Forty Acre Rock

(Granite Outcropping)

Portion of NHAP infrared photograph of Forty Acre Rock (1989).
Area shown is outlined on the map to the right.

Portion of topographic map of Forty Acre Rock from
Taxahaw USGS quadrangle (1969).

Cartographic Products:

Forty Acre Rock Forty Acre Rock

(NAPP) (Topo Map)

SC MAPS Order Form (.xls format)

Rationale

The Forty Acre Rock Study Site is an excellent example of a granite outcropping in the Piedmont of South Carolina. Many such rock exposures occur throughout the region, including the Winnsboro Blue Granite in Fairfield County, which is mined heavily as an economic resource and which has been designated as the official State Rock. Although Forty Acre Rock is not quarried, it represents a valuable resource nonetheless. As part of the Flat Creek Preserve, the granite is home to several species of rare plants and offers a truly unique biological habitat. The site is also near the boundary of the Sandhills and Piedmont regions and clearly illustrates landform features characteristic to each. Forty Acre Rock is not advertised as a state tourist attraction because of the sensitive and fragile nature of the ecosystem, although many school groups and other educational agencies do take field trips there. Much of the site is preserved in its natural state and features wetlands, unique geologic features such as the Great Diabase Dike, and a variety of land uses typical of the Piedmont Region.

Background Information
    Description of Landforms
        Characteristic Landforms of the Piedmont
        Geographic Features of Special Interest
        Piedmont Rock Types
        Geologic Belts of the Piedmont
    Influence of Topography on Historical Events and Cultural Trends
        The Catawba Nation
        Catawba Tales
        Catawba Pottery
        Immigration into the Piedmont
        Settling the Piedmont: Act of 1743
        Farming in Colonial Times
        South Carolina Regulators
        Battlegrounds in the Piedmont
        The Naming of Rock Hill
        Cotton Mill Towns Become Part of Industrial Region
        The Anderson Car
        The Interstate 85 Corridor
    Natural Resources, Land Use, and Environmental Concerns
        Climate and Water Resources
        Piedmont Reservoirs
        Soils and Red Clay
        Agriculture and Erosion
        Reforestation and Soil Conservation
        Establishment of National Forests
        Unique Natural Habitats in the Piedmont
        Underground Storage in Granite
        Gold Mining

Study Site 3A--Forty Acre Rock (Granite Outcropping)
   Brief Site Description
       Introduction
       The Great Diabase Dike of South Carolina
    Activity 3A-1: Forty Acre Rock and Flat Creek Preserve
    Activity 3A-2: Reservoirs, Dams, and Piedmont Drainage