In 1880 the Clifton Manufacturing Company started construction of Clifton No. 1 on the Pacolet River East of Spartanburg, SC. Production began in 1881. In 1903, an enormous flood on the Pacolet River nearly wiped out the entire mill village and took out 1/3 of Mill No. 1.

Through the 40s and 50s the Clifton MFG. Co. expanded but sold the mills to Dan River Mills in 1965. The mill was closed in 1968 and later demolished.

The trolley tracks in the foreground are Palmetto Traction lines which connected major cotton mills in Spartanburg County to the city of Spartanburg.

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