Profile: S.C. Cities Series (1960s) | ETV Classics

May 07, 2025
Profile S.C. Cities

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South Carolina, a state known for its rich history, stunning landscapes, and southern charm, is home to a diverse range of cities, each offering unique contributions to the culture, economics, and history of South Carolina. 

Profile: S.C. Cities was an educational series that shined a spotlight on the most prominent cities in South Carolina and provided a comprehensive look at their significance and appeal. By exploring these cities, residents and visitors alike can appreciate the diversity that makes South Carolina such a unique and thriving state. 

 

Allendale and Barnwell (1967)

This program talks about the counties of Allendale and Barnwell. These counties are almost synonymous with watermelon. These counties also have the largest farms and ranches per acre in the entire state of South Carolina. The mayor of Allendale states that the main source of income is tourism and explains how this has changed over the past two decades, when it was primarily crops and farming. Two important railroads run through Allendale. There is a population of about 3200 people, along with a great small government. The citizens define Allendale as a comfortable place to live and say that everyone helps to make the town a better place. 

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Barnwell is also a small county but big in industry. Barnwell plans to continue with industry development and has a thriving community with an increase in its housing, recreational activities and buildings. Barnwell is the home of two of South Carolina’s most prominent political figures, one being the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the other a Senator who is a recognized leader for educational television in the General Assembly. The mayor of Barnwell says he loves people and says being close to people makes it easier to work together and cooperate to make the town a better place. Since the Civil War, Barnwell has been a farming community, but since World War II, farming has turned into mechanization, which has caused a loss in population. To help solve this problem, a group of citizens formed a development board and started to work on industry, which led to the formation of plants.  

 

 

Charleston and the Lowcountry (1964) 

This program starts off with the colonization of South Carolina and Charleston. In 1680, Charleston was described as a bustling port that was unique for its time with great defenses and a beautiful landscape. Charleston was also the only English colony with a complete architectural plan, with complex buildings and canals. Rice was the staple crop of Charleston, and there was so much supply that they struggled to find vessels to ship it out. Rice built most of Charleston and educated most of its sons. 

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However, the French and the Spaniards still identified the English as trespassers and attacked Charleston, but they found the town well-fortified and foiled the attack. Charleston continued to prosper, even with several wars surrounding it, but throughout its history, it has been subject to two forces of destruction, fire and flooding. Storms and fire wreaked havoc on Charleston, causing ships and docks to become flooded and destroyed. Even after extensive damage and suffering, Charleston remained in good condition and continued to grow. 

There was rapid expansion with housing and businesses, but the War of 1812 brought this to an end. In the middle years of the 1800s, there was a sense of uneasiness due to economic and political pressures, and eventually South Carolina seceded from the union of states. Following this, the first shot fired in the Civil War occured at Fort Sumter. Charleston suffered very little physical damage during the war but suffered devastating economic damage. 

In 1964, Charleston was still one of the leading ports in the nation, and reaches out to almost every other major port in the world. Millions of tons of material pass through the port every year with various items. People come to Charleston to view the places where history was made and to admire the old houses and gates, which are a part of modern and historic Charleston.

Charleston is also seen as a city of firsts. The Chamber of Commerce building houses one of the oldest city commercial organizations in the United States. The Old Exchange building was built as a customs house, and was the site where the provincial congress established the first independent government in America. The Charleston airport is the center of military air travel in the Lowcountry, and the U.S. Air Force operates a global air service from it. The Navy has played a key role in the development of Charleston, and today's modern Navy is much a part of Charleston's Navy. 

Charleston is not only a city full of history but one of great beauty and constantly changing moods. Spring changes the mood to brightness and warmth. Charleston's world-famous gardens attract thousands of visitors each spring, and each landmark takes on a renewed warmth with the arrival of spring. Each season brings different moods to the city that affect everyone.    

 

 

Greenville: Accent on Action (1968)

This program follows a town called Pleasantburg that would eventually turn into Greenville. The program tours the city of Greenville and shows what can be found there. Greenville has a concern for total development, and they plan to reevaluate downtown Greenville. City officials have plans to tear down outdated buildings, create programs to ease the growing traffic problem, update the design and structure of old buildings, and build more. 

 

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Greenville has over 100 insurance companies with Liberty Life being the first South Carolina insurance firm to reach the 2 billion mark in coverage. Greenville is described as a city in motion with a rapid growth of suburbs. Convenient shopping centers have sprung into action because of this. One of the prime points of Greenville's total development was ensuring adequate educational facilities. Nine accredited colleges are located within 50 miles of Greenville. The city also has many booming industries including textiles, cloth, fabric, and more.

With Greenville growing so rapidly, it is natural to see home building increase, but this also led to carefully planned subdivisions. Greenville is also on the move when it comes to the jet age. This is shown at Greenville Spartanburg airport where frequent flyers use this airport every day. The airport is equipped with the most modern traffic control facilities available. Many extracurricular and recreational activities are available in Greenville with all sorts of entertainment.

