Andrews, South Carolina

==History==
[[Image:Majestic cypress 6015.JPG|100px|left|thumb|A grand old [[bald cypress]] tree in the [[Santee River]] valley near Andrews]]
The towns of Rosemary and Harpers Crossroads were settled along the Georgetown and Western Railroad, which started operation in 1886. In 1905, the [[Seaboard Air Line Railroad]] built a route through the town, along with a sizable maintenance shop. In 1909, voters agreed to incorporate the two separate towns into a single community, which was named Andrews, after Colonel Walter H. Andrews, who played an important role in the incorporation. Andrews worked for the Atlantic Coast Lumber Co. and served as mayor through most of the 1920s. In 1915, a town hall was built, which is now a museum. By 1919, Andrews had reached a population of 2,000 and continued to grow. During the 1920s, Andrews had the title of being the fastest growing town in the United States for its age. The two schools were the [[Andrews High School (South Carolina)#History|Andrews School]] and the [[Historic Schools of Georgetown County#Rosemary School|Rosemary School]]. These were [[racial segregation in the United States|segregated]], with the Andrews School being the white school and Rosemary being the black.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

When the [[Great Depression]] of the 1930s started, Andrews was hit hard, with population down by 700 when Seaboard scaled back its operations. In 1932, the local economy was dealt a further blow when the Atlantic Coast Lumber Co. closed its nearby plant. The lumber business never regained prominence in the area. The economy subsequently improved in the late 1930s when an [[International Paper]] paper mill was built in Georgetown County.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

After World War II, the Andrews Development Board was incorporated to attract businesses to the area. Among the industries added were Brooks Veneer Co., the Beale and the Ingram lumber companies, the Rogers Saw Mill Co., the Hardee livestock market, the Andrews Ice Co., and the Oneita Knitting Mill. In 1970, the schools were integrated. Rosemary became a middle school. The Andrews school became the elementary/high school. In 1984, Andrews Elementary School was built. In 2000, new middle and high school facilities were built. An expansion to the local branch library began in 2010. It celebrated its centennial year in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thesunnews.com/news/local/story/1234554.html |title=Andrews relives 100-year history |last=Ramos |first=Aliana |work=[[The Sun News]] |date=2009-12-28 |accessdate=2010-01-05 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>