More than a decade before Bishopville was named in honor
of Jacques Bishop, it was known as Singleton's Crossroads. The 465 acres of
land that made up Singleton's Crossroads was granted to Jacob Chamber by the State of South Carolina in 1786. The property was later purchased by Daniel Carter and it was once again sold to
William Singleton in 1790. This is where the name Singleton's Crossroads
originated.
A well known tavern owned by Singleton and his wife sat at the
intersection of what was once known as Mecklenburg Road (now named Church
Street) and McCallum Ferry Road (now known as Main Street). During that time, the
tavern was a stopping place for the stagecoach between Georgetown and
Charlotte. (Now this intersection involves Highway 15, which at one point was
the premier north–south route from New York to Miami.) In 1798, William
Singleton died, leaving his wife the owner of the tavern until her death in
1820. One year later the land was sold to Bishop. During this time period the
area around present-day Bishopville was said to be composed of mostly
wilderness, with only a few scattered, primitive houses.
Bishopville is home to the county seat for Lee County. Historically, Bishopville, and rural Lee County as a whole, has been a leader in cotton
production in the state of South Carolina and is the home of the South Carolina Cotton Museum. Bishopville is one of those special places, where you can find space to be
all alone in vast expanses of countryside, yet just 20 minutes to all the amenities
of the largest cities. Find your quiet
country life here.
