Outdoors columnist Dan Geddings: It's home

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The land slopes gently from the present-day shore of the great ocean. The fertile soils are layers of sediments that were laid down over eons of time. This geographical region is known as the Coastal Plain. The Coastal Plain of South Carolina is the largest landform region, forming two-thirds of the state. It is the only region in the state that contains Carolina bays.

The lands nearest the coast and the barrier islands are generally known as the Lowcountry. Above the Lowcountry is the Upper Coastal Plain. This region features the large rivers and bottom land swamps that traverse the area, including the Congaree, Wateree, Pee Dee and Santee. The beauty of the Coastal Plain may be its greatest resource.

The Sandhills are gently rolling hills located above the Coastal Plain. They cut across the state in a southwest to northeast direction. There are many elevated locations in the area to view the rolling terrain, to include Manchester State Forest and the High Hills of Sumter County. Geologists tell us that the Sandhills were formed by erosion of sand and clay from the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Piedmont. These sands and clays were washed to an ancient coast that due to a rising and falling of the sea was located near what is now the middle of South Carolina.

Sumter County lies near the center of the state where the Upper Coastal Plain meets the Sandhills. The lower part of the county is generally flat and somewhat poorly drained. Farming and timber production are common here. There is a section of the Sandhills in the upper part of the county. This section is known as the High Hills. These rolling hills are heavily timbered now but show signs of terraces, where farming was done in the past.

The piney woods are common here, and the swamp lands. There are drainages with streams and creeks that flow through the landscape. Local people call the smaller drainages branches. Nasty Branch, Brunson Branch, Camp Branch, to name a few. The larger runs are called creeks. There is Beech Creek, Rafting Creek, Fullers Earth Creek and more. Some of the big swamps have multiple creeks such as Rocky Bluff Swamp, Scape Ore and Green Swamp. Some of the biggest drainages are swamps that are called rivers, such as Pocotaligo River and Black River.

The woodlands are sometimes referred to as flatwoods in the lower part of the county. There is little elevation change. Carolina bays are common here. From personal observation, I know that most bays are found on slightly higher ground and can be easily drained. The ones that are not drained go through dry and wet cycles. Some dry cycles last long enough to allow a stand of trees that are usually killed when the bays go through a prolonged weather-related wet cycle. Evidence of that is common throughout the city of Sumter.

The High Hills are a totally different kind of landform. They seem to rise slowly from the flatwoods and farmlands along the Santee, then drop off steeply on the western side above the Wateree River. Great vistas can be seen to the west and north from peaks in the High Hills. The High Hills are now covered in pineland timber and once held the summer homes of planters from the coastal areas. The area is steeped in history. Furman University has its origin there. The High Hills eventually blend into the rest of the Sandhill region to the northwest in Lee County.

Our family's new land is in eastern Sumter County. It is in a very flat section of farmland. Corn and pine trees are the major crops. We are developing homeplaces there. At my brother-in-law's house, they had a well drilled for water. There was a small pile of sand and shells that were washed from the ground. Just being curious, I walked over to look. The shells were seashells. Small shells just like you would find at the ocean. I was stunned and asked the driller about them. He said they came from about 48 feet down, and it was common to find them here.

No doubt about it. The ocean covered this land at one time. It may be classified as the Upper Coastal Plain, but now, to me it's home.

Email Dan Geddings at cdgeddings@gmail.com.