Anderson County is located in the northwest corner of South Carolina, bordered by Abbeville and Greenwood counties to the west, Laurens County to the east, Pickens County to the south, and Oconee County to the north. The county covers an area of 717 square miles and has a population of approximately 200,000 people. Anderson is home to several cities and towns including Anderson (county seat), Belton, Williamston, Honea Path, Iva, Pendleton, Townville and Starr.
The county was established in 1801 from parts of Abbeville County and Pendleton District. It was named for Revolutionary War leader Robert Anderson who was a major general in the Continental Army. Anderson County has a rich history which includes Native American settlements as well as Civil War sites such as Fort Hill Plantation.
According to gradinmath, the county seat is located in Anderson city which is home to more than 30,000 residents. The city was founded in 1826 by Joseph Calhoun who named it after Revolutionary War leader General Robert Anderson. It quickly became an important trading center due to its location on the Savannah River at the head of navigation for boats traveling upriver from Charleston. Today, it serves as a hub for business and industry with many major corporations having their headquarters or regional offices located there including AnMed Health System, Michelin North America Inc., First Quality Enterprises Inc., WNCP LLC and others.
Anderson is known for its vibrant culture which includes numerous art galleries featuring local artists work as well as live music venues such as Electric City Playhouse & Music Hall which hosts local bands on weekends throughout the year. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound with Lake Hartwell providing fishing and boating activities while nearby parks such as Sadlers Creek State Park offer camping facilities along with hiking trails that take you through wooded areas filled with wildlife such as deer and wild turkey.
Anderson County offers something for everyone from rich history to outdoor recreation opportunities that will keep you busy all year round.
School districts in Anderson County, South Carolina
Anderson County is served by three school districts: Anderson County School District 1, Anderson County School District 2, and Anderson County School District 3. Each district has its own board of education that governs the schools in their district.
Anderson County School District 1 serves the city of Anderson itself as well as the towns of Belton, Williamston, Honea Path, Iva, Pendleton, Townville and Starr. It is comprised of 13 elementary schools, five middle schools and four high schools. The district also offers a variety of special programs such as advanced placement courses, dual enrollment classes for high school credit and a virtual learning program for students looking to complete their coursework online.
Anderson County School District 2 covers the northern part of the county including Centerville, Sandy Springs and La France. It comprises nine elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools. The district also offers a variety of special programs such as gifted education classes for students who are identified as gifted or talented based on their performance on standardized tests or other assessments.
Anderson County School District 3 encompasses the western portion of the county including West Pelzer and Piedmont with five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school located within its boundaries. This district also offers a variety of special programs including an alternative learning center for students who need additional support services to help them succeed academically and career-technical courses designed to prepare students for college or future careers in fields such as automotive technology or health sciences.
In addition to these traditional public school systems, Anderson County is also home to several private educational institutions including several Christian academies as well as South Carolina’s only all-girls boarding school – Oakbrook Preparatory Academy which is located in Williamston.
The educational opportunities available in Anderson County provide children with access to quality educational programs that will prepare them for success in college or careers after graduation. With its rich history and outdoor recreation opportunities it makes an ideal place to live.
Major schools in Anderson County, South Carolina
Anderson County, South Carolina is home to several public and private educational institutions. The Anderson County School District 1 includes the communities of Belton, Williamston, Honea Path, Iva, Pendleton, Townville and Starr. This district is comprised of 13 elementary schools, five middle schools and four high schools that offer a variety of special programs such as advanced placement courses, dual enrollment classes for high school credit and a virtual learning program for students looking to complete their coursework online.
Anderson County School District 2 covers the northern part of the county including Centerville, Sandy Springs and La France. This district is comprised of nine elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools that offer special programs such as gifted education classes for students who are identified as gifted or talented based on their performance on standardized tests or other assessments.
Anderson County School District 3 encompasses the western portion of the county including West Pelzer and Piedmont with five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school located within its boundaries. This district offers a variety of special programs including an alternative learning center for students who need additional support services to help them succeed academically and career-technical courses designed to prepare students for college or future careers in fields such as automotive technology or health sciences.
In addition to these traditional public school systems, Anderson County is also home to several private educational institutions including several Christian academies as well as South Carolina’s only all-girls boarding school – Oakbrook Preparatory Academy which is located in Williamston. Other private institutions include The King’s Academy in Belton; Anderson Christian School in Anderson; Calvary Baptist Day School in Pendleton; Faith Christian Academy in Iva; Cornerstone Christian Academy in Starr; Piedmont Academy in Piedmont; New Prospect Elementary & Middle School in Sandy Springs; Starr-Iva Middle/High School; Wren Christian Academy in Williamston; Emmanuel Christian School in Belton; Crescent High School/Academy/Elementary/Middle Schools in Anderson; Abbeville Christian Academy and Mt Calvary Baptist Church Child Development Center also located in Abbeville.
The educational opportunities available through these major educational institutions provide children with access to quality educational programs that will prepare them for success both inside and outside the classroom after graduation. With its rich history and outdoor recreation opportunities it makes an ideal place to live.
Notable people of Anderson County, South Carolina
According to businesscarriers, Anderson County, South Carolina is home to many notable people who have made contributions to the world in various fields. Among them are musicians, athletes, politicians, and entrepreneurs.
Musically, Anderson County has been home to a number of influential artists. Rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley lived in the town of Williamston until his death in 2008. Country music singer Kenny Chesney was born in Latta and grew up in nearby Ehrhardt. The late folk singer John Prine also lived in Anderson County for a time before he moved to Nashville to pursue his career.
Athletically, Anderson County has produced some of the finest athletes in history. Basketball Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins was born in Paris but grew up just outside of Anderson. NFL greats Steve Fuller and Jeff Blake both grew up in the county as well. Olympic gold medalist swimmer Cullen Jones was born and raised here before making waves on the international stage.
Politically, Anderson has been represented by some notable figures over the years as well. Former Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley is from here and served as Governor from 2011-2017 before being appointed US Ambassador to the United Nations by President Trump in 2017. Former Congressman Bob Inglis is also from Anderson County and served as a Congressman from 1993-1999 before being reelected again from 2005-2011.
Entrepreneurship is alive and well here too with business leaders like Bill Warner who founded Avada Hearing Care Centers which now operates more than 400 hearing centers across North America; Matt White who founded Blue Acorn iCi which provides e-commerce solutions for major companies; former CEO of Duke Energy Jim Rogers; and more recently serial entrepreneur Robert Johnson who founded RJR Enterprises which specializes in real estate investments among other things.
All these individuals have made an impact on their respective fields and have helped shape not only Anderson County but also our nation’s history as a whole with their accomplishments over the years.