York County lies within the Olde English region of South Carolina. The county and its seat are named in honor of York County, Pennsylvania.
Catawba Indians initially inhabited the region before they ceded control of the area to the United States via treaty in 1763. After this treaty was signed, a great number of Scotch-Irish from both Pennsylvania and the South Carolina Lowcountry began to settle the area.
The county was founded in 1785 within the Camden District. It later belonged to the Pinckney District before becoming its own district. During the Revolutionary War, the battles of Williamson’s Plantation and King’s Mountain took place here.
Initially, the economy relied on small cotton farms. However, over time the economy transitioned from cotton farming to cotton processing and became dependent on the textile industry.
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Loom inside one of the Reconstructed Slave Cabins, also referred to as the "Weave House." Be sure to view Living History: Made By Hand to gain a better understanding of what life was like during this...
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The structure to the right of the tree is the Double Pen Corn Crib.
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To the right of the Dairy is the Reconstructed Slave Cabin, built on the foundation of one of the original slave cabins.
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To the left of Homestead House is the building believed to have been used as a Dairy. To the left of the Dairy is an Original Slave Cabin from the 1840s.
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To the right of the historical marker is the Brick House, the last of the original Bratton Plantation buildings, constructed between 1843 and 1845. To the right of that are the remnants of the Bratton...
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The Homestead House was built between 1823 and 1826. This is where Dr. John Bratton and his family resided. He was a physician, as well as a farmer, and his success in agriculture, growing grains and...
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19th Century Cotton Gin, made in Birgmingham Alabama.
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This historical marker was erected at Brattonsville by the York County Historical Commission in 1960. * Please note that more is known today about the history of the Bratton family than was known in...
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Homestead House was built in 1823-1826 by Dr. John Simpson Bratton, son of William and Martha Bratton. In the early 19th century, William Bratton’s son, Dr. John Bratton, inherited the estate. He was...