Sumter

Sumter commonly refers to several places and things in the United States. The most prominent is Sumter, a city in central South Carolina that serves as the county seat of Sumter County and is named for Revolutionary War general Thomas Sumter. The city developed as a railroad and agricultural center and today functions as a regional hub with educational institutions, parks, and military activity tied to Shaw Air Force Base.

Fort Sumter is a sea fort in Charleston Harbor named after General Thomas Sumter. Construction began in the 1820s to defend the entrance to Charleston, and it became famous as the site of the first shots of the American Civil War in April 1861. It is now Fort Sumter National Monument, administered by the National Park Service and accessible by boat tours.

Sumter is also the name of two U.S. counties. Sumter County, Florida, named for General Thomas Sumter, is in central Florida and has Bushnell as its county seat. Sumter County, South Carolina, is in the central part of the state and includes the city of Sumter as its county seat.

In addition to places, Sumter is a surname. Notable bearers include Thomas Sumter (1734–1832), an American Revolutionary War general known as the “Carolina Gamecock.” The name also appears in various geographic and civic designations across the United States.