About York County


The area that is now York County was the home of the Catawba Indians until the 1750's English, Scottish, Irish migrated here from York County, Pennsylvania for which the area
was named. Settlers in the backcountry joined with the Indians against other less friendly tribes. In 1763, the Catawba Indians signed a treaty with the British relinquishing their rights to the land. Today the Catawba Nation is the only federally recognized tribe in South Carolina.

The backcountry fighters played an important part in the American Revolution by turning back the British troops. Two important victories for the colonist were the Battle of Hucks Defeat and Kings Mountain.

York County has natural borders created by the Broad River on the west and the Catawba River on the east. The borders North Carolina and the south is Chester County.
In the 18th Century, the town of York was the county seat and served as the hub for most of the rural population. York prospered during the cotton boom and then the Civil War devastated the region. The county suffered the highest fatality rate of any South Carolina County and growth stopped.

In 1852 railroad workers connecting the Charlotte, Columbian and Augusta railroads encountered a small flinty hill and called it Rock Hill. Rock Hill officially became a city in 1892 and is now the 5th largest in South Carolina. The local economy evolved to the cultivation of cotton. In 1880 the establishment of Rock Hill cotton Factory started a new era of agricultural expansion. Rock hill Buggy Company evolved into Anderson Motor Company, which was the first automobile manufacturer in the south. The construction of the Catawba Dam and Power Plant, now Duke Power, started huge growth in the textile industry.

The Industrial College of South Carolina was moved to Rock Hill from Columbia in 1895. The school is now known as Winthrop University.



Today, much of York County is still rural in nature, rivers, lakes, and forests offer an assortment of outdoor activities to residents. The rich historical background and surroundings inspire historical reenactments, native Indian celebrations and diverse cultural events.

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