Pickens County, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pickens County
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Pickens County Courthouse
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| Motto(s):
"Adventure Starts Here"
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Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
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 South Carolina's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  South Carolina |
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| Founded | 1826 | ||
| Named for | Andrew Pickens | ||
| Seat | Pickens | ||
| Largest community | Easley | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 512.75 sq mi (1,328.0 km2) | ||
| • Land | 496.94 sq mi (1,287.1 km2) | ||
| • Water | 15.81 sq mi (40.9 km2) 3.67% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 131,404 | ||
| • Estimate
(2023)
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135,495 | ||
| • Density | 264.43/sq mi (102.10/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 3rd | ||
Pickens County is a county in the northwest part of South Carolina. In 2020, about 131,404 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Pickens. The county was created in 1826. It is part of a larger area called the Greenville-Anderson-Greer Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History of Pickens County
Pickens County was once the land of the Cherokee people. After the American Revolution, the Cherokee had to give up their lands. This area became part of a new judicial district in South Carolina.
In 1791, a larger area called Washington District was formed. This included what is now Greenville, Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee counties. A town called Pickensville was planned as the county seat.
Later, in 1798, Washington District was split. The area that would become Pickens County was part of Pendleton District. As more people moved in, it became hard to travel to the courthouse in Pendleton.
So, in 1826, the legislature decided to divide Pendleton District. In 1828, the upper part became Pickens District. It was named after Brigadier General Andrew Pickens, a hero of the American Revolution. A new courthouse was built, and a town called Pickens Court House grew around it. John C. Calhoun, a famous politician, lived in this area at a place called Fort Hill. This place later became Clemson University.
By 1860, Pickens District had over 19,000 people. About 22% of them were enslaved African Americans. The area was mostly farms, growing a lot of cotton. There were also small businesses like sawmills. The Blue Ridge Railroad arrived in 1860. During the Civil War, there wasn't much fighting here. However, groups of people often stole supplies from the district.
After the Civil War
After the war, the area was very poor. In 1868, the name "district" was changed to "county" across the state. Also, Oconee County was created from a part of Pickens District. This made Pickens County smaller.
A new courthouse for Pickens County was built in its current spot. Many people from the old town of Pickens moved to this new location. The population of Pickens County dropped after Oconee County was formed. It didn't reach 19,000 people again until 1900.
The county grew faster when the Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railway was built in the 1870s. Towns like Easley, Liberty, and Central grew up along the railroad. Later, Clemson, Six Mile, and Norris also became towns.
A big reason for Pickens County's growth was the textile industry. This industry makes cloth from cotton. The first modern cotton mill in the county opened in Cateechee in 1895. By 1900, the county had three cotton mills, two railroads, and many other businesses.
Even by 1940, Pickens County was still mostly rural and agricultural. Most people grew cotton or worked in cotton mills. Around 1930, paved roads were built, connecting towns like Easley, Liberty, and Central.
The county has changed a lot since World War II. By 1972, there were 99 factories, making many different products, not just textiles. Today, many people are drawn to Pickens County. They like its climate, job opportunities, and beautiful scenery.
Geography and Nature
Pickens County covers about 512 square miles. Most of this is land, with some water. The highest natural point in South Carolina, Sassafras Mountain, is in Pickens County. It is about 3,560 feet tall. Table Rock State Park is also here.
The county has parts of the Savannah River basin, the Saluda River basin, and the French Broad River basin.
Parks and Natural Areas
- Cateechee Point County Park
- Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area
- Glassy Mountain Heritage Preserve
- Hagood Mill Historic Site
- Jocassee Gorges Wilderness Area
- Keowee-Toxaway State Park
- Laurel Fork Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area
- Long Shoals Roadside Park
- Meadow Falls
- Nine Times Forest
- Nine Times Preserve
- Pinnacle Mountain
- Table Rock State Park
- Twelve Mile Recreation Area
Major Lakes and Rivers
- Lake Hartwell
- Lake Jocassee
- Lake Keowee
- Keowee River
- South Saluda River
- Table Rock Reservoir
Neighboring Counties
- Transylvania County, North Carolina – to the north
- Greenville County – to the east
- Anderson County – to the south
- Oconee County – to the west
Main Roads
US 76
US 123
US 123 Conn.
US 178
SC 8
SC 8 Conn.
SC 11
SC 28
SC 28 Bus.
