Pocotaligo, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pocotaligo, South Carolina
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 Pocotaligo, South Carolina
Location in South Carolina
Pocotaligo, South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Jasper |
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| ZIP code |
29445
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| Area code(s) | 843, 854 |
Pocotaligo is a small community in Jasper County, South Carolina, United States. It is very close to the border of Beaufort County. The community gets its name from the Pocotaligo River. This river is a small tidal creek that separates Jasper and Beaufort counties.
Even though Pocotaligo has a rich history, today it is mainly a place where major roads meet. These roads include U.S. Highway 17, U.S. Highway 17 Alternate, and U.S. Highway 21. These highways lead to Interstate 95 at Point South and Yemassee. Over time, Point South and Yemassee have grown larger and become more important than Pocotaligo. Very few people live in Pocotaligo today.
Contents
Pocotaligo's Past: A Look at History
Early Days: Colonial Times
Long ago, during colonial times, Pocotaligo was home to the Upper Yamasee tribe. The Yamasee are one of the Native American tribes of the region. As more European settlers moved into the Beaufort area, tensions grew. These tensions were between the settlers and several Creek tribes.
The colonial government sent a group of six people to Pocotaligo. Their goal was to ask the Yamasee for help. They wanted the Yamasee to talk with the Creeks and find a peaceful solution. However, the Yamasee decided to attack the group that very night. Four of the six men were killed. This event started the Yamasee War, a very serious conflict for the South Carolina colony. Eventually, settlers took over Pocotaligo. They built a bridge over the creek. This made Pocotaligo an important stop on the main travel route between Charleston and Savannah.
The Civil War Era
Before the Civil War, Pocotaligo became an important stop on the Charleston and Savannah Railway. There was a train station, called a depot, about a mile northwest of the community. When the war began in 1861, Union forces captured the Beaufort area. This was during the Battle of Port Royal. Controlling the railway became very important for the Union. They wanted to stop the Confederate economy.
Pocotaligo was the closest train depot to Port Royal Island. Union troops wanted to attack the railway there. For a short time in 1862, General Robert E. Lee was sent to South Carolina. His job was to protect the railway and set up defenses. He also had to stop Union forces from moving onto the mainland from the Sea Islands. Union forces tried to attack the railway at Pocotaligo many times. The most serious attack was stopped in October 1862. However, Pocotaligo eventually fell to General William Tecumseh Sherman in early 1865. This happened shortly after his army captured Savannah in December 1864.
After the Civil War
Pocotaligo's importance as a train depot decreased after the Port Royal Railroad was finished in 1870. The new railroad made Yemassee the main junction point with the Charleston and Savannah Railway. In the 1930s, the creation of U.S. Highway 17 brought some economic life back to Pocotaligo. This lasted for a few decades.
However, the opening of Interstate 95 caused more economic decline. A new commercial center called Point South was created for travelers. This took away business from Pocotaligo. Today, not much of the community remains. You can find a few historic markers and old homes.
Getting Around: Transportation
Pocotaligo is where U.S. Highway 17 and U.S. Highway 21 meet. Interstate 95 is just one mile west of Pocotaligo, near Point South.
Famous People from Pocotaligo
- Jonathan Bryan: He was a landowner who helped James Edward Oglethorpe create the colony of Savannah, Georgia.
- John Postell Williamson: He served as the mayor of Savannah.
