Blythewood in Richland County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Blythewood School
Photographed by Nancy Stone-Collum, August 26, 2019
1. Blythewood School Marker
The first school built here c.1890 was a two-room frame building that was replaced c.1918 by a two-story brick school. In 1921 another classroom building and an auditorium were added. The federal Works Progress Administration helped fund several projects here including the construction of a new gymnasium in 1938. The two-story school was razed in 1958 and replaced by the one-story building that remains today. The 1921 auditorium and the 1938 gymnasium also survive.
When Richland Co. decided to consolidate their school districts in 1951, Blythewood was one of four schools in the new Richland School District 2. For much of its history, Blythewood School remained segregated and only open to white students. That ended in 1969 when Richland District 2, along with school districts throughout S.C., implemented desegregation plans. From 1970-1991 the building housed Blythewood Elementary, and then in 1994 became Blythewood Academy.
Erected 2019 by South Carolina Department of Archives and History, sponsored by Richland County Conservation Commission and Blythewood Historical Society and Museum. (Marker Number 40-210.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included
this page online
Location. 34° 13.172′ N, 80° 58.325′ W. Marker is in Blythewood, South Carolina, in Richland County. It is on Main Street / Wilson Boulevard (U.S. 21), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 501 Main Street, Blythewood SC 29016, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands and in the Greater Columbia Area. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: George P. Hoffman House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bethel Baptist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Bethel School / Bethel Hanberry School (approx. 0.4 miles away); Sandy Level Baptist Church (approx. 1.1 miles away); Sandfield Baptist Church / Sandfield Cemetery (approx. 1.9 miles away); Little Zion Baptist Church (approx. 5.2 miles away); Killian Road Baptist Church Cemetery Confederate Soldiers Monument (approx. 6 miles away); Confederate Headquarters (approx. 6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blythewood.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Skirmish at Killian's Mill (was approx. 6 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Additional keywords. Segregation / Desegregation
Photographed by Nancy Stone-Collum, August 26, 2019
2. Blythewood School Marker side 2
Photographed by Nancy Stone-Collum, August 26, 2019
3. Blythewood School Auditorium built 1921
Photographed by Nancy Stone-Collum, August 26, 2019
4. Blythewood School Gymnasium built 1938
Photographed by Nancy Stone-Collum, May 24, 2019
5. Blythewood School Auditorium interior
Photographed by Nancy Stone-Collum, January 25, 2018
6. Blythewood School Gymnasium interior
Credits. This page was last revised on January 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2019, by Nancy Stone-Collum of Columbia, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,617 times since then and 119 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 26, 2019, by Nancy Stone-Collum of Columbia, South Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
