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Williamsburg County

Location: Williamsburg County, located in the southern tip of the Pee Dee River, holds treasures of historical interest dating back to the early 1700s. Adjacent counties include: Florence (North), Georgetown (East), Berkeley (South), and Clarendon (West).

Population: 34,423, estimated as of the 2010 United States Census.

Land: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 937 square miles, of which 934 square miles is land and 2.9 square miles is water.

Towns and cities: Andrews, Greeleyville, Hemingway, Kingstree, Lane, Stuckey.

Unincorporated communities: Cades, Gourdin, Hebron, Indianatown, Outland, Nesmith, Rhems, Salters, Trio, Piney Forest

County Seat: Kingstree

History of Williamsburg County

Williamsburg County was probably named for King William III of England (1650-1702). Scotch-Irish and French Huguenot settlers began moving into this part of the lowcountry around 1732, and in 1736 the township of Williamsburg was laid out on the Black River in the vicinity of the settlement of Kingstree. This area was part of Prince Frederick Parish, which in turn was part of Georgetown District. In 1804 Williamsburg became a separate district, with the seat at Kingstree. A small part of Williamsburg later went to form Florence County in 1888. During the Revolutionary War many of General Francis Marion's men hailed from this area, including Major John James (1732-1791). The battles of Black Mingo (September 28-29, 1780), Mount Hope Swamp (March 1781), and Lower Bridge (March 1781) were all fought in Williamsburg County. In later years the county has remained primarily an agricultural region. Nobel Prize-winning geneticist Joseph L. Goldstein grew up in the town of Kingstree. (Compiled from www.statelibrary.sc.gov)

History of Kingstree

The original town was laid out as Williamsburg by the Lords Proprietors in colonial times. But a lone, unusually large white pine was found along the Black River. Since tall white pines were ideal for use as masts for ships, King George claimed it. The king's broad arrow mark was put upon this tree to prevent anyone else from cutting it. It was never cut. The tree that the town gets its name from is the only tree of King George's ever found in the south. Over time, the county kept the name Williamsburg, but the county seat became known as The King's Tree, giving rise to its modern name.

Schools

C.E. Murray High School
222 C.E. Murray Blvd., Greeleyville, SC 29056
Phone: (843) 246-2121
Fax: (843) 426-2151

C.E. Murray Middle School
222 C.E. Murray Blvd., Greeleyville, SC 29056
Phone: (843) 246-2121
Fax: (843) 426-2151

D.P. Cooper Elementary School
4568 Seaboard Road, Salters, SC 29056
Phone: (843) 355-5426
Fax: (843) 387-5444

Greeleyville Elementary School
7 Varner Avenue, Greeleyville, SC 29056
Phone: (843) 426-2113
Fax: (843) 426-2141

Hemingway Elementary School
160 Baxley Road, Hemingway, SC 29554
Phone: (843) 558-4444
Fax: (843) 558-4440

Hemingway High School
420 S. Main Street, PO Drawer 1509, Hemingway, SC 29554
Phone: (843) 558-9413
Fax: (843) 558-9335

Hemingway M.B. Lee Middle School
400 South Main Street, PO Drawer 1509, Hemingway, SC 29554
Phone: (843) 558-2721
Fax: (843) 558-0792

Kenneth Gardner Elementary School
1503 Woodland Drive, Kingstree, SC 29556
Phone: (843) 355-7233
Fax: (843) 335-9371

Kingstree Christian Academy
644 Sumter Hwy., Kingstree, SC 29556
Phone: (843) 355-2210
Grades PK-12
Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)

Kingstree Middle School
616 Martin Luther Avenue, Kingstree, SC 29556
Phone: (843) 355-6823
Fax: (843) 335-1523

Kingstree Senior School
615 Martin Luther Avenue, Kingstree, SC 29556
Phone: (843) 355-6525
Fax: (843) 335-7019

The King's Academy
872 Sumter Hwy., Kingstree, SC 29556
Phone: (843) 382-5349
Grades 2-12
Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) or (School of Tomorrow)

W.M. Anderson Primary School
500 Lexington Avenue, Kingstree, SC 29556
Phone: (843) 355-5943
Fax: (843) 335-7111

Williamsburg Academy
1000 Sandy Bay Road, Kingstree, SC 29556
Phone: (843) 355-9400
Fax: (843) 355-7734
Email (general info): info@williamsburgacademy.com
www.williamsburgacademy.com
Grades PK-12
Accredited at the Advanced level by South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA)

Williamsburg County Magnet School of the Arts School
710 Third Avenue, Kingstree, SC 29556
Phone: (843) 355-1506
Fax: (843) 335-9207

Williamsburg County School District
423 School Street - P.O. Box 1067, Kingstree, SC 29556
Phone: (843) 355-5571
Fax: (843) 355-3231
www.wcsd.k12.sc.us

Williamsburg Kindergarden Daycare
411 N. Academy Street., Kingstree, SC 29556
Phone: (843) 355-6846
Grades PK-K
Early Childhood/Daycare/Preschool (Presbyterian)

Williamsburg Technical College
601 MLK Jr. Avenue, Kingstree, SC 29556
Phone: (843) 355-4165
www.wiltech.edu

Youth Academy Charter School
711 Tomlison Street, Kingstree, SC 29556
Phone: (843) 355-5424
Fax: (843) 335-5425

Local Government

Williamsburg County Government
201 West Main Street, Kingstree, SC 29556
(843) 355-9321
www.williamsburgcounty.sc.gov
County Council meets on the 1st Monday and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Meetings are held in Council Chambers located at 201 West Main Street.

Town of Kingstree
410 N. Longstreet Street, Kingstree, SC 29556
(843) 355-7484
www.kingstree.org
Regular Council Meetings: 6:30 p.m. on the 3rd Monday of each month. Meetings are held at the Frank H. Municipal Complex located at 401 N. Longstreet Street., Kingstree, SC 29556.

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