Anderson | |
|---|---|
 Top, left to right: Downtown Anderson, First Baptist Church of Anderson,Old Anderson County Courthouse,Anderson University, Anderson County Courthouse,Lake Hartwell view from City of Anderson Recreation Park | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nicknames: The Electric City, Friendliest City in South Carolina | |
| Motto: "Teamwork | Integrity | Professionalism" | |
 Location in South Carolina | |
  Anderson  Anderson  Anderson | |
| Coordinates:34°30′12″N82°38′30″W / 34.50333°N 82.64167°W /34.50333; -82.64167[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Anderson |
| Founded | December 1826 |
| Incorporated | December 19, 1833[2] |
| Named after | Robert Anderson |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| Area | |
• City | 15.86 sq mi (41.09 km2) |
| • Land | 15.83 sq mi (41.00 km2) |
| • Water | 0.039 sq mi (0.10 km2) 0.25% |
| Elevation | 738 ft (225 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 28,106 |
| • Density | 1,775.6/sq mi (685.56/km2) |
| • Urban | 118,369 (US:286th)[4] |
| • Urban density | 1,234/sq mi (476.4/km2) |
| ZIP Codes | 29621–29626 |
| Area codes | 864, 821 |
| FIPS code | 45-01360 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403098[1] |
| Website | cityofandersonsc |
Anderson is a city in and thecounty seat ofAnderson County, South Carolina, United States.[6] The population was 28,106 at the2020 census, making it the16th-most populous city in South Carolina.[7] It is one of the principal cities in theGreenville-Anderson-Greer, SCMetropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 975,480 in 2023.[8][9] It is included in the largerGreenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SCCombined Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 1,590,636 in 2023.[9] It is just offInterstate 85 and is 120 miles (190 km) fromAtlanta and 140 miles (230 km) fromCharlotte. Anderson is the smallest of the three primary cities that make up theUpstate region, and is nicknamed the "Electric City" and the "Friendliest City in South Carolina". A 38-foot tall Confederate Memorial currently resides prominently in the center of downtown Anderson.[10]
Cherokee first settled the area of what is today the city of Anderson. During theAmerican Revolution, the Cherokee sided with the British. After theAmerican Revolutionary War, the Cherokee's land was acquired aswar reparations and colonized. In 1791, the South Carolina Legislature created the Washington District, which comprised Greenville, Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens Counties. The Washington District was then divided into Greenville and Pendleton districts. Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee comprised the newly created Pendleton district. Anderson was settled in 1826 and incorporated in 1828 as Anderson Court House, separate from the Pendleton district. The name Anderson is in honor ofRobert Anderson, who fought in the American Revolutionary War and also explored the Anderson region in the mid-18th century. Anderson District (laterAnderson County after 1867) was also established in 1826 out of the Pendleton district.
In 1851, the Johnson Female Seminary was established in Anderson as the first college of the town and was named afterWilliam Bullein Johnson. One year later, the seminary was renamed Johnson University.[11] During theAmerican Civil War, Johnson University was closed and converted into aConfederatetreasury. On May 1, 1865,Union forces invaded Anderson looking for the Confederate treasury. The treasury office of Anderson was ransacked by Union forces, and the main building of Johnson University was used as a Union headquarters. A minor skirmish erupted at theBattle of Anderson, leading to two Union casualties.[12] After the war, a Union garrison was stationed in Anderson.In 1902, citizens of Anderson erected a 38-foot tall Confederate War Monument that remains intact, in place, and facing the Anderson County Courthouse. "In grateful acknowledgement of their powers in war and of their achievements in peace, this monument is erected, that it may teach the generations of the future the story of the matchless, unfading and undying honor which the Confederate soldier won," and "The world shall yet decide,In truth's clear, far-oil' light.That the soldiers who wore the greyand diedWith Lee, we're in the right."
Anderson became one of the first cities in theSoutheastern United States to have electricity. Electricity to Anderson was established by William C. Whitner in 1895 at a hydroelectric plant on theRocky River, giving the city the name the Electric City. Anderson also became the first city in the world to supply a cotton gin by electricity. In 1895, Anderson Court House was renamed to Anderson.[13][14] In 1897, Whitner's plant was upgraded with a 10,000-volt generating station at Portman Shoals. Whitner's power plant at Portman Shoals became the first hydroelectric plant in the United States to generate high voltage without step-up transformers .[15] The Portman Dam was swept away in 1901, forcing Anderson into darkness until it was rebuilt in 1902.[16]
In 1911, Anderson College was established by the Anderson Chamber of Commerce. Anderson College was the successor to Johnson University and is affiliated with theSouth Carolina Baptist Convention. Anderson College becameAnderson University.[17] It is accredited as a Level VI institution (offers bachelors, masters, Ph.D. degrees) by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.[18] As of October 2022, it is the largest private university in South Carolina.[19]
Anderson is located in the northwest corner of South Carolina on thePiedmont plateau. Anderson is a 1-hour drive from theBlue Ridge Mountains and a 4-hour drive from the South Carolina coast. Anderson lies roughly at the midpoint of the I-85 corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.87 square miles (41.1 km2), of which 15.83 square miles (41.0 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.25%) is water.[3]
| Climate data for Anderson, South Carolina (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 53.2 (11.8) | 56.9 (13.8) | 64.5 (18.1) | 73.2 (22.9) | 80.5 (26.9) | 87.6 (30.9) | 90.7 (32.6) | 89.4 (31.9) | 83.5 (28.6) | 73.7 (23.2) | 63.5 (17.5) | 55.3 (12.9) | 72.7 (22.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 42.8 (6.0) | 46.1 (7.8) | 52.8 (11.6) | 61.3 (16.3) | 69.7 (20.9) | 77.3 (25.2) | 80.7 (27.1) | 79.6 (26.4) | 73.6 (23.1) | 62.6 (17.0) | 52.1 (11.2) | 45.3 (7.4) | 62.0 (16.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 32.5 (0.3) | 35.3 (1.8) | 41.1 (5.1) | 49.3 (9.6) | 58.8 (14.9) | 67.0 (19.4) | 70.7 (21.5) | 69.7 (20.9) | 63.6 (17.6) | 51.5 (10.8) | 40.8 (4.9) | 35.2 (1.8) | 51.3 (10.7) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.61 (117) | 4.37 (111) | 4.79 (122) | 4.11 (104) | 3.64 (92) | 4.19 (106) | 3.76 (96) | 4.76 (121) | 3.76 (96) | 3.27 (83) | 3.98 (101) | 5.01 (127) | 50.25 (1,276) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.2 (0.51) | 0.3 (0.76) | 0.2 (0.51) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.51) | 0.9 (2.29) |
| Source: NOAA[20] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 625 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,432 | 129.1% | |
| 1880 | 1,850 | 29.2% | |
| 1890 | 3,018 | 63.1% | |
| 1900 | 5,498 | 82.2% | |
| 1910 | 9,654 | 75.6% | |
| 1920 | 10,570 | 9.5% | |
| 1930 | 14,383 | 36.1% | |
| 1940 | 19,424 | 35.0% | |
| 1950 | 19,770 | 1.8% | |
| 1960 | 41,316 | 109.0% | |
| 1970 | 27,556 | −33.3% | |
| 1980 | 27,546 | 0.0% | |
| 1990 | 26,184 | −4.9% | |
| 2000 | 25,514 | −2.6% | |
| 2010 | 26,686 | 4.6% | |
| 2020 | 28,106 | 5.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 29,980 | [7] | 6.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[21][5] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 16,392 | 58.32% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 8,276 | 29.45% |
| Native American | 46 | 0.16% |
| Asian | 416 | 1.48% |
| Pacific Islander | 5 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,222 | 4.35% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 1,749 | 6.22% |
As of the2020 census, there were 28,106 people, 11,412 households, and 6,112 families residing in the city.
At the2000 census,[23] there were 25,514 people, 10,641 households, and 6,299 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,843.7 people/sq mi (711.8/km2). The 12,068 housing units averaged 872.1/sq mi (336.7/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 63.12% White, 34.01% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.78% Asian American, 0.72% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.48% of the population.
Anderson is home to the largestGlen Raven, Inc. manufacturing center facility, which focuses on manufacturing Sunbrella fabrics.[24] Anderson's economy revolves aroundmanufacturing. It has over 230 manufacturers, including 22 international companies. In the county, Anderson has a thriving business climate. Its top major industries 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. More than 27BMW suppliers are the Upstate region, which is recognized internationally as an automotive supplier hub. Theplastics industry has a strong presence in the Upstate, with 244 plastic companies located within the 10 counties of the state's northwest corner. Anderson County, in particular, has 11 automotive suppliers and is a major player in the plastic industry, with 27 plastics companies located within its borders.[25][26]
AnMed is one of the top employers in the county, and the primary healthcare network for Anderson.AnMed Medical Center is the main medical facility, offering all the amenities of a standard hospital, as well as a heart and vascular center, and stroke/neurological center. Located 2.5 miles north of the facility is the AnMed North Campus, which includes minor care, cancer center, speech and occupational therapy, and more. The AnMed Rehabilitation Hospital is located between the two facilities. AnMed has recently received national attention being awarded the "National Presidents Circle Award," and the "American College of Cardiology Foundation’s 2012 NCDR ACTION Registry–GWTG Platinum Performance Achievement Award."
In addition to these three network hospitals, AnMed also operates several smaller facilities throughout the city and county that range from a free clinic and minor care to doctor's offices.
The city of Anderson is served by the Anderson County School System (specifically,Anderson School District Five). The school district has 11 elementary schools, five middle schools, and two high schools. Anderson is also home toAnderson University, a private university with roughly 3,900 undergraduate and graduate students.
Anderson has apublic library, a branch of the Anderson County Library System.[28]
Anderson is served byAnderson Regional Airport. The airport is 3 miles (4.8 km) away from Anderson and has two runways; runway 5/23 is 6,000 feet (1,800 m) and runway 17/35 is 5,000 feet (1,500 m). The airport also has helipads. The airport has no control tower but can accommodate regional jet aircraft. In addition, the airport has a small terminal.
The nearest airport with commercial service isGreenville–Spartanburg International Airport, about 42 miles (68 km) away.
Anderson has five signed exits onI-85, currently the city's only freeway. Several notable highways pass through the city, includingUS 29,US 76,US 178 (co-signed along Clemson Boulevard, also known asSC 28 Bus.), andSC 187.
In 2011, construction began on a new east–west connector that is about 3 miles (4,800 m) long between Clemson Boulevard andSouth Carolina Highway 81.[29] On August 16, 2010, the connector was voted to have four lanes with turn and bike lanes, and a completion date set in October 2012.[30]
Anderson has six bus routes that travel to most major areas of the city, running every hour.[31][32] The city also receives service from Clemson Area Transit (CATS) via the 4U route.[33] The city uses both newer hybrid buses and older style trolleys resembling Anderson's old streetcars. Inter-city bus travel is available throughGreyhound Lines.
One of theSoutheast High-Speed Rail Corridor alternatives for a Charlotte - Greenville - Atlanta route includes a stop at Anderson.[34][35] This would mark the first time that passenger rail reached Anderson, since the passing ofPiedmont and Northern Railway in ca. 1947[36][37] and theBlue Ridge Railway in ca. 1951 from Anderson.[38][39]
Anderson has two sister cities, as designated bySister Cities International:[41]
Carrickfergus,County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United KingdomComhairle nan Eilean Siar, Scotland, United Kingdom
Geographic data related toAnderson, South Carolina atOpenStreetMapMunicipalities and communities ofAnderson County, South Carolina,United States | ||
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