Ron Chepesiuk

Rock Hill (Sc) (Images of America) Ron Chepesiuk

Rock Hill, South Carolina traces its roots back to the Catawba, one of the largest Native American nations still in existence in the state. While relatively young for an established city, nevertheless, Rock Hill is the fifth largest city in South Carolina. Named by crews of the Charlotte, Columbia, and Augusta Railroad in 1852 for a hill full of flint deposits, Rock Hill opened a United States post office within the year. This led to the establishment of the town in 1870 and the city just 22 years later. Since then, Rock Hill has carved out its own identity, cultivating a promising textile industry before becoming as well known for its gardens and manicured lawns as it is for the prestigious Winthrop University. ÝÝRock Hill: The Rise of a New South Town focuses on the anecdotes and landmarks that accompany the emergence of this community. Readers will join historical characters through the construction and growth of this burgeoning city, people such as James M. Ivy, the energetic cotton entrepreneur; automobile manufacturer John Gary Anderson; and Betty Jo Rhea, the first woman mayor. While encountering issues of race, politics, and economic transformation, Rock Hillís fresh outlook helps to set it apart from the troubled past of many Old South towns. Rock Hill: The Rise of a New South Town navigates the paths of history from its Catawba inhabitants to the hamlet of 100 people in 1860 to its current popularity with tourists, businesspeople, and students. ÝÝ