"A" is for Abbeville County [508 square miles, population 26,167]. Abbeville was one of six counties created out of the old Ninety Six District. Its northern border is the colonial Indian territory.
Beginning in the 1750s there was a large influx of Scots-Irish settlers into the area that became known as Long Canes. The Long Canes settlement and its Presbyterian Church played significant roles in the history of the backcountry. Revolutionary War patriot Andrew Pickens was among the early settlers. The spread of cotton production transformed Abbeville from a county of yeoman farmers into one of the black-belt counties where slaves comprised two-thirds of the population. In the late 19th century, railroads and textile mills brought jobs and relative prosperity. Today, despite new industries and a century of change, Abbeville County still retains its rural character.
