Anderson County is located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 203,718. Its county seat is Anderson. Named for Revolutionary War leader Robert Anderson, the county is located in northwestern South Carolina, along the state line of Georgia. The county is included in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metropolitan statistical area. Anderson County contains 55,950-acre (22,640 ha) Lake Hartwell, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake with nearly 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of shoreline for residential and recreational use. The area is a growing industrial, commercial, and tourist center. It is the home of Anderson University, a private, selective comprehensive university with about 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
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History
Anderson County was founded in 1826 after the dissolution of the Pendleton District and was named after Robert Anderson, an American Revolutionary War general. During the Civil War, the county became a center of ammunitions production for the Confederate States Army. The county seat and largest city is Anderson; both the county and city are also located in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer metropolitan statistical area. Agriculturally, the county is ranked first in the southeast, second in the south, and 23rd in the United States according to the United States Department of Commerce. Cotton, corn, and various fruits and vegetables are grown along with a large poultry industry located the county.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 755.76 square miles (1,957.4 km2), of which 41.91 square miles (108.5 km2) (5.55%) are covered by water. Anderson County is in the Savannah River basin and the Saluda River basin.
State and local protected areas
Broyles Recreation Area
Fant's Grove Wildlife Management Area
Sadlers Creek State Park
Major water bodies
Chattooga River
Lake Hartwell
Saluda River
Savannah River
Lake Secession
Adjacent counties
Pickens County – north
Greenville County – northeast
Laurens County – east
Abbeville County – south
Elbert County, Georgia – southwest
Hart County, Georgia – west
Oconee County – northwest
Major infrastructure
Anderson Regional Airport
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, 203,718 people lived in the county across 80,372 households; 52,038 of those households were families.
The median age was 41.1 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.9 males.
As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 75.8% White, 14.9% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.3% from some other race, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.7% of the population.
58.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 41.7% lived in rural areas.
Of the 80,372 households, 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 89,123 housing units, of which 9.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.2% were owner-occupied and 26.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.2%.
2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 187,126 people, 73,829 households, and 51,922 families residing in the county. The population density was 261.6 inhabitants per square mile (101.0/km2). There were 84,774 housing units at an average density of 118.5 per square mile (45.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.1% White, 16.0% Black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 15.9% were American, 13.6% were Irish, 10.8% were English, and 10.2% were German.
Of the 73,829 households, 33.3% had children under 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.7% were not families, and 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 39.7 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,871 and for a family was $53,229. Males had a median income of $41,885 versus $30,920 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,117. About 12.4% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under 18 and 10.2% of those 65 or over.
Law and government
Anderson County has a council-administrator form of government under South Carolina law. County council members are elected from seven single-member districts for two-year terms. All seven council seats are open for election every two years.
Anderson County councilmen are:
District 1: John B. Wright Jr. (North Anderson)
District 2: Glenn A. Davis (South and East Anderson)
District 3: S. Ray Graham (Belton/Starr/Iva area)
District 4: Brett Sanders (Pendleton area)
District 5: Tommy Dunn (West Anderson)
District 6: Jimmy Davis (Powdersville area)
District 7: M. Cindy Wilson (Williamston/Honea Path area)
The Anderson county administrator is Rusty Burns.
Operations
Anderson County has 10 divisions:
Administration
Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
Central Services
Economic Development
Emergency Services
EMS and Special Operations
Environmental Services
Finance
Planning
Transportation
Politics
Since the 1980s, Anderson County has consistently voted Republican in presidential elections, with the party winning the county in every election since 1984.
Economy
Early industry in the county was textile mills, processing southern cotton. In the 21st century, industry has diversified with more than 230 manufacturers, including 22 international companies. The top major industries in Anderson include manufacturers of automotive products, metal products, industrial machinery, plastics, publishing, and textiles. More than 27 BMW suppliers are in the upstate, which is recognized internationally as an automotive supplier hub. The plastic industry has a strong presence in the upstate, with 244 plastic companies located within the 10 counties of the northwest corner of the state. Anderson County has 11 automotive suppliers and is a major player in the plastic industry, with 27 plastic companies located within its borders.
As of April 2024, some of the top employers in the county include AnMed Health Medical Center, Anderson University, Bosch, the City of Anderson, Glen Raven, Inc., Ingles, Michelin, Walmart, and Walgreens. Between 2021 and 2024, the unemployment rate has fluctuated around 3%. In 2022, its GDP was $9.1 billion (approx. $44,670 per capita). In chained 2017 dollars, its real GDP was $7.6 billion (approx. $37,306 per capita).
Communities
Cities
Anderson (county seat and largest community)
Belton
Clemson (mostly in Pickens County)
Easley (mostly in Pickens County)
Towns
Honea Path (partly in Abbeville County)
Iva
Pelzer
Pendleton
Starr
West Pelzer
Williamston
Census-designated places
Centerville
Fair Play (mostly in Oconee County)
Homeland Park
La France
Northlake
Piedmont (partly in Greenville County)
Powdersville
Sandy Springs
Unincorporated communities
Cheddar
Craytonville
Piercetown
Townville (partly in Oconee County)
Education
There are five school districts in Anderson County.