Final Report: Historical and Architectural Survey of Western Laurens County, South Carolina, May 2002

TRC; Revels, Jennifer

From project summary: "TRC conducted a historic resources survey of western Laurens County, South Carolina. The work was undertaken on behalf of Laurens County and was funded by a matching grant provided by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. The survey was conducted for the purpose of identifying properties and districts that should be considered for possible local designation and/or NRHP designation within the county. The survey will be utilized for the creation and promotion of economic incentives for rehabilitation, education, and heritage tourism, and the information will aid local governments in future planning activities and cultural tourism development. The boundaries for the survey were the Laurens County line on the north, west, and south, and SC Highway 221 on the east. There were 1,492 properties surveyed within a total area of approximately 350-square miles. The results of the architectural survey indicate that there are potential historic districts within the town of Laurens. In addition, there were 241 properties surveyed in the rural areas of the county. Of these identified properties, 25 are considered individually eligible for listing in the NRHP. There were 1,083 residential, 55 commercial, and three industrial properties identified within the municipal limits of the city of Laurens. Of these identified properties, none are considered to be individually eligible for listing in the NRHP. One newly identified district and two district extensions were identified as being eligible for listing in the NRHP. These consist of the Laurens Cotton Mill Historic District with 163 properties including 158 homes, four commercial buildings, and the mill complex; the Laurens Historic District Extension, with four commercial structures and ten residential structures; and the South Harper Street Historic District Extension, with 44 residential structures. There were 59 residential and 14 commercial properties identified within the municipal limits of the town of Gray Court. Of these identified properties, one residential structure is considered to be individually eligible for listing in the NRHP. There were eight residential structures, three commercial buildings, and one industrial complex identified within the municipal limits of the town of Waterloo. Of these identified properties, one is considered to be individually eligible for listing in the NRHP." Funding was provided in part by a 2001 Historic Preservation Fund grant to Laurens County (project number SC-01-009) administered by the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Final Report: Historical and Architectural Survey of Western Laurens County, South Carolina, May 2002

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