Since the beginning of what would become Lexington County, the timber industry has been a vital part of the economy. The sandhills of Lexington were filled with valuable long leaf pine trees which were used in building structures and ships in the colonial period.

The many streams in Lexington County allowed for sawmills to arise and prosper during the antebellum period.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the turpentine industry flourished as well.

The sap gathered from pine trees would be distilled into turpentine at stills around the county. Although loblolly and slash pines have taken over as the dominant types of pine found in SC, there is a movement to restore the long leaf pine to its native habitat.

JR Fennell is Lexington County Museum director.