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Anderson
City
Top, left to right: Downtown Anderson, First Baptist Church of Anderson, Old Anderson County Courthouse, Anderson University, Anderson County Courthouse, Lake Hartwell view from City of Anderson Recreation Park
Top, left to right: Downtown Anderson, First Baptist Church of Anderson, Old Anderson County Courthouse, Anderson University, Anderson County Courthouse, Lake Hartwell view from City of Anderson Recreation Park
Flag of Anderson
Flag
 Official seal of Anderson
Seal
Nickname(s): 
The Electric City, Friendliest City in South Carolina
Motto(s): 
"Teamwork | Integrity | Professionalism"
Location in South Carolina
Location in South Carolina
Anderson is located in South Carolina
Anderson
Anderson
Location in South Carolina
Anderson is located in the United States
Anderson
Anderson
Location in the United States
Anderson is located in North America
Anderson
Anderson
Location in North America
Country United States
State South Carolina
County Anderson
Founded December 1826
Incorporated December 19, 1833
Named for Robert Anderson
Government
 • Type Council–manager
Area
 • Total 15.87 sq mi (41.09 km2)
 • Land 15.83 sq mi (41.00 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)  0.25%
Elevation
807 ft (246 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 28,106
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 29,980
 • Density 1,775.60/sq mi (685.56/km2)
 • Urban
118,369 (US: 286th)
 • Urban density 1,233.8/sq mi (476.4/km2)
ZIP Codes
29621–29626
FIPS code 45-01360
GNIS feature ID 2403098

Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 28,106 at the 2020 census, making it the 16th-most populous city in South Carolina. It is one of the principal cities in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 975,480 in 2023. It is included in the larger Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC Combined Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 1,590,636 in 2023. It is just off Interstate 85 and is 120 miles (190 km) from Atlanta and 140 miles (230 km) from Charlotte. Anderson is the smallest of the three primary cities that make up the Upstate region, and is nicknamed the "Electric City" and the "Friendliest City in South Carolina".

History

Anderson Court House

AndersonSCBenson1876
Downtown Anderson in 1876

Cherokee first settled the area of what is today the city of Anderson. During the American Revolution, the Cherokee sided with the British. After the American Revolutionary War, the Cherokee's land was acquired as war reparations and colonized. In 1791, the South Carolina Legislature created the Washington District, which comprised Greenville, Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens Counties. The Washington District was then divided into Greenville and Pendleton districts. Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee comprised the newly created Pendleton district. Anderson was settled in 1826 and incorporated in 1828 as Anderson Court House, separate from the Pendleton district. The name Anderson is in honor of Robert Anderson, who fought in the American Revolutionary War and also explored the Anderson region in the mid-18th century. Anderson District (later Anderson County after 1867) was also established in 1826 out of the Pendleton district.

In 1851, the Johnson Female Seminary was established in Anderson as the first college of the town and was named after William Bullein Johnson. One year later, the seminary was renamed Johnson University. During the American Civil War, Johnson University was closed and converted into a Confederate treasury. On May 1, 1865, Union forces invaded Anderson looking for the Confederate treasury. The treasury office of Anderson was ransacked by Union forces, and the main building of Johnson University was used as a Union headquarters. A minor skirmish erupted at the Battle of Anderson, leading to two Union casualties. After the war, a Union garrison was stationed in Anderson.

The Electric City

PortmanShoalsPlantAnderson
Portman Shoals Power Plant around 1920.

Anderson became one of the first cities in the Southeastern United States to have electricity. Electricity to Anderson was established by William C. Whitner in 1895 at a hydroelectric plant on the Rocky River, giving the city the name the Electric City. Anderson also became the first city in the world to supply a cotton gin by electricity. In 1895, Anderson Court House was renamed to Anderson. In 1897, Whitner's plant was upgraded with a 10,000-volt generating station at Portman Shoals. Whitner's power plant at Portman Shoals became the first hydroelectric plant in the United States to generate high voltage without step-up transformers . The Portman Dam was swept away in 1901, forcing Anderson into darkness until it was rebuilt in 1902.

Anderson University

In 1911, Anderson College was established by the Anderson Chamber of Commerce. Anderson College was the successor to Johnson University and is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Anderson College became Anderson University. It is accredited as a Level VI institution (offers bachelors, masters, Ph.D. degrees) by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. As of October 2022, it is the largest private university in South Carolina.

Geography

Anderson is located in the northwest corner of South Carolina on the Piedmont plateau. Anderson is a 1-hour drive from the Blue Ridge Mountains and a 4-hour drive from the South Carolina coast. Anderson lies roughly at the midpoint of the I-85 corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.87 square miles (41.1 km2), of which 15.83 square miles (41.0 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.25%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860 625 —
1870 1,432 129.1%
1880 1,850 29.2%
1890 3,018 63.1%
1900 5,498 82.2%
1910 9,654 75.6%
1920 10,570 9.5%
1930 14,383 36.1%
1940 19,424 35.0%
1950 19,770 1.8%
1960 41,316 109.0%
1970 27,556 −33.3%
1980 27,546 0.0%
1990 26,184 −4.9%
2000 25,514 −2.6%
2010 26,686 4.6%
2020 28,106 5.3%
2023 (est.) 29,980 12.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Anderson racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 16,392 58.32%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 8,276 29.45%
Native American 46 0.16%
Asian 416 1.48%
Pacific Islander 5 0.02%
Other/Mixed 1,222 4.35%
Hispanic or Latino 1,749 6.22%

As of the 2020 census, there were 28,106 people, 11,412 households, and 6,112 families residing in the city.

Cityscape

Caldwell Johnson Morris Cottage
The Caldwell-Johnson-Morris Cottage was built around 1851

Historic districts

  • Anderson College Historic District
  • Anderson Downtown Historic District
  • Anderson Historic District
  • McDuffie Street Historic District
  • South Boulevard Historic District
  • Westside Historic District
  • Whitner Street Historic District

Other historical locations

See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Anderson County, South Carolina
  • Caldwell-Johnson-Morris Cottage
  • Denver Downs Farmstead
  • Kennedy Street School
  • North Anderson Historic District
  • Dr. Samuel Marshall Orr House
  • Ralph John Ramer House

Parks

  • Anderson Memorial Stadium, ballfield/stadium on 12 acres (4.9 ha) of land on White Road, it was renovated in 2007 with stadium-style seating. It is home to the Anderson University Trojans.
  • Anderson Sports and Entertainment Center, 300-acre (120 ha) park, it includes the Anderson Civic Center, a 37,000-square-foot (3,400 m2) facility, as well as one of South Carolina's largest amphitheaters that can accommodate 15,000 people, a huge castle-like play structure with play equipment, a 64-acre (26 ha) sports center with seven baseball/softball fields, three soccer fields, a disc golf course, and eight tennis courts. The lake has a park, picnic shelters, and miles of nature trails. The center is Anderson's largest recreational area.
  • Rocky River Nature Conservancy, a nature reserve started by Anderson University to protect wetlands habitats. It has a lot of trails and a boardwalk over the wetlands. It is named after the Rocky River which runs through the conservancy.

Economy

Anderson is home to the largest Glen Raven, Inc. manufacturing center facility, which focuses on manufacturing Sunbrella fabrics. Anderson's economy revolves around manufacturing. It has over 230 manufacturers, including 22 international companies. In the county, Anderson has a thriving business climate. Its top major industries include manufacturers of automotive products, metal products, industrial machinery, plastics, publishing, and textiles. Two industries that many times interconnect are the plastic and automotive sectors. More than 27 BMW suppliers are the Upstate region, which is recognized internationally as an automotive supplier hub. The plastics industry has a strong presence in the Upstate, with 244 plastic companies located within the 10 counties of the state's northwest corner. Anderson County, in particular, has 11 automotive suppliers and is a major player in the plastic industry, with 27 plastics companies located within its borders.

Hospitals

AnMed Health is one of the top employers in the county, and the primary healthcare network for Anderson. AnMed Health Medical Center is the main medical facility, offering all the amenities of a standard hospital, as well as a heart and vascular center, and stroke/neurological center. Located 2.5 miles north of the facility is the AnMed Health Campus, which includes a women's and children's hospital, minor care, cancer center, speech and occupational therapy, and more. The AnMed Rehabilitation Hospital is located between the two facilities. AnMed has recently received national attention being awarded the "National Presidents Circle Award," and the "American College of Cardiology Foundation’s 2012 NCDR ACTION Registry–GWTG Platinum Performance Achievement Award."

In addition to these three network hospitals, AnMed also operates several smaller facilities throughout the city and county that range from a free clinic and minor care to doctor's offices.

Education

The city of Anderson is served by the Anderson County School System (specifically, Anderson School District Five). The school district has 11 elementary schools, five middle schools, and two high schools. Anderson is home to Anderson University, a private university with roughly 3,900 undergraduate and graduate students.

Elementary schools

  • Calhoun Academy of the Arts
  • Centerville Elementary
  • Concord Elementary
  • Homeland Park Primary School
  • McLees Academy of Leadership
  • Midway Elementary School of Science and Engineering
  • Nevitt Forest Community School of Innovation
  • New Prospect STEM Academy
  • North Pointe Elementary School
  • Varennes Academy of Communications and Technology
  • Whitehall Elementary, A Global Communication School

Middle schools

  • McCants Middle School
  • Southwood Academy of the Arts
  • Robert Anderson Middle School
  • Glenview Middle School
The Front Steps on the Lawn of Anderson University, South Carolina
Anderson University

High schools

  • Westside High School
  • T. L. Hanna High School
  • Anderson Five Career Campus

Private schools

  • Anderson Christian School (PK-12)
  • First Presbyterian Church Day School (PK)
  • Grace Kindergarten
  • Montessori School of Anderson (PK-12)
  • New Covenant School (PK-12)
  • Learn Upstate Hybrid Academy (PK-12)
  • Oakwood Christian School (K-12)
  • St. Joseph Catholic School (PK-8)
  • Temple Christian Academy (K-12)
  • West Anderson Christian Academy (PK/K)

Higher education

  • Anderson University
  • Tri-County Technical College

Library

Anderson has a public library, a branch of the Anderson County Library System.

Transportation

Airports

Anderson is served by Anderson Regional Airport. The airport is 3 miles (4.8 km) away from Anderson and has 2 runways; runway 5/23 is 6,000 feet (1,800 m) and runway 17/35 is 5,000 feet (1,500 m). The airport also has helipads. The airport has no control tower but can accommodate regional jet aircraft. In addition, the airport has a small terminal.

The nearest airport with commercial service is Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport, about 42 miles (68 km) away.

Roads and highways

Anderson has five signed exits on I-85, currently the city's only freeway. Several notable highways pass through the city, including US 29, US 76, US 178 (co-signed along Clemson Boulevard, also known as SC 28 Bus.), and SC 187.

In 2011, construction began on a new east–west connector that is about 3 miles (4,800 m) long between Clemson Boulevard and South Carolina Highway 81. On August 16, 2010, the connector was voted to have four lanes with turn and bike lanes, and a completion date set in October 2012.

On November, 8th, 2013, the East-West Parkway formally opened to traffic.

Public transit

Anderson has six bus routes that travel to most major areas of the city, running every hour. The city also receives service from Clemson Area Transit (CATS) via the 4U route. The city uses both newer hybrid buses and older style trolleys resembling Anderson's old streetcars. Inter-city bus travel is available through Greyhound Lines.

One of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor alternatives for a Charlotte - Greenville - Atlanta route includes a stop at Anderson. This would mark the first time that passenger rail reached Anderson, since the passing of Piedmont and Northern Railway in ca. 1947 and the Blue Ridge Railway in ca. 1951 from Anderson.

Notable people

Sister cities

Anderson has two sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anderson (Carolina del Sur) para niños

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