Spanning the Generations…
…From Native American cultures to the heyday of the mills and the Laurens Glass plant, the Laurens County Museum offers a unique glimpse into life as it once was. Exhibits include primary documents and original artwork, as well as memorabilia. Many of the unique artifacts on display at the Laurens County Museum have not only shaped Laurens County history, but also have played pivotal roles in the history of our great country.
Laurens County History
On March 12th, 1785, Laurens became one of six counties carved out of the Ninety Six Judicial District, westernmost of the seven original parishes in South Carolina.
When the county was formed, some people wanted to name it after local Revolutionary War hero Johnathan Downes. Downes suggested that the county be named Laurens in honor of one of South Carolina’s most important leaders during the Revolutionary War. 
Therefore, the county derived its name from distinguished statesman, Henry Laurens. He was a prosperous rice planter and merchant from Charleston, South Carolina. During colonial times, he was active and influential in South Carolina’s Commons Assembly for many years, eventually serving as Vice President of that body. Henry Laurens succeeded John Hancock as President of the Continental Congress in 1777, during the Revolutionary War. An effective leader, he worked for a strong central government and was instrumental in gaining aid from France and Holland. Traveling as America’s Minister to Holland in 1780, he was captured by the British, charged with treason, and imprisoned until the end of the Revolutionary War in 1781. He was influential in drafting the Treaty of Paris, which ended hostilities between the United States and England.
With the coming of the railroad, rural communities such as Mountville, Waterloo, and Gray Court quickly turned into bustling villages as trains carried their agricultural goods to the US markets. Laurens County developed into a thriving textile producer with five mills employing thousands of workers. Today international companies such as Michelin and Milliken have helped establish Laurens County in the technological world of the 21st century.
Located in the city of Laurens on the downtown square, the Laurens County Courthouse was constructed c. 1838. Though court is no longer held in the historic building it provides office space for the Board of Elections, Veterans Administration, and the Main Street Laurens organizations. It is the seat of the County Council and remains an important landmark in Laurens County.
Founded in 1880 by Rev. William Plumer Jacobs, Presbyterian College in Clinton is a leader among southeastern private colleges. Over the years the college has grown to serve students from 27 states and seven foreign countries and is the focal point of higher education in Laurens County.
