Oconee County, South Carolina | |
|---|---|
 Oconee County Courthouse in Walhalla | |
 Flag  Seal  Logo | |
| Nickname: Land Beside The Water | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofSouth Carolina | |
| Coordinates:34°45′N83°04′W / 34.75°N 83.06°W /34.75; -83.06 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  South Carolina |
| Founded | 1868 |
| Named after | Cherokee word for "land beside the water"[1] |
| Seat | Walhalla |
| Largest community | Seneca |
| Area | |
• Total | 673.57 sq mi (1,744.5 km2) |
| • Land | 626.56 sq mi (1,622.8 km2) |
| • Water | 47.01 sq mi (121.8 km2) 6.98% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 78,607 |
• Estimate (2024) | 82,475 |
| • Density | 125.46/sq mi (48.440/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
| Website | www |
Oconee County is the westernmostcounty in theU.S. state ofSouth Carolina. As of the2020 census, the population was 78,607.[2] Itscounty seat isWalhalla and its largest community isSeneca.[3] Oconee County is included in theSeneca, SCMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in theGreenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SCCombined Statistical Area.South Carolina Highway 11, the Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Highway, begins in southern Oconee County at Interstate Highway 85 at the Georgia state line.
Oconee County was named after a historic Cherokee town and the word"Ae-quo-nee", meaning "land beside the water." Oconee (Cherokee:ᎤᏊᏄ,romanized: Uquunu)[citation needed] town developed on the Cherokee trading path near present-day Oconee Station State Historic Site along Oconee Creek. The town was located along the Cherokee trading path of the early 18th century between the English colonial Atlantic port ofCharleston and theMississippi River to the west.
Oconee Town did not develop around an ancientplatform mound like those built by ancestral peoples during the period of theSouthern Appalachian Mississippian culture, approximately 1000CE to 1500CE. In their public architecture, the historic Cherokee built communaltown houses around a central ceremonial pole and council house. The council house was a meeting place for the larger community and council. Through the centuries of their long occupancy, the Cherokee would replace the council house, and maintain and add to nearby mounds, building in distinctly colored layers of earth that are visible to archeologists.[4][5]
Due to its geographic position, the town was at the intersection of the trading path and theCherokee treaty boundary of 1777. In 1792, the newly formed South Carolina State Militia built a frontier outpost near the town site, and named it Oconee Station.
European-American settlement in this far western area of the colony did not begin until the late eighteenth century. Most did not take place until decades after theAmerican Revolutionary War. South Carolina jurisdictions were successively called parishes, counties, judicial districts and counties again. Oconee County was not created until 1868, after theAmerican Civil War and during theReconstruction era. It was taken from part of thePickens District and named after Oconee Town.
Current residents refer to Oconee County as the "Golden Corner" due to its status as South Carolina's most north-western county.[7]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 673.57 square miles (1,744.5 km2), of which 626.56 square miles (1,622.8 km2) is land and 47.01 square miles (121.8 km2) (6.98%) is water.[8] Three large man-made lakes provide residents withsport fishing,water skiing, andsailing as well ashydroelectric power. The largest lake isLake Hartwell, built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1955 and 1963.Lake Keowee is the second-largest lake and theOconee Nuclear Station operates by the lake.Lake Jocassee is the third-largest and is a source ofhydroelectric energy, but is also popular for its scenery and numerouswaterfalls.
Bad Creek Reservoir, located in the mountains above Jocassee, is also used for generating electricity during peak hours. The water level can fall by tens of feet per hour and, during off-peak times, water is pumped back into the lake for the next peak period. Because of the dramatic changes in water level due to these uses, boating and swimming are prohibited in this reservoir.
