During the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Cowpens was fought on January 17, 1781. The battle site is preserved at Cowpens National Battlefield, located 9 miles north of town in Cherokee County near the town of Chesnee. Two ships of the U.S. Navy have been named USS Cowpens in honor of the battle.

The town was incorporated in 1900. It is currently governed by a Council-Manager form of government.

Cowpens was founded near the site of a battle fought during the Revolutionary War on January 17, 1781. Continental Army troops and colonial militia under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan decisively defeated a crack British force – known as the Black Legion – under Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton.

The battle draws its name from its site, pastureland and cow pens, reportedly known then as Hannah’s Cow-pens, used by frontier farmers in northwestern South Carolina. Military historians regard Cowpens as one of the most brilliant tactical operations ever fought on American soil.

The British losses were staggering: 110 dead, over 200 wounded and 500 captured.

The original battle site is now the Cowpens National Battlefield. The one and one-quarter acre park was established by Congress on March 4, 1929 under the control of the War Department.

The National Park Service assumed control on August 10, 1933. In 1981, the site was increased to 842 acres in size and the NPS spent approximately $5 million to develop and restore the park.