Whereas South Carolina became a State on May 23, 1788; Whereas Kershaw was designated a district from 1800 until 1868, when a new State constitution restored the county designation; Whereas Camden was founded in 1732, being the oldest inland town in South Carolina; Whereas Camden was established by a decree from King George II in 1730, and started as a small backcountry settlement along the banks of the Wateree River, the farthest point west that most Europeans would travel at that time; Whereas Bethune, originally known as Lynchwood, was established by the early 19th century when a post office was erected in 1828; Whereas Bethune was chartered in 1900 upon the creation of its first railroad, and the right-a-way passed through the property of Daniel Murdock Bethune; Whereas Elgin’s history traces back to 1899 when the Seaboard Coastline Railroad was making its way across midlands of South Carolina; Whereas the rails expanded in Elgin, and this area was named Blaney after a New York banker who funded the railroad and was eventually named vice president of the railroad; Whereas the town of Blaney was charted and incorporated on January 23, 1908; Whereas the town of Blaney became the town of Elgin in September 1962; Whereas Kershaw County was created in 1971 from portions of Claremont, Fairfield, Lancaster, and Richland Counties; Whereas the towns of Camden, Elgin, and Bethune now all fall within the jurisdiction of Kershaw County; Whereas the towns of Camden, Elgin, and Bethune, in conjunction with Kershaw County, have all been classified as one entity within the regulations of the All-American City National Civic League; Whereas since 1949, the All-American City National Civic League issues an award to 10 communities celebrating and recognizing neighborhoods, towns, cities, counties, and regions that engage in initiative, inclusive, and effective efforts to tackle critical, local challenges