Oconee County is in theSavannah River basin.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 10,536 | — | |
| 1880 | 16,256 | 54.3% | |
| 1890 | 18,687 | 15.0% | |
| 1900 | 23,634 | 26.5% | |
| 1910 | 27,337 | 15.7% | |
| 1920 | 30,117 | 10.2% | |
| 1930 | 33,368 | 10.8% | |
| 1940 | 36,512 | 9.4% | |
| 1950 | 39,050 | 7.0% | |
| 1960 | 40,204 | 3.0% | |
| 1970 | 40,728 | 1.3% | |
| 1980 | 48,611 | 19.4% | |
| 1990 | 57,494 | 18.3% | |
| 2000 | 66,215 | 15.2% | |
| 2010 | 74,273 | 12.2% | |
| 2020 | 78,607 | 5.8% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 82,475 | [10] | 4.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010[15] 2020[2] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 78,607. The median age was 47.1 years. 19.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.5 males age 18 and over.[16]There were 21,214 families residing in the county.[2]
There were 33,241 households in the county, of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[16]
There were 40,788 housing units, of which 18.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.0% were owner-occupied and 25.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.7%.[16]
36.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 63.7% lived in rural areas.[17]
The most reported ancestries were:[18]
As of the2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 83.7% White, 6.6%Black or African American, 0.4%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 2.7% from some other race, and 5.9% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.6% of the population.[19]
| Race / ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[20] | Pop 2010[21] | Pop 2020[22] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 58,259 | 63,807 | 64,696 | 87.98% | 85.91% | 82.30% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 5,533 | 5,550 | 5,119 | 8.36% | 7.47% | 6.51% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 133 | 152 | 176 | 0.20% | 0.20% | 0.22% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 232 | 421 | 591 | 0.35% | 0.57% | 0.75% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 7 | 8 | 16 | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 45 | 41 | 182 | 0.07% | 0.06% | 0.23% |
| Mixed-race or multiracial (NH) | 444 | 945 | 3,443 | 0.67% | 1.27% | 4.38% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,562 | 3,349 | 4,384 | 2.36% | 4.51% | 5.58% |
| Total | 66,215 | 74,273 | 78,607 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
At the2010 census,[15] there were 74,273 people, 30,676 households, and 21,118 families living in the county.[23]The population density was 118.6 inhabitants per square mile (45.8 inhabitants/km2). There were 38,763 housing units at an average density of 61.9 units per square mile (23.9 units/km2).[24]The racial makeup of the county was 87.8% white, 7.6% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.3% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of the population.[23] In terms of ancestry,[25]
Of the 30,676 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.2% were non-families, and 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 43.4 years.[23]
The median income for a household in the county was $42,266 and the median income for a family was $52,332. Males had a median income of $40,943 versus $29,841 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,055. About 11.8% of families and 16.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.[26]
At the2000 census,[27] there were 66,215 people, 27,283 households, and 19,589 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 106 people per square mile (41 people/km2). There were 32,383 housing units at an average density of 52 units per square mile (20 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.14%White, 8.38%Black orAfrican American, 0.22%Native American, 0.35%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 1.06% fromother races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 2.36% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 26.5% were ofAmerican, 13.1%Irish, 11.9%German and 10.5%English ancestry according toCensus 2000.
There were 27,283 households, out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.90% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,666, and the median income for a family was $43,047. Males had a median income of $31,032 versus $22,156 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $18,965. About 7.60% of families and 10.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.00% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.
