Birch County, South Carolina

The proposed county's name would have been derived from the first letters of these communities, Ballentine, Irmo, and Chapin.

Due to excellent arable land and access to waterways, the area was dominated by farming and remained rural in character for much of its history.

While much of the proposed county remains rural, suburban development in the past few decades has increased the population and changed the characteristics of the area.

Since the damming of the Saluda River and the creation of Lake Murray in the 1920s, Chapin and the northern unincorporated portions of Lexington County have not physically connected to the remainder of county, causing significant logistical issues for residents and public services.

It is anticipated that the county would be bordered by Lake Murray and the existing city limits of Columbia and West Columbia to the south, by the Broad River to the east, and by Newberry County to the north and west.