 

 

 

The Face of Columbia (1966)

This program talks about the city of Columbia and all its features in 1966. Columbia is seen as the centerpiece of South Carolina, where everything flows through it. Columbia disturbs many people due to its complexity, but they never fully understand the city. Many people come to Columbia through many different means of travel, and one thing you can count on is that they will keep on coming. A tenth of South Carolina’s population is centered in Columbia, which is almost half a million people. The Columbia airport handles over 250,000 travelers annually and thousands of people are greeted at this airport.

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There are more retail sales in Columbia than anywhere else in the state—close to $250 million a year in sales. Columbia is seen as a place for people of all ages and all backgrounds. There is so much to do and as construction continues, Columbia grows bigger every day. The University of South Carolina is growing so rapidly that the population experiences a year's growth in a few weeks' time. Despite the traffic and busyness of the city, there is always room to work, to live, and to play. Columbia ties the state of South Carolina together almost by magic. It is the business barometer, industrial index, convention center, transportation terminal, agricultural axis, and the cultural core.

 

 

 

Columbia: A Capital Tour (1964)

This program tours the city of Columbia in 1964. Columbia is the capital of South Carolina and is bound by three rivers, the Broad, the Saluda, and the Congaree. Columbia is almost at the geographical center of South Carolina and is served by four railroads and two interstates. The United States Army operates at Fort Jackson, which is in the eastern part of the city, where they train thousands of recruits a year. 

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The state capitol building has many similarities to the national capital in Washington D.C. The South Carolina General Assembly meets there and the structure houses the library and offices for some state officials. The graveyard of Trinity Episcopal Church is a resting place of formerly eminent South Carolinians including five governors. The First Baptist church is housed in Columbia where over 100 years ago, the first succession convention met there to kindle the spark of war between the North and the South. 

The program showcases the many buildings surrounding the University of South Carolina, along with other educational buildings. Recreational landmarks and buildings are also shown, from a golf course to Lake Murray.

 

 

The Pee Dee (1967)

The program discusses the Pee Dee area and its history. Many settlements were formed around the Pee Dee River by people from all over the country. The program talks about some of these settlements and what they are today. Cotton was the most popular crop produced in the Pee Dee, along with tobacco and strawberries. Nonfamily workers who did the stripping, lugging, topping, stringing, sticking, and hanging of the tobacco are to be praised because without them, there would have been no tobacco. 

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Florence has had great physical growth with huge industrial complexes. Machines were introduced because of this and many people were educated. Community leaders took the initiative because of the rapid growth. Shopping malls were built, suburbs created, old buildings torn down, facelifts for many buildings, and trees and shrubbery planted near walkways. Recreational and extracurricular activities abound, including golf, swimming, tennis, and more. Educational centers and roadbuilding are also rapidly growing in the Pee Dee area, along with numerous farm and market projects.

 

Beaufort - History’s Graceful Bridesmaid (1966)

The program describes the city of Beaufort and its history up to 1966. Beaufort is comprised of islands and harbors with a natural beauty. Indians first lived here but were forced into submission when the Spaniards arrived. They were made to provide food and resources with nothing in return. The Spaniards failed to colonize the islands, due to rebellion and other political factors, so the French were the first to colonize. The French realized they couldn't live in a strange land, and over time, many left, leaving only a few behind.

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Later, the Lord's Proprietor directed a town to be laid out with the name of Beaufort, named after Henry the Duke of Beaufort, who was one of the proprietors. One of the traits shared by the early Beaufort citizens, even though they had a great diversity of European society, was the determination to put down roots that could absorb the upheavals of nature and man, while contributing to a better life for succeeding generations. Near the center of Beaufort is a massive arsenal that serves military needs and was used during the Secession of South Carolina from the Union.

Beaufort is known for its beautiful vegetation and scenery, and often, even in present day, you can feel the history of Beaufort dating back to its plantation days. When cotton came to the islands, it brought new and greater wealth to an already wealthy society. Indigo was the first crop in Beaufort, then came rice, but it was determined that cotton would be king. The program highlights the elegant lifestyle that citizens had through housing, decorations, buildings, paintings, and more.

Later, the Union would attack Beaufort and would prioritize the forts, causing the war to finally hit Beaufort. The forts were abandoned after the attack and Beaufort was defeated. Life was hard for the citizens, for the years to come, but Reconstruction had to be done. The Reconstruction was difficult and expensive, but it was determined that Beaufort would be a bridesmaid once more. In the early 1900s, Beaufort would accept a new invasion of man and machines of war. Marine commanders in Washington would transform plantations into military training facilities for young men. This would make Parris Island the training facility for future U.S. Marines. 

Farming has changed in Beaufort since indigo, rice, and cotton. Beaufort now produces tomatoes as its main crop. Tomatoes make up a huge part of Beaufort's overall economic well-being. For more than four centuries, the Beaufort area has offered beauty, safety, and potential wealth to people who are patient and resourceful.

 

Information science graduate from the University of South Carolina
Logan McNatt
I am an information science graduate from the University of South Carolina, currently residing in Lexington, SC. I work as an IT Processing Technician at EPC, where I specialize in handling and...
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