Buying a new home is a big deal. For many homeowners, it's one of the most important decisions they ever make. When it comes to such a substantial choice, there are a lot of factors to consider, like:
Getting the answers to those questions can be hard but finding a trustworthy manufactured home company can be even more challenging. Sure, you could settle for a fly-by-night company or a shady mobile home dealer. But if you're like most folks, you want to work with a reliable company that has been in business for years. You need a team of professionals who can answer your questions, address your concerns, and sell you a quality home that will keep your family safe and sound.
Welcome to Ken-Co Homes Inc. - your premier choice for mobile home sales in Elgin, SC. Ken-Co Homes has been Lake City's go-to manufactured home since 1974. With several locations in South Carolina, we're the first choice for manufactured homes in the state. As longtime locals in the community, we pride ourselves on honesty, hard work, and running a manufactured home business that you can count on.
There's no secret sauce that makes Ken-Co Homes successful. We work hard, sell the finest Clayton, Destiny, Scotbilt, Homes, and treat our customers like we would like to be treated. That's why, when you meet our team for your home tour, you'll be treated with respect and greeted with a warm smile. Whether you have questions regarding financing or the fit and finish of a floorplan, we'll maintain that same level of kindness, courtesy, and honesty. That way, you know for sure that you have invested in a top-notch manufactured home that your family will love.
Unlike other manufactured home dealers, we have a full selection of Clayton Homes for sale with attractive floor plans to fit your unique lifestyle. When you choose Ken-Co Homes, you're also choosing:
We offer our valued customers a $500 guarantee that we will meet or beat ANY competitor who has a lower price on one of our homes with the same options. Don't believe us? Contact our office today!
With decades of combined experience, our team has the tools and know-how to make your buying process smooth and stress-free.
Buying a home can be challenging, especially with travel logistics and other factors at play. Our team can help answer any questions you have about buying a home and transporting it to a park or piece of private land.
When you buy from Ken-Co Homes, you're investing in a high-quality product that your family will love for years to come. With more than a dozen home choices, you're sure to find a new home that matches your lifestyle.
We'll work with you one-on-one to ensure you get the home of your dreams. If you have questions or concerns once you move in, give us a call - we're here to help.
We offer detail-oriented, experienced set-up crews that make living life in your new home easy and efficient.
At Ken-Co Homes, we offer flexible financing options to help make buying your dream home a reality.
Whether you're looking for a smaller two-bedroom manufactured home or a large, luxurious four-bedroom manufactured home, our friendly consultants are ready to help you build the home of your dreams.
"Is there a difference between a mobile home and a manufactured home?" is one of the most common questions we get online and in person. Today, many people use mobile home and manufactured home interchangeably. That's understandable because both types of homes share similar features and benefits for homeowners. However, understanding the minor differences can be valuable when searching for a new place to call home.
Unlike site-built homes, manufactured homes are built in a factory. Once completed, they're shipped to a specific location where the homeowner will live. The term "manufactured home" refers to any factory-built home constructed after June 15, 1976. That date is when the HUD or U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development implemented guidelines centered around manufactured home construction.
HUD code requires manufactured homes to be constructed on a base frame with wheels with a minimum of 320 square feet.
Thanks to fast build times and lower material costs, manufactured homes for sale in Elgin, SC is often more cost-effective for home buyers. Compared to traditional site-built homes, many manufactured homes can be up to 35% less than more traditional houses.
Any mobile homes built after June 15, 1976, are considered manufactured homes today, though many people use the term mobile home casually. In the past, these homes were used to travel and were more like the expensive RVs that people use today than true manufactured homes. Back then, mobile homes received a bad reputation due to poor build quality, but they've come a long way since that time. Today, mobile homes are safe, comfortable, and structurally sound, with many types of amenities and floor plans.
Manufactured homes are more popular in the U.S. than ever, and for good reason: prospective homeowners are looking for affordable, quality alternatives to traditional homes. That's especially true today, with inflation on the rise, necessitating more budget-friendly options for anyone who wants to put a roof over their heads.
