Columbia, South Carolina real estate is our specialty! Serving the Columbia, SC area, including Lake Murray, Cayce, Chapin, Irmo, Lexington, West Columbia
and more!
Chapin, South Carolina
The land between the forks of the Saluda and Broad Rivers was settled in the mid-1700’s by a group of mostly German settlers. The German word for German is “Deutsch” which was “ Americanized” into “Dutch” and the area became known as the Dutch Fork. Because of the difficulty in crossing the rivers, the area remained much more isolated than the rest of the state, with many of the settlers still speaking German, or a local dialect, well into the 19th century.
One of the few settlers who was not German was Martin Chapin of Cortland, New York. He moved South for his health and prospered, both physically and financially. On Christmas Eve, 1889, the Town of Chapin was incorporated, covering an area extending three-quarters of a mile north, east and west from Martin Chapin's house.
Having bought over the years more than 4,000 acres of land in and around the Chapin area, when surveys were being made and land purchased for the basin of the future Lake Murray, more than half of the property titles could be traced back to Martin Chapin,either directly or indirectly.
This isolated, rural way of life was tremendously disrupted with the damming of the Saluda River in 1927 to create Lake Murray, and a source of hydro-electric power for South Carolina's Midlands. The lives of some 5,000 people were directly affected as land was acquired. Three churches, six schools and 193 graveyards were removed. The building of the dam brought employment and an influx of new people.
Far beyond the upheaval it caused then, few in the 1920s could have imagined the tremendous impact Lake Murray would continue to have on the area. The lake today is one of Chapin's most valued assets, the attraction for people from all parts of the country, who are looking for a great place to live and raise a family. With Billy Dreher Island State Park nearby, folks from all over the area come to Chapin for “fun in the sun” on beautiful Lake Murray.
Because I-26 is easily accessible, Chapin is a fairly quick commute for people who work in nearby cities, such as Lexington and Columbia. Nearby Newberry offers medical care and cultural events in the refurbished Newberry Opera House, and in conjunction with Newberry College.
Chapin South Carolina Real Estate
Real estate in Chapin, SC runs the gamut from multi-million dollar mansions on Lake Murray, to suburban developments of new open and bright floor plans to some of the increasingly rare fisherman's cottages.. In the first nine months of 2010 167 homes closed in Chapin, with the average being on the market 122 days and an average price of $261,000.
If you have any questions about Chapin real estate or any other Columbia SC area contact Earth Available Realty, Inc., or call us toll free (800) 336-1299 or locally (803) 731-0989.
