Lake Murray (South Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Murray |
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Lake Murray from the dam
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 Lake Murray
Location in South Carolina
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| Location | Lexington / Newberry / Saluda / Richland counties, South Carolina, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°03′57″N 81°19′44″W / 34.065795°N 81.328968°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Saluda River |
| Primary outflows | Saluda River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 41 mi (66 km) |
| Max. width | 14 mi (23 km) |
| Surface area | 50,000 acres (200 km2) |
| Max. depth | 189.6 ft (57.8 m) |
| Shore length1 | 650 mi (1,050 km) |
| Surface elevation | 360 ft (110 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Murray is a large, man-made lake in South Carolina, United States. It was created in the late 1920s to make electric power for the state. The lake is about 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares) in size and has about 650 mi (1,050 kilometres) of shoreline.
The Saluda River feeds Lake Murray. The Saluda Dam, also called the Dreher Shoals Dam, holds back the river to form the lake. When it was finished in 1930, this dam was the largest earthen dam in the world. It is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and 220 feet (67 m) high. Lake Murray itself is 41 miles (66 km) long and 14 miles (23 km) wide at its widest point. The lake was named after the project's chief engineer, William S. Murray.
Besides making electricity, Lake Murray is a popular spot for fun activities. People enjoy fishing and boating here. Dreher Island State Recreation Area is also located on the lake, offering many ways to enjoy the water.
Contents
History of Lake Murray
Early Settlers and the Saluda River Valley
The Saluda River was named after the Saluda Indian tribe. This tribe lived along the river banks before moving to Pennsylvania in the early 1700s. Later, Cherokee people moved into the area.
In the 1750s, German and Swiss families began settling in the lower Saluda River valley. Two main settlements grew: the Dutch Fork and the Saxe-Gotha township. By 1760, the Dutch Fork had many settler families.
During the American Revolutionary War, the Dutch Fork area mostly supported the American side. The Saluda River was an important boundary. Ferries, like Wyse's Ferry, helped move troops and supplies across the river. Some Hessian mercenaries, who were German soldiers fighting for the British, deserted and found safety in German settlements like the Dutch Fork.
By 1928, about 5,000 people lived in the Saluda River valley. This community had 3 churches, 6 schools, and 193 graveyards.
Building a Powerhouse: Hydroelectric Power
For over a hundred years, people thought about using the Saluda River's water power. As the need for electricity grew in the Southern United States, it became clear that large rivers like the Saluda could help.
In 1904, the Lexington Water Power Company was started. They bought rights to use the Saluda River's flow. Over the next few years, different companies owned the land where the dam would be built.
A man named Thomas Clay Williams had an idea to build hydroelectric power plants on South Carolina's rivers since 1916. His ideas didn't get much attention until he met William Spencer Murray in 1923. Murray was an experienced engineer who had worked on big electric power projects.
Murray looked at maps of the Saluda River Valley. He saw that a dam could create a huge lake and generate a lot of power. He visited South Carolina to see the area for himself. Murray imagined a system of three dams, much bigger than Williams's original plan. One dam would be on the Saluda River, and two others would be further downstream on the Santee and Cooper rivers. This big project could create over 400,000 horsepower of electricity.
Getting the Land Ready
On July 8, 1927, the government gave permission to the Lexington Water Power Company to build the dam and power plant. The company immediately started buying the land needed for the lake and dam. The lake area covered about 65,000 acres (260 km2).
To get the land, they had to buy 1,100 pieces of property where about 5,000 people lived. This was hard because many properties had been passed down through families for generations without clear legal papers. Some land was even under old grants from King James II of England.
T. C. Williams was in charge of buying the land. He also arranged to move three churches, six schools, and 193 graveyards with 2,323 graves. Most landowners worked with Williams. Many moved to areas near the new lake and continued their lives.
Clearing the Way for the Lake
Work to clear the land for the lake started in April 1927. By summer 1928, the clearing was done. About 2,000 men worked, and 37 sawmills were running. They cut down a lot of trees, and much of the wood was used to build the dam itself.
Buildings for offices and worker camps were built near the dam site. A small village was also built for the dam operators. Thousands of workers lived in these camps. One of the first things built was a three miles (4.8 km) long railroad track. This track helped bring building materials and equipment to the site.
Lake Murray in the 1940s
During the 1940s, several B-25 Mitchell bombers crashed into Lake Murray. These planes were flying from nearby Columbia for training during World War II. Some planes were found, but three remained at the bottom of the lake until 2005.
In September 2005, a B-25C Mitchell bomber that crashed in 1943 was brought up from the lake. A group called the Lake Murray B-25 Rescue Project led this effort. After being recovered, the plane's parts were moved to the Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham, Alabama. This plane had a rare machine-gun turret on its underside, believed to be the only one left.
Geography of Lake Murray
Lake Murray is in central South Carolina. It touches Lexington, Richland, Newberry, and Saluda counties. The town of Lexington, a suburb of Columbia, is nearby.
The lake has an uneven shape with many coves. It also has several small islands. These include the Jim Spence Islands, Shull Island, and the islands of Dreher Island State Park. Bomb Island, also called Lunch Island, is a very important place. It is one of the largest nesting spots for Purple Martins in the country.
Fun Things to Do at Lake Murray
Lake Murray is a great place for outdoor fun. Boating, fishing, and swimming are very popular activities here.
Public Parks at the Lake
There are several public parks around Lake Murray. Dreher Island State Park is on three islands in the northwest part of the lake. It offers many activities related to the lake.
Near the Saluda Dam, north of Lexington, there is a walkway that goes across the dam. There are also recreation areas on both sides of the dam, including a public beach on the southern side.
Events and Activities
Each year, Spence Island hosts the Drift Jam rock and country concert in early June. There are also fireworks on the 4th of July and the Reggaetronic concert in mid-July. Many summer camps are held around the lake, offering fun and educational experiences.
Images for kids
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Settlement built in 1800
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Same house on sonar in 2005
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Wyse's Ferry Bridge in 1919
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Sonar image of bridge in 2005
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Lexington, SC and Lake Murray from aircraft
