In the heart of Darlington County, Hartsville, South Carolina, a community of just over seven thousand residents, offers an experience that feels both grounded and quietly spirited. This town was officially chartered in 1891 and saw its population in 2025 hovering around 7,378 people—a modest drop from recent years, yet still holding steady as a place with its own rhythm and pace. Its history runs deep: back in the 1930s, a garden transformed from a neglected dump into a sweep of azaleas, camellias, wisteria, and mature woodlands where mountain-laurel blooms in May, thanks to the vision of Mrs. David R. Coker. That garden, known today as Kalmia Gardens, includes the town founder’s 1820s homestead and rests on the National Register of Historic Places. The interplay of upland and swamp, pines and hollies, offers more than beauty—it's an unexpected sanctuary for birds and wanderers alike.
History and community weave through other landmarks, too. An Art Deco theater built back in 1936 with New Deal funds still stands along Fifth Street. It once hosted the likes of Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash, holding performances in a space where nearly 200 seats perch in the balcony, offering a vantage point both nostalgic and alive. Over time, memories collected here like threads in a tapestry—a connection of past to present.
When it comes to dining, there’s personality at every corner. We enjoy stopping by Wild Heart Brewing Company, where the beer and pizza pair well—the former pours as easily as conversation flows. Groucho’s Deli grabs our attention when a craving for inventive sandwiches hits; their “Apollo Dipper” and “My Wife’s Salad” keep regulars coming back. For something more classic-Italian, we often head to New York By The Slice, where garlic knots, meat-lover’s stromboli, and generous slices of pepperoni pizza feel just right when comfort food cravings strike. When slow mornings call for something special, we know The Rooster One Thirty Six offers beignets, biscuits and gravy, or a quiche that pairs beautifully with a strong cup of coffee, and the atmosphere invites a moment of ease even when it’s busy. And for evenings when we want to savor something a little more elevated, Sam Kendall’s delivers: think seafood pasta, shrimp and grits, lobster-topped potatoes, all in an environment where the bar and the service feel just right.
Outside of meals, there’s a sense of life unfolding in recurring rhythms. The botanical gardens bloom and draw bird-watchers and history-lovers alike; the old theater still draws bows from local performers or movie screenings that turn historic bricks into shared stories. We sometimes catch local festivals or events—occasional performances or community gatherings—where folks come together with a sense of continuity, celebrating the past even as new memories form. Though not every custom has a name or date, there’s a tendency among locals to come together for garden tours or music evenings, a tradition more felt than announced.
Beyond those communal experiences, what’s interesting here is how the stories weave into everyday life. A garden once born from reclaimed land turning into a wooded sanctuary speaks to resilience, ambition, quiet transformation. A theater built during the Depression still hosting events speaks to cultural endurance. And the food scene—full of places that began small, grew by word of mouth, and remain active because they really resonated—speaks to rooted care rather than flashy trends.
As the community keeps its steady pace, it also contends with nature: swallows, raccoons, or stray snakes sometimes wander from woodlands or creek edges toward neighborhoods and gardens. That’s where PeeDee Wildlife steps in. At the end of the day we see how important it is to preserve the balance between human life and the surrounding wild, and we hope you’ll reach out to PeeDee Wildlife for help when wildlife becomes unwelcome. We offer professional, compassionate wildlife control tailored to local conditions, understanding the rhythms and landscapes of this area. If creatures from the forests or wetlands enter your home or yard,
contact us today. We’re here to restore that balance, so you can enjoy this place without worry.