Hamilton Carhartt in Rock Hill, South Carolina

Hamilton Carhartt, founder of Carhartt Clothing, came to Rock Hill in 1907 looking for a cotton mill to make the denim for his iconic bib overalls, which he proudly labeled, Made in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Because of his presence in this booming textile town, Carhartt acquired massive acreage and built a mansion, family houses, and a farm on the banks of the Catawba River, known throughout South Carolina as Carhartt Plantation. His farm produced a variety of...
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Hamilton Carhartt, founder of Carhartt Clothing, came to Rock Hill in 1907 looking for a cotton mill to make the denim for his iconic bib overalls, which he proudly labeled, Made in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Because of his presence in this booming textile town, Carhartt acquired massive acreage and built a mansion, family houses, and a farm on the banks of the Catawba River, known throughout South Carolina as Carhartt Plantation. His farm produced a variety of agricultural and dairy products, housed domestic and exotic animals, and even bred prized Arabian Horses. However, Carhartt's most enduring legacy was the care and respect he showed for his employees by providing for their physical, educational, and recreational needs. He believed that "the prosperity of his employees created better denim." Carhartt demonstrated these core values by providing beautifully designed housing with modern conveniences, night schools, childcare, meals, parties, swimming pools, and other amenities that were rare at that time. Though Carhartt's time in Rock Hill ended with the 1920-1921 Global Recession, his positive impact on the landscape and community remain.