  The design, simulation, fabrication, calibration, and performance of the
GlueX Start Counter detector is described. The Start Counter was designed to
operate at integrated rates of up to 9 MHz with a timing resolution in the
range of 500 to 825 ps (FWHM). The Start Counter provides excellent solid angle
coverage, a high degree of segmentation for background rejection, and can be
utilized in the level 1 trigger for the experiment. It consists of a
cylindrical array of 30 thin scintillators with pointed ends that bend towards
the beam line at the downstream end. Magnetic field insensitive silicon
photomultiplier detectors were used as the light sensors.
