1969 Map of Union West

About this map

The Union city limits and the neighboring industrial settlement of Buffalo anchor this topographic study, where the Piedmont landscape is defined by the sweeping course of the Tyger River. This late-1960s perspective captures a community in balance between its urban development and the vast wooded tracts of the Sumter National Forest. The local geography is etched by numerous watercourses, including Fairforest Creek and Buffalo Creek, which historically dictated the placement of roads and early mills. Social life and genealogy are well-represented through institutions like the Union Academy, Ricey Chapel, and the Padgetts Creek Cem. The arrival of the Southern railroad line and the presence of the County Fairgrounds further indicate the town’s role as a regional hub for trade and community gathering during this era.