Pickens County was Cherokee Indian Territory until the American Revolution. The Cherokees sided with the British, suffered defeat, and surrendered their South Carolina lands. This former Cherokee territory was included in the Ninety-Six Judicial District. In 1791 the state legislature established Washington District, a judicial area composed of present-day Greenville, Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee counties, and then composed of Greenville and Pendleton counties. What was first named Rockville in 1791 became Pickensville the next year, and later became Easley in the late 1800s.
During its short history, Pickensville played a major role in the development of Upstate South Carolina. In 1792, it held the distinction of being the district seat for Washington District which was composed of Greenville and Pendleton Counties. In 1798, the Washington District was divided into the Greenville and Pendleton Districts with Pickensville maintaining its place as the district seat for Pendleton. Pendleton District was composed of what would later be known as Pickens, Anderson, and Oconee Counties.
In view of the growing population and poor transportation facilities in Pendleton District, the legislature divided it into counties in 1826, and a year later decided instead to divide the area into districts. The legislation went into effect in 1828. The lower part became Anderson and the upper Pickens, named in honor of the distinguished Revolutionary soldier, Brigadier General Andrew Pickens of Revolutionary War fame, whose home Hopewell was on the southern border of the district.
When a new courthouse was built in Pendleton for the Court of General Sessions and Common Pleas, the importance of Pickensville began to wane. The ultimate demise came when the railroad located through Easley, a scant 2 miles away. Easley's namesake was General William King Easley who fought for the confederacy during the Civil War. Of note is the fact that General Easley was an attorney for the Atlanta and Charlotte Railroad Company. In the late 1800s, General Easley persuaded railroad to lay a track through the town. As soon as the Charlotte-to-Atlanta Airline Railroad completed laying their tracks, surveyors laid out streets for the new town, and Easley was chartered in 1873. Robert Elliot Holcombe, who became the first mayor of Easley, financed and built the first depot in town. And in 1875, the US Post Office Department renamed the Pickensville Post Office to the Easley Post Office.
The advent of the railroad helped fuel the development of the textile industry in the area. Cotton was king and the textile industry was the backbone of the growing economy. The railroad transformed Main Street into a bustling business center and invited new industries to the area.
Easley Textile Company, later known as Swirl Inc., came to Easley in 1953 bringing jobs, a boost for the economy, and the popular “Swirl” wrap dress. In 1956, Saco Lowell, manufacturer of yarn production equipment, also built a plant in Easley. Infrastructure of the town expanded and the construction of U.S. Highway 123 brought new business and retail to the City of Easley.
Today, Pickens County is approximately 512 square miles and has an estimated permanent resident population of 125,100. There are seven incorporated towns within the county limits, large unincorporated neighborhoods, and other rural areas with commercial and residential development.
The City of Easley is the most populous City in Pickens County, with an estimated population of 22,921 (based on 2020 Census data). Looking to the year 2030 the State Demography Office projects that the City's resident population will grow to approximately 40,000. Easley offers excellent educational and healthcare facilities, a varied manufacturing base, and a diverse network of retailers. Easley also boasts a vibrant downtown area featuring restaurants and specialty shops, along with a water-feature park and outdoor amphitheater, which creates a first-class venue for community festivals and entertainment events. In addition, retail development along Highway 123 offers endless shopping options with a balanced blend of locally-owned businesses, along with national brand retail chains.
Anderson County History
The City of Anderson was originally called Anderson Courthouse until the districts became counties in 1868. It is located along what was once the General’s Road (now Main Street), which ran from Abbeville Courthouse to General Pickens’ home (Hopewell) near present day Clemson University. Pendleton District was split between Pickens District and Anderson District in December of 1826. Anderson County contains many smaller towns that each have their own unique flavor and history. Anderson County contains 718 square miles in the Piedmont area. It is bordered on the west by the Savannah River and Lake Hartwell, on the North by Pickens and Oconee Counties, on the east by the Saluda River, and on the south by Abbeville County.
Anderson County lies along I-85 in the northwestern portion of Upstate South Carolina, halfway between Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA. The area, with one of the lowest costs of living in the United States, is a thriving industrial, commercial, and tourist center. With more than 15 universities and colleges within 50 miles of Anderson, there are many great higher education options for students. With all of these, Anderson County has the integrated resources available to help train and develop a highly skilled workforce with the prestigious education and training programs of institutions including Anderson University, Clemson University, and Tri-County Technical College. Anderson County is also home to 55,950-acre Lake Hartwell, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake with nearly 1,000 miles of shoreline for residential and recreational use. Its communities have a small-town feel that make people want to stay.
Anderson County had a total population count of 205,882 in 2019, with 38% traveling less than 10 miles to work. Within the County, there are nine municipalities and multiple communities that have unity that cannot be replicated anywhere else. Residents have witnessed their towns and communities flourish and evolve in the last 50 years with the growth of the textile mills and now the manufacturing industry.
Powdersville got its name from various stories, some from gunpowder and another as a rest stop (stopping point). Now, gunpowder was said to be stored in the area during the Civil War and was spread around town. Upon seeing the gunpowder spread throughout the area, visitors began to call it Powdersville. Then there is the story of the area being a stopping point for travelers, giving women a place to “powder” their noses.
Now, Powdersville is an unincorporated area conveniently located at at the northern tip of Anderson County, southwest of Greenville, SC and is surrounded by Pickens County, Saluda River, and Interstate 85 (exits 30 and 40). Powdersville was once know as a farming community.
Today, Powdersville it is experiencing tremendous growth with businesses along SC Highway 153 and new residential subdivisions throughout the area. The population stands at 10,025 (based on 2020 Census data) with many people moving in for the schools and the convenient location.
Powdersville offers a diverse range of businesses from food, retail, and more. It also has a great outdoor stop; Dolly Cooper Park which is growing and developing to be the central location for Powdersville community events. It's a great place to go kayaking and tubing on water and walking trails and a disc golf course on the grounds.
