EZ Home Search Guide to Living in Anderson County, SC

Anderson County, South Carolina, is a place where people enjoy a high quality of life. The so-called “Electric City” is a thriving business community plus a low cost of living and a central location make this an optimal place to live. Located in the Piedmont region, Anderson County is close to the Appalachian Mountains and the South Carolina town of Clemson. Its proximity to these amenities means residents enjoy a busy lifestyle with attractions to suit various interests.

Are you interested in an active lifestyle in the Piedmont region? Read on to learn why Anderson County residents are proud to call this area home.

About Anderson County

Anderson County is part of the “Upstate” or “Upcountry” South Carolina region, close to the Appalachian Mountains foothills. The upcountry area has proud citizens with deep roots and historical ties. While steeped in tradition, it’s also a modern place to live. The county is a thriving industrial, commercial, and tourist center with many attractions and lifestyle amenities located inside or within 50 miles of its borders. 

Anderson County sits along the Georgia border along the Lake Hartwell Reservoir. This 55,000-plus acre lake is a significant tourism draw. Shoreline residents look across the lake to Georgia. The historic Savannah River also lies along the county’s edge.

The Saluda River divides its border with Greenville County to the east. The river is a place for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.

Anderson County is surrounded by Pickens, Oconee, Abbeville, Greenville Counties, and the state of Georgia.

Getting to and from Anderson County is relatively easy, thanks to Interstate I-85 that runs through the county. Within a few hours ‘ drive, you can be in the Appalachians or down to Savannah, Georgia. 

Anderson County History

Anderson County was originally home to the Cherokee Native Americans. The lands were ceded to the state of South Carolina during the American Revolution and granted to former soldiers as part of their payment for their war service. Many local descendants trace their genealogy to these Revolutionary War veterans. 

The county today was organized in 1827 and named after Colonel Robert Anderson, a Revolutionary War leader. 

Throughout the years, Anderson County has been a prominent place for textile production. The Pendleton Mill is the oldest in the state still in operation.

Anderson County is best known as one of the first areas to be powered by hydroelectricity from a plant at High Shoals on the Rocky River. Today it is still an important producer of water-generated electrical power. 

Anderson County Cities and Areas

The main cities in Anderson County are the county seat of Anderson, plus Belton, Pendleton, Honea Path, Williamston, and Powdersville. 

Anderson is an urbanized area and part of the Greenville-Anderson-Maudlin metropolitan statistical area. It’s about 100 miles as the crow flies from the state capital Columbia. It’s also located just off of I-85, making it about a two-hour drive from Atlanta and 140 miles from Charlotte in North Carolina. 

Anderson may be the smallest of the primary cities in the upstate region, but it’s also known as the friendliest city in South Carolina. Airbnb named it one of the trending destinations of 2019.

Belton is a small town in the Piedmont region of South Carolina called the “Tennis Capital of South Carolina.” The South Carolina Palmetto Tennis Championships are held in Belton each year. Historically, Belton was a stop on an important rail line in the 1850s. It prospered because of its proximity to cotton-growing and the establishment of cotton mills. Today, it has a thriving Arts Center that regularly holds art exhibitions. Its Old Train Depot was also refurbished and used as a function venue.

Near the Pickens County border, find suburbs for Clemson and Easley. Clemson is best known as a college town thanks to Clemson University. The suburb of Pendleton lies on the Anderson County side of the border and services Clemson. Pendleton has one of the largest historic districts in the nation. It began as a vacation getaway for South Carolina’s wealthy landowners seeking to escape Lowcountry summers.

Williamston is a classic South Carolina small town with about 4,000 residents in the area. It’s just in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and enjoys abundant sunshine. Its Mineral Springs Park may be the third oldest public park in the country. 

Powdersville, a suburb of Greenville, lies in the northeastern corner. Its name comes from its history in gunpowder production.

There’s still much agriculture in the area, with Anderson County being a leading producer of cotton, corn, small green, and forage crops. It also has a thriving livestock industry. 

Anderson County Job Market

Some of the biggest industries in Anderson County are manufacturing, retail trade, health care, educational services, and accommodation and food services. The top employers by the number of employees include, but are not limited to, Michelin North America, One World Technologies, Tri-County Technical Education Center, Anderson Area Medical Center, Glen Raven Custom Fabrics, E&I Engineering USA, and Electrolux Home Products. The county had over 20 international companies located within its borders in 2019. 

