Dorchester County is known for its rich history and deep roots, coupled with its family-oriented appeal for people today.  Founded in 1696, Dorchester County was settled by two different groups from England, the Anglicans and the Puritans.  The Anglicans came with the Crown's blessing to seek land and wealth.  On the other hand, the Puritans came seeking religious freedom from the Crown.   They arrived from the Puritan settlement in Dorchester Massachusetts, hence the name Dorchester.  Together, the Anglicans and Puritans were able to build the town of Dorchester into the third largest town in the state of South Carolina.

In its early days, Dorchester was used as a secure shipping center for rice planters wishing to ship their goods by the Ashley River to the city of Charleston.  The city was fortified by a fort built of mud, oyster shells and limestone.  This fort is now named the Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site.  Famous generals such as Moultrie, Francis Marion and Wade Hampton defended Dorchester against the British in the Revolutionary War.  After the war, the town of Dorchester began to diminish, and it was not until 1897 that Dorchester County was formed.  

Among the towns in Dorchester County, the most prominent were Summerville, Ridgeville and St. George.  Summerville, nicknamed "Flowertown in the Pines" was and is the largest town in the county.  It served as an escape for plantation owners from swamp fevers and insects.  The railroad was started in Charleston and ran through Summerville to the upper part of the county to Ridgeville and St. George.  This increased traffic caused these towns to grow as well, adding population and wealth to the county of Dorchester.

Time continued to pass in Dorchester County, but devastation was close by.  The Civil War wreaked havoc on the county.  As the plantation system collapsed, Dorchester County´s economy and lifestyle collapsed as well.  Only after Reconstruction did the towns of Dorchester County start to recover.

A tremendous boon occurred for Dorchester County in 1899.  A group of medical specialists met in Paris for a world congress on the topic of Tuberculosis.  The "Tuberculosis Congress" named Summerville as one of the two best areas in the world to cure lung and throat disorders.  Situated on a dry, sandy ridge, amidst pine trees which charged the air with derivatives of turpentine, Summerville was ideal for these patients.  The findings were publicized, and people flocked to Dorchester County and Summerville in the winter time.  The mild climate and great hunting caused Summerville to be extremely desirable to Northerners. 

Today, Summerville and Dorchester County are still desirable to people.  The downtown area of Summerville was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.  As a result, the small town, historic era has been preserved.  However, the town continues to expand and grow to other parts of Dorchester County as more and more are attracted to the mild climate, excellent schools, and close proximity to Charleston and beaches.  Come visit and see why so many people are proud to call Dorchester County their home!