Towns & Communities

Batesburg-Leesville

Batesburg-Leesville are called the "Twin Cities" on the Saluda River basin ridge in western Lexington County. They were developed as trade centers in an agricultural area.

Leesville grew from the establishment of a private school in the 1880s while Batesburg's growth was stimulated by the organization of a textile mill in 1900.

Deriving its name from the Lee family, Leesville was the site of Captain John Lee's tavern (said to have been visited by George Washington on his 1791 tour). By 1883 the population was only 177. The Mitchell-Shealy House built ca 1855 by prominent local planter J A J Mitchell, Leesville's first postmaster, is one of the town's few remaining antebellum homes.

Steedman

Steedman's name was derived from a member of the Steedman (now Steadman) family who settled in Lexington County in 1785.

Hilltown (Hilton)

Hilton is about 3 miles west of White Rock. The name, Hilltown, was applied by the railroad to a needed stop there. Later the Hiller family built a large general store there and the name was changed to Hilton.

Happytown

Happytown was a negro area west of West Columbia and Saluda Gardens, so called for the loud carousing expected there. It grew up around the former Friday-Mayrant slave quarters so that in the middle of Happytown even in the middle of the street is located the iron-fenced burial plot of Revolutionary War hero Gabriel Friday and his family.

Chapin

Chapin was named after Martin Chapin, born 5 June 1821 in Chapin, NY. He developed tuberculosis and his doctor suggested he go south and "work among the pines because the fumes would be good for him".

Martin Chapin came to the vast "pineywoods" country ca 1850 and established a sawmill. It is said he cut most of the best timber between the two rivers. The railroad was completed there in 1890 and Mr Chapin gave land for streets and the little town of Chapin was laid out with the first train coming through 18 July 1890. Mr Chapin and his family are buried at Latticoo approximately three miles north of Chapin on Hwy 176 east of Pomaria. He died 21 August 1894.