If you're used to living in a traditional, site-built home, you may be wondering what the advantages are of buying a manufactured home. Here are just a few of the most common benefits of buying a manufactured home:
When you boil it down to the basics, buying a new home is all about the money. One of the most attractive reasons for buying a manufactured home is that they are often much less expensive than traditional site-built homes. Today, manufactured housing is considered a crucial part of the housing shortage solution and a viable option with inflation rising. According to statistics, the average square-foot cost of a site-built home is $107, while the average price is only $49 in a manufactured home. Whether you're sticking to a strict budget or your finances have changed due to poor economic conditions, going manufactured might be your best choice.
Owning a manufactured home gives the homeowner long-term living options. Because basic manufactured homes are usually very affordable, families with enough land can start with a small home and add additional units as their needs change. Manufactured homes are also great as starter homes, especially for families that plan on building a permanent structure on their land in the future. Though it could be logistically challenging, manufactured homes can also be moved to a different site if the initial one was on rented property.
Manufactured homes have received a bad rap over the last few decades. In reality, most manufactured homes are purpose-built for longevity with structural integrity. Every manufactured home built today is subject to the HUD code adopted in 1976. This code is the only federally-mandated code in existence. It was designed to ensure that manufactured homes meet strict standards regarding fire safety, structural design, energy efficiency, transportation to home sites, and overall construction. All manufactured homes sold in the U.S. have a permanent red seal to confirm they meet HUD standards.
When you buy a manufactured home, you may be able to move in faster than you would via traditional routes. Some manufactured homes are even move-in ready in less than 45 days. Compared to a traditional home, once a new manufactured home is built in the factory, buyers usually find that installation is a quick process. Once the manufactured home is delivered, utility work usually moves quickly, regardless of whether you're moving to a park or transporting your home to a piece of land. Before you know it, you're eating, sleeping, and enjoying life in your new manufactured home.
When asked about the pros and cons, many buyers cite energy efficiency as one of the most significant benefits of owning a manufactured home. In general, manufactured housing is more energy efficient than traditional because HUD mandates ensure that homes have high energy efficiency ratings.
These ratings are achieved through upgraded insulation installation, on-demand water heaters, and energy-efficient windows. These upgrades often make entire manufactured homes Energy Star certified. It's no surprise that manufactured homes are 27% more efficient than they used to be with other additions like energy-saving appliances in kitchens and bathrooms.
If you've ever lived in an apartment complex before, chances are you heard sounds and noises through your walls that you never wanted to hear. If you hate hearing your neighbors and despise thin walls, looking for mobile home sales in Elgin, SC is a great idea. Why? Manufactured homes are typically built using separate modules, which reduces sound transference from room to room. When two or more modules are combined and insulated separately, buyers enjoy an even quieter, stronger home with less outside noise.
If there's one disappointing aspect of manufactured homes, the stigma seems to surround them. Yes, mobile homes from 30 or more years ago aren't exactly marvels of construction and deserve to be criticized. However, modern manufactured homes are cut from a different cloth and are often every bit as safe and luxurious as site-built homes.
Here are some of the most common (and annoying) mobile home myths debunked:
Modern manufactured homes are factory-built homes crafted with quality materials that meet comprehensive federal construction and safety standards. These standards, called the "HUD Code," outline how the homes must be built, including safety guidelines. For example, manufactured home builders must take strict measures to ensure their homes are resistant to wind. In terms of hurricanes and tornados, having such measures in place can prevent a tragedy from happening.
The bottom line is that manufactured homes are plenty safe and provide a quality product to people who want a lower-cost option over traditional housing.
One of the most repeated myths surrounding manufactured homes is that they are in poor shape and have an overall poor quality. Today, many manufactured homes are built with quality materials and care. It's not unusual to find a manufactured home with luxurious amenities and features lie state-of-the-art kitchens, high-end appliances, and chic open floor plans. At Ken-Co Homes, we can provide you with a complete list of available upgrades and amenities for you to enjoy in your new home.
Perhaps it's due to their popularity and lower prices, but we often hear that it's hard to find manufactured homes for sale. As seasoned home dealers, we can say this is categorically false. Whether you head over to Google and search for "mobile homes near me in Elgin, SC," or simply head to Ken-Co Homes' website, you'll see plenty of homes to choose from. Contact our office today for a full list of our homes for sale!
When it comes to home prices in today's day and age, manufactured homes are among the most affordable options available.
That's because manufactured homes cost less to construct than site-built homes, with the average price costing $92K for new construction and $60K for a pre-owned manufactured home, according to recent data. The cost of a traditional home is much higher, with an average of $408K, according to Statista data from 2021. Even though manufactured home living costs change depending on the community, they're often much less expensive than their site-built cousins in the long run.
