When
General Sherman's army blazed through Hardeeville on their famous march to the
sea, only a few homes and the Methodist Church survived. The church was spared
as it was used as a hospital for the many wounded soldiers in the area. The bell
which presently hangs in the tower of the church, was taken from the last slave
ship to sail up the Savannah River.
Reconstruction
was a difficult period for many areas of the south, but in the early 1900's Hardeeville
was revitalized with the opening of Argent Lumber Company. The company extended
railways into the swamps and lands around Hardeeville for logging purposes and
the area once again became a thriving community. Argent stopped logging later
in the century and gave the town Old Number 7, the locomotive which was once a
workhouse for the company, and now stands next to City Hall as a reminder of the
infamous turn of the century railroading days. The development of Hardeeville
as a modern city was aided by the construction of Interstate 95. Constructed in
the 1970's, this major corridor from Florida to Maine runs through Hardeeville,
with 2 exits. Exit 5 on Highway 17 offers an abundance of hotels, restaurants
and other businesses. Exit 8 on Highway 278 is developing rapidly with the recent
completion of a four lane highway toward Hilton Head and also offers accommodations,
dining opportunities and the new county hospital, Coastal Carolina Hospital. The
University of South Carolina built a 4-year campus on Hwy. 278 and the Technical
College of the Lowcountry also recently built a campus on Hwy. 278. The adult
retirement community of Del Webb's Sun City Hilton Head is just minutes away.
The New River Center, a commercial park along the 278 corridor, is rapidly developing
with new businesses and the expansion of existing businesses. In addition many
discount shopping malls are located on this corridor in Bluffton, within easy
driving distance of Hardeeville. Hardeeville
presently finds itself in the enviable position for unprecedented growth and development.
Lovely neighborhoods are springing up as new residential communities are being
built in the city and surrounding area. Retail business development is booming
as the population in and around Hardeeville continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
The close proximity to the ports of Savannah and Charleston with access to the
Savannah River, make Hardeeville the ideal location for industry seeking a small
town quality of life combined with convenience of transportation arteries. Whether
you're seeking a home in one of the area's new neighborhoods, a get-away vacation
with convenience and affordable accommodations or a place to start your new business,
Hardeeville is your ideal destination. With one eye on the past and the other
firmly looking toward the future, Hardeeville awaits you. For
more information, visit: www.cityofhardeeville.com |
