Anderson, South Carolina

Anderson is a city located in Anderson County, South Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 25,514. It is the county seat of Anderson CountyTemplate:GR. Anderson is the smallest of the three primary cities that makes up the Upstate region. Anderson is nicknamed "The Electric City" and "The Friendliest City in South Carolina".

Contents

1 History 2 Geography 3 Economy 4 Education 4.1 Higher Education 5 Attractions/Events 6 Demographics 7 External links

History

Anderson was named for a Revolutionary War hero, General Robert Anderson. General Anderson and Andrew Pickens surveyed the land in the area. The Cherokees lived in the area until 1777. The land was then ceded to South Carolina by the Cherokee in a treaty negotiated by Andrew Pickens. This area was then called the Pendleton District for official purposes. In 1826, the Pendleton District was divided into two districts - Anderson and Pickens. Because the town of Pendelton was at the top of the county, too close to the Pickens border, a new courthouse was built at the center of the county. A small town, named Anderson Courthouse built around the courthouse and this community eventually became known as Anderson. The original courthouse was built of logs, but 10 years later a courthouse made of bricks was erected to replace it. A still standing Anderson County Courthouse built in 1898 now faces the current courthouse and is built on the site of the original.

The settlers of this area were mostly Scotch-Irish who came here from Virginia and Pennsylvania to farm. Farmers grew corn and raised hogs. Much later, cotton became the cash crop of the area. By the late 1800s the Anderson area was filled with numerous textile mills. Due to the innovation of Anderson engineer William Whitner, electricity could be conducted by wire to mills throughout the county. The first cotton gin in the world to be operated by electricity was in Anderson County in 1897. Anderson became known as "The Electric City," a nickname that it still holds today.

Geography

Anderson is located at 34°30'52" North, 82°38'56" West (34.514506, -82.648944)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.9 km² (13.9 mi²). 35.8 km² (13.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.07% is water.

Economy

Anderson's economy revolves around manufacturing. Anderson over 230 manufacturers, including 22 international companies, in the county, Anderson has a thriving business climate. The top major industries in Anderson include manufacturers of automotive products, metal products, industrial machinery, plastics, publishing and textiles. Two industries that many times interconnect are the plastic and automotive sectors. There are more than 27 BMW Suppliers 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 SC. Anderson County, in particular, has 11 automotive suppliers and is a major player in the plastic industry with 27 plastic companies located within its borders.

Education

Anderson is served by the Anderson County School System. The school system is divided into 5 individual districts. The city of Anderson itself is located in Anderson School District 5. Anderson District 5 is composed of 15 schools and over 11,000 students. There are 10 Elementary Schools, 3 Middle Schools, and 2 High Schools. The district is 60.4% Caucasian and 39.6% Ethnic.

Higher Education

There are two colleges within a 30-mile radius of Anderson:

• Anderson College, in Anderson

• Clemson University, in Clemson, which is in Pickens County

Attractions/Events

The city of Anderson is host to many recreational events. These include:

An Annual Chili Cook-Off - local restuarants contend for the title of "Anderson's Best Chili."
The Soiree - When springtime comes to Anderson, the streets are filled with local artists and vendors.
Freedom Weekend Aloft - A Memorial Day Weekend festival involving concerts by country stars, a fair-like environment, and a hot-air balloon competition that features in excess of 100 balloons from all over the country.

Demographics

According to the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, 25,514 people, making up 10,641 households and 6,299 families reside in Anderson. The population density is 711.8/km² (1,843.7/mi²). There are 12,068 housing units at an average density of 336.7/km² (872.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 63.12% European American, 34.01% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.78% Asian American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Of the population, 1.48% is Hispanic or Latino.

Of these 10,641 households, 25.4% have children under the age of eighteen living with them, 36.9% are married couples living together, 18.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% are non-families. Thirty-six percent of these households consist of a single individual each, and 16.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.22 and the average family size is 2.89.

In terms of the population's age spans, 22.2% are under the age of 18, 10.7% are from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females, there are 82.3 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there are 77.5 males.

The median household income is $27,716, and the median income for a family is $39,176. Males have a median income of $29,829; females, $21,840. The per capita income for the city is $18,577. Over one-fifth (20.8%) of the population and 15.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 30.4% of those under the age of 18 and 18.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• Official Website of the City of Anderson (http://www.cityofandersonsc.com)
• Anderson Independent, area newspaper (http://www.independentmail.com/)

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