This myth parallels the stereotype that manufactured homes are cheap and poorly built. Unfortunately, many people still believe that living in a manufactured home community isn't safe. They think that the parks are run down and riddled with reprobates. In reality, many manufactured home parks mimic gated communities with 24-hour security and mandated quiet hours. Some manufactured home neighborhoods even offer community-wide amenities like spas and pools. If you're a fan of the gated community lifestyle but don't want to pay hundreds of thousands for a site-built home, a manufactured home community could be your best bet.
Are you giving serious thought to buying a manufactured home for sale in South Carolina? You're not alone - more than 365K people in the Palmetto State live in manufactured homes. At Ken-Co Homes Inc., we're not your average run-of-the-mill manufactured home dealer. We only do business with manufacturing partners committed to building top-quality products that our customers are proud to own.
If you're looking for modern amenities, energy-efficient appliances, unique floorplans, and homes constructed with quality materials, Ken-Co Homes is the company for you. Contact our office today to learn more about our beautiful Clayton homes for sale in Elgin, SC.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on Form #371ES with the Probate Court of PICKENS COUNTY, the address of which is 222 MCDANIEL AVE., B-16 PICKENS, SC 29671, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements on the pr...
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATES All persons having claims against the following estates MUST file their claims on Form #371ES with the Probate Court of PICKENS COUNTY, the address of which is 222 MCDANIEL AVE., B-16 PICKENS, SC 29671, within eight (8) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice to Creditors or within one (1) year from date of death, whichever is earlier (SCPC 62-3-801, et seq.), or such persons shall be forever barred as to their claims. All claims are required to be presented in written statements on the prescribed form (FORM #371ES) indicating the name and address of the claimant, the basis of the claim, the amount claimed, the date when the claim will become due, the nature of any uncertainty as to the claim, and a description of any security as to the claim.
Estate: Julia Jane Elgin Date of Death: 10/23/2022 Case Number: 2023ES3900018 Personal Representative: Daryl Elgin Address: 185 Turner Rd., Pickens, SC 29671 Feb. 15, 22, Mar. 1
Estate: Linda Cunningham Russell Date of Death: 11/05/2022 Case Number: 2022ES3901043 Personal Representative: Clarence Ronald Russell Address: 302 Bethlehem Ridge Rd., Pickens, SC 29671 Feb. 15, 22, Mar. 1
Estate: Helen Adams Terrell Date of Death: 08/10/2022 Case Number: 2023ES3900091 Personal Representative: Patricia T. Odum Address: 1093 Asbury Park Rd., Anderson, SC 29625 Attorney: S. Leslie McIntosh Address: Post Office Box 197, Anderson, SC 29622 Feb. 15, 22, Mar. 1
Estate: Bryan Loyd Smith Date of Death: 12/19/2022 Case Number: 2023ES3900035 Personal Representative: Jacqueline R. Smith Address: 1759 Maw Bridge Rd., Central, SC 29630 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Linda Hardy Bigham Date of Death: 1/11/2023 Case Number: 2023ES3900043 Personal Representative: Randall P. Bigham Address: Post Office Box 613, Liberty, SC 29657 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Charles Daniel Mullinix Date of Death: 01/01/2023 Case Number: 2023ES3900038 Personal Representative: Hallulah Cissie Mullinix Address: 635 Anthony Road, Easley, SC 29640 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Tammy Medlin Clardy Date of Death: 12/05/2022 Case Number: 2023ES3900094 Personal Representative: Jessica Bridges Address: 203 Stonehaven Lane, Easley, SC 29642 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Victor Ray Cassell Date of Death: 01/09/2023 Case Number: 2023ES3900041 Personal Representative: Teresa Lynn Cobb Address: Post Office Box 1081, Simpsonville, SC 29681 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Lori Denise Willoughby Date of Death: 01/03/2023 Case Number: 2023ES3900103 Personal Representative: Linda Willoughby Address: 231 Cove Creek Rd., Pickens, SC 29671 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Billy