Hampton County
Watermelon Capital
Once mapped as “Indian Lands”, this county of deep forests, swamps, and ponds is today famous to many sportsmen, hunters and fishermen for its exceptional hunting grounds and excellent river and creek fishing.
Not only does the Lowcountry offer one of the longest hunting seasons in the country, it also contains the largest whitetailed deer populations in the state.
Evidence of this area’s first residents, the native Indians can still be seen through such fascinating river names as the Salkehatchie, the Combahee and the Coosawhatchie. Hunting for Indian artifacts is a popular pastime, especially over a freshly plowed field after a good rain where many an arrowhead or pottery shard can be discovered.
The town of Hampton is the county seat, named after General Wade Hampton, an important Civil War military leader and state governor. Hampton, along with its sister town of Varnville are the hosts of the annual Hampton County Watermelon Festival, South Carolina’s oldest continuing festival dating back to 1939. Hampton County is a major producer of watermelons in the state and each June over 60,000 visitors come to help celebrate and enjoy this delicious summertime crop.
Yemassee, just one mile off Interstate 95, hosts an annual Shrimp Festival in September, celebrating the abundance of shrimp caught locally each year and featuring a boat parade, kiddie rides and unique shrimp cuisine. Furman, Estill and Gifford are hosts to spring, summer and fall festivals. Brunson is host to a “Fun Day” for you and Varnville celebrates with a “Day in the Park”.
Recreation abounds at Lake Warren State Park, a 1,390 acre fishing, boating and picnic area. Nature lovers can view alligators and water birds from the pier or along the lake’s edge.
Other attractions throughout this county of friendly rural towns are farms and numerous antebellum plantation homes, historic churches and cemeteries. There are many Places to Go and Things to See in Hampton County.
Unique sights to see include the Webb Wildlife Center, Hampton’s town and county museums (both in historic buildings), and the town of Varnville which was the setting for 1930s scenes from the movie “Forrest Gump.” The Hampton Museum & Visitors Center is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Hampton County Attractions
Click on the name of the attraction for more information.
Brunson’s Famous Town Hall
The Brunson Museum and Visitor Center was cited in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” as being the only stilted, octagonal town hall in the world. Built on stilts in 1906, the town hall provided shade to an artesian well. Benches were placed around it to provide a recreational spot. Over the years, the tiny town hall was encroached by the modern highway and railway systems, so in 1959, it was removed from its stilts and moved to its current location. The building continued to serve as the center of town government until 1996. The museum offers a wonderful collection of artifacts, photographs, paintings, and other memorabilia documenting the history of Brunson and the surrounding area.
Although no longer on stilts, it stands tall and proud as a landmark of this once “largest town” on the Charleston & Western Railroad.
800 Railroad Avenue, Brunson
Hampton’s American Legion Hut
This home of American Post 108, located at 302 Hoover St South, was built of cypress logs in 1933. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Hampton County Courthouse
This “Temple of Justice” is on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1878, the same year the SC General Assembly declared this northern portion of Beaufort County its own separate county. Hwy 278.
Hampton County Museum
702 First Street West, Hampton, (803)943-3387 or (803)943-5484, Th 10am-noon & 4-7pm, Sun 3-5pm. Housed in the former Hampton Jailhouse building, operated & maintained as a joint effort by Hampton County & the Historic Society. Contains a Civil War memorabilia, including various maps, uniforms, photographs of the county, its people & their ancestors.
Hampton Museum & Visitors Center
15 Elm Street East, Hampton, (803)943-5318
This museum contains military artifacts, as well as a children’s room. Exhibits antique medical equipment donated by local physicians & a section dedicated to ethnic cultures of the Lowcountry. Local craftsmen & artisans also contribute to continuous rotating exhibits. On National Register of Historic Places.
Hampton Walking Tour
Leaves from Hampton Museum & Visitors Center or Chamber of Commerce Offices, 15 Elm Street East, Hampton. (803)943-5318 or (803)943-3784. Peaceful walking tour of a small southern town’s historic buildings, elegant gardens & quaint shops.
Lake Warren State Park
Located off Hwy. 601 South, (803)943-5051. 400-acre park offers pier fishing, boating, picnicking, & nature viewing on a shady lake. Open dawn to dusk.
Lawtonville Baptist Church
Corner of 2nd & Lawton Avenue, Estill, (803)625-2871. Constituted in 1775, boasts pictures, brochures & interesting artifacts of Hampton County’s past.
Lawtonville Cemetery
Circa 1819. Site of Lawtonville Village (destroyed by Gen. Sherman’s troops). View remains of masonry staircase of one of the oldest Baptist churches in South Carolina. Near Estill.
Palmetto Theater
108 Lee Avenue, Hampton. Circa 1946. Built in the Art Deco influenced Art Moderne style that became popular after the war. When supplies were hard to come by, this style evolved to use an artistic approach to cheaper building materials. The results were stunning.
Stoney Creek Presbyterian Chapel
25481 Pocotaligo Rd, Circa 1832. Built in the high piney woods in McPhersonville. Plantation owners & their families had summer residences here. Many gave up portions of their property to provide place of worship. The chapel was also used as a hospital during the Civil War.
Town of Varnville
Originally known as “Dixie”, circa 1800. View lovely old homes. It was said that the aristocrats settled in Varnville. One of the original founders, James Varn, operated a sawmill. Scenes from the movie “Forrest Gump” were filmed here. Town Park features gazebo and restored caboose.
Blue Heron Nature Trail
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and has been the first and only center of county government since it was built in 1915. Ridgeland, the county seat, lies in the center of the county.
about the region`s distinctive sense of place.
best fishing spots. To reach Millstone Landing, turn west at the intersection of U.S. 17 and SC 46, cross the tracks, and continue straight across U.S. 321. Follow Church Road to its T-intersection with Purrysburg Road and turn left; the landing is on the right.
With more than 8,000 acres of diverse habitats, Donnelley Wildlife Management Area is a favorite Lowcountry destination for birders looking to run up their list of avian sightings. Located in Green Pond on land once used for rice cultivation, the property features a historic rice field system now managed to attract waterfowl and other migratory birds. Among its impressive resident and visitor population are roseate spoonbills, Eurasian wigeon ducks, red-cockaded woodpeckers, bald eagles, painted buntings and the rare sandhill crane.
Tuskegee Airmen Monument
