Birch County, South Carolina facts for kids
Birch County was an idea for a new county in the middle part of South Carolina. This proposed county would have included parts of northern Lexington County and northwestern Richland County. It would have brought together towns like Ballentine, Irmo, and Chapin. The name "Birch" was actually made from the first letters of these three towns: Ballentine, Irmo, and Chapin.
South Carolina currently has 46 counties. Creating Birch County would have made it the 47th, which isn't allowed by state law. People and businesses in the area wanted a new county because they were unhappy with some of the rules and taxes in Lexington and Richland counties. In 2012, a local politician named Nathan Ballentine, who lives in Chapin, said it was very unlikely this new county would ever be created.
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What Was Birch County?
Birch County was a plan to create a brand new county in South Carolina. It was never actually formed. The idea came from people who felt their current counties weren't meeting their needs.
Why Did People Want a New County?
People living in the proposed Birch County area felt that the governments of Lexington and Richland counties weren't listening to their concerns. They were especially worried about taxes and rules for businesses and growth. They believed a new, smaller county could better serve their local community.
The "Illegal" Part
South Carolina has a law that says it can only have 46 counties. Since Birch County would have been the 47th, it couldn't be created without changing the state law first. This made the idea very difficult to achieve.
History of the Area
The land that would have become Birch County has a rich history. It's part of a region called the Dutch Fork.
Early Settlers
In the 1700s, many German immigrants settled in the Dutch Fork area. They found the land was great for farming. There were also many rivers and waterways, which helped with transportation and trade. For a long time, this area was mostly farms and small rural communities.
Modern Changes
Over the past few decades, things have changed a lot. More people have moved to the area, and new neighborhoods have been built. While some rural areas remain, much of the proposed county is now known for its middle-class and wealthy suburbs. These areas are part of the larger Columbia metropolitan area.
Challenges for Residents
Since the 1920s, when Lake Murray was created by damming the Saluda River, parts of Lexington County have been separated by the lake. This has made it hard for people in towns like Chapin to connect with the rest of their county. Also, people in northwestern Richland County often had different ideas about taxes and growth compared to the main city of Columbia. These differences helped lead to the push for Birch County.
Where Would Birch County Be?
If Birch County had been created, its borders would likely have matched the Lexington & Richland County School District Five. This would have made it the smallest county in South Carolina.
Neighboring Areas
The proposed county would have been bordered by:
- Lake Murray to the south.
- The cities of Columbia and West Columbia to the south.
- The Broad River to the east.
- Newberry County to the north and west.
Towns in Birch County
The communities that would have been part of Birch County included:
How Many People Would Live There?
In 2013, a newspaper called The State reported that about 50,000 people would live in the proposed Birch County.
Population Size
If it had been created, Birch County would have had a medium-sized population compared to other South Carolina counties. Based on the 2010 Census numbers, it would have had more people than Chesterfield County. However, it would have had fewer people than Cherokee County.
