Hell Hole Swamp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hell Hole Bay Wilderness |
|
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
|
|
Hell Hole Road (FS158). Hellhole Bay Wilderness Area begins on the southeast (right) side of the road.
|
|
 Hell Hole Bay Wilderness
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Berkeley County, South Carolina, USA |
| Nearest city | Jamestown, South Carolina |
| Area | 2,125 acres (9 km2) |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The Hell Hole Swamp is a special swamp area located in northeastern Berkeley County, South Carolina, USA. It's famous for its unique name! This swamp is entirely within the Francis Marion National Forest. It covers a large area of about 2,125 acres (8.6 km²). All of this land is protected as a wilderness area. This means the area is kept wild and natural, with very little human impact.
Why Is It Called Hell Hole Swamp?
The name "Hell Hole Swamp" is very old. It goes back to at least 1761. On March 3 of that year, a person named James Colladon received a grant for 500 acres of land in the Hell Hole Swamp.
No one knows for sure how the swamp got its unusual name. There are a couple of interesting ideas, though:
- One story says the name came from Colonel Banastre Tarleton during the American Revolutionary War. He was a British officer. The story suggests he called it "Hell Hole" because his soldiers had a very hard time finding the clever American General Francis Marion in the swamp.
- Another idea is that the swamp was named because it was a hiding spot for people who illegally made and sold alcohol during a time called Prohibition.
However, both of these stories are likely not true. A map made by James Cook in 1773 already showed Hell Hole Swamp. This map was made before the Revolutionary War and before Prohibition. So, the name was already in use long before these events.
Hell Hole Swamp Festival: A Local Celebration
The Hell Hole Swamp Festival is a fun event that happens every year. It takes place during the first weekend in May. The festival is held in Jamestown, South Carolina, which is a town right on the northern edge of the swamp.
This festival is a typical Southern celebration. It includes many fun activities and contests. One special event at the festival is the Hell Hole Gator Trot 10k race. People sometimes call this race the "Redneck Run." It started in 1976 and is one of the oldest road races in South Carolina.
Famous People from the Hell Hole Swamp Area
A group of well-known people from Berkeley County, South Carolina proudly said they were part of the "Hell Hole Swamp Gang." These were important leaders from the area:
- L. Mendel Rivers: He was a Representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district.
- Robert Evander McNair: He served as the Governor of South Carolina.
- Rembert Dennis: He was a state Senator.
- Lester Bates: He was the mayor of Columbia, South Carolina.
L. Mendel Rivers was especially proud of being born in this remote area. He would often tell reporters that he was "from Gumville, South Carolina. It's near Hell Hole Swamp. If you don't know where it is, look it up." This showed how much he valued his roots in the unique Hell Hole Swamp region.
