| PICKENS COUNTY |
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| Date
Formed: |
1826 |
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| Land Area (square miles): |
497 |
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| County Seat: |
Pickens |
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| Other Cities and Towns: |
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| Central, Clemson, Easley, Liberty, Norris, Six Mile |
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| Form of Government: |
Council-Administrator |
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| Council Members: |
6 |
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| Method of Election |
Single Member |
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| Term Length |
4 years |
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| Council of Government: |
Appalachian |
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| County History
According to the South Carolina State Library Reference Room |
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| Pickens County was named for Revolutionary War hero Andrew
Pickens (1739-1817). This area in the northwestern corner of the state was
Indian territory until 1777. It subsequently became part of Pendleton
District (at one time called Washington District). In 1826 Pendleton was
divided into two counties, Pickens and Anderson; the western portion of
Pickens County was later split off to form Oconee County (1868). The earliest
European settlers in this region were Indian traders. The British built Fort
Prince George around 1753 as protection against the Indians, and the fort was
the site of several battles in the Cherokee War of 1756. The Cherokee town of
Old Seneca was later destroyed by American troops in 1776. John C. Calhoun
(1782-1850), U.S. Vice President, Senator, and cabinet member, made his home
at Fort Hill plantation in Pickens County. His son-in-law, Thomas Green
Clemson (1807-1888), bequeathed the plantation to the state for use as an
agricultural college, which led to the founding of Clemson University. |
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| Population Trends |
Value |
Rank |
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Value |
Rank |
| Population 1980: |
79,292 |
14 |
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Numeric Change 1980-2000: |
31,465 |
13 |
| Population 1990: |
93,894 |
13 |
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Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 1980-2000: |
1.98% |
9 |
| Population
2000: |
110,757 |
13 |
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Percent Change 2005-2006: |
1.1% |
18 |
| Population Estimate 2005: |
113,221 |
13 |
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Persons Per Square Mile 2006: |
230.3 |
9 |
| Population Estimate 2006: |
114,446 |
14 |
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| Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics -
Community Profile Demographic Data |
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| Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics - Kids
Count |
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| Economic Data |
Value |
Rank |
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Value |
Rank |
| Jobs 1980: |
30,379 |
13 |
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Personal Income 2005: |
$2,782,077 |
14 |
| Jobs 1990: |
36,368 |
13 |
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Per Capita Pers. Income (PCPI) 2005: |
$20,850 |
39 |
| Jobs 2000: |
41,478 |
13 |
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% of U.S. PCPI 2005: |
71% |
23 |
| Avg. Annual Growth Rate
1980-2000: |
1.83% |
18 |
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Average Wage Per Job
2005: |
$28,463 |
30 |
| Jobs 2004: |
39,044 |
14 |
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% of U.S. Avg.
Wage Per Job 2005: |
71% |
30 |
| Jobs 2005: |
39,461 |
14 |
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Avg. Unemployment
1996-2006: |
4.9% |
37 |
| Numeric Change 2004-2005: |
417 |
14 |
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Unemployment Rate 2006 Ann. Avg: |
6.2% |
36 |
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| Tax Data |
Value |
Rank |
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Value |
Rank |
| Assessed Property 2004: |
$383,884,049 |
15 |
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Per Capita Assessed Property 2004: |
$3,466 |
18 |
| County Base Millage Rate*
2006: |
0.06 |
41 |
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Additional Sales Tax (if applicable) |
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| Value of One Mil 2006: |
$390,603 |
15 |
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Local Option Sales Tax: |
1% |
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| Net Taxable Sales FY
2005: |
$906,294,841 |
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Capital Projects Sales Tax: |
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| Admissions Taxes
Collected FY 2005: |
$1,163,141 |
7 |
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School District Sales Tax: |
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| Accomodations Taxes
Collected FY 2005: |
$265,672 |
16 |
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Transportation Sales Tax: |
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| * County Base
Millage Rate reflects county mils only and does not include millages charged
by other taxing entities (cities, schools, etc.) |
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| Link to SC Employment Security Commission - Top
Employers by County |
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| Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics -
Community Profile Demographic Data |
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| Financial and Employment
Data |
Value |
Rank |
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Value |
Rank |
| Total Revenues FY 2004: |
$40,855,255 |
16 |
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Per Capital Revenues: |
$369 |
42 |
| Total Expenditures FY
2004: |
$56,046,999 |
13 |
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Per Capita Expenditures: |
$506 |
17 |
| General Fund Budget FY
2007: |
$34,443,289 |
14 |
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Per Capita General Fund Budget: |
$311 |
39 |
| Total Debt Outstanding FY
2006: |
$20,658,490 |
15 |
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Per Capita Debt Outstanding: |
$182 |
19 |
| Credit Ratings(s) FY
2006: |
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Payroll FY 2007: |
$18,469,698 |
15 |
| Moodys: |
A1 |
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Full-Time Employees
FY 2007: |
490 |
17 |
| Standard & Poor: |
A+ |
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Part-Time Employees FY 2007: |
92 |
11 |
| Fitch: |
AA- |
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Full Time
Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents: |
4.42 |
43 |
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| Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics - Local
Government Finance Report (Full document in Excel) |
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| Sources: County histories
obtained from the South Carolina State Library Reference Room at
http://www.state.sc.us/scsl/cnties.html. All other sources are listed in the
appendix tables. |
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Updated |
9/19/2007
15:37 |
| Back to County Profile
Directory Page |
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