Anderson County
Population: 203,718

According to the date from the U.S. Census Bureau, Anderson County spans 713.7 square miles and is the 15th largest county in South Carolina

City of Anderson
Population: 27,289

• The City of Anderson is located in the northwest corner of the state of South Carolina on the Piedmont Plateau. Anderson is a major contributor to the success of the upstate. Anderson offers all of the basics upon which to build a thriving economy, including affordable land, a good transportation system, infrastructure, and a large number of recreational amenities. In June 2000, Anderson County was one of only ten communities to be designated an All-America City by the National Civic League. The Anderson community offers the feel of small-town living with the attractions and business opportunities of larger cities only a short drive away.

Pendleton
Population: 3,217

• The Town of Pendleton was founded in 1790 for a courthouse seat. It is named for Judge Henry Pendleton, a Virginian who fought in the Revolution and remain in South Carolina. By 1800, South Carolina low-country plantation owners had discovered Pendleton as a summer home retreat. R.W. Simpson, writing in a later period, said many were attracted “by the salubrious climate and its rich and fertile soil”. Simpson said they built fine homes and though some were miles away, they referred to their place as being in “the Town of Pendleton”. Simpson said they brought refined customs and manners, “and the very name of Pendleton became a synonym for refined and beautiful women and for elegant high-toned and chivalrous gentleman. Pendleton is located in northern Anderson County. It was Cherokee land when colonist first began to settle here. The Cherokee sided with the British during the Revolutionary War, but ceded their land to the State of South Carolina after the war. Most of Pendleton’s white settlers were Scottish and Irish emigrants who had fought for American Independence. Today, Pendleton is a thriving community with an emphasis on historic preservation and the arts. There are many quilts in Pendleton that are on the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail.

Honea Path
Population: 3,695

• The first settlers came to the Honea Path area in the late 18^th The first named settler to purchase land in the area was David Greer. By 1810 the area had built its first school. With the arrival of the railroad in the 1850s, the town’s future was secured. At one time, several hotels were established to take care of the people who came to conduct business or to visit the area. Carnegie Library was built in the town in 1908. Honea Path has the distinction of being the smallest town in South Carolina and one of the smallest in the United States to construct a Carnegie Library. This historic building is still in use as a branch of the Anderson County Library. Neatly spanning the borders of Anderson and Abbeville Counties you will find the unique town of Honea Path that has been in existence since the 18^th Century.

Powdersville
Population: 9,632

• The name Powders comes from the production and trade of gunpowder in the area. One of the first stores in present-day Powdersville was called the Powdersville Area General Store. In 1859 a powder mill was established in present-day Powdersville by John Bowen. During the American Civil War the area was used to store gunpowder but Columbia was the primary site for the production of the state’s powder. Due to the areas use of gunpowder, the name Powders became a fixture for the location. Powdersville is now a thriving community with new subdvisions popping up yearly due to its close proximity to Greenville, Pickens, and Anderson.

Piedmont
Population: 5,795

• The town of Piedmont straddles the border between Anderson and Greenville counties. Native Americans used the area as a river crossing because its rock formations jutted into the Saluda River. After the Civil War, Henry Pinckney Hammett also found the riverside to be an ideal location for a cotton mill. As early as the 1880s he used hydro-electrical power to run the machinery in his textile mills. From the 1920s until Duke Power expanded into the region after WWII, a water plant on the river also supplied electricity to Piedmont homes. Today in Piedmont you will find a busy exchange of communities going between Anderson and Greenville on I-85. Piedmont is growing rapidly with families who enjoy living in the country but like access to the city and the interstate quickly.

Belton
Population: 4,366

• Welcome to Belton, South Carolina, home of the Palmetto Tennis Championships, SC Tennis Hall of Fame, Belton Center for the Arts and Standpipe Festival. The city is at the junction of four highway arteries with connections to I-385 in Greenville County, I-26 in Laurens County and I-85 in Anderson and Greenville. Anderson is only 15 minutes away and Downtown Greenville is 30 minutes away. Far enough away for Belton to retain its small town ambiance and friendliness, but close enough to the big cities for any cultural, educational, work or shopping experience anyone would wish. The symbol for Belton is the Standpipe. This is a 155 foot tall, concrete reinforced water tank with a capacity of 165,000 gallons which was built in 1909. It towers over the city and has the appearance of a medieval castle tower. There are only three remaining in S.C. and this is the tallest. Belton was chartered in 1855 soon after the Columbia and Greenville Railroad was built. It soon became a junction point of the C&G, the Piedmont and Northern and the Blue Ridge (Southern Railway) with 36 passenger trains serving the town. The city is still served today by two railroads: the Greenville & Western Railway and the Pickens Railway.

Williamston
Population: 4,180

• Williamston is a thriving small town full of industry and business and is close to all major cities in the area such as Greenville, SC, Anderson, SC, and Greenwood, SC. It is a great place to settle down with a family. With easy access to so many acitivites that makes Williamston the perfect spot. Known for its mineral spring water in the town park, that was once rumored to make people appear younger, Williamston has been a destination for people to stay and relax and feel right at home.

Iva and Starr
Population: 177 (Starr)
Population: 1,388 (Iva)

• These towns pride themselves on their rich history and past through agriculture and farming practices that they have maintained throughout the years. The Iva Museum & Visitors Center is a major attraction that brings visitors to the city. The museum features important Iva history. The Quilt Trail, a major attraction across the state of South Carolina, features several unique quilts throughout the city of Iva. Be sure to stop by and check them out

West Pelzer and Pelzer
Population: 969 (West Pelzer)
Population: 1,360 (Pelzer)

• Pelzer & West Pelzer are both very small and quaint towns within the Anderson County lines. They both value environmental conservation and hold their cultural roots dear to their hearts. These towns offer unique and close knit relationships amongst their residents and town preservation. They’ve put themselves on the community theater map with the new addition of the Mill Town Players in the Historic Pelzer Auditorium. Make sure to check out what’s playing while you’re visiting Anderson County! They’re always great shows and something you don’t want to miss.