What are congorees?

Congorees were a Native American tribe that inhabited the area around the Congaree River in present-day South Carolina. They were part of the Siouan language family, and were closely related to the Catawba and Wateree tribes.

The Congorees were first encountered by Europeans in the 16th century. In 1562, the Spanish explorer Juan Pardo visited their village, which he described as being located on a high bluff overlooking the river. The Congorees were friendly towards the Spanish, and gave them food and supplies.

In the early 17th century, the Congorees were attacked by the Iroquois, who were seeking to expand their territory. The Congorees were forced to abandon their village and move further south. In 1670, they settled on the Santee River, where they lived for the next 50 years.

In 1715, the Congorees were again attacked by the Iroquois, who were allied with the British. The Congorees were defeated and their village was destroyed. The survivors fled to the Waxhaws, who were a Catawba subgroup living in North Carolina.

The Congorees eventually assimilated into the Catawba tribe, and their language and culture were lost. However, their name is still remembered in the names of several places in South Carolina, including Congaree National Park and the Congaree River.