Lowndesville

Established in 1823, this town grew up around a store owned by Matthew Young (1803-1876), who also served as postmaster from 1831 to 1843. It was first called Pressly's Station for the post office opened in 1823 with David Pressly (1764-1834) as postmaster, then was renamed Rocky River in 1831 and Lowndesville in 1836 for William Lowndes (1782-1822), a U.S. Congressman from 1811 to 1822. Incorporated in 1839, Lowndesville had about 150 inhabitants for most of its history. Cotton was the major crop in the area, with bales ginned there and shipped by the Charleston & Western Railway. In 1890 the town included a hotel, nine general stores, a grocery, a dry goods store, a drugstore, a stable, and three saw mills.

Lowndesville, South Carolina · United States