Pickens County, South Carolina

Infobox U.S. County
county = Pickens County
state = South Carolina
seal
map size = 225
founded = 1868
seat = Pickens | area_total_sq_mi =512
area_land_sq_mi =497
area_water_sq_mi =15
area percentage = 2.92%
census yr = 2000
pop = 110757
density_km2 =86
web = www.co.pickens.sc.us
|

Pickens County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The 2000 census recorded its population to be 110,757. In 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the population had reached 113,575. [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-45.xls] Its county seat is PickensGR|6. In recent years, the county has become increasingly linked economically and culturally to the nearby city of Greenville.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 512 square miles (1,326 km²), of which, 497 square miles (1,287 km²) of it is land and 15 square miles (39 km²) of it (2.92%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Transylvania County, North Carolina - north
*Greenville County, South Carolina - east
*Anderson County, South Carolina - south
*Oconee County, South Carolina - west

Major Highways

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History

Pickens County was formed in 1826. It was named after Andrew Pickens, a leading military figure in the American Revolution and member of the United States Congress.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 110,757 people, 41,306 households, and 28,459 families residing in the county. The population density was 223 people per square mile (86/km²). There were 46,000 housing units at an average density of 93 per square mile (36/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.27% White, 6.82% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.70% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 41,306 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.30% under the age of 18, 17.50% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,214, and the median income for a family was $44,507. Males had a median income of $31,795 versus $22,600 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,434. About 7.80% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.20% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.

Colleges and universities

*Clemson University
*Southern Wesleyan University

Cities and towns

*Arial
*Central
*Clemson
*Easley
*Liberty
*Norris
*Pickens
*Six Mile

Notable residents and natives

*Shoeless Joe Jackson, baseball player, famous for alleged involvement in Black Sox scandal, born in Pickens County. July 16, 1888.
*Sam Wyche, former NFL football player and coach, resides in Pickens County.
*Harold Alexander, Appalachian State University alumni and former NFL football punter, resides in Pickens
*Stanley Morgan, former NFL wide receiver who played for the New England Patriots was born in Pickens County in the City of Easley on February 17, 1955. His 10,352 receiving yards with the Patriots set their franchise record and he still holds the Patriots single-season records for receiving yards (1,491 in 1986) and receiving touchdowns (12 in 1979). He also holds the all-purpose yards record for the University of Tennessee (which stands at 4,642). On August 27, 2007, Morgan was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.

Notes