Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 25,514 at the 2000 census, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530. It is the principal city of the Anderson, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area (population: 165,740, according to the 2000 census), which is further included in the larger Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina Combined Statistical Area (population: 1,185,534, according to 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimates).

Anderson is the smallest of the three primary cities that makes up the Upstate region and is nicknamed "The Electric City" and "The Friendliest City in South Carolina." Anderson's spirit and quality of life has earned national recognition as Anderson County was named an "All-America City" in 2000.

History

Anderson was named for a Revolutionary War hero, Robert Anderson. General Anderson and Andrew Pickens surveyed the land in the area. The Cherokees lived in the area until 1777. The land was then ceded to South Carolina by the Cherokee in a treaty negotiated by Pickens. This area was then called the Pendleton District for official purposes. In 1826, the Pendleton District was divided into two districts  — Anderson and Pickens. Because the town of Pendleton was at the top of the county, too close to the Pickens border, a new courthouse was built at the center of the county. A small town, named Anderson Courthouse, built around the courthouse, and this community eventually became known as Anderson. The original courthouse was built of logs, but 10 years later, a courthouse made of bricks was erected to replace it. A still-standing Anderson County Courthouse, built in 1898, now faces the current courthouse and is built on the site of the original.

The settlers of this area were mostly Scots-Irish who came from Virginia and Pennsylvania to farm. Farmers grew corn and raised hogs. Much later, cotton became the cash crop of the area. By the late 1800s, the Anderson area was filled with numerous textile mills. Due to the innovation of Anderson engineer William Whitner, electricity could be conducted by wire to mills throughout the county. Anderson was the first city in the United States to have a continuous supply of electric power, which in turn was supplied by a water mill located in the high shoals area of the Rocky River in Anderson County. The first cotton gin in the world to be operated by electricity was built in Anderson County in 1897. Several areas of Anderson are named in Whitner's honor, including a downtown street. Anderson became known as "The Electric City," a nickname that it still holds today.

Geography

Anderson is located at (34.514506, −82.648944).

Anderson is located in the northwest corner of South Carolina on the Piedmont plateau. At the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Anderson is a 1-hour drive from the Appalachian Mountains, and a 4-hour drive from the South Carolina coast. Anderson lies roughly at the midpoint of the busy I-85 corridor between Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.9 square miles (35.9 km²), of which 13.8 square miles (35.7 km²) is land and 0.07% is water.

Economy

Anderson's economy revolves around manufacturing. Anderson has over 230 manufacturers, including 22 international companies. In the county, Anderson has a thriving business climate. The top major industries in Anderson 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. There are more than 27 BMW suppliers 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 state's northwest corner. Anderson County, in particular, has 11 automotive suppliers and is a major player in the plastic industry, with 27 plastic companies located within its borders. It has one unionized company in the area – Anderson is a growing area in the form of economics.

Education

The city of Anderson is served by the Anderson County School System (specifically, Anderson School District Five). The school district has 11 elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools. A new middle school is to be built soon. The purpose for the new middle school is to relieve overcrowding at McCants Middle School. The school district is refurbishing the following elementary schools: Concord, Homeland Park, Centerville, Midway, and Varennes.

Elementary schools in Anderson:

• Calhoun Academy of the Arts
• Centerville Elementary
• Concord Elementary
• Homeland Park Elementary
• McLees Elementary
• Midway Elementary
• Nevitt Forest Elementary
• New Prospect Elementary
• Varennes Elementary
• Whitehall Elementary

Middle schools in Anderson:

• Lakeside
• McCants
• Southwood

High schools in Anderson:

• T. L. Hanna High School
• Westside High
• Hanna-Westside Extension Campus (high school/trade school)

Private schools in Anderson

• Anderson Christian School
• Boulevard Child Enrichment Center
• Day Star School
• First Presbyterian Day School
• Grace Kindergarten
• Montessori School of Anderson
• Oakwood Christian School
• New Covenant School
• St Joseph Christian School
• Temple Christian Academy
• West Anderson Christian Academy

Early childhood schools in Anderson:

• West Market
• South Fant

Swim Centers

• District 5
• Sheppard
• Hudgens

Higher education

There are three colleges and one technical college within a 30-mile radius of Anderson:

• Anderson University in Anderson
• Clemson University in Clemson, which is in Pickens County
• Southern Wesleyan University, Central SC
• Tri-County Technical College in Pendleton – (two-year community college)

Sports

Airport

Anderson is served by Anderson County Regional Airport (IATA: AND, ICAO: KAND). The airport is 3 miles away from Anderson and has 2 runways; runway 5/23 is 6000 feet and runway 17/35 is 5000 feet. The airport also has helipads. The airport has no control tower but is able to accommodate regional jet aircraft. In addition, the airport has a small terminal.

Attractions/events

The city of Anderson is host to many recreational events:

Spring

   * Spring Jubilee, Pendleton (864) 646-3782

   * Anderson Soiree (864) 224-8811

   * Anderson Spring Fair (864) 226-6114

   * Old Farm Days, Pendleton (864) 646-9512

Summer

   * Palmetto Junior Tennis Championships, Belton (864) 338-7751

   * Spring Water Festival, Williamston Spring Park (864) 847-1818

   * Main Street Car Show, Downtown Anderson (864) 225-8530

   * Great Southeast BalloonFest, Anderson (864)260-4800

Fall

   * Standpipe Festival, Belton (864) 847-7111

   * Chili Cookoff, Downtown Anderson (864) 231-2200

   * Iva Depot Day, Iva (864) 348-6712

   * Sugarfoot Festival, Honea Path (864) 369-2302

Winter

   * Christmas Crafts Event, Pendleton (864) 646-3782

   * Holidays in the Village, Pendleton (864) 646-3782

   * Holiday Walk & Tree Lighting, Anderson (864) 225-8530

Community

The Anderson Community is home to several community-related locations and groups.

Anderson Mall

Anderson Mall is Anderson's largest shopping center. It opened in 1972 and has undergone many expansions. Right now it features over 76 tenants, but more stores will be coming in Fall 2008 as part of a renovation project. The mall is owned by Simon Malls and anchored by Sears, Belk, and JC Penney. Dillards will open at the mall in Fall 2008 which is part of a new renovation project. The project will also close the Goody's store in the front of the mall and the front of the mall will be remodeled to look more upscale. New tenants are also planned.

Shopping

Anderson is one of the premier shopping centers in the Upstate. Locally owned stores such as Grady's Great Outdoors as well as big box stores occupy Anderson, mainly on Clemson Boulevard. Midtown Park is a new shopping center coming to Anderson in 2008 that will feature Kohl's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Staples, AT and T, Hardees, and a sixth store or restaurant. Other major shopping centers in Anderson are Anderson Mall, North Pointe Centre, Anderson Station, Wal Mart Shopping Center and more.

Civic Center

A huge asset to Anderson is its Civic Center. The Civic Center includes a large building used for meetings, concerts and events. The building's inside layout is versatile thanks to dividers and collapsible stages, so that it can host events both large and small. Surrounding the Civic Center are the William A. Floyd Amphitheater, the Kid Venture park, and the Anderson Sports Center.

Community theater

Anderson is home to several community theaters, including the following:

• Alverson Center Theater
• Christian Youth Theater of Anderson*
• Connections**
• Electric City Playhouse**
• Senior Follies***
• Show Offs!
• Project Challenge Playhouse**

*CYT is an expansion of a San Diego based program.
**Connections and Project Challenge Playhouse are School District 5 program.
***Senior Follies has recently expanded into San Diego, California, thanks to CYT Founder Paul Russell.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,514 people, 10,641 households, and 6,299 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,843.7 people per square mile (711.8/km²). There were 12,068 housing units at an average density of 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, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.

There were 10,641 households out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 82.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 77.5 males.

Anderson Job Salaries According to government data, the average salary for jobs in Anderson, South Carolina is $25,834, and the median income of households in Anderson was $27,716. Anderson has an unemployment rate of 7.9%, compared the national average of 5.8%.

According to our Anderson Trends data, the number of Anderson, South Carolina jobs has increased by 59% since December 2006.

Anderson is the central city of an urbanized area with a total population of 70,530 (2000 census). This urban area is within the larger Greenville-Spartanburg metropolitan statistical area.

Notable residents/former residents

• Guy Davenport: prolific novelist, poet, and scholar
• Shaun Ellis: current professional football player
• Bailey Hanks: Currently starring on Broadway in Legally Blonde the Musical. Portrays Elle Woods
• James Robert "Radio" Kennedy: subject of the motion picture "Radio", there is now a statue of him in the town.
• Johnny Mann: arranger, composer, conductor, entertainer, and recording artist
• Charles Murphey: (1799-1861), United States Congressman from Georgia.
• Jessica Stroup: Actress on the CW TV show 90210
• Larry Nance: retired NBA basketball player with the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers
• James Lawrence Orr: former Governor of South Carolina and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
• Lu Parker: Miss USA 1994
• Jim Ed Rice: former professional baseball player with the Boston Red Sox
• James Michael Tyler: actor, Gunther on the NBC sitcom Friends

References

External links

• Official Web site of the City of Anderson
• Public Arts Project in Anderson, SC using the Largemouth Bass
• Anderson Independent, area newspaper
• Official tourism information site for Anderson County
• Anderson County Arts Center
• Electric City Playhouse
• First Online Anderson County Social Network