The 2020 unemployment rate reached 5.9%, below the South Carolina and the United States average. That figure was down from 2010, when the county had an 11.7% unemployment rate. As of July 2021, the county’s unemployment rate stood at 4.3%, also below the state and nation reported rate. 

The Anderson County Community profile projected that the job market would grow 10.16% from 2016 to 2026. The industries with the most projected growth are transportation and warehousing, real estate, health care, and accommodation and food service.

Anderson County Real Estate Market

The Western Upstate Association of Realtors services the Anderson County area. Looking at the monthly indicators from July 2021 for the association’s three-county region, the number of new listings has been growing from its low in the summer of 2020. The days on the market have declined over the last two years and stand at 41 days for the three-county area. At the same time, median sales prices have been increasing. The monthly supply of inventory indicates the area has a seller’s market. 

Drilling down closer into specific areas of Anderson County, the July 2021 market reports show the following:

• The city of Anderson saw its median sales price reach $220,000, a 12.8% increase. The days on the market were 33 days, a year-over-year decline of 51.5%. However, new listings grew year-over-year by about 4%. Median sales prices in the town have been trending upward since 2015. 
• In Belton, the median sale price increased 10.9% to $194,000. The days on the market were down to 28, a 57% drop. New listings were also down year-over-year by 35%. Median sale prices have also been trending upward since 2015. 
• In Pendleton, a suburb of Clemson, the median sales price reached $230,000. The days on the market were down 45.5%, and the number of new listings was down 9%. 
• In Williamston, the median sales price reached $245,000, an increase of 27.6%. The number of new listings was down 20% year-over-year. The days on the market until the sale was down 33%. Historically, median sales prices have been increasing since 2015, with steeper increases since 2020. 

For more current and localized data, contact EZ Home Search. 

Anderson County Population 

The population in Anderson County has been steadily growing since the 1970s. The latest data about Anderson County’s growth put its population at 203,718 people as of April 2020. That represents an 8.4% growth over 2010.

The age bracket with the highest number of residents was 45-to-54-year-olds. However, there was a fairly even distribution across all age brackets until 65 years old. Residents identified as white 80% of the time, while 16% identified as black or African-American. Around 20% of area residents reported a bachelor’s degree or higher, while about 50% had some college or higher. This makes it a highly educated region of the state. 

Anderson County Education

Anderson County has an extensive public school system with five different districts that serve over 31,000 students. In combination, the area has 54 public schools for K to 12. 

• Anderson School District 1 primarily serves the Piedmont area and the northeastern regions of the county. It has seven elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools. 
• Anderson School District 2 primarily serves the southeastern region around Belton and Honea Path. It runs four elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. 
• Anderson School District 3 services the southwestern region of the county, including the communities of Allendale, Starr, and Iva. It runs three elementary schools, one Middle School, one high school, and three alternative centers. 
• Anderson School District 4 covers the area around Pendleton and Anderson. It operates four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. 
• Anderson School District 5 operates two Early Education Centers, eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and for high schools. It also has a charter school and an adult education center. 

There are 14 private schools in the area for students. The top-ranked schools include Montessori School of Anderson, New Covenant School, and Beverly White.

Three institutions of higher education are available to Anderson County residents. These include:

• Anderson University is a Christian University. It has 59 bachelor’s programs, plus 18 Master’s and doctoral degrees. Its top undergraduate programs are supply chain management, cybersecurity, Christian studies, elementary education, biology, kinesiology, and interior design. 
• Forrest College offers two-year degrees and nine areas of specialization. It is a small college focused on high-demand fields or the opportunity to transfer to a four-year institution. 
• Tri-County Technical College offers career programs or transition programs. It offers associate degrees plus quick jobs programs for certifications to launch straight into a career. 

Looking at the big picture, there are 15 colleges within 50 miles of Anderson County. 

Anderson County Health Care

Anderson County residents have choices regarding their health, with several different service providers operating in the region. AnMed is the primary provider of large-scale healthcare in the county.

The AnMed Health Medical Center has a 397-bed facility. Its services include children’s health, pediatrics, pediatric therapy, psychiatry, and infection management.

AnMed also offers a health rehabilitation hospital with 60 staffed beds. It focuses exclusively on rehabilitation services for neurological and orthopedic conditions.

There is also the AnMed Health North Campus to provide more medical care for residents in this region. It is not an overnight staff facility but it does offer children’s care.

Patrick B Harris Psychiatric Hospital lies within Anderson County. It offers therapeutic and nursing services in its 130-bed facility. 

