Ninety-Six District, South Carolina facts for kids
The Ninety-Six District was a special area in South Carolina that had its own courts and laws a long time ago. It was called a "judicial district." It existed from July 29, 1769, until December 31, 1799. The main town for the district, where the courthouse and jail were, was called Ninety Six, South Carolina.
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Colonial South Carolina's Land Divisions
In the early days of the Province of South Carolina, the land near the coast was divided into areas called "parishes." These were like church districts. There were also "counties" that helped with legal matters and elections. As more people moved inland, new "judicial districts" and more counties were created.
This system continued even after the American Revolutionary War. Later, in 1798, all counties were renamed "elective districts." This change officially started on January 1, 1800. Much later, in 1868, these districts were changed back into counties. You can see old maps of these areas at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
Creating the Ninety-Six District
The Ninety-Six District was officially created on July 29, 1769. It was the westernmost of the seven original districts in the Province of South Carolina. This large area included parts of what are now many different counties.
Today, these counties include Abbeville, McCormick, Edgefield, Saluda, Greenwood, Laurens, Union, and Spartanburg. It also covered much of Cherokee and Newberry counties, plus small parts of Aiken and Greenville counties.
Native American Lands and Borders
The lands further west, beyond the Appalachian Mountains, were the traditional homes of the Cherokee people. The British government tried to protect these lands from settlers moving in. This was part of the Royal Proclamation of 1763. However, they still allowed traders and travelers in the area.
The borders of the Province of North Carolina and the Colony of Virginia (which included present-day Kentucky) were confirmed in 1770. This happened with the Treaty of Lochaber, signed with the Cherokee. About 1,000 Cherokee people were hosted at Lochaber Plantation, which was in the Ninety-Six District. Due to mistakes in surveying, a county in North Carolina called Tryon County, North Carolina incorrectly claimed some of the northern parts of Ninety-Six District during the 1770s.
The main town for the district's courts was Ninety Six, South Carolina. Its location is 34°10′24″N 82°1′18″W / 34.17333°N 82.02167°W.
How the District Was Divided
In 1785, a new law was passed in South Carolina. This law divided the larger districts into smaller counties. These new counties were then in charge of keeping their own courthouses.
The Ninety-Six District was divided into several counties. These included Abbeville, Edgefield, Laurens, Newberry, Spartanburg, and Union.
Later, on February 19, 1791, the Ninety-Six District lost some of its land. This happened when the Pinckney District was formed. The land that became part of Pinckney District included what are now Union, Spartanburg counties, and a part of Cherokee county.
End of the Ninety-Six District
On January 1, 1800, the Ninety-Six District was officially closed down. It was replaced by several new districts. These new districts were Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenville, Laurens, and Newberry Districts.
People from the Ninety-Six District
- James Augustus Black (1793–1848) was a politician who served as a United States Congressman for South Carolina.
- William Cunningham (1756–1787) was an officer in the Loyalist Militia. He led military actions in the Ninety-Six District in the fall of 1781 during the American Revolution.
The Old 96 District Today
Today, there is a group called the Old 96 District Tourism Commission. This group works to encourage people to visit five of the counties that were once part of the original Ninety-Six District. These counties are Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, and McCormick.
