Where is Beech Island in South Carolina- Complete Guide

Beech Island, South Carolina:

Beech Island, South Carolina is a small, unincorporated community located in Aiken County, South Carolina, near the Savannah River. Although not officially designated as a town or city, Beach Island is a historically rich area that is part of the greater Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.

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History:

According to tradition, the community was first named “Beech Highland” because of its elevation, and over time the H was dropped, leading to the adoption of the current name.

Beech Island was primarily an agricultural community prior to the 1950s. Cotton, wheat, corn and soybeans were the main crops. This was replaced by the construction of the Urquhart Station Power Station and the nearby Savannah River Nuclear Project. New highways were built for workers going to the nuclear project. Trade increased and society began to change. In the 1960s, Kimberly Clark built a large manufacturing facility on what was once farmland, creating more jobs. However, the boom was short-lived.

Beech Island’s most famous resident was James Brown, who lived on a 60-acre (240,000 m2) estate there for the last few decades of his life. Brown is buried in the Thomas Family Home Crypt on Beech Island.

The Cedars, Fort Moore-Savannah Townsite, Radcliffe Plantation State Historic Site, Oakland Plantation, and Zobley Cemetery are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7][8]

Beech Island is also home to most of the television transmitters that serve the Augusta, GA MSA.

Geographical Location:

Location: Beech Island is located in Aiken County, in the western part of South Carolina, near the Georgia border. It is about 7 miles east of Augusta, Georgia.

Proximity to the Savannah River: This community is located just across the Savannah River, which forms the natural border between Georgia and South Carolina.

Nearby Areas: It is close to the major cities of North Augusta and Aiken, South Carolina and is part of the Central Savannah River Region (CSRA).

Notable historical figures:

James Henry Hammond:

One of the most prominent historical figures associated with Beech Island is James Henry Hammond, a 19th-century politician, planter, and vocal advocate of slavery and states’ rights. He owned a large estate called Radcliffe Plantation in the Beech Island area.

Hammond served as governor of South Carolina and later as a US senator. His plantation home, Radcliffe Plantation, is now preserved as the Radcliffe Plantation State Historic Site, a reminder of the area’s past.

Historical Significance of Radcliffe Plantation:

The plantation offers insight into the lives of the enslaved African Americans who worked there, as well as the family history of James Hammond. Today, the plant serves as an educational and historical site for visitors.

Cultural and Social History:

Native American History: Prior to European settlement, the Beech Island area was part of the Cherokee and other Southeastern Native American territories. Early settlers had complex relationships with these indigenous groups.

Significance during the Civil War: During the American Civil War, Beech Island was part of the agricultural backbone of the Confederacy, contributing cotton and other resources to the Confederate war effort. Proximity to Augusta, Georgia, an important industrial center for the Confederacy, meant that Beech Island played a supporting role in the war.

Beech Island Today:

Community:

Beech Island remains largely rural, and although it is not a major population center, it retains a sense of historical identity. The area is known for its historic gardens, rural landscape and proximity to major cities such as Augusta.

Population:

It has a small population, with most of the area devoted to agriculture, low-density residential areas and historical sites.

Tourism: The main draw for visitors to Beech Island today is the Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site, which offers tours and educational programs about the antebellum South.

Interesting Facts:

Origin of Name:

The name “Beach Island” is somewhat misleading as it is not an island. The community takes its name from Beech Island, a geological formation that was once surrounded by Savannah River marshes but is not technically an island today.

Notable Annual Events:

Beech Island is known for its small community events, including local heritage days and celebrations of the area’s historical and agricultural traditions.