Anderson County, South Carolina


Anderson County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 203,718. Its county seat is Anderson. Named for Revolutionary War leader Robert Anderson, the county is located in northwestern South Carolina, along the state line of Georgia. The county is included in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC metropolitan statistical area. Anderson County contains Lake Hartwell, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake with nearly of shoreline for residential and recreational use. The area is a growing industrial, commercial, and tourist center. It is the home of Anderson University, a private, selective comprehensive university with about 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

History

Anderson County was founded in 1826 after the dissolution of the Pendleton District and was named after Robert Anderson, an American Revolutionary War general. During the Civil War, the county became a center of ammunitions production for the Confederate States Army. The county seat and largest city is Anderson; both the county and city are also located in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer metropolitan statistical area. Agriculturally, the county is ranked first in the southeast, second in the south, and 23rd in the United States according to the United States Department of Commerce. Cotton, corn, and various fruits and vegetables are grown along with a large poultry industry located the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which are covered by water. Anderson County is in the Savannah River basin and the Saluda River basin.

State and local protected areas

Major infrastructure

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, 203,718 people lived in the county across 80,372 households; 52,038 of those households were families.
The median age was 41.1 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.9 males.
As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 75.8% White, 14.9% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.3% from some other race, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.7% of the population.
58.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 41.7% lived in rural areas.
Of the 80,372 households, 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 89,123 housing units, of which 9.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.2% were owner-occupied and 26.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.2%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 187,126 people, 73,829 households, and 51,922 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 84,774 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 80.1% White, 16.0% Black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 15.9% were American, 13.6% were Irish, 10.8% were English, and 10.2% were German.
Of the 73,829 households, 33.3% had children under 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.7% were not families, and 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 39.7 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,871 and for a family was $53,229. Males had a median income of $41,885 versus $30,920 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,117. About 12.4% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under 18 and 10.2% of those 65 or over.

Law and government

Anderson County has a council-administrator form of government under South Carolina law. County council members are elected from seven single-member districts for two-year terms. All seven council seats are open for election every two years.
Anderson County councilmen are:
  • District 1: John B. Wright Jr.
  • District 2: Glenn A. Davis
  • District 3: S. Ray Graham
  • District 4: Brett Sanders
  • District 5: Tommy Dunn
  • District 6: Jimmy Davis
  • District 7: M. Cindy Wilson
The Anderson county administrator is Rusty Burns.

Operations

Anderson County has 10 divisions:
  • Administration
  • Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
  • Central Services
  • Economic Development
  • Emergency Services
  • EMS and Special Operations
  • Environmental Services
  • Finance
  • Planning
  • Transportation

    Politics

Since the 1980s, Anderson County has been a rock-solid Republican bastion, with the party going on a streak of winning the county in each presidential election since 1984.

Economy

Early industry in the county was textile mills, processing southern cotton. In the 21st century, industry has diversified with more than 230 manufacturers, including 22 international companies. The top major industries in Anderson include manufacturers of automotive products, metal products, industrial machinery, plastics, publishing, and textiles. More than 27 BMW suppliers are in the upstate, which is recognized internationally as an automotive supplier hub. The plastic industry has a strong presence in the upstate, with 244 plastic companies located within the 10 counties of the northwest corner of the state. Anderson County has 11 automotive suppliers and is a major player in the plastic industry, with 27 plastic companies located within its borders.
, some of the top employers in the county include AnMed Health Medical Center, Anderson University, Bosch, the City of Anderson, Glen Raven, Inc., Ingles, Michelin, Walmart, and Walgreens. Between 2021 and 2024, the unemployment rate has fluctuated around 3%. In 2022, its GDP was $9.1 billion. In chained 2017 dollars, its real GDP was $7.6 billion.
IndustryEmployment CountsEmployment Percentage Average Annual Wage
Accommodation and Food Services7,86511.119,760
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services2,6953.838,272
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting1670.249,712
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation8641.216,016
Construction2,9474.256,368
Educational Services5,8228.250,440
Finance and Insurance1,0431.560,476
Health Care and Social Assistance11,07615.754,652
Information4750.762,816
Management of Companies and Enterprises2120.3121,992
Manufacturing16,04222.761,048
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction970.170,616
Other Services 1,4652.140,560
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services2,1533.054,444
Public Administration2,6343.745,708
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing5320.844,824
Retail Trade9,31313.232,344
Transportation and Warehousing2,1853.156,264
Utilities3500.583,304
Wholesale Trade2,7833.961,048
Total70,720100.0%48,004

Communities

Cities

The Anderson schools are divided into five districts.