Established in 1897 Dorchester County boasts a rich history. Carved from Colleton and Berkeley Counties it’s shaped like a bow tie. Its county seat St George sits northwest. Summerville the largest town holds most of the population in the southeast. Dorchester County though young has deep roots. Its name comes from a colonial town. Congregationalists from Dorchester Massachusetts founded it in 1696.
Planters settled along the Ashley and Edisto Rivers. These waterways and swamps shaped the county’s landscape. During colonial times this land belonged to several parishes. St George’s Dorchester Parish church served as an Anglican worship center and a political hub. The Dorchester Free School established in 1724 provided education. Dorchester also thrived as a center of the Indian trade.
The county’s early parishes formed the colony’s western frontier. The Yamassee War temporarily emptied the region. Native inhabitants pushed settlers back towards Charleston. The Primus Plot a planned slave rebellion in 1720 caused great fear. It spread from St Paul’s Parish southward.
In 1757 colonial officials built a tabby fort at Dorchester. This made the area a battleground during the Revolutionary War. William Gilmore Simms’ novels offer glimpses into the era’s social and political life. Expansive rice plantations brought wealth to prominent families. Henry Middleton founded Middleton Place in 1741. His family’s plantation network generated immense riches. Other families like the Warings Perrys Blakes Izards and Pringles also prospered from rice cultivation.
During the 19th century settlements moved inland. People started growing cotton alongside rice. Summerville surpassed Dorchester in importance. The Presbyterian White Meeting House and St George Dorchester Episcopal Church relocated there. A railway built in 1831 spurred Summerville’s growth. Summerville became a safe haven for refugees during the Civil War. Federal troops later occupied and encamped in Summerville.
George’s Station incorporated in 1874 became St George in 1889. This recalled the old St George’s Dorchester parish. St George’s selection as the county seat sparked debate. Summerville residents protested but St George remained the county seat. Dorchester County entered the 20th century divided. A rural upper part contrasted with a densely populated lower part. African Americans were the majority until 1960.
Industrialization and New Deal programs diversified the economy. Dorchester County’s modern history is linked to Charleston’s growth. It became a popular residential area for those working in greater Charleston. Explosive population growth followed 1970. Businesses retirement homes hospitals and light industry poured in. The county faced the challenge of managing this rapid growth.
Today Dorchester County features the Francis Beidler Forest. This holds some of the world’s last remaining virgin tupelo swamps. Givhans Ferry and Old Fort Dorchester State Parks provide recreation. Old Fort Dorchester State Park showcases the colonial town and the well-preserved tabby fort. Native American communities continue to inhabit rural areas. The Natchez-Kussos a formally unrecognized tribe live near the Four Holes Swamp.