Present-day Edgefield County was first settled in the 1750's, when it was part of a vast unsettled region of virgin forests, abundant wildlife, and Indian tribes. From the first settlements through the American Revolution, the area was part of the Old Ninety Six District, which included all of the northwestern portion of South Carolina, and during most of that period there were no courts, law enforcement, or local government. In 1785, immediately following the Revolution, the state legislature divided the Ninety Six District into smaller counties, including Abbeville, Laurens, Newberry, and Edgefield. At that time, Edgefield County encompassed 1,720 square miles, far larger than it is today. The seat of government for this broad district was located near this spot on an Old Cherokee Path at the approximate geographic center of the district. The Publik Lot was identified as early as 1785, and a gaol, clerk's office, and courthouse were built during the next several years. In 1792, Arthur Simkins, a prominent settler and political leader, officially conveyed to the Judges of Edgefield County Court the 2 1/4 acres where the Town Square and Courthouse are now located. In the last half of the 19th century and early in the 20th century, as citizens demanded more local political control, the counties of Aiken in 1871, Saluda in 1895, Greenwood in 1897, and McCormick in 1916 were created from substantial parts of Edgefield County. Today, Edgefield County encompasses only 481 square miles, roughly one-forth of its original size.