There are seven incorporated cities and towns in Pickens County, ranging from Easley, the largest with a population of 17,702, to Six Mile, the smallest with a population of 618. Each of the towns retains its own character and identity, but all work together for the overall betterment of the residents of the county.

Easley, established in the late 1800s as one of many waystations along the ever-growing railroad lines, quickly established itself as a textile center and, to this day, remains home to a bustling textile industry. But in the past 20 years, the industrial growth has resulted in a population explosion as several major industries, including Danfoss Fluid Power Controls and Ahlstrom Pumps, have located to the area.

Ideally situated almost exactly halfway between Charlotte and Atlanta, the Easley area continues to be a magnet for industrial investment and growth, while that growth has turned the formerly sleepy textile town into a bustling urban area.

Clemson, with a population of 11,096, is the second-largest of the municipalities in the county, was originally the small town of Calhoun, named for former U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun, and originally founded as another of those stops along the Southern Railroad route. However, its growth and history have been inextricably linked to that of Clemson University, a land-grant institution established in 1888 under a land-grant from Thomas Green Clemson, Calhoun’s son-in-law.

Since 1960, the city’s population has risen from 1,587 to its current level, owing partly to an aggressive annexation program and partly to the growth of the university.

The international reputation of Clemson University, both for its academics and its athletics, has allowed the City of Clemson to develop a thriving tourism and accommodations industry, and a downtown revitalization program over the past decade has allowed it to retain its character as a college town without sacrificing progress.

The world-renowned Clemson Botanical Gardens represents a must-see stop for visitors, while numerous other attractions, such as the John C. Calhoun Mansion on the University Campus and the historic Hanover House (circa 1716) also beckon sightseers. Clemson also boasts a convention center - the Madran Center - that attracts thousands of visitors annually.

Pickens (population 3,297) is the County Seat and is located very near the geographical center of the county. Originally established 14 miles to the west in the early 1800s, Old Pickens was relocated in 1868 when Pickens and Oconee Counties were formed.

A walking tour of the city features homes and business structures dating back to the late 1800s.

The Pickens County Museum, housed in an old jail dating back to 1902, has been restored after a 1994 fire and regularly presents art and other cultural exhibits. Hagood Mill, a gristmill originally built in 1845 and restored in the early 1990s, is three miles north of town and features demonstration grindings and an annual Heritage Day Festival. And the Hagood- Mauldin House, portions of which were part of the original structure moved from Old Pickens in 1868, features a fine art collection, along with antiques and other exhibits.

The Museum, Hagood Mill, and the Hagood-Mauldin House are all on the National Register of Historic Places.

Liberty (population 3,517) and Central (population 2,295) both grew up along the Southern Railroad line in the late 1800s and were early textile communities. The two cities will be among the beneficiaries of two new one million gallon-per-day wastewater treatment plants recently built along the Eighteen Mile Creek and Highway 123/93 corridor, expected to be the primary area of industrial growth in the county over the next 20 years.

Among the attractions in Liberty are Carmel Church, which was established in 1787 and one of the oldest churches in the upstate, and the Old Schoolhouse Museum, a privately owned collection of antiques including rare antique cars, furniture, and other items. In Central, the Central History Museum houses the Central Heritage Society, and the Society also operates the Central Jail Museum, built in the 1920s of granite blocks.

Norris (population 1,147) and the neighboring unincorporated village of Cateechee were early textile communities, while Six Mile (population 618) was an early farming community.

The Rural Areas
Outside the cities, the communities of Holly Springs, Dacusville, Pumpkintown and Crosswell retain much of the character of the farming/rural communities they were in the pre-World War II economy while at the same time providing opportunities for newcomers to settle comfortably into the tranquil country life.

In the northern part of the county, the recent purchase by the State of South Carolina of thousands of acres of pristine wilderness area that makes up the Jocassee Gorges guarantees that future generations will have access to unspoiled areas of the county. Table Rock State Park also provides a taste of that unspoiled grandeur with some of the most spectacular views in the world and with access to hiking trails to challenge everyone from beginning hikers to those who like their activities more strenuous.

Lakes Jocassee, Keowee and Hartwell provide a wealth of opportunity for the watersports enthusiast, and the ready availability of lakefront developments allows those who wish to do so to call the waterfront home.

Scenic Highway 11 cuts through the northern part of the county, providing scenic vistas and a wealth of entertaining sidetrips for daytrippers, including a newly opened Welcome Center operated by the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism on Lake Oolenoy, on the southern boundary of Table Rock State Park.

With such a diverse population and such numerous opportunities, Pickens County continues to beckon newcomers.

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