SUMMARY
ANDERSON COUNTY, SC is a popular destination for people seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of the large cities within a couple hours drive. With a large lake and numerous hiking and camping areas – Anderson County, South Carolina has a little bit of something for everyone.
ARTICLE
Located in the northwest corner of South Carolina, along the border with Georgia – Anderson County, SC is a growing industrial and commercial center as well as a popular tourist destination. Featuring the large man-made Lake Hartwell, this county is within a 2 hour drive of the diverse metropolitan cities of Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Named for a Revolutionary War leader – Robert Anderson – Anderson County has a rich history beginning with the Cherokees who lived in the area until 1777 when they ceded the area via treaty to the state of South Carolina. The county is anchored by its largest city of Anderson which has an urbanized area population of approximately 70,000. The county as a whole boasts a total population of just under 200,000 residents.
Lake Hartwell (named for another Revolutionary War figure, Nancy Hart) is one of the more popular areas of Anderson County, SC. With 962 miles of shoreline, Lake Hartwell is a popular destination for tourists and residents of neighboring areas. The lake is known for its fantastic water sports activities including boating and water skiing, as well as for its popular bass fishing. In 2008, Lake Hartwell hosted the Bassmasters’ Classic competition. It’s not uncommon for a fisherman to pull out 50 pound Striped Bass from Lake Hartwell.
A popular destination for campers and hikers – Anderson County boasts miles of hiking trails in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Dozens of scenic waterfalls are popular destinations – some easily accessible and some requiring a good hike. Other popular recreation activities include whitewater rafting and canoeing, rock climbing, mountain biking, and even horseback riding.
Not too far from the shores of Lake Hartwell is the city of Anderson. A growing economic center, Anderson has hundreds of manufacturing plants employing its residents along with a number of international companies. Anderson is nicknamed “The Electric City” because it was the first city in the United States to have a continuous supply of electric power generated by the numerous mills that originally populated the rivers of the area. While Lake Hartwell attracts a lot of tourist dollars – Anderson is the main manufacturing and economic hub of Anderson County, SC.
With popular outdoor recreational areas and a growing economic base – Anderson County, SC is continually growing. On the northern border of the county and actively contributing to that growth rate is Clemson, South Carolina – home to Clemson University. Clemson University enrolls over 17,000 students from 89 countries yearly. It’s also contributing to the economic growth of the area through a number of research parks and centers in Anderson County and the surrounding areas. Popular with the student population and the locals – the Clemson Tigers’ athletic teams compete in the highly competitive Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA’s Division I.
Known mainly for its popular natural recreation areas like Lake Hartwell and the surrounding mountains – Anderson County, SC is also an area experiencing significant growth because of renewed interests from national and international companies. Whether visiting or living in the area, the convenience of the close cities and the popular recreation areas make this county an important piece of the Upstate region’s future.
Update: January, 2010