North Augusta in Aiken County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

History of Hamburg

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, April 10, 2025

1. History of Hamburg Marker

Inscription.
After the Civil War, the nearby Town of Hamburg, SC became a town where free blacks and freed slaves settled. Important local government positions were held by African-American leaders from the Town of Hamburg. The most notable were Prince Rivers, Samuel Lee, and John Gardner.

The 1868 South Carolina elections produced the first majority black state legislature in U.S. history. A new South Carolina constitution was drafted. Aiken County was formed from parts of Edgefield, Lexington, Barnwell, and Orangeburg counties. It was the only county formed in South Carolina during the Reconstruction Era (1865-1877). March 10, 1871 is celebrated as Founders Day in Aiken County.

The City of North Augusta gratefully acknowledges the members of the Meriwether Monument Committee (serving from 2019-2020) who prepared the historical context contained on these panels.

Erected 2024 by Meriwether Monument Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1868.

Location. 33° 29.854′ N, 81° 58.163′ W.

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Marker is in North Augusta, South Carolina, in Aiken County. It is at the intersection of West Forest Avenue and Carolina Avenue, on the right when traveling east on West Forest Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 West Forest Avenue, North Augusta SC 29841, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Augusta

and in the Midlands.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in 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 walking distance of this marker: The Hamburg Massacre (here, next to this marker); The Meriwether Monument (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Meriwether Monument (a few steps from this marker); North Augusta (within shouting distance of this marker); Lookaway Hall / Walter Mixer Jackson

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, April 10, 2025

2. History of Hamburg Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); James Urquhart Jackson (within shouting distance of this marker); Hampton Terrace Hotel (approx. 0.3 miles away); North Augusta Trolley Station (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Augusta.

Also see . . . Hamburg, South Carolina. Excerpt:

Hamburg is a ghost town in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. It was once a thriving upriver market located across the Savannah River from Augusta, Georgia in the Edgefield District. It was founded by Henry Shultz in 1821 who named it after his home town in Germany of the same name. The town was one of the state's primary interior markets by the 1830s, due largely to the fact that the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company chose Hamburg as the western terminus of its line to Charleston.

(Submitted on May 30, 2025, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, April 10, 2025

3. History of Hamburg Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2025, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 249 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 30, 2025, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.