“B” is for Barnwell (Barnwell County; 2020 population 4,159). Originally located on the old Stage Coach Road from Charleston to Augusta, Barnwell was first called Red Hill. Like Barnwell County, the town was named for John “Tuscarora Jack” Barnwell of Beaufort. The first county courthouse was built in 1800. Although important as a district seat, Barnwell grew slowly. When the South Carolina Canal Rail Road Company bypassed the town, its economic importance declined. During the Civil War, the town was occupied by U.S. Army troops and most businesses and public buildings—except for churches—were destroyed. Barnwell remained a commercial center for county farmers well into the twentieth century. The coming of the Savannah River Plant temporarily boosted Barnwell’s population. A portion of the 135-acre Lake Edgar Brown lies within the city limits of Barnwell.
“B” is for Barnwell
