Cherokee County, South Carolina facts for kids

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Cherokee County

U.S. county

Limestone College at Limestone Springs Historic District in Gaffney

Flag

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina

South Carolina's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

South Carolina

Founded

1897

Largest community

Gaffney

Area

• Total

397.47 sq mi (1,029.4 km²)

• Land

392.96 sq mi (1,017.8 km²)

• Water

4.51 sq mi (11.7 km²) 1.13%

Population

(2020)

• Total

56,216

• Estimate

(2023)

56,714

• Density

143.06/sq mi (55.24/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional district

5th

Cherokee County is a place in South Carolina, USA. In 2020, about 56,216 people lived there. Its main town is Gaffney. The county was created in 1897 from parts of other counties: York, Union, and Spartanburg. It's named after the Cherokee people, who lived here long before Europeans arrived.

Cherokee County is part of a larger area that includes Gaffney. This area is connected to the bigger Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson region.

History of Cherokee County

For thousands of years, indigenous peoples lived in this area. The historic Cherokee people were here before Europeans came.

When European traders and settlers arrived, they used old Native American paths. These paths were called the Trading Path. The Upper Road and Lower Cherokee Traders Path went through the Piedmont region. These paths helped connect different areas.

The Lower Cherokee Traders Path linked places in what is now western North Carolina, upstate South Carolina, and northeastern Georgia. In the mid-1700s, many British people moved along these paths. About 250,000 people traveled into Cherokee and nearby counties. This backcountry area was first settled by Ulster Scots people, Germans, and Anglo-Americans.

By the mid-1800s, large farms called plantations grew in the county. These farms relied on the labor of enslaved African Americans. Their work was the main support for the county's economy. This continued until the end of the American Civil War.

During the American Revolutionary War, an important battle happened here. The Battle of Cowpens was fought on January 17, 1781. It took place in northwestern Cherokee County, near the town of Cowpens, South Carolina. This battle was a big victory for the American Patriots.

Geography and Nature

Cherokee County covers about 397.47 square miles. Most of this is land (392.96 square miles). About 4.51 square miles (1.13%) is water. It is one of the smallest counties in South Carolina.

Mountains and Hills

Locals often call Draytonville Mountain "McKown's Mountain." It's named after a farmer who owned a lot of land there.

Rivers and Creeks

Broad River
McKowns Creek
Pacolet River

Protected Natural Areas

Cowpens National Battlefield
Kings Mountain National Military Park (part of it)
London Creek Wildlife Management Area

Other Interesting Places

Magness-Humphries House
Peachoid

Neighboring Counties

Cleveland County, North Carolina – to the north
York County – to the east
Union County – to the south
Spartanburg County – to the west
Rutherford County, North Carolina – to the northwest

People and Population

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	21,359	—
1910	26,179	22.6%
1920	27,570	5.3%
1930	32,201	16.8%
1940	33,290	3.4%
1950	34,992	5.1%
1960	35,205	0.6%
1970	36,791	4.5%
1980	40,983	11.4%
1990	44,506	8.6%
2000	52,537	18.0%
2010	55,342	5.3%
2020	56,216	1.6%
2023 (est.)	56,714	2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

In 2020, there were 56,216 people living in Cherokee County. There were 20,699 households and 11,592 families.

Population Makeup (2020)

Cherokee County racial composition
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (not Hispanic)	39,576	70.4%
Black or African American (not Hispanic)	11,292	20.09%
Native American	161	0.29%
Asian	341	0.61%
Pacific Islander	14	0.02%
Other/Mixed	2,055	3.66%
Hispanic or Latino	2,777	4.94%

In 2010, the county had 55,342 people. About 75% were white, and 20.4% were Black or African American. About 3.7% of the people were of Hispanic or Latino origin. The average age was 38.3 years old.

Economy and Fun Things to Do

Cherokee County is special because it has three national parks. These are the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, Kings Mountain National Military Park, and Cowpens National Battlefield. You can also find many historic homes here. Some of these homes are open for tours at certain times of the year.

For people who like theater, there's the Gaffney Little Theatre. Limestone College also offers plays and musicals.

If you enjoy racing, visit the Cherokee Speedway outside Gaffney. It's a dirt track where stock car races have been held since the 1950s. Famous drivers like Bobby Isaac and Curtis Turner have raced there.

For shopping, there's Prime Outlets-Gaffney. It has over 80 stores and gets almost 3 million visitors each year. Floyd Baker Boulevard in Gaffney is another big shopping area with many stores and restaurants. Uptown Gaffney has smaller, unique shops and cafes.

The Cherokee County History and Arts Museum is a new attraction. It's located in the old Central School building. Here, you can learn about the county's history and its role in the arts and culture of the Southeast.

In 2022, the county's economy (GDP) was about $2.1 billion. Some of the largest employers in the county include Dollar Tree, Limestone University, Nestlé, Timken Company, and Walmart.

Nuclear Power Plant Project

In 2006, Duke Power chose a site in Cherokee County for a new nuclear power plant. It was planned to be called the William States Lee III Nuclear Generating Station. This site is next to an older, unfinished nuclear plant. That old site was even used as a movie set for the 1989 film The Abyss.

Duke Power planned to build two large reactors. Each could make about 1,117 megawatts of power. However, the project faced delays and rising costs. In 2017, Duke Energy announced that construction plans were put on hold. They can still decide to restart construction in the future.

Getting Around (Transportation)

I-85 is a very important highway in Cherokee County. It runs through Gaffney. This highway helps with traffic and trade, leading to many businesses along Floyd Baker Boulevard. A lot of the county's growth happens near I-85.

Cherokee County does not have its own airport. People usually use Charlotte Douglas International Airport or Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. There have been studies about building an airport in the county. If an airport is built, the government might help pay for most of it.

Main Highways

I-85
US 29
US 221
US 221 Alt.
SC 5
SC 11
SC 18
SC 18 Conn.
SC 97
SC 105
SC 105 Conn. (near Draytonville)
SC 105 Conn. (Saratt)
SC 110
SC 150
SC 198
SC 211
SC 329

Healthcare Services

Gaffney has several places for healthcare:

Cherokee Medical Center

Cherokee Medical Center is a hospital in Gaffney. It has 125 beds and serves Cherokee County. It offers emergency care, medical services, surgery, and imaging. It became part of Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System in 2019.

Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute at Gaffney

This center provides cancer care. It opened in Gaffney in 2011. Its goal is to offer cancer services to the community.

Immediate Care Center – Gaffney

This center offers both urgent care and primary care. It's located on Floyd Baker Boulevard.

Medical Group of the Carolinas

This is a group of many medical offices. Several of these offices are in Cherokee County. They include doctors for families, heart doctors, bone doctors, and women's health.