Our Community
Why Chesterfield County, SC?
Chesterfield County is truly one of the best-kept secrets of the South. The area is rich in history, has excellent schools and restaurants, and has some of the best opportunities to enjoy nature and recreational activities. The friendly people, southern charm, tight-knit communities, and authentic hometown feel cannot be beaten.
On the edge of the Great Pee Dee River lies the largest town in Chesterfield County, Cheraw, “the prettiest town in Dixie.” Cheraw is a beautiful, historic town of about 6,000 people. Its extensive history goes back to Pre-Revolutionary times; hence, there are many fascinating historical landmarks to explore. Get to know this charming area by taking one of the Historical Tours. Try visiting Old St. David’s Church, the oldest Confederate Monument in the U.S., Cheraw Town Hall, Ingram’s Pee Dee River Artifacts Room, Riverside Park, or the Merchants Bank, among many other outstanding locales!
Cheraw Weather
Maybe check out another more recent but significant piece of Cheraw’s history while exploring our beautiful town. Plan a stop at the Dizzy Gillespie Home Site Park and be introduced to Cheraw’s native son. Then, move along to Cheraw’s Town Green and take pictures with a 7-ft bronze statue of our beloved jazz trumpeter and composer. If you are lucky enough to be in town during October, join us as we honor the historical art of jazz that Dizzy Gillespie brought to our city with his musical enthusiasm and extraordinary talent by attending the annual South Carolina Jazz Festival.
In the county’s northeast corner, you will find the quaint little town of Pageland, home of Chesterfield County’s largest festival, the not-so-quaint award-winning Pageland Watermelon Festival! This long-running event, held in July each year, has delighted its attendees since 1951. From the beauty pageants, amusement rides, parade, crafts, and of course, all the delicious watermelon you could desire, you will not want to overlook Pageland or miss this annual event!
Between Cheraw and Pageland lies the namesake of the county, Chesterfield. Nowadays, Chesterfield prides itself on holding the title of a “Tree City USA” for over 20 years, but the history of this town goes back well over 200 years! The East Main Street Historic District showcases some lovely architecture of several buildings dating back to 1798.
At the county’s south end, you’ll find yet another charming town in McBee. This was one of the points on the Seaboard Airline Columbia-to-Cheraw Railroad line. After this was established in 1900, McBee saw a reasonably significant boom in population, agriculture, and prominence. Today you can visit the McBee Depot Library and Railroad Museum, the site of the famous old train Depot.
From Cheraw to Pageland, Chesterfield to McBee, and all points in between, there is so much to discover and enjoy in Chesterfield county!
Leisure and recreational activities abound! A visit to Cheraw State Park will provide hours of enjoyment year-round. Activities include boating, camping, bird watching, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, biking, hiking, and even geocaching! There is also a playground, volleyball court, pedal boat rentals, equestrian trails, and facilities, not to mention one of the finest golf courses in the state. There is much to explore; you’ll have to return for more!
Another gem centered in the middle of Chesterfield County is Sand Hills State Forest. This area comprises over 46,000 acres of sand deposited by a prehistoric sea. Forestry, wildlife, and fish management are the primary goals of this State Park. Still, recreational opportunities are plentiful: hunting in season, horseback riding, bird watching, nature studies and walks, fishing, hiking, and primitive camping. Also within Sand Hills State Forest, Sugar Loaf Mountain, known as “The Mountain,” has been a gathering place for families for over a century!
Yet another recreational amenity the area offers is the H. Cooper Black Memorial Field Trial and Recreation Area, where national-level field trial and retriever competitions are held. They also provide top-notch equestrian trails and facilities, a waterfowl pond, a meeting hall, and camping sites. Again, boredom will not be an option here!
Chesterfield County schools offer a variety of educational options. From a fully accredited school district, excellent Christian and Baptist private schools, and even a technical college to the committed teachers in the classrooms, one’s educational path is bound to be successful here. For additional information, visit our school district’s website. https://www.chesterfieldschools.org/
From dining to shopping to simply taking a stroll down one of our many tree-lined streets, you will feel at ease and home in our friendly community. Short, traffic-free commutes, low cost of living, low homeowners insurance rates and property taxes in the lowest third in the country, and a delightful and desirable climate with many sunny days and mild winters all represent a few more reasons why Chesterfield County is worth a second look. You will not soon forget this hidden gem!
