It was named for the intersection of Harden Street, Devine Street and Santee Avenue.
When streetcars ruled the roads, Five Points was a hub (rotating circle) for moving between downtown Columbia and the residential area of Shandon.
In 1993, Five Points was the site of the tragic death of Senator Strom Thurmond's daughter Nancy Moore, who was hit by a drunk driver only feet from the limousine of South Carolina's lieutenant governor at the time, Nick Theodore.