South Carolina Tribes and Native Groups

Statewide Conference on November 18th 2005

Native American State Recognition News

updates 6/5/2005

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In Honor of Vine Deloria Jr.

Native American Writers Workshop
The anthology is complete!

The Cherokees of SouthCarolina

Present-day Oconee County, South Carolina was the home to Native American peoples since as early as 300 A.D. In approximately 1100, the Etowah Indians occupied the region. From 1350-1600 the Muskogeans inhabited and the Cherokees arrived around 1500.

From 1600 to 1800's the Cherokees occupied the extreme northwest portion of South Carolina and during the early colonial times dominated much of the "midlands" and the "upcountry." The Cherokee Path was the leading path out of Charleston going to Columbia. "The Cherokee Path" led to all of the Cherokee territories. It ran from Charles Towne to the colonial settlement of Ninety Six, then to Fort Prince George and the Cherokee village of Keowee. From Keowee, the principal town of the Cherokee Lower settlements, it crossed the mountains into the Middle settlements of North Carolina, then crossed the Unaka Mountains into the valley of the Little Tennessee River and the Overhill settlements. A branch of the "Cherokee Path" even led to the Valley Towns, located in the area of present-day Georgia.

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