In South Carolina, many early roads and trails passed through marshy and muddy areas, so colonists built corduroy roads by placing logs perpendicular to the roadway to make travel easier. Although rough and sometimes dangerous for horses and wagons, these ridged roads were often the only way to cross the original dirt road. Named for their resemblance to corduroy fabric, this ancient road-building method was among the first types of roads colonists built in North America because it was quick and easy to construct. Very few examples remain in the United States, and most of those date from the 19th century.