Anderson County Things to Do

Anderson County residents have plenty to do, thanks to modern amenities and outdoor recreation opportunities. One of the largest draws into the areas in the Lake Hartwell Reservoir, a massive artificial lake along the western border of Anderson County. You will find many vacation homes, parks, and boat ramps along the shoreline. Lake Hartwell provides ample fishing and boating opportunities.

In addition, golfers have the choice of five different golf clubs inside Anderson County. These include the Stone Creek Cove Golf Course and The Club at Brookstone, one of the top public courses in the state. The different country clubs offer memberships and extra amenities depending on your choice. 

Tennis is a popular pastime in the Anderson County area. Belton is a center of tennis, with the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame. The Belton Tennis Center hosts the largest junior tournament in the state.

Celebrate Anderson is a community festival that happens each Sunday before Labor Day. It has a parade and a Main Street festival to honor Anderson County’s roots. 

The Spring Water Festival in Williamston is a big draw. It is a two-day festival held on the 4th weekend of August that celebrates its origin as a tourist destination. The Mineral Springs Park waters reputedly had healing properties and drew people seeking its restorative waters.

The Battle of Anderson in Honea Path recreates a minor skirmish during the American Civil War. The re-enactment happens in the Spring each year.

Anderson County Local Attractions

For cultural attractions, check out the Anderson County Museum, which has over 25,000 artifacts recording the county’s history. There’s also the fascinating Fire Department Museum. It has four antique fire trucks from the 1880s to early 1900s. 

The Rocky River Nature Park seeks to preserve and protect one of the most extensive swamps in the upstate area. It has developed its 400 acres into opportunities for canoeing and kayaking, biking, walking, and environmental education. 

Sadlers Creek State Park is on a peninsula extending into Lake Hartwell. It has 37 lakefront campground sites and access to recreational water sports. The park also has six miles of biking and walking trails. 

Inside Anderson County, you can also find some historic plantations. The Pendleton Historic Foundation owns two, the Ashtabula Plantation and the Woodburn Plantation. They are run as museums and offer a look at what plantation life was like. 

The Historic Belton Train Depot dates to the 1910s. It also is home to the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame and the Ruth Drake Museum.

The Belton Center for the Arts is a cultural arts center that promotes and appreciates the arts for all generations. 

Over in Williamston, Mineral Springs Park might be one of the oldest public parks in the nation. It is in the center of downtown and has a one-mile walking trail. 

Anderson County Dining

Residents find variety in Anderson County’s dining options. Obviously, more choices are available in the towns of Anderson and up near Greenville and Clemson. Still, you can find some classic southern cooking as well as globally-inspired restaurant venues. 

Here’s a taste of what you can find in Anderson County:

• SummaJoe’s uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients to create delicious slices of pizza and other daily specials
• Sullivan’s Metro Grill serves classic American fare in a historic venue 
• The Pompous Pig is a local barbecue joint
• J Peters Grill & Bar serves some tried-and-true recipes with a Southern twist 
• Doolittle’s Restaurant is a place that serves hospitality and coastal cuisine made fresh in-house
• Carolina Bauernhaus Ales is a microbrewery serving beers in the Belgian tradition 

Anderson County Shopping

If you enjoy searching for antiques and vintage goods, then Anderson County has you covered. Around the small towns and main cities await antique markets and stores for you to browse. Try Remnants Antiques, Willow’s Antiques, and Centerville Pickers Market.

Historic downtown Pendleton is another place to shop. Find local art in the downtown art galleries. You’ll be surrounded by small-town charm as you wander in and out of the local shops.

The Anderson Mall has big-box retail stores and name brands to serve all shopping needs. You’ll also find some unique and local specialty shops in Anderson downtown and the surrounding area. 

Anderson County Local Favorites

Anderson County is an agritourism destination. For example, visit Split Creek Farm, a Grade A goat dairy that has won gold medals in national competitions for cheese, fudge, and milk. The Denver Downs Farm is a South Carolina Century Farm owned by the Garrison family since 1869. It is a working farm devoted to agritourism and entertainment and is a go-to place for its fall festival. 

The Galley Restaurant is a great special occasion destination. It has a fantastic view over Lake Hartwell, a sushi menu, outdoor dining, and two private rooms. 

Living in Anderson County

Anderson County is optimally located inside of South Carolina. As you can see, it offers a rich array of amenities without breaking the bank. It’s an affordable place to live with a strong job market, arts and culture, outdoor recreation, and so much more. Search South Carolina listings to see what’s available in Anderson County.