For most of its existence, Alcolu’s chief export was lumber.
The small hamlet in west-central South Carolina began as a mill town in the late 19th century for employees of D.W. Alderman, a local timber magnate. Ribbons of railroad tracks still crisscross through the pines there, clacking with commerce from all corners of the state. The town takes its quirky name – it’s pronounced AL-co-lu – from a portmanteau of Alderman (“Al”); his business partner and brother-in-law, Colwell (“Co”); and his oldest daughter, Lula (“Lu”).
With a population of 429 as of the 2010 census, Alcolu isn’t quite a
blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town. But it’s not far off.