SC 88
SC 93
SC 124
SC 133
SC 135
SC 137
SC 153
SC 183
SC 186
SC 288
Important Places
- Clemson Station (train station)
- Greenville-Pickens Speedway (race track)
- Pickens County Airport
People and Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 14,473 | — | |
| 1840 | 14,356 | −0.8% | |
| 1850 | 16,904 | 17.7% | |
| 1860 | 19,639 | 16.2% | |
| 1870 | 10,269 | −47.7% | |
| 1880 | 14,389 | 40.1% | |
| 1890 | 16,389 | 13.9% | |
| 1900 | 19,375 | 18.2% | |
| 1910 | 25,422 | 31.2% | |
| 1920 | 28,329 | 11.4% | |
| 1930 | 33,709 | 19.0% | |
| 1940 | 37,111 | 10.1% | |
| 1950 | 40,058 | 7.9% | |
| 1960 | 46,030 | 14.9% | |
| 1970 | 58,956 | 28.1% | |
| 1980 | 79,292 | 34.5% | |
| 1990 | 93,894 | 18.4% | |
| 2000 | 110,757 | 18.0% | |
| 2010 | 119,224 | 7.6% | |
| 2020 | 131,404 | 10.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 135,495 | 13.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
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2020 Census Information
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 107,247 | 81.62% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 8,421 | 6.41% |
| Native American | 304 | 0.23% |
| Asian | 2,723 | 2.07% |
| Pacific Islander | 37 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 6,100 | 4.64% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 6,572 | 5.0% |
In 2020, there were 131,404 people living in Pickens County. There were 48,203 households and 31,630 families.
2010 Census Information
In 2010, there were 119,224 people in the county. The population density was about 240 people per square mile. Most people (88.7%) were white. About 6.6% were Black or African American, and 1.6% were Asian. About 3.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in the county was 34.9 years old.
Economy and Jobs
In 2022, the total value of goods and services produced in Pickens County was about $5 billion.
Some of the largest employers in the county include:
- Aramark
- The city of Clemson
- Clemson University
- Danfoss
- Ingles
- Lowe's
- Merck & Co.
- Prisma Health
- Publix
- St. Jude Medical
- Walmart
Education in Pickens County
School Districts
The only school district in the county is the Pickens County School District.
Schools
- Ambler Elementary – Pickens
- Central Elementary – Central
- Chastain Road Elementary – Liberty
- Clemson Elementary – Clemson
- Crosswell Elementary – Easley
- Dacusville Elementary – Dacusville
- East End Elementary – Easley
- Forest Acres Elementary – Easley
- Hagood Elementary – Pickens
- Liberty Elementary – Liberty
- McKissick Elementary – Easley
- Pickens Elementary – Pickens
- Six Mile Elementary – Six Mile
- West End Elementary – Easley
- Dacusville Middle – Dacusville
- Liberty Middle – Liberty
- Pickens Middle – Pickens
- R.C. Edwards Middle – Central
- R.H. Gettys Middle – Easley
- D.W. Daniel High – Central
- Easley High School – Easley
- Liberty High – Liberty
- Pickens High School – Pickens
Colleges and Universities
- Clemson University
- Southern Wesleyan University
Public Library
The Pickens County Library System serves the county. Its main library is in Easley, and there are four other branch libraries.
Communities in Pickens County
Cities
- Clemson (partly in Anderson County)
- Easley (the largest community; partly in Anderson County)
- Liberty
- Pickens (the county seat)
Towns
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated.
- Arial
- Cateechee
- Clemson University
- Dacusville
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially part of a city or town.
- Nine Times
- Pumpkintown
- Rocky Bottom
- Sunset
Famous People from Pickens County
- Bobby Baker – a former political aide.
- Charles H. Barker – received a Medal of Honor for his bravery in the Korean War.
- Benjy Bronk – a writer and on-air personality for the Howard Stern Show.
- John C. Calhoun – an important politician in the early 1800s.
- DeAndre Hopkins – a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL.
- Shoeless Joe Jackson – a famous baseball player, born in 1888.
- Stanley Morgan – a former NFL wide receiver for the New England Patriots, born in Easley in 1955. He is in the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.
- Ray Robinson Williams – a blind lawyer and state senator.
- Sam Wyche – a former NFL football player and coach.
Images for kids
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Pickens County Courthouse
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Pickens (Carolina del Sur) para niños