A solidlyDemocratic county for much of its early history like the rest of the South, Oconee has since 1984 swung heavily into theRepublican column. The Republican tilt in the county has been increasing in recent years, with 2016, 2020 and 2024 all breaking the record for the strongest Republican showing since Nixon's 1972 landslide.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 231 | 15.99% | 1,212 | 83.88% | 2 | 0.14% |
| 1892 | 220 | 14.13% | 909 | 58.38% | 428 | 27.49% |
| 1896 | 199 | 12.51% | 1,392 | 87.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1900 | 69 | 7.32% | 873 | 92.68% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1904 | 62 | 7.93% | 720 | 92.07% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | 58 | 6.54% | 760 | 85.68% | 69 | 7.78% |
| 1916 | 59 | 6.23% | 885 | 93.45% | 3 | 0.32% |
| 1920 | 70 | 5.31% | 1,249 | 94.69% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 5 | 0.49% | 989 | 96.30% | 33 | 3.21% |
| 1928 | 70 | 5.24% | 1,263 | 94.61% | 2 | 0.15% |
| 1932 | 14 | 0.77% | 1,803 | 99.17% | 1 | 0.06% |
| 1936 | 53 | 2.51% | 2,057 | 97.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 143 | 8.24% | 1,593 | 91.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 106 | 7.08% | 1,316 | 87.85% | 76 | 5.07% |
| 1948 | 135 | 6.90% | 666 | 34.03% | 1,156 | 59.07% |
| 1952 | 1,624 | 33.46% | 3,230 | 66.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 911 | 18.99% | 3,510 | 73.17% | 376 | 7.84% |
| 1960 | 1,886 | 30.35% | 4,328 | 69.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 2,712 | 32.79% | 5,560 | 67.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,618 | 27.94% | 2,009 | 21.44% | 4,742 | 50.61% |
| 1972 | 6,824 | 78.19% | 1,740 | 19.94% | 164 | 1.88% |
| 1976 | 3,805 | 30.90% | 8,447 | 68.61% | 60 | 0.49% |
| 1980 | 5,651 | 41.58% | 7,677 | 56.49% | 263 | 1.94% |
| 1984 | 8,625 | 71.61% | 3,333 | 27.67% | 86 | 0.71% |
| 1988 | 10,184 | 69.83% | 4,299 | 29.48% | 102 | 0.70% |
| 1992 | 10,379 | 50.68% | 6,617 | 32.31% | 3,483 | 17.01% |
| 1996 | 10,503 | 52.64% | 7,398 | 37.08% | 2,051 | 10.28% |
| 2000 | 15,364 | 65.17% | 7,571 | 32.11% | 640 | 2.71% |
| 2004 | 18,811 | 68.32% | 8,395 | 30.49% | 326 | 1.18% |
| 2008 | 21,164 | 67.98% | 9,481 | 30.45% | 487 | 1.56% |
| 2012 | 21,611 | 70.47% | 8,550 | 27.88% | 505 | 1.65% |
| 2016 | 24,178 | 71.88% | 7,998 | 23.78% | 1,459 | 4.34% |
| 2020 | 29,698 | 73.03% | 10,414 | 25.61% | 556 | 1.37% |
| 2024 | 31,772 | 75.18% | 9,987 | 23.63% | 505 | 1.19% |
In 2022, theGDP was $4.5 billion (about $56,008 per capita),[29] and thereal GDP was $3.7 billion (about $45,856 per capita) inchained 2017 dollars.[30]
As of April 2024[update], some of the largest employers in the county includeApex Tool Group,BorgWarner,CSL Plasma,Duke Energy,Ingles,Itron,Kelly Services,Prisma Health,Sandvik,Schneider Electric, andWalmart.[31]
| Industry | Employment counts | Employment percentage (%) | Average annual wage ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 2,150 | 9.5 | 20,332 |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 1,264 | 5.6 | 49,244 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 134 | 0.6 | 30,108 |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 650 | 2.9 | 21,008 |
| Construction | 1,665 | 7.4 | 51,688 |
| Finance and insurance | 587 | 2.6 | 67,860 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,887 | 12.8 | 64,636 |
| Information | 342 | 1.5 | 59,540 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 10 | 0.0 | 82,212 |
| Manufacturing | 5,598 | 24.8 | 65,312 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 835 | 3.7 | 37,700 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 760 | 3.4 | 67,288 |
| Public administration | 1,174 | 5.2 | 47,164 |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 254 | 1.1 | 48,776 |
| Retail trade | 3,628 | 16.0 | 33,904 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 194 | 0.9 | 57,564 |
| Wholesale trade | 476 | 2.1 | 62,348 |
| Total | 22,608 | 100.0% | 50,300 |
The Oconee region is mentioned in the song "Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)" by theindie rock groupthe Decemberists, on their 2006 albumThe Crane Wife. The reference is "When I was a girl how the hills of Oconee made a seam to hem me in."
Parts of the filmDeliverance were filmed on the Oconee side of theChattooga River, including specifically some scenes shot inSalem.[32]
Geographic data related toOconee County, South Carolina atOpenStreetMapPlaces adjacent to Oconee County, South Carolina | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofOconee County, South Carolina,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
