Spring Forward: Daylight Saving Time Begins March 9, 2025

Laurens County residents, get ready to spring forward! Daylight Saving Time (DST) officially begins on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 2:00 a.m. Clocks should be set ahead one hour before going to bed on Saturday night, giving everyone an extra hour of evening daylight — but one less hour of sleep.

A Brief History of Daylight Saving Time

The concept of shifting the clocks to make better use of daylight has been around for centuries. The idea is often credited to Benjamin Franklin, who humorously suggested in 1784 that people could save candles by getting out of bed earlier to take advantage of natural morning light.

However, the modern version of Daylight Saving Time did not begin until World War I, when countries around the world adopted it to conserve energy. The United States first enacted DST in 1918, but it wasn’t made a permanent part of American life until the Uniform Time Act of 1966 standardized the practice across the country.

Why Do We Still Do It?

The original purpose of Daylight Saving Time was to reduce electricity use by extending daylight hours into the evening. While the actual energy savings are debated today, the practice has continued, in part, because many people enjoy longer evenings for outdoor activities. Farmers, however, have historically been opposed to the change, as it can disrupt agricultural schedules.

Whether you love it or loathe it, Daylight Saving Time remains a part of life. The time change is also a good reminder to check smoke detector batteries and review emergency preparedness plans.

So, mark your calendars and don’t forget — spring forward one hour on March 9!