“H” is for Hartsville (Darlington County; 2020 population 7,562). Hartsville owes its existence to Captain Thomas Hart of Society Hill, who purchased much of the original town site in 1812. Kalmia Gardens, a thirty-acre garden near modern Hartsville, is the site of Hart’s 1820 residence. The town (incorporated by the General Assembly in 1891) blossomed between 1880 and 1920 primarily due to the efforts of James Lide Coker and his family. Coker opened a successful general store, invested in other enterprises such as the Carolina Fiber Company, and was the driving force behind the founding of Coker College. One of his sons founded the Southern Novelty Company (Sonoco) and another created Coker’s Pedigreed Seed Company. The Allstate Foundation recognized Hartsville for its efforts to revitalize its downtown and named it an All-America City in 1996.
“H” is for Hartsville
