The Hampton County Guardian is one of Hampton County's oldest traditions. Miles B. McSweeney, who would later become governor of South Carolina, founded the newspaper on Aug. 22, 1879.

After McSweeney's death, The Guardian remained in family ownership and was edited and published by his son, Eugene McSweeney. He added The Allendale County Citizen and moved the newspaper operation from Hampton to Allendale around 1919.

The newspaper was eventually sold to the Caldwell-Maner Publishing Company in 1944, and then to Banner Publishers Inc. of Camden, S.C., in 1974.

Over the years, the Guardian has grown from a weekly averaging eight pages to issues that approach 30 pages.

Morris Communications acquired The Hampton County Guardian in August 2006.