberal arts college located in Denmark, South Carolina. Named after the Reverend John G. Voorhees, the college has a long and proud history of providing quality education to African-Americans students during a time when higher education for African-Americans was not widely accessible. The school […]
Winthrop University was founded in 1886 as a teaching college for women. It was named for former South Carolina governor and U.S. Senator Robert Winthrop, who provided the original funding for the school’s construction. The first classes were held in Columbia, South Carolina in 1891 with an enrollment of just over one hundred students. In […]
Wofford College was founded in 1854 by the Reverend Benjamin Wofford, a Methodist minister. The college was established as a place of learning for the residents of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and surrounding areas. The original campus consisted of only six buildings: Main Hall, Old Main, The Chapel, The Recitation Hall, a boarding house, and a […]
Francis Marion University was first established in 1970 as a two-year college, named Francis Marion College. The school was founded to serve the educational needs of the Pee Dee region, a rural area in South Carolina. The school was created by an act of the South Carolina General Assembly, which authorized the college to offer […]
Furman University was founded in 1826 as an all-male school in Edgefield, South Carolina. It was initially known as The Furman Academy and Theological Institution and was founded by the Reverend Richard Furman of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. The school’s mission was to provide a quality education for young men of the region, particularly […]
Erskine College was founded in 1839 by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and is located in Due West, South Carolina. It is one of the oldest colleges in the state and is consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the nation. The college began with only 10 students, but has since grown to […]
Columbia College was founded in 1851 by the Baptist Education Society of South Carolina. The school was initially located in Winnsboro, SC, and operated as a co-ed liberal arts college. In 1870, Columbia College moved to its current location in Columbia, SC, where it has since grown into a comprehensive university. Throughout its history, Columbia […]
Columbia International University was founded in 1923 as Columbia Bible School by a group of local believers in Columbia, South Carolina. The school was established with the goal of providing higher education that was focused on Christian values and preparing students for the ministry. Over the years, the school has grown and evolved significantly. In […]
Converse College was founded in 1889 by Dexter Edgar Converse, an entrepreneur and philanthropist from Spartanburg, South Carolina. The school was initially named “Converse Female College” and offered a classical education for young women. It was the first college in South Carolina to award the Bachelor of Arts degree to women. In its early years, […]
Clemson University was founded in 1889 as an all-male military college. The school was named after Thomas Green Clemson, a prominent South Carolina businessman and politician who bequeathed his estate to the state for the purpose of founding the college. Initially, Clemson offered only two degrees: mechanical engineering and agriculture. In 1893, the school opened […]
Coastal Carolina University (CCU) was founded in 1954 as a two-year college to serve the needs of the growing population of Horry and Georgetown counties in South Carolina. In 1958, it became a four-year college, offering its first baccalaureate degrees. In 1961, CCU was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), making […]
Coker College was founded in 1908 by the women of Hartsville, South Carolina. The college was established with the purpose of providing education to young women who otherwise would not have been able to attend college. The college was originally located in a small building on Main Street, which is now the Coker College Historic […]
The College of Charleston was founded in 1770 and is the oldest institution of higher education in South Carolina. It began as a small liberal arts college, with a primary focus on teaching the classics. The school was originally located in downtown Charleston and had only around 10 faculty members and 100 students. Over the […]
Charleston Southern University was founded in 1964 as Baptist College, a private, liberal arts college. It was established by the South Carolina Baptist Convention with the goal of providing a higher education to the citizens of Charleston and the surrounding communities. Initially, the college offered only associate degree programs in teacher education and business administration. […]
