Orangeburg County Towns
 The early inhabitants of Orangeburg County were a few Native American Indians and cattlemen. To encourage people to move inland from coastal areas, the South Carolina General Assembly established 11 townships along the banks of chief rivers, including the Edisto. With the exception of Santee, all present towns were incorporated in the late 1800s. The names of some have changed over the years, but others remain the same.
Bowman
Located in the central part of Orangeburg County, Bowman boasts varied recreational opportunities. The Bowman Nature Park features picnic areas, walking trails, volleyball, basketball, tennis courts and meeting facilities to be enjoyed by both residents and visitors. The diversified economy of the area produces agriculture and dairy products, as well as various manufactured goods. In 1927, the state’s first certified motor carrier was established in Bowman.
Branchville
 A Prussian immigrant founded Branchville in 1734, making it one of the oldest towns in the state. It is celebrated for its ties to the railroad. Residents and visitors in this southernmost part of the county enjoy taking advantage of two playgrounds, a recreation center and combination football and baseball field. They also enjoy water sports on the nearby Edisto River.
Cope
In 1894, this community was named in honor of Jacob Martin Cope who willingly gave half of his farmland to develop a town around the new railroad station. One of the first free rural postal delivery routes in the United States went out from Cope. Located in the western part of the county, residents and visitors enjoy fishing in ponds and the Edisto River as well as hunting deer, dove, quail and other small game.
Cordova
Cordova is located on a ridge between the north and south forks of the Edisto River. There are several versions of the origin of the town’s name. One is that a farmer was looking for a place to buy wood and was told to go to the people southwest of Orangeburg and they will give you “cord and over.” Through the passing of time the name “Cordova” came to be connected with the people of the area. Probably closer to the truth is that Cordova, a Spanish name, was selected by the Atlantic Coastline Railroad Company when the railroad was completed in 1893.
Elloree
 This eastern Orangeburg County town was established in 1886 and became one of the smallest municipalities in the state to achieve Great Town status in 1983. Residents would agree that Elloree is an even greater town since the completion of the Downtown Revitalization project. Elloree offers charming restaurants and shops for everyone’s enjoyment. It has become known around the region for its many antique stores that offer a wide variety of furniture, some even as old as the town itself. Citizens and visitors enjoy a community center, a branch of the County Library, athletic fields and Joe Miller Park, which offers outdoor cooking and picnic facilities. Santee State Park sits 5 miles from the town on Lake Marion. The Elloree Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in downtown Elloree features a new Farm Wing. Visitors can see exhibits of the area’s rural roots. The museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The name Elloree is derived from an Indian word, which means “the home I love.” Visit this historic town and you’ll know why.
Eutawville
The first house in Eutaw Village was built in 1836 when planters along the Santee River sought refuge for their families from the summer humidity, mist
and mosquitoes. “Eutaw” is the Cherokee word for “pine tree.” The Battle of Eutaw Springs on Sept. 8, 1781 was the last major Revolutionary War battle in
South Carolina.
Holly Hill
Holly Hill was built around a grove of holly trees. The last tree from the original grove, estimated to be 98 years old, was removed in 1957. A replacement for
this tree was planted as part of the South Carolina Tricentennial Celebration in 1970. Holly Hill is known as “the biggest little town in South Carolina.”
Livingston
In 1891, Rufus Livingston gave right-of-way to the SouthBound Railroad Company, and the resulting town was given his name. The railroad was an integral part of the town’s life; you could catch the 9 o’clock to Columbia and return on the 6 o’clock at night. Early enterprises in Livingston included a sawmill, a cotton gin, a grits mill, a wheelwright and a blacksmith.
Neeses
Neeses is an agriculturally-based community located in the western part of the county. Records show that the first post office was established as Silver Springs
in 1883. The name was changed in 1898 in honor of John W. Neese who followed in the footsteps of Rufus Livingston. Residents are proud of their farm heritage. Neeses is the home of the state’s first and only mushroom farm. Neeses has natural, flowing mineral springs. It also is the home of the Pee Dee Indian Nation of Beaver Creek.
North
Located near the northwestern border of the county, North was incorporated in 1892. Like many towns established during that era, it was named for its first
mayor, John F. North. Residents are never at a loss about how to start a conversation. They just say they are from North, South Carolina and wait for the
reaction and comments.
Norway
Norway was founded in 1891, but almost lost its name when the similarity between North and Norway nearly caused a trainwreck. Railroaders began calling the small town station Waynor to avoid confusion. Located on the western edge of the county, the area is well known for its abundance of hunting and fishing areas, as well as water sports on the South Edisto River. Norway has the oldest water system in the state, with original parts still in operation.
Rowesville
In 1876 Rowes Pump was incorporated as a town. Its name was legally altered to Rowesville in 1889. Primarily an agricultural community, it has changed little since the turn of the century. Stately older homes still line Main Street. Rowesville is perhaps best known for Cattle Creek Campground, a site for religious camp meetings, which thrived under the leadership of Bishop Francis Asbury in the late 1700s and continue to this day.
Santee
 Situated adjacent to Lake Marion in northeastern Orangeburg County, Santee received its name in the 1930s from an Indian word meaning “the rivers.” The village began to grow, in part because U.S. highways 301 and 15 cross its grounds. When the flooding of the Santee Cooper Lakes was completed in 1940-41, the area began to add new business interests, mainly tourism and related enterprises, to its basic agricultural economy. What began as a very convenient overnight stop halfway between New York and Florida is that and much more today. Santee has a multitude of restaurants, motels, service stations and sports related businesses. It is not surprising that Santee is as well known for outdoor recreation of all kinds. For those who are less athletically inclined, there are great shops of all kinds to please the most discriminating taste. The area boasts new residential developments on the lake and around golf courses, as well as a retirement community in the heart of the city. Visitors to the area are served by the only instate welcome center, which is on I-95.
Springfield
The steam locomotive once brought people and business to Springfield, chartered in 1887, located in the western corner of the county. Now S.C. highways 23 and 4 connect this small town near the Edisto River to Columbia, Orangeburg, Aiken and Augusta, Ga. Residents are proud of their historic downtown district and residential architecture; good barbeque and country cooking; flea and livestock markets; shops, art and pottery gallery; and churches, cemeteries and battlefields. The rivers and streams near Springfield offer swamps, woods and fields for fishing, boating and hunting. Year-round, indoors or out, Springfield welcomes you!
Vance
Vance’s Ferry, originally settled on the Santee River at Waco Landing, was an important link between Charleston, Camden, and points in North Carolina and Tennessee. The town was moved a few miles from the river because the mosquito-infested swampland where it was previously located was considered unhealthy; therefore “Ferry” was dropped from the name. Access to the Santee Cooper Lakes is less than five minutes away. Some of the best peaches in South Carolina are grown in Vance — pick some up at roadside stands.
Woodford
No one knows how Woodford got its name, but there are two traditional stories. One reports a man connected with the SouthBound Railroad contributed to the establishment of the station in return for naming the town after him. The other story, which seems to be the most logical, is that the railroad station was established for the purpose of loading and shipping wood. The town was established in 1891 on the lands of the Robinson and Gissendanner families by an act of the South Carolina General Assembly.
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