Built on the plantation of Thomas Edward Hart, Hartsville grew into an active trading center largely through the efforts of the Coker family. Arriving in the mid-19th century, Maj. James Lide Coker established several businesses, constructed a railroad and founded Coker College, a 4-year liberal arts college with an enrollment of more than 1,150. David Coker, an agricultural expert who bred superior strains of cotton and other crops, also contributed to the town's prosperity. Learn More...