Discover Union County: Cultural History and Nature

Union County offers a variety of options for planning your trip: a multifaceted history and activities on rivers and at sports facilities. Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site tells the story from the cotton boom through Reconstruction. Historic buildings and specific opportunities to enjoy the water also appeal to cultural and outdoor interests.

History in Several Chapters

Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site tells the story of the cotton boom and its collapse, secession, and the Civil War. Other topics include slavery and sharecropping, emancipation and the struggle for civil rights, as well as Reconstruction and its violent end. This historical perspective therefore extends beyond a single era.

Downtown Union has been around for more than 225 years. The Union County Arts Council is based in one of its historic buildings, built in 1872. Union Carnegie Library was the first Carnegie library built in South Carolina. The Union County Museum’s collection includes local pottery, Civil War flags, photographs, paintings, and rare books.

The area’s architectural history is also diverse: the original Union County Jail House was built in 1823. Attributed to Robert Mills, the two-story building is made of granite ashlar and designed in the Palladian style. Cross Keys House was built between 1812 and 1814 by Barrum (Barham) Bobo.

Industrial history offers further points of reference. Union Cotton Mills was completed in 1894 and was the first textile mill in Union County. Buffalo Mill Historic District includes historic resources associated with South Carolina’s textile industry from the early to mid-20th century. Union Depot, meanwhile, was built as a passenger station around the turn of the 20th century.

Events Throughout the Year

The Cross Keys Living History event takes place annually on the last weekend in April. If you plan your visit for this date, check the event details before traveling. The Union County Agricultural Fair is a more than 100-year-old tradition featuring a week-long fair. It’s also a good idea to check the latest dates for this event.

Rivers and Nature Experiences

Almost 62,000 acres of Union County are set aside as part of Sumter National Forest. The rivers also offer different ways to enjoy the water: the Broad River provides opportunities for canoeing in Union County. The Tyger River Float Trip is a designated 24-mile route on the Tyger River in Union County; on the Enoree River, a 30-mile route offers a boating trip. These details differ in their stated route lengths and describe separate rivers.

Union County’s five lakes offer fishing for bream, bass, and catfish. This makes it easy to distinguish between water activities by type—from canoe trips and the river routes described above to fishing in the lakes.

Sports and Other Interests

Union County Dragway has two concession stands serving food and drinks, as well as a COMPULINK timing system. Timken Sports Complex has seven baseball fields. Big Buck Farm in Union County hosts an off-road motorcycle and ATV racing series. These activities complement the historical attractions with other specific interests to consider when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Union, Clay County, Georgetown, York, Lexington, Sumter County, Allendale, Hampton County

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