South Carolina Lowcountry

The Lowcountry is a special area along the coast of South Carolina. It has beautiful places like the Sea Islands and many important salt marshes and waterways. The Lowcountry is a home to many different plants and animals.

In the past, the Lowcountry was famous for growing rice and indigo. These crops grew well in the hot weather. Today, the Lowcountry is known for its old cities, nature, rich culture, and many visitors who come to see its beauty.

Many Native American tribes, such as the Cusabo and Etiwan, lived in this area long ago. The Lowcountry still has large communities of African American people, including the Gullah/Geechee people.

Geography

The term "Low Country" originally described the part of South Carolina below the Fall Line or the Sandhills. The Sandhills are a region of sandy soil and dunes formed by wind long ago. Above the Sandhills is an area known as the "Upstate" or "Upcountry," which has different land and culture.

Today, the Lowcountry usually includes places like Charleston, Dorchester, Beaufort, Georgetown, Colleton, Hampton, Berkeley, Jasper, and Williamsburg Counties. Some people also think Marion, Horry, Dillon, and Allendale Counties are part of it too. The Lowcountry has many salt marshes, which are special wet areas that help many plants and animals live there.

Lowcountry gentry

In the past, wealthy landowners called the Lowcountry gentry controlled much of the area through large farms called plantations. They brought many enslaved people to work there and tried to stop others from bringing in more.

During the American Revolutionary War, a group called the "Rice Pharaohs" grew rich by farming rice. They focused on keeping slavery and became very powerful. After the Civil War, many farms were destroyed, and enslaved people were freed. This ended the power of the Lowcountry gentry. Later, other industries like timber and mining became more important.

Tourism

Tourism has been important to this area since the early 1900s. Visitors come to enjoy nature and see historic places. The area shows the traditions of the Gullah Geechee people, including their skill in making sweetgrass baskets. Getting sweetgrass for these baskets has become harder because of development and too much harvesting. Mary Jackson, a skilled basket maker, received a special award called the MacArthur Fellowship for her work.