TOWNS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. C93 



ORANGEBURG COUNTY 



has eleven towns and trading settlements, with one hundred and thirty- 

 five stores, to wit : Orangeburg Court House, seventy-five stores ; 

 Branchville, twenty-six stores ; St. Matthew's, seventeen stores ; Fort 

 Motte, seven stores ; Rowesville, three stores ; Elloree and Jamison, two 

 stores each ; Edisto, Felderville, Knott's Mills, one store each. Of this 

 number, eight sell liquors, and eight are druggists, thirty-eight deal in 

 miscellaneous articles, and seventy -six' in general merchandise. One is 

 kejjt by a colored person. 



Orangsburg Court House is situated on high, level land, rising above 

 the clear waters of North Edisto river, at the head of raft navigation, and 

 on the Charleston and Columbia railroad. It was first settled in 1730, 

 by German subjects of the Prince of Orange, whence its name. In 1825, 

 the population was 1 52, in 1840, 350. The public buildings and most of 

 the town was burnt by Sherman's troops. It has been rebuilt, and the 

 population in 1880, was 2,140, and probably exceeds 3,000 at this time. 

 It has a circular area two miles in diameter, with the court house and 

 public square as the centre. The business portion of the town, including 

 many handsome brick buildings, is built about the public square. Be- 

 tween.this point and the railway station is a fine drive, on each side of 

 which are handsome private residences, with well kept grounds. The 

 town government consists of a mayor and two aldermen, a chief of po- 

 lice, and four patrolmen. The sidewalks have a wood curbing, and the 

 roads are well kept. The town is lighted by kerosene street lamps. 

 Water is abundant and good ; the drainage is into the Edisto river, sixty 

 to one hundred feet below the town. The court house is a fine brick build- 

 ing, costing $35,000. The Claflin University, a large three-story brick 

 building, with mansard roof, is surrounded by fine grounds, and has ac- 

 commodations for three hundred colored students. The Boliver and 

 May's halls are large and handsome halls, fitted with stage, seats, &c., for 

 public entertainments. Charges, $10 to $15 per night. There is a Pres- 

 byterian, an Episcopal, a Methodist, a Baptist and a Lutheran church. 

 There are two public schools for whites, and three private schools, with 

 one public school for colored pupils ; number of pupils about six hun- 

 dred. Five room cottages, with garden, rent for $12 a month. Stores 

 rent at from $10 to $40 per month. Bricks, for building, cost $7.50 per 

 thousand. Pine lumber, $10 per thousand ; shingles, $3.50 per thou- 

 sand. The value of real and personal property is estimated at $800,000 ; 

 there is no town debt, and the annual town tax on property is about one- 

 half of one per cent. The average yearly sales are given as follows : 

 provisions, $700,000; dry goods, $1^5,000; hardware, $25,000; miscel- 



