Ninety Six, South Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ninety Six, South Carolina
Town
Sunset over the battlefield at Star Fort
Location of Ninety Six, South Carolina
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Greenwood
Government
• Type	Mayor-council government
Area
• Total	1.82 sq mi (4.72 km2)
• Land	1.82 sq mi (4.72 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	548 ft (167 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,076
• Density	1,139.41/sq mi (439.81/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	29666
Area codes	864, 821
FIPS code	45-50290
GNIS feature ID	1249874

Ninety Six is a small town in Greenwood County, South Carolina, United States. In 2020, about 2,076 people lived there. It is known for its important role in early American history.

Where is Ninety Six?

Ninety Six is located in the eastern part of Greenwood County. The main road through town is South Carolina Highway 34. This road goes west about 9 miles to Greenwood, which is the main city of the county. It goes east about 27 miles to Newberry.

Lake Greenwood State Park is a fun place about 5 miles northeast of town. The Ninety Six National Historic Site is also nearby, about 2 miles south of the town center. This historic site protects the original settlement area.

The United States Census Bureau says that Ninety Six covers about 1.82 square miles of land. There is no water area within the town limits.

Why the Name "Ninety Six"?

The name "Ninety Six" is a bit of a mystery! No one is completely sure how the town got its unusual name.

One idea is that early traders thought it was 96 miles from here to the nearest Cherokee village called Keowee. But later, people found out it was actually closer to 78 miles.

Another story suggests the name came from counting creeks. Traders might have noticed six creeks flowing south from the Saluda River and nine creeks flowing south from the Savannah River. They might have marked these as "6" and "9" on their maps. This could have led to the area being called "Ninety-Six."

Some people even thought the name came from a Welsh phrase, nant-sych, meaning "dry gulch." However, there is no proof that the town's founder was Welsh.

So, while there are many ideas, the true origin of the name "Ninety Six" is still unknown.

A Look at History

Ninety Six was first settled around 1730, a long time ago on the edge of the American frontier. For a while, it was even called "Jews Land." This was because some important Jewish families from London bought a lot of land there. They hoped to help other Jewish families move from London to the New World.

The settlement became the main town of the Ninety-Six District in 1769. Today, the National Park Service takes care of the Ninety Six National Historic Site. This site protects the old settlement and a British fort.

Wars and Battles

Ninety Six played a big part in the Anglo-Cherokee War (1758–1761). It was also very important during the American Revolutionary War. The very first land battle of the Revolution south of New England happened here. This battle took place from November 19 to 21, 1775.

On August 1, 1776, American soldiers led by Major Andrew Williamson were attacked by Cherokee warriors and Loyalists. This was the Battle of Twelve Mile Creek. Francis Salvador, a Jewish immigrant, was killed in this battle. He was the first Jewish person to die fighting for the American Patriots in the Revolutionary War.

The Cherokee people were working with the British. They wanted to remove European-American settlers from their lands. In the fall of 1776, American rebel groups from Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia fought back. They attacked many Cherokee towns, destroying homes and food supplies.

In 1780, the British built a strong fort in Ninety Six. It was a special kind of fort called a star fort. From May 22 to June 18, 1781, Major General Nathanael Greene and about 1,000 Continental Army troops surrounded the fort. They were trying to capture it from 550 American Loyalists. General Greene's main engineer was Colonel Tadeusz Kościuszko, a Polish officer famous for his role in the Revolution. He was hurt during this attack. The Loyalists managed to hold the fort. After the war, they moved to Canada with help from the British.

Modern Times

In the 1800s, the Southern Railway built tracks through Ninety Six, and the town became a train stop. Several historic buildings in Ninety Six are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Kinard House and the Southern Railway Depot (Ninety Six, South Carolina).

Since 2008, Ninety Six has hosted a yearly July 4th celebration. It is called the "Festival of Stars." This festival has many fun things to do, like a petting zoo, food stands, rides, and even helicopter rides! People in town really look forward to this event every year.

Population Information

Population in 2020

In 2020, there were 2,076 people living in Ninety Six. There were 706 households and 520 families in the town.

Education

Ninety Six has a public library. It is part of the Greenwood County Library System.

Famous People from Ninety Six

• Orville Vernon Burton: A history professor at Clemson University. He grew up in Ninety Six.
• Cal Drummond: A Major League Baseball umpire. He was born in Ninety Six.
• John W. Drummond: A South Carolina businessman and lawmaker.
• Benjamin Mays: The sixth president of Morehouse College. He was a mentor to Martin Luther King Jr.. He was born near Ninety Six.
• Elliott Crayton McCants (1865–1953): An author and educator.
• Odean Pope (1938–present): A jazz tenor saxophonist. He was born in Ninety Six.
• Francis Salvador (1747–1776): He bought land in the Ninety-Six District. He was the first Jewish person elected to public office in the colonies. He was also the first Jewish person killed in the American Revolution.
• Joseph W. Tolbert (1865–1946): A leader in the South Carolina Republican Party.
• Bill Voiselle: A baseball pitcher for the New York Giants and Boston Braves. He wore his hometown's number "96" on his uniform.

See also

In Spanish: Ninety Six para niños