Saxe Gotha Township once comprised most of what would become Lexington County. Why it was so important during the colonial period is that it contained the intersection of three trails.

They were: the road to Charleston later named the State Road, the Cherokee Trail, and the Catawba/Occaneechi Trail.

The Cherokee Trail went northwest to the lower towns of the Cherokee while the Catawba went north towards the Catawba and from there to the other colonies.

These trails were vital to the SC colony’s economy. The Catawba Trail later became known as the Great Wagon Road and allowed for immigrants from Pennsylvania and Virginia to move into South Carolina.

JR Fennell is Lexington County Museum director.