Marlboro County was founded in 1785 within Cheraws District and named after John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough. Initially, the county name’s spelling reflected Marlborough’s, but the county eventually shortened it.
Welsh Baptists from Delaware were the first group to settle in Marlboro County, and English and Scotch-Irish settlers soon followed. The area became affluent in the antebellum area as a result of the large amounts of cotton grown by the county. During the Civil War, Union soldiers took over Bennettsville. Shortly after the Civil War ended, the county’s first railroad was constructed. This railroad amplified the money Marlboro could make from its cotton.
During World War II, many pilots came to Marlboro County to acquire their flight training at Palmer Field. In the mid-20th century, Lake Paul A. Wallace was created from Crooked Creek and is considered the largest man-made controlled fishing lake. Notable locals include United States Congressmen John McQueen and Robert Blair Campbell. Bennettsville serves as the county seat.
History. Accessed June 10, 2016. http://www.marlborocounty.sc.gov/History/Pages/index.aspx
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The "Ghio," a rear-wheel paddle steamer, docks at the landing at Cheraw around 1900. Note the trolley or incline railway that carried loads from the river landing up the steep bank to the level of the...
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The "spiritine" or turpentine factory in Cheraw was active at the turn of the 20th century. Courtesy of the Cheraw Visitors Bureau.
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"B" is for Bennettsville. [1819-present] Marlboro County. Population 9,425.
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“S” is for St. David's Church in Cheraw. St. David's Parish was established in 1768 and construction on the parish church—known locally as “Old St. David's”—began in the 1770s. Although similar to...
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The Lafayette House in Cheraw is in the Adam style, an adaptation of the early Classical Revival. Built in 1823 by Dr. William Ellerbe, it was the site of a public reception for the Revolutionary War...
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A gospel tent is set up on the town green in Cheraw around the turn of the century. Courtesy of the Cheraw Visitors Bureau.
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Murchison High School in Bennettsville, around 1910. Courtesy of the Howard G. Woody Postcard Collection.
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Proprietor of the Blenheim Bottling Company in Blenheim, SC (Marlboro County) . The company is known for its famous Blenheim Ginger Ale and has been in business for over 80 years. The formula for the...