Ray Burch, Sr. Date of Death: 01/03/2023 Case Number: 2023ES3900042 Personal Representative: Frances Burch Address: 2657 Saluda Dam Rd., Easley, SC 29640 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Danny Ray Pilgrim Date of Death: 02/12/2023 Case Number: 2023ES3900117 Personal Representative: Caroline Danielle Smithson Address: 1214 37th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34205 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Reginald Dale Anderson Date of Death: 12/22/2022 Case Number: 2023ES3900108 Personal Representative: Angela Denise Cooper Address: 251 Brandy Lane, Pickens, SC 29671 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Bobby Joe Chappell Date of Death: 07/29/2022 Case Number: 2023ES3900075 Personal Representative: Faye Chappell Address: 225 Mark Street, Easley, SC 29640 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Debbie Rae Parker Brooks Date of Death: 02/03/2023 Case Number: 2023ES3900113 Personal Representative: Tonya Michelle Whitmire Address: 142 Parkins Lane, Liberty, SC 29657 Attorney: J. Baker Cleveland, III Address: Post Office Box 9, Pickens, SC 29671 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Tony Maton Brooks Date of Death: 01/02/2023 Case Number: 2023ES3900112 Personal Representative: Tonya Michelle Whitmire Address: 142 Parkins Lane, Liberty, SC 29657 Attorney: J. Baker Cleveland, III Address: Post Office Box 9, Pickens, SC 29671 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Arliss Glenn Emerich, Jr. Date of Death: 03/17/2022 Case Number: 2023ES3900126 Personal Representative: Tammera Lynne Scavone Address: 311 Green Drive, Liberty, SC 29657 Attorney: J. Baker Cleveland, III Address: Post Office Box 9, Pickens, SC 29671 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Benny Eugene Mauldin Date of Death: 01/29/2023 Case Number: 2023ES3900122 Personal Representative: Misty Ross Address: 1837 Grand Canyon Drive, Lewisville, TX 75077 Attorney: Tyler B. OShields Address: Post Office Box 1428, Easley, SC 29641 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Henry Lewis Seay AKA Lewis H. Seay Date of Death: 11/15/2022 Case Number: 2023ES3900127 Personal Representative: Dorothy S. Trotter Address: 210 Woodberry Circle, Easley, SC 29642 Attorney: Tyler B. OShields Address: Post Office Box 1428, Easley, SC 29641 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Brenda Joyce Miller Burgess AKA Brenda J. Miller-Burgess Date of Death: 10/15/2022 Case Number: 2023ES3900053 Personal Representative: Joann Miller Address: 9 Johnson Avenue, 1F, Cranford, NJ 07016 Attorney: Brandon D. Elijah Address: 300 E. Coffee St., Greenville, SC 29601 Feb. 22, Mar. 1, 8
Estate: Julius Clarence Revis, Jr. Date of Death: 12/30/2022 Case Number: 2023ES3900072 Personal Representative: Gloria Susan McKinney Edwards Address: 1 Mountain Chase, Taylors, SC 29687 Mar. 1, 8, 15
Estate: G’Nell Thompson Gilstrap Date of Death: 07/10/ 2022 Case Number: 2023ES3900095 Personal Representative: Thomas B. Gilstrap Address: 200 Big Fox Lane, Greer, SC 29650 Mar. 1, 8, 15
Estate: Lucille Evelyn Cassady AKA Lucy Evelyn Cassady Date of Death: 12/27/2022 Case Number: 2023ES3900101 Personal Representative: Theresa Tillotson Address: 109 Danway Ct., Easley, SC 29640 Mar. 1, 8, 15
Estate: Lois Kay Speer Hart Date of Death: 01/29/2023 Case Number: 2023ES3900150 Personal Representative: Monte A. Hart Address: 105 James Street, Easley, SC 29641 Attorney: James M. Robinson Address: P.O. Box 738, Easley, SC 29641 Mar. 1, 8, 15
Estate: Marion Jeanette Underwood Date of Death: 01/08/2023 Case Number: 2023ES3900039 Personal Representative: Kenna Chapman Address: 203 Lakeview Heights Rd., Pickens, SC 29671 Attorney: J. Baker Cleveland, III Address: Post Office Box 9, Pickens, SC 29671 Mar. 1, 8, 15
An unlikely strip mall off Two Notch Road houses an eclectic antique mall that’s getting ready to expand its presence across the Midlands.Retro signage, stately statues and a buzzing parking lot characterize the building that Ivy House has called home for more than a decade in the Pontiac region of Elgin, northeast of Columbia.Now, the mall of 70 vendors that sell antique, vintage and repurposed goods along with handmade and local art, jewelry and clothing, is crossing Columbia and expanding into Lexington.After a ...
