Date Formed:

1826

Land Area (square miles):

497

County Seat:

Pickens

Other Cities and Towns:

Central, Clemson, Easley, Liberty, Norris, Six Mile

Form of Government:

Council-Administrator

Council Members:

Method of Election

Single Member

Term Length

4 years

Council of Government:

Appalachian

County History According to the South Carolina State Library Reference Room

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.

Population Trends

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Population 1980:

79,292

Numeric Change 1980-2000:

31,465

Population 1990:

93,894

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 1980-2000:

1.98%

Population 2000:

110,757

Percent Change 2005-2006:

1.1%

Population Estimate 2005:

113,221

Persons Per Square Mile 2006:

230.3

Population Estimate 2006:

114,446

Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics - Community Profile Demographic Data

Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics - Kids Count

Economic Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Jobs 1980:

30,379

Personal Income 2005:

$2,782,077

Jobs 1990:

36,368

Per Capita Pers. Income (PCPI) 2005:

$20,850

Jobs 2000:

41,478

% of U.S. PCPI 2005:

71%

Avg. Annual Growth Rate 1980-2000:

1.83%

Average Wage Per Job 2005:

$28,463

Jobs 2004:

39,044

% of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2005:

71%

Jobs 2005:

39,461

Avg. Unemployment 1996-2006:

4.9%

Numeric Change 2004-2005:

417

Unemployment Rate 2006 Ann. Avg:

6.2%

Tax Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Assessed Property 2004:

$383,884,049

Per Capita Assessed Property 2004:

$3,466

County Base Millage Rate* 2006:

0.06

Additional Sales Tax (if applicable)

Value of One Mil 2006:

$390,603

Local Option Sales Tax:

Net Taxable Sales FY 2005:

$906,294,841

Capital Projects Sales Tax:

Admissions Taxes Collected FY 2005:

$1,163,141

School District Sales Tax:

Accomodations Taxes Collected FY 2005:

$265,672

Transportation Sales Tax:

* County Base Millage Rate reflects county mils only and does not include millages charged by other taxing entities (cities, schools, etc.)

Link to SC Employment Security Commission - Top Employers by County

Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics - Community Profile Demographic Data

Financial and Employment Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Total Revenues FY 2004:

$40,855,255

Per Capital Revenues:

$369

Total Expenditures FY 2004:

$56,046,999

Per Capita Expenditures:

$506

General Fund Budget FY 2007:

$34,443,289

Per Capita General Fund Budget:

$311

Total Debt Outstanding FY 2006:

$20,658,490

Per Capita Debt Outstanding:

$182

Credit Ratings(s) FY 2006:

Payroll FY 2007:

$18,469,698

Moodys:

Full-Time Employees FY 2007:

490

Standard & Poor:

A+

Part-Time Employees FY 2007:

Fitch:

AA-

Full Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents:

4.42

Link to SC Office of Research and Statistics - Local Government Finance Report (Full document in Excel)

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.

Updated

9/19/2007 15:37

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