Darlington Real Estate

Darlington sits in the heart of South Carolina’s agricultural belt, which is in the northeastern most part of the state. The city is bustling historic landmarks, lush gardens, festivals, museums, and recreational activities to enjoy with friends and family. Many know this area because it is home to the Darlington Raceway, which boasts a stock car museum and an NMPA (National Motorsports Press Association) Hall of Fame. Needless to say, there is a lot to know about Darlington! Homebuyers search in Darlington because homes tend to be reasonably priced.

Darlington’s origins began with its first settlers. These settlers brought cotton farming to the area, as devoted acreage increased for growing cotton. The reason for this was to promote the growing interest in planting among residents. A Planters Club and the Darlington District Agricultural Society were formed and the installment of cotton gins and warehouses became prevalent. Later, in 1899, the area found Bright Leaf tobacco extremely profitable. This resulted in Darlington becoming the largest tobacco market in South Carolina. Even through the Great Depression, Darlington maintained one of the largest tobacco markets in the country.

Darlington was founded by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1835. The origin of the town’s name is unknown, however, there are a few theories. Some speculate that the town was designated to honor Colonel Darlington, who was a revolutionary war hero. Others believe that Darlington was named after a town in England with the same moniker. The entire town was built around the location of its courthouse. 

The Darlington Courthouse and surrounding Public Square are located in the same place where Colonel Lamuel Benton and Captain Elias Dubose came together after a heated discussion. Ironically, the argument was over the location of the courthouse, back in the late 1700s. Before the civil war, Darlington had a population of only around 500 people. However, it did not stay this way for long.

Darlington grew, as banks and businesses began opening up in this prosperous area. Today, Darlington is home to multiple cultural and historic events. Agriculture remains extremely significant in Darlington, even now. Darlington is a member of the South Carolina Cotton and Tobacco Trails. You will still find a cotton gin located on East Broad Street and a cotton seed oil mill (Hartsville Oil Mill) on Washington Street. Although Darlington does not have tobacco markets in the present day, many warehouses still stand. The Dixie Cup company occupies the former Imperial Tobacco Company building, which created many new jobs for the area in 1938. 

The Darlington Veneer Company was established between the late 1800s and the early 1900s. The Darlington Veneer Company still operates today. There are a variety of historic landmarks in the area, including Darlington Memorial Center, Dargan House, Wilds-Edwards House, Carnegie Library, and Grove Hill Cemetery. The historic districts of the city of Darlington feature designs from the late 1800 era. Similarly, homes here still depict the traditional character and the efforts made by the Historical Landmarks Commission to maintain its architectural elements.

Darlington was once known as the Cheraws District, but was later subdivided into 3 counties, Chesterfield, Marlboro, and Darlington. As the area became more popular, the St. Johns School came to Darlington. No battles were fought here during the Civil War, but Darlington still endured its share of struggles. 

In early 1865, General Sherman had his troops ride into town and destroy a portion of Darlington. The troops invaded and burned down the train depot, cotton platforms, and railroad trestles. The town endured another tragedy in 1866, when a group of drunken Federal soldiers started a fire that would destroy the Darlington courthouse and the jail. 

South Carolina’s Pee Dee area is the homeland of Native American Indians. Pee Dee includes the Grand Strand and beaches from the North Carolina state border to the Winyah Bay in Georgetown county. The most popular regions in this area include Bennettsville, Cheraw, Darlington, Dillon, Hartsville, Lake City, Marion, Chesterfield, Florence, Latta, and Timmonsville.

Buying a new home is a big decision! We love matching homebuyers with their dream home. BRG Real Estate is committed to helping you buy a home in the ideal place for you and your family. Not sure where to start? Check out our website and find community information on all listings in the Pee Dee area!