"sumter south carolina" Sumter by doug48

the first english settlers came to the sumter area in the 1740's. this area was originally called the sumter district in 1800. sumter and sumter county is named after revolutionary general thomas sumter. the town was incorportated as sumterville in 1845 and was renamed sumter in 1855. during the civil war sumter was an important confederate supply and railroad center. after the end of the civil war sumter's economy was based on cotton, timber, and tabacco production. in 1941 shaw airforce base was built in sumter and today is a major part of sumter's economy. of interest to the tourist is sumter's downtown historic district and beautiful swan lake iris gardens.