Editing Chapin, South Carolina (section)

==History==
Chapin was named after Martin Chapin in 1889. After Chapin and Laura Anne Benjamin were married on June 16, 1850, the couple moved [[southern United States|down South]] because of Martin's health (a lung condition). The Chapins were living in [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]] when Martin's doctor suggested he to move to the Piney Woods area. He bought property in this area, and over the years Chapin bought {{convert|4218|acre}}. He built a home in Piney Woods and later a hotel in the 1880s along the new rail line that ran from Columbia to [[Laurens, South Carolina|Laurens]], the [[Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad]]. The railroad provided a way to trade and transport goods to the capital city. Cotton and the lumber industry were flourishing with the railroad providing transportation. After Martin's death on August 31, 1894, Laura Chapin sold their home and moved into the Chapin hotel.<ref name=Bostain>{{cite book|last=Bostain|first=Addison|title=Chapin, South Carolina The First 100 Years|year=1989|publisher=The R. L. Bryan Company|location=Columbia, South Carolina}}</ref>

On March 28, 1907, Job S. Wessinger, P.M. Frick, and J. S. Honeycut founded the Bank of Chapin. One year later the building for the bank was built. The bank prospered with help from the railroad.{{sfn|Bostain|1989|p=30}}

During [[World War I]], Chapin was doing well economically. The price of [[cotton]] had risen and the farmers were making plenty of money. As a result, the Bank of Chapin was also thriving during this time. The first high school was built in 1924.{{sfn|Bostain|1989|p=43}}

Slowly the businesses in Chapin were starting to experience hard times nearing the 1930s. On Thursday, October 15, 1931, the Bank of Chapin did not open, and like other banks around the world, the bank would not allow customers to withdraw their money. Anybody who had money saved in the bank lost that money due to the crash of the stock market, later known as the start of the [[Great Depression]]. Another disaster to hit Chapin was the building of the dam on the [[Saluda River]] that would result in the building of a lake. This lake would take over most of the Chapin families’ farms and homesteads. The building of the dam was started in 1927.{{sfn|Bostain|1989|p=61-68}}

In the midst of the Great Depression Chapin started a recreational team sport of baseball. In 1935, the Dutch Fork League was formed where Chapin had its own team. This team helped the unemployed men occupy their time during these difficult times. These baseball games attracted thousands of people.{{sfn|Bostain|1989|p=75}}

During the 1940s Chapin grew through improvements to the school and opening new businesses. One new business that came to Chapin were filling stations. The next business was a cabinet shop called E. A. Frick and Son. Chapin also built paved roads, a baseball field and established the public library. In 1950 the first post office building was constructed, along with new telephone services.<ref name="Bostain"/>

The 1960s were about new and better services. Garbage collection was an issue in the '60s, so the town government bought land and built a landfill.  Transportation was the next service provided by access to an interstate highway. On September 7, 1960, a section of [[Interstate 26]] was opened between Columbia and [[Pomaria, South Carolina|Pomaria]]. The interstate made Chapin more accessible.{{sfn|Bostain|1989|p=118}} Streets in town were also improved. Another improvement of the '60s was the new water system.  In 1965 a volunteer fire department was organized, and in 1966 the town had its first ambulance. Chapin also started growing in population as more people moved to the town in the 1960s.{{sfn|Bostain|1989|p=124}}

During the 1970s new schools were built. Chapin football became a community event, and the school football team won state championships in 1973 and 1974. Also in the '70s churches in the town of Chapin were growing by establishment of Chapin Baptist Church, St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, and Lake Murray Presbyterian Church.{{sfn|Bostain|1989|p=158}}

The [[Robinson-Hiller House]] was listed on the U.S. [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1998, and the Chapin Commercial Historic District was added in 2019.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2013a}}</ref>