An unlikely strip mall off Two Notch Road houses an eclectic antique mall that’s getting ready to expand its presence across the Midlands.
Retro signage, stately statues and a buzzing parking lot characterize the building that Ivy House has called home for more than a decade in the Pontiac region of Elgin, northeast of Columbia.
Now, the mall of 70 vendors that sell antique, vintage and repurposed goods along with handmade and local art, jewelry and clothing, is crossing Columbia and expanding into Lexington.
After a seven-year search, Ivy House will open a second location this spring in the former Sherwood’s Furniture Barn warehouse. The new location at 4211 Augusta Road, will include 15,000 square feet of space that current and new vendors will fill.
“The concept behind Ivy House is to provide a platform so that our vendors can be prosperous so that the store can make money so that we can support ourselves and local charities,” co-owner Ruth Rauch said.
Rauch and her husband, Pete, are Christian ministers who want to use their business to serve God and the public, Rauch said. They donate proceeds to local charities including Oliver Gospel, Reconciliation Ministries, PETSinc and Fostering Foster. But Ivy House in itself isn’t religiously affiliated.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about taking care of people,” Rauch said. “That’s the background of what motivates us daily.”
Ruth Rauch was a vendor at Ivy House before the couple, who also owns Reliable Signage and Lighting, bought it from its original owner in 2015. When they bought the business, about 30 vendors sold antique or homemade items there. They’ve more than doubled that number and also have a long waiting list for potential vendors, she said.
“It’s gotten to where we have so many people trying to be a vendor with us, that we feel like it’s necessary to expand,” Rauch said.
The new Lexington location is fitting for Ivy House because it was already divided up into small showrooms, Rauch said. It will nearly triple the available space for vendors.
Vendors Rob and Angie Kinkaid quit their corporate jobs and have been making a living from selling at Ivy House since 2019. They began by making custom, farmhouse-style furniture for fun before transitioning into being full-time small business owners.
Even though they live about an hour away from the current Ivy House location — the new location will be slightly closer for the couple — their increasing sales have proved that it’s worth the drive.
“There’s something here for everyone, no matter what your taste is,” Angie Kinkaid said. “That’s what I love about it.”
Mary Rodriguez, another vendor and front desk worker, said the same. Every generation and style is represented in the hodge-podge of antique and vintage items alongside homemade art.
She said she’s known for her “fun, silly” paintings of cows, pigs and chickens, but she also started flipping and repainting furniture, too.
What separates Ivy House from other vendor markets is its staging and presentation, Rodriguez said.
“You’ll see a lot of antique stores where it’s just dusty shelves, but (here) they try to find pretty things and show you how you can set them up in your house,” Rodriguez said. “It’s the attention to detail from each and every one of the vendors.”
Not only is the staging carefully crafted, but the items also frequently change. The Kinkaids restock their store weekly.
Ivy House’s clean, ever-changing displays are what attract customer Deanna Hoyt-Zoeller to keep coming back several times a month since it opened. She said she walks out with a new purchase almost every time she visits.
“Vendors turn things over a lot because people shop here so frequently,” Hoyt-Zoeller said. “You’re always kind of surprised when you come here.”
That’s the goal, Ruth Rauch said. She wants Ivy House to be a place for customers to unwind and save money shopping.
“We want it to be a place where they can relax and let their minds escape the burdens and pressures of their day,” Rauch said. “Many customers come in and say, ‘Oh my goodness, my momma used to have that,’ and their minds go back to treasured memories.”
The new site is undergoing renovations now, and the Rauches are aiming to open it as soon as March.
This story was originally published January 31, 2023, 5:30 AM.
ELGIN, S.C. — David Horne remembers exactly where he was when the first earthquake hit his town of Elgin, S.C., on Dec. 27, 2021.He was relaxing on his front porch, while his wife was inside caring for their young grandson. Suddenly, Horne felt the ground shake and heard a noise like thunder boom across the sky."And as soon as it happened, I got out of my chair and I went and told her, 'That was an earthquake. That was a 3-point-plus,'" he said.Horne used to live in Alaska, where earthquakes are more comm...
