Clover Real Estate Listings of Houses and Homes for Sale in York County, South Carolina

Clover

The famous explorer Herdando de Soto passed through the area in the 1540s in his search for gold. Several decades later, Juan Pardo recorded his observation of a predominant Native American tribe, later confirmed to be the Catawba tribe in the vicinity of present-day Fort Mill, east of the Catawba River. The Catawba is estimated to have had a population of nearly 6,000 at the time of first European contact; the tribe was primarily agriculturalists and gave much support to their new neighbors.

The first European settlers in the Carolina Piedmont Region, also traditionally called the Upcountry, were Scots-Irish Presbyterians. Rising rent and land prices in Pennsylvania drove them southward down the Great Wagon Road and they began arriving in the greater region west of the Catawba River during the 1740s. This Scots-Irish heritage is echoed to this day. In celebration of its past, Clover residents host the annual Feis Chlobhair, or a Clover Kinntra Festival, the second week of June. Bagpipes are played, haggis is eaten, cabers are tossed and everyone has a good time.

For a long time, Cotton production was the dominant agriculture near Clover and this continued through the early 20th Century. Naturally, the textile industry was a major developing force. Nearby Rock Hill became the hub of this industry, while mills blossomed throughout surrounding York County. South Carolina's peak cotton crop was harvested in 1921 and thereafter; cotton production began a long and steady decline, due in part to the boll weevil and soil erosion. The New Deal programs of the 1930s prodded farmers into switching to crops and cotton gradually became less and less important to the economy.

The community of Clover recognizes the importance of education and feels it is particularly important at a time when being educationally prepared is critical for future success. The Town of Clover provides students with top-of-the-line facilities and programs to make sure they get the best possible education. In the fall of 2002, construction was completed on the Applied Technology Center, where students can take extra, highly specialized courses that increase their opportunity for success after high school.

There are five elementary schools, three post-elementary schools and one high school serving the Clover School District. However, the devotion to learning does not apply only to children as Clover has also recently combined with the neighboring communities of York and Fort Mill to enhance the adult education program. The new plan provides high school completion and GED programs as well as expanded course offerings, including elementary Spanish and computer applications.

Approximately 10 miles from Clover, Lake Wylie’s more than 325 miles of shoreline extend upon both North and South Carolina. Lake Wylie is the perfect place for a peaceful retreat from the hectic pace of everyday life. Visitors can enjoy boating, camping, water skiing, fishing, swimming and hiking at the various parks located along the shores. All parks have free admission and many are open year-round.

Those that love the great outdoors will also want to check out The Greenway, a 2,000+ acre undeveloped area north of Fort Mill, just off Business U.S. 21. Twenty-six miles of hiking, horseback riding and bicycle trails weave through the diverse area, providing scenes of natural beauty and wildlife habitat. Eight primitive campsites are available by reservation and a nature center is open to all visitors. The facility is approximately 25 miles from Clover.

The proximity to Charlotte provides plenty to do for those that love spectator sports. The NFL’s Carolina Panthers and the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats are only a little over a half-hour away. Race fans will loving being close to Lowe’s Motor Speedway, located in Concord, North Carolina, about 45 miles from Clover. The speedway becomes a beehive of activity beginning with the annual Nextel Cup race in May. LMS is also home to the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300, The UAW-GM Quality 500 and the “Little Trees” 300. The season culminates in October with the longest Nextel Cup race on the NASCAR circuit, the Coca-Cola 600. The Outlaw Showdown is held at LMS’s dirt track on the same weekend as the 600.

Don’t forget that this is a great part of the country to play golf, and Clover and surrounding York County are no different. From the novice to the seasoned pro, you are sure to find something that challenges and entertains. Residents of Clover also enjoy the advantage of living little more than a three-hour drive from the celebrated Carolina beaches and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.