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  The beautiful town of Landrum is one of the crown jewels of Spartanburg County and is well known for its small-town charm. Downtown Landrum, successfully revitalized in recent years, has become home to a variety of attractive shops and restaurants. Yet the beginnings of Landrum were quite different from what you see today.

There was a time many years ago when the town was little more than a whistle stop along the old railroad line that ran from Spartanburg to Asheville. Like many small southern hamlets, Landrum was born alongside a railroad track. It was a rather inconspicuous beginning for the fine southern lady she has become. The fact is, there may have never even been a Landrum without a man named Landrum.

Rev. John Gill Landrum was one of the most beloved clergymen of his day. Born in middle Tennessee in 1810, he migrated to South Carolina in 1828. Having been converted to Christianity in 1824, the young man, who was then living in Union County, soon felt the call to ministry. He was then ordained to preach in 1831 at the age of twenty-one. Immediately, Landrum launched into a long, distinguished career, leading several Baptist congregations in Spartanburg and Greenville Counties. 

The young Reverend Landrum really came of age in 1831 when he participated in the great Brushy Creek revival at Brushy Creek Baptist Church near Greenville. People took note of the young pulpiteer’s passionate and sincere preaching. Not only were there many conversions that resulted from those meetings, but several new congregations sprang up from the religious fervor and zeal that ensued. After that, Landrum received multiple invitations from area churches to become their pastor. From that point on until he died, John G. Landrum served several churches in the region. Most of his rich, productive ministry was spent at four churches: Mount Zion, Bethlehem and New Prospect, all near Spartanburg, and Wolf Creek (now First Baptist Church of Landrum). Upon his death on January 19, 1882, he was buried at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Spartanburg. 

In addition to being a prominent minister, Landrum was also somewhat of an amateur historian and a noted expert on the Battle of Cowpens. He passed this love for history on to his son, Dr. J.B.O. Landrum, a well-respected local physician who wrote a magnificent historical reference called Colonial and Revolutionary History of Upper South Carolina.

So, how exactly did the town of Landrum take on the name of the great preacher? Again, it’s all about the railroad. John G. Landrum played an important role in organizing the Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad. In fact, when the railroad needed a depot for a stop before ascending Saluda Mountain, Rev. Landrum contributed several acres at the current site of the city of Landrum. In honor of his generosity, the railroad called it Landrum’s Station. And from there the name was later shortened to Landrum when the town was incorporated in 1883.

Today, the train no longer runs through Landrum, but the depot building still stands and has been beautifully renovated. It’s now a lovely venue for various local events. Rev. Landrum could rightly be proud of his namesake town.