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Black River Stub
Black River (South Carolina)

Black River (South Carolina)
The Black River is a 151 mi blackwater river in South Carolina in the United States. The Black River is named for its dark, leaden water resulting from the tannins leached from plant substances in adjoining swamps. The Black River is “a free-flowing Coastal Plain river bordered by a rural landscape of forests and farmlands.” It courses through Sumter, Clarendon, and Williamsburg counties before merging with the Great Pee Dee River in Georgetown County. The river was once called the Wee Nee by the Native Americans who once inhabited the area.

Geography
The Black River is an irregular-shaped channel enclosed by forests and farmlands. The trellis of branches encapsulates the dense swamps, forests, murky waters, and white sandbars. The irregular channel pattern is known from narrow “stream-like” channels and large pond-shaped gaps. The Black River is swamplike in certain places, while in others the river is swift-moving and has a sandy base. With the town of Kingstree and the final stretch in Georgetown County as an exception, the banks of the Black River are still surrounded by forests and are largely undisturbed.

Wildlife
The Black River and its abutting lands supply an array of plants and animals an excellent domain for safety. These abodes house many rare species such as the American Chaffseed and the Swallow-Tailed Kite. It also happens to house multiple old species like the Bald Cypress trees growing near The Nature Conservancy’s Black River just east of Andrews. “In fact, the corridor is considered one of the most important breeding areas in South Carolina for swallow-tailed kites, a striking black-and-white raptor that depends on bottomland forest habitats to survive.”

The dense swamp environment is home to many other species of wildlife; some wildlife that call these wetlands home are wild turkeys, wood ducks, yellow-bellied sliders, and the American alligator. Various species of snakes and fish also take up residence in and around this river system. “Upland native longleaf pine forests are home to colonies of endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers and flatwoods salamanders.”

Protection
The Black River has been protected by The Nature Conservancy and its partners since 1986. The Nature Conservancy and conservation partners have preserved 47,000 acres along the narrows of the Black River. The Conservancy purchased a voluntary legal agreement on 1,420 acres of breeding grounds to permanently limit the use of the land in order to protect its conservation values. The Conservancy purchased this easement with funding from the North American Wetland Conservation Act Grant Program. “In 2001 a 75-mile stretch of the river from Clarendon County through Georgetown County was named a State Scenic River by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The Black River is the longest State Scenic River in South Carolina.” The Black Scenic River Advisory Council created in 2001 is there to protect and maintain the Black River. Under The Scenic Rivers Act, the Council was to assist and advise the SCDNR (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources) in the protection and management of the river.

Recreation
The Black River is a great spot for fishing, birdwatching, kayaking, and boating. Fishing is a popular recreation on the river with species such as Bream, Catfish, Largemouth bass, and Red-breasted sunfish. “Gilland Memorial Park in Kingstree sits along the banks of the Black River, offering spectacular views of its black waters and captivating wildlife.” This park provides playgrounds, picnic tables, and swimming areas so that the public can enjoy the serene wildlife that surrounds the Black River. The Black Scenic River can be explored through boat landings and many other access points. If you would like to further experience the Black River, here are the many access points to the Black Scenic River:
 * June Burn Road (State Road 40) bridge
 * Pocotaligo River landing at N. Brewington Road (State Road 50) bridge
 * Gilland Memorial Park and landing
 * Mill Street Landing
 * SC Highway 377 bridge
 * Simms Reach Road (State Road 30) bridge
 * Ervin Park and landing
 * Pump House Landing at Reds Landing Road
 * Pine Tree Landing
 * Pea House Landing
 * Further down the Black River

Historical Significance
The Black River has been used for hundreds of years as a home of resources like food for the people who live alongside it. “The Native Americans who occupied the area before the colonial era called the river the Wee Nee, and several businesses in the area still use this name.” “The Winyaw (also Winyah, Weenee, Wineaws) were a Native American tribe living near Winyah Bay, Black River, and the lower course of the Pee Dee River in South Carolina. The Winyaw people disappeared as a distinct entity after 1720 and are thought to have merged with the Waccamaw.” Many plantations were erected on the banks of the Black River in the 18th and 19th centuries. The main crops produced on plantations of the South Carolina Lowcountry were indigo, cotton, and rice. There was one such rice plantation named Rice Hope Plantation, which also went by the names Black River Plantation, International Paper Company House, and the Waddell Ranch. South Carolinians mainly use Black River basin as a resource for timbering, hunting, and fishing, since growing rice is no longer the main priority.

Sumter County
Sumter County was established in the 1740s when English-speaking settlers made a home for themselves along the bank of the Wateree River. This county was primarily agriculturally focused, and was called the Carolina Backcountry. Sumter County had a few different names before finally being named after General Thomas Sumter. General Thomas Sumter fought in the American Revolution as a Patriot.

Sumter County has many things to do outdoors, such as birdwatching, camping, hiking, and visiting one of its many parks. Sumter County also supports hunting preserves.

Clarendon County
Clarendon County was first established in 1785, and it is surrounded by Sumter County, Williamsburg County, and Florence County. This county is agriculturally focused and the county also processes its crops. Their main crop was cotton because the soil was loamy and that is well suited for cotton production. The county continues to produce cotton, but also produces corn, tobacco, and soybeans. Clarendon County has lots of natural resources and is a prime location for fishing, hunting, boating, swimming, camping, and hiking.

Williamsburg County
Williamsburg County was established in 1730 as a township and named after William of Orange who was a Protestant King. The township made its money by selling crops and their main crop was indigo, but the township also grew hemp, flax, and holland. The township was located along the bank of the Black River.

There are lots of things to do in regards to being outdoors, there are places to hike, fish, and take a boat out. In saying that, “Williamsburg County has become famous for its wildlife and hunting preserves.” The Black River is an essential part of the ecosystem. In October of 2015, the Black River flooded Kingstree which is the county seat of Williamsburg.

Georgetown County
Georgetown County saw settlements of Frenchmen and Englishmen in the 1600s and was a booming port in 1729. Because this county had such a prominent port, it attracted many pirates. The county made lots of money through the exports of their crops: indigo and rice.

This county is where the mouth of the Black River is located and from here the Black River flows into the Great Pee Dee River.