Washington District, South Carolina facts for kids
The Washington District was a special area in South Carolina that had its own courts and laws. It was like a county, but called a "district" back then. This district existed for a short time, from February 19, 1791, until January 1, 1800. The main court building and jail for the Washington District were located in a town called Pickensville, South Carolina.
Contents
South Carolina's Changing Map
South Carolina's map looked very different a long time ago, especially during the colonial period (when it was ruled by Britain).
Early Divisions
At first, the land near the coast was divided into areas called "parishes." These were like church districts. There were also some "counties" that handled legal matters and elections.
New Areas and Changes
As more people moved inland, new judicial districts and counties were created. This system continued even after the Revolutionary War, when America became independent.
In the year 1800, a big change happened: all the areas previously called "counties" were renamed "districts." Then, much later, in 1868, these "districts" were changed back to "counties."
You can find old maps at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History that show how these areas changed over time, starting from 1682.
Washington District vs. Washington County
It's important to know that the Washington District is different from another place called Washington County, South Carolina. Washington County was a smaller part of the Charleston District from 1785 to 1791. The Washington District we are talking about here was a separate area created later.
Where Was Washington District?
The Washington District was created on February 19, 1791. It was formed from land that used to belong to the Cherokee Native American people.
What It Included
The district was made up of two main areas:
If you look at today's map, the Washington District would have covered:
- All of what is now Anderson County
- All of what is now Pickens County
- The western part of today's Greenville County
- Almost all of today's Oconee County, except for a small area (about 70 square miles or 180 square kilometers) along the Chattooga River. That small area along the Chattooga River was still home to the Cherokee and Creek tribes.
Pickensville: The Center of the District
The main court building and jail for the Washington District were located in a town called Pickensville. This town was named after General Andrew Pickens, a famous figure from the Revolutionary War.
Location of Pickensville
Before 1792, Pickensville was known as Rockville. Today, Pickensville is located in what is now Pickens County, South Carolina. You can find its historical site south of U.S. Route 123, where SC 8 and SC 135 meet, close to the town of Easley, South Carolina.
End of Washington District
The Washington District stopped existing on January 1, 1800. This happened when Greenville and Pendleton were changed from counties into their own separate districts.
