City Directories and History: The original name of the town was most likely Johnston’s Turnout, the name of an early Post Office.
Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC
The Rock Hill Record reported on March 11, 1909 – “A destructive fire at Johnston, S.C. on Tuesday morning caused damage of $60,000. Almost the entire business portion of the town was wiped out, there being no fire protection whatever.”
(Drinking Fountain (1928): Given to the town of Johnston by Mrs. A. B. Andrews in memory of her father, William Johnston, for whom the town is named. – SCDAH)
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The Johnston Historic District is composed of 146 properties within and adjacent to the town of Johnston. Centrally located in the historic district is the three-block long commercial area around which are several residential neighborhoods. The commercial and residential properties that form the district reflect the period of Johnston’s greatest growth—from approximately 1880 to 1920—and include a variety of architectural designs such as Italianate, Second Empire, Victorian, Queen Anne, and Neo-Classical. The district also includes three churches and the town’s cemetery. The railroad, which passes through Johnston, was the primary cause for the creation of the town and continues to be a daily reminder of the town’s early transportation history. When the railroad was constructed it passed directly through a plantation owned by Dr. Edward J. Mims, and today this land makes up much of the town of Johnston. The railroad station was named “Johnston” in honor of the president of the Charlotte-Columbia-Augusta Railroad. Mim’s son Matthew Hansford Mims reputedly laid out the town, and his plan designated Johnston as an area one-mile square with its mid-point at the intersection of Lee and Calhoun Streets. Parallel and perpendicular streets also were designated and each block was divided into four one-acre lots. Listed in the National Register August 25, 1983.
View a map showing the boundaries of the Johnston Historic District.
View the complete text of the nomination form for this National Register property.
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