ELGIN, S.C. — David Horne remembers exactly where he was when the first earthquake hit his town of Elgin, S.C., on Dec. 27, 2021.
He was relaxing on his front porch, while his wife was inside caring for their young grandson. Suddenly, Horne felt the ground shake and heard a noise like thunder boom across the sky.
"And as soon as it happened, I got out of my chair and I went and told her, 'That was an earthquake. That was a 3-point-plus,'" he said.
Horne used to live in Alaska, where earthquakes are more common, but his wife, Whitney Horne — a lifelong South Carolinian — said she wasn't sure what had happened.
"Because I'd never experienced an earthquake," she said. "We're in South Carolina! You don't have earthquakes that you feel in South Carolina."
Sure enough, it was a 3.3 magnitude earthquake — too small to cause damage but big enough to light up the town's Facebook page with dozens of excited comments.
At first, David Horne said, he thought it was cool.
"Wow! An earthquake," he remembered thinking. "I've heard there was a big fault line around here. And that's all I thought about it."
Then, what seemed like aftershocks began — and never stopped. Days and months after that first quake, the ground would rumble while the Hornes were out shopping or at night, while they were in bed, and the shaking has shown no signs of stopping.
"I mean, literally, it seems like we have an earthquake every week. It's not even a surprise anymore," David Horne said.
The U.S. Geological Survey has recorded more than 60 small earthquakes near the town since that first quake in December. The largest — a magnitude 3.6 — rumbled through in late June.
All the shaking has fascinated geologists, who've said this is the longest-running series of earthquakes in recent South Carolina history.
South Carolina's state geologist, Scott Howard, has been investigating these earthquakes with help from other experts. He said scientists refer to this phenomenon as an earthquake "swarm" — that is, a series of small earthquakes with no apparent mainshock.
"They could be a magnitude 2, 3, 1, 2," he said. "It just kind of bounces up and down."
South Carolina is on a minor fault line, Howard said, and the state has had swarms before. In the 1970s, a series of small earthquakes was traced to the creation of the Monticello Reservoir.
When the reservoir was filled with water, it put indirect pressure on the underground fault, Howard said, setting off the string of minor earthquakes.
This time, however, there's no clear explanation. Howard said it's possible heavy rain may have played a role early in the year, but it's hard for scientists to know for sure.
Many residents have worried the swarm is building up to a big earthquake, though seismologists have said that's unlikely.
Still, emergency officials have told people to look into earthquake insurance, and some have, like retired postal worker Phil Crowley, who moved to Elgin a year ago.
"You know, what can you control? You can control getting insurance. That's about it," Crowley said.
He and his wife don't think a big earthquake will hit, but they worry.
"She'll look at me when we're going to sleep and say, 'I hope it's not going to be tonight,'" he said.
If it is, they're ready. They keep two bags packed with clothes and other essentials sitting by their front door, just in case.
As for earthquake safety, the American Red Cross says: "Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit."
Researchers say they've found evidence that an asteroid or comet exploded over Kershaw County thousands of years ago, causing huge changes to life in that area.ELGIN, S.C. — A lot of attention has been generated in the South Carolina town of Elgin following the earthquakes there in recent months. But Elgin is also making headlines for a stunning discovery made by a former University of South Carolina archaeologis...
Researchers say they've found evidence that an asteroid or comet exploded over Kershaw County thousands of years ago, causing huge changes to life in that area.
ELGIN, S.C. — A lot of attention has been generated in the South Carolina town of Elgin following the earthquakes there in recent months. But Elgin is also making headlines for a stunning discovery made by a former University of South Carolina archaeologist, Christopher Moore, and his team of researchers.
Moore and his team of researchers believe they’ve found signs supporting an extinction theory called the Younger-Dryas Impact Hypothesis. And they've found evidence that appears to shows an asteroid or comet exploded over Kershaw County thousands of years ago, causing huge changes to life in that area..
“I wanted to come to White Pond because I knew the mud and the sediments in the pond had a record of climate over the last at least 20 or 30,000 years," Moore explained.
The Younger-Dryas Impact Hypothesis states an asteroid or comet hit the Earth nearly 13,000 years ago, splintering into smaller parts over the skies of several continents. The result led to a decline in animal and human populations. Evidence in support of the proposition, Moore said, was found at the bottom of White Pond in Elgin in recent years.
“Well when you dig down in certain areas you’re going back in time," Moore said. "So you start at the surface and you have the most recent time periods, and as you go down, it’s like a time capsule, and you’re going further back in time."
Teams excavated in three or four feet long block units--individual segments where the Earth is peeled back--across parts of the White Pond area. Moore said at the deepest part of the block they've found artifacts that are 12,000 years old.
Credit: Christopher Moore
RELATED: Why are there so many earthquakes near Elgin lately? Here's what an expert told us
Moore said evidence found in the pond’s sediment suggests an asteroid or comet exploded in the skies over South Carolina all those years ago. If so, the event would have caused massive wildfires, creating enough smoke to block out the sun for several weeks or months. And it may have been enough to contribute to the extinction of several large animals that roamed the Earth.
“It’s possible that we had mastodons," Moore said. "We may have had herds of mastodons coming here to drink. We could have had herds of bison. That’s certainly based on some other work that I’ve done. It’s suggested that we probably had herds of bison, elk, other large animals.”
“The fossil record for that time in South Carolina is also not very good but we know if you go further back in time there’s all kinds of evidence of mammoth, mastodon, giant ground sloth, sabertooth cats, you name it," he added. "Very large animals that all went extinct.”
In 2019, Moore and his colleagues first published their findings in Scientific Reports, a publication of Nature.
Researchers were also looking for evidence of the Clovis culture. The Clovis were considered to be the earliest Native Americans and artifacts of the Clovis people have been found throughout the United States.
Credit: WLTX
RELATED: A month into the Kershaw County quakes, experts say answers still limited
“These people were here...and made this very distinctive stone technology and then they seemed to very rapidly change or shift," he said. "I’m not saying they go away but they transition around the beginning of the Younger-Dryas, about 12,800 years ago."
And while no evidence of the Clovis people has been at White Pond, Chris said they will expand their search in the coming months, hoping to find more evidence to support their theory.
“It’s a highly debated topic," Moore admits. "And I think the opinions of archeologists and geologists vary. It’s like the dinosaur extinction asteroid event when that evidence was first presented. It was highly controversial and it took a lot of time and work before it was widely accepted.”
“This is not widely accepted necessarily but there’s plenty of evidence to support an event happening.”
And since it happened once, could it happen again?
“You know you hear reports all the time of asteroids that come between us, the Earth, and the moon, and most of those are fairly small and wouldn’t necessarily do a lot of damage but there are some out there that are large enough to do significant damage if they were to hit the earth. And it’s just a matter of time before that happens.”
It's the first earthquake in roughly two weeks in the region.KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. — While more sporadic, earthquakes continue in Kershaw County as the area quickly approaches the one-year anniversary of when the swarm started.The latest earthquake, with a magnitude of 1.7 according to the U.S. Geological Survey, is the 83rd since rumbles started becoming...
It's the first earthquake in roughly two weeks in the region.
KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. — While more sporadic, earthquakes continue in Kershaw County as the area quickly approaches the one-year anniversary of when the swarm started.
The latest earthquake, with a magnitude of 1.7 according to the U.S. Geological Survey, is the 83rd since rumbles started becoming somewhat commonplace in the Lugoff and Elgin regions in late December 2021.
According to data from the agency, the quake happened around 7:48 p.m. on Friday and was allegedly felt by at least three people who reported the rattle on its earthquake monitoring website. Earthquakes below a magnitude of 2.5 are typically not felt by the public.
The last earthquake to rumble the region was on Nov. 24 and had a magnitude of 2.0. The earthquakes still vary in size but have become less frequent than they were at different points in 2022 when they were an almost daily occurrence.
More seismic equipment has been installed in the area in recent months but an exact reason for the centralized earthquake activity hasn't yet been determined.
While having the earthquakes focused in Kershaw County as a swarm hasn't been the norm historically, earthquakes are not a new occurrence in South Carolina, which has them occasionally across the state. South Carolina was also the location of the largest earthquake in the history of the southeastern U.S. which happened in the Charleston area in 1886 and was estimated to have a magnitude above 7.0.
Historical records suggest the earthquake, located in what is now known as the Middleton Place-Summerville Seismic Zone, was felt as far away as Chicago, Boston, and even Cuba.
However, the quakes shaking Elgin are in a different location in the state along the Eastern Piedmont Fault System which runs from Alabama to Virginia.