Revised 7/1/2008

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

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

Numeric Change 2000-2007:

5,246

Population 2000:

110,757

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 1980-2000:

1.98%

Population Estimate 2006:

114,585

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 2000-2007:

0.68%

Population Estimate 2007:

116,003

Percent Change 2006-2007:

1.22%

Persons Per Square Mile 2007:

233.4

Economic Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Jobs 1980:

30,379

Personal Income (PI) 2006:

$2,932,353

Jobs 1990:

36,368

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate (PI) 1969-2006:

8.1%

Jobs 2000:

41,478

Per Capita Personal Income 2006:

$25,591

Jobs 2005:

39,461

% of U.S. PCPI 2006:

70%

Jobs 2006:

41,174

Average Wage Per Job 2006:

$29,328

Numeric Change Jobs 2005-2006:

1,713

% of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2006:

70%

Avg. Annual Growth Rate 1980-2000:

1.83%

Unemployment Rate 2007:

5.3%

Avg. Annual Growth Rate 2000-2006:

0.69%

Avg. Unemployment 1998-2007:

5.1%

Tax Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Assessed Property 2005:

$396,368,655

Per Capita Assessed Property 2005:

$3,579

County Base Millage Rate 2007:

0.06

Additional Sales Tax (if applicable)

Value of One Mil 2007:

$395,253

Local Option Sales Tax:

1.0%

Millage Cap FY09:

4.1%

Capital Projects Sales Tax:

Net Taxable Sales FY06:

$906,294,841

School District Sales Tax:

Admissions Tax Collected FY06:

$1,163,141

Transportation Sales Tax:

Accommodations Tax Collected FY06:

$265,672

Financial & Employment Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Total Revenues FY06:

$46,520,691

Per Capita Revenues:

$420

Total Expenditures FY06:

$51,682,445

Per Capita Expenditures:

$467

General Fund Budget FY08:

$35,906,520

Per Capita General Fund Budget:

$324

Total Debt Outstanding FY07:

$19,567,101

Per Capita Debt Outstanding:

$168

Payroll FY 2008:

$19,170,788

Credit Rating(s) FY07

Full-Time Employees FY08:

486

Moody's:

Part-Time Employees FY08

Standard & Poor:

A+

Full Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents:

4.39

Fitch:

AA-