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Anderson, South Carolina

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Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The population was 28,106 at the 2020 census, making it the 16th-most populous city in South Carolina.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> It is one of the principal cities in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 975,480 in 2023.<ref name="2023OMB">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="PopEstCBSA">Template:Cite web</ref> It is included in the larger Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC Combined Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 1,590,636 in 2023.<ref name="PopEstCBSA"/> It is just off Interstate 85 and is Template:Convert from Atlanta and Template:Convert from Charlotte. Anderson is the smallest of the three primary cities that make up the Upstate 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

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Anderson Court House

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File:AndersonSCBenson1876.jpg
Downtown Anderson in 1876

Cherokee first settled the area of what is today the city of Anderson. During the American Revolution, the Cherokee sided with the British. After the American Revolutionary War, the Cherokee's land was acquired as war 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 of Robert Anderson, who fought in the American Revolutionary War and also explored the Anderson region in the mid-18th century. Anderson District (later Anderson 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 after William Bullein Johnson. One year later, the seminary was renamed Johnson University.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During the American Civil War, Johnson University was closed and converted into a Confederate treasury. 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 the Battle of Anderson, leading to two Union casualties.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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. The memorial is promeniently publicized in the Anderson County Clerk of Court website homepage communicating overt linkage between white supremacy, the courthouse, and the city of Anderson. |url=https://www.andersoncountysc.org/departments-a-z/clerk-of-court/ |url-status=live The city of Anderson Confederate Memorial inscription reads in part, "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 grey and died With Lee, we're in the right." |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=155713 |url-status=live


The Electric City

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File:PortmanShoalsPlantAnderson.jpg
Portman Shoals Power Plant around 1920.

Anderson became one of the first cities in the Southeastern United States to have electricity. Electricity to Anderson was established by William C. Whitner in 1895 at a hydroelectric plant on the Rocky 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 .<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Portman Dam was swept away in 1901, forcing Anderson into darkness until it was rebuilt in 1902.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Anderson University

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In 1911, Anderson College was established by the Anderson Chamber of Commerce. Anderson College was the successor to Johnson University and is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Anderson College became Anderson University.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of October 2022, it is the largest private university in South Carolina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

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Template:Maplink Anderson is located in the northwest corner of South Carolina on the Piedmont plateau. Anderson is a 1-hour drive from the Blue 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 the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.25%) is water.<ref name="TigerWebMapServer"/>

Climate

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Demographics

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2020 census

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Anderson racial composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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 or Latino 1,749 6.22%

As of the 2020 census, there were 28,106 people, 11,412 households, and 6,112 families residing in the city.

2000 census

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At the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 25,514 people, 10,641 households, and 6,299 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,843.7 people/sq mi (711.8/km2). The 12,068 housing units averaged 872.1/sq mi (336.7/km2). The racial 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.

Cityscape

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File:Caldwell Johnson Morris Cottage.jpg
The Caldwell-Johnson-Morris Cottage was built around 1851

Historic districts

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Other historical locations

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Template:See also

Parks

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  • Anderson Memorial Stadium, ballfield/stadium on Template:Convert of land on White Road, it was renovated in 2007 with stadium-style seating. It is home to the Anderson University Trojans.
  • Anderson Sports and Entertainment Center, Template:Convert park, it includes the Anderson Civic Center, a Template:Convert facility, as well as one of South Carolina's largest amphitheaters that can accommodate 15,000 people, a huge castle-like play structure with play equipment, a Template:Convert sports center with seven baseball/softball fields, three soccer fields, a disc golf course, and eight tennis courts. The lake has a park, picnic shelters, and miles of nature trails. The center is Anderson's largest recreational area.
  • Rocky River Nature Conservancy, a nature reserve started by Anderson University to protect wetlands habitats. It has a lot of trails and a boardwalk over the wetlands. It is named after the Rocky River which runs through the conservancy.

Economy

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Anderson is home to the largest Glen Raven, Inc. manufacturing center facility, which focuses on manufacturing Sunbrella fabrics.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Anderson's economy revolves around manufacturing. 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 27 BMW suppliers are the Upstate region, which is recognized internationally as an automotive supplier hub. The plastics 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hospitals

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AnMed Health is one of the top employers in the county, and the primary healthcare network for Anderson. AnMed Health 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 Health Campus, which includes a women's and children's hospital, 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.

Education

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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 to Anderson University, a private university with roughly 3,900 undergraduate and graduate students.

Elementary schools

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  • Calhoun Academy of the Arts
  • Centerville Elementary
  • Concord Elementary
  • Homeland Park Primary School
  • McLees Academy of Leadership
  • Midway Elementary School of Science and Engineering
  • Nevitt Forest Community School of Innovation
  • New Prospect STEM Academy
  • North Pointe Elementary School
  • Varennes Academy of Communications and Technology
  • Whitehall Elementary, A Global Communication School

Middle schools

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  • Glenview Middle School
  • McCants Middle School
  • Robert Anderson Middle School
  • Southwood Academy of the Arts
File:The Front Steps on the Lawn of Anderson University, South Carolina.jpg
Anderson University

High schools

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Private schools

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  • Anderson Christian School (PK-12)
  • First Presbyterian Church Day School (PK)
  • Grace Kindergarten
  • Montessori School of Anderson (PK-12)
  • New Covenant School (PK-12)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Learn Upstate Hybrid Academy (PK-12)
  • Oakwood Christian School (K-12)
  • St. Joseph Catholic School (PK-8)
  • Temple Christian Academy (K-12)
  • West Anderson Christian Academy (PK/K)

Higher education

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Library

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Anderson has a public library, a branch of the Anderson County Library System.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Transportation

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Airports

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Anderson is served by Anderson Regional Airport. The airport is Template:Convert away from Anderson and has two runways; runway 5/23 is Template:Convert and runway 17/35 is Template:Convert. 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 is Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport, about Template:Convert away.

Roads and highways

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Anderson has five signed exits on I-85, currently the city's only freeway. Several notable highways pass through the city, including US 29, US 76, US 178 (co-signed along Clemson Boulevard, also known as SC 28 Bus.), and SC 187.

In 2011, construction began on a new east–west connector that is about Template:Convert long between Clemson Boulevard and South Carolina Highway 81.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Public transit

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Anderson has six bus routes that travel to most major areas of the city, running every hour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The city also receives service from Clemson Area Transit (CATS) via the 4U route.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The city uses both newer hybrid buses and older style trolleys resembling Anderson's old streetcars. Inter-city bus travel is available through Greyhound Lines.

One of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor alternatives for a Charlotte - Greenville - Atlanta route includes a stop at Anderson.<ref>"Atlanta to Charlotte Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan - Alternatives Development Report". Atlanta, Georgia: Georgia Department of Transportation. October 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2019.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This would mark the first time that passenger rail reached Anderson, since the passing of Piedmont and Northern Railway in ca. 1947<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and the Blue Ridge Railway in ca. 1951 from Anderson.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Notable people

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Sister cities

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Anderson has two sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

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References

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Template:Anderson County, South Carolina Template:South Carolina Template:South Carolina county seats Template:Authority control

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