WELCOME TO ANDERSON!
Anderson, South Carolina is located halfway between Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina, less than two hours from each - right off of Interstate 85. Founded in 1827, in the northwest part of the state, Anderson is a growing city, but still has that small town appeal. With a county-wide population of around 173,000, it's a great place to live, raise a family, and just enjoy your life.
Anderson County schools are administered by five school districts operating a total of 28 elementary schools, 10 middle or junior high schools, 7 high schools and various career centers and child development programs. There are five private and/or parochial schools and many day care centers, preschools and kindergartens.
Higher education is available at Anderson University, a four year liberal arts institution, and Tri-County Technical College, a state supported two year community college. Clemson University, with over 16,500 students, is 18 miles from Anderson.
Manufacturing is the largest job provider in Anderson County, with about 31 percent of the work force engaged in industry. Over 230 manufacturers, including 22 international companies, are located in the county. Among the companies located here are Frigidaire, Milliken, Michelin, BASF, Bosch, Ryobi, Owens-Corning, Santens of America and Springs Industries.
Retail and wholesale marketing is the county's second largest employer, accounting for about 25 percent of the workforce. The city of Anderson is a $2 billion retail marketplace, serving customers from a multi-county area in South Carolina and Georgia.
Opportunities to enjoy or become involved in music, visual arts and live theater abound in Anderson County. You can attend a concert by the Anderson Symphony or the Anderson Chamber Orchestra and Anderson Choral. A 50-piece, all professional chamber orchestra and 100 voice choral perform under the umbrella of the Greater Anderson Musical Consortium