Easley, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Easley
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Top, left to right: Downtown Easley, Norfolk Southern Railway, Easley Mill, Easley water tower, Easley City Hall
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| Motto(s):
"Time Well Spent"
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 Easley, South Carolina
Location in South Carolina
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  South Carolina |
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| Counties | Pickens, partially Anderson | |
| Established | 1874 | |
| Incorporated | 1901 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 13.07 sq mi (33.86 km2) | |
| • Land | 13.05 sq mi (33.80 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,063 ft (324 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 22,921 | |
| • Density | 1,756.26/sq mi (678.11/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP codes |
29640-29642
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| Area codes | 864, 821 | |
| FIPS code | 45-21985 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1247594 | |
Easley is a city in Pickens County, in the U.S. state of South Carolina. A small part of the city also reaches into Anderson County.
Easley is known for hosting exciting baseball tournaments. From 2001 to 2016, it was home to the Big League World Series. Since 2017, the Senior League World Series has been held here every year. You can also visit the Upper South Carolina State Fair in Easley, which happens each September.
Contents
History of Easley
The area where Easley is now was once part of a larger territory called Washington District, created in 1791. This district was later divided into smaller counties. In 1828, Pickens County was formed, named after a famous person named Andrew Pickens.
One of the town's founders was Col. Robert Elliott Holcombe. He was a farmer and owned a timber mill. In 1845, he opened the first store in the area. The city of Easley is named after William King Easley, who was born in Pickens County in 1825. He was a lawyer and played a role in bringing the Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railway through the area.
After the American Civil War, William King Easley convinced the railroad company to build tracks through what would become Easley. Col. Holcombe built the first house and train station in the town. He also became Easley's first mayor and the first agent for the train station.
The town of Easley was officially created in 1873. People thought about naming it Holcombe or Holcombetown, but Col. Holcombe suggested Easley instead. The post office changed its name to Easley Post Office in 1875. The railroad helped Easley grow into a busy town, especially with textile (fabric) companies. The construction of U.S. Route 123 also brought new stores and businesses to the city.
In 2023, Lisa Talbert made history by becoming Easley's first female mayor.
Where is Easley?
Easley is located in the southeastern part of Pickens County. It is about 12 miles west of the city of Greenville.
The city covers a total area of about 13.07 square miles (33.86 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small part being water.
People in Easley
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 327 | — | |
| 1890 | 421 | 28.7% | |
| 1900 | 903 | 114.5% | |
| 1910 | 2,983 | 230.3% | |
| 1920 | 3,568 | 19.6% | |
| 1930 | 4,886 | 36.9% | |
| 1940 | 5,183 | 6.1% | |
| 1950 | 6,316 | 21.9% | |
| 1960 | 8,283 | 31.1% | |
| 1970 | 11,175 | 34.9% | |
| 1980 | 14,264 | 27.6% | |
| 1990 | 15,195 | 6.5% | |
| 2000 | 17,754 | 16.8% | |
| 2010 | 19,993 | 12.6% | |
| 2020 | 22,957 | 14.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 26,386 | 32.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Easley's Population in 2020
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 17,340 | 75.65% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,680 | 11.69% |
| Native American | 32 | 0.14% |
| Asian | 268 | 1.17% |
| Pacific Islander | 5 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,041 | 4.54% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,555 | 6.78% |
In 2020, there were 22,921 people living in Easley. This included 8,738 households (groups of people living together) and 5,571 families.
Military Presence
National Guard
Easley is home to Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 263rd Army Air Missile Defense Command. This unit is part of the National Guard, which helps protect the country and respond to emergencies.
Recruiting Offices
- U.S. Army Recruiting Substation
- U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Substation
JROTC Program
- Easley High School has a Navy JROTC Battalion. JROTC stands for Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps. It's a program that teaches high school students about leadership, citizenship, and service. The Easley High School unit has been recognized as a "Distinguished Unit" for 20 years in a row!
Education in Easley
Public schools in Easley are part of the School District of Pickens County. Seven schools in the district serve the children of Easley:
- Easley High School (Grades 9–12)
- R.H. Gettys Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- West End Elementary School (Grades K4-5)
- Forest Acres Elementary School (Grades K4-5)
- East End Elementary School (Grades K4-5)
- Crosswell Elementary School (Grades K4-5)
- McKissick Elementary School (Grades K4-5)
Many preschools in Easley are private and run by churches. There are also private schools, like Easley Christian School.
For higher education, Tri-County Technical College has a campus in Easley. Other colleges nearby include Clemson University in Clemson, Southern Wesleyan University in Central, and Greenville Technical College and Furman University in Greenville.
Easley also has a public library, which is part of the Pickens County Library System.
Famous People from Easley
Many interesting people have come from Easley:
- Kyle Benjamin – A NASCAR race car driver.
- Shannon Forrest – A talented musician who plays drums for the rock band Toto.
- E. Allison Hagood – A psychology professor and author.
- Kayla Watson – A producer for the popular YouTube show, Good Mythical Morning.
- Kimberly Hampton – A U.S. Army captain and the first female military pilot to be killed in action.
- Wes Knight – A professional soccer player who played for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
- Stanley Morgan – A former National Football League player for the New England Patriots.
- Rob Stanifer – A former Major League Baseball player.
- Jasmine Twitty – An associate judge for the Easley Municipal court, known for being the youngest appointed judge in America.
See also
In Spanish: Easley (Carolina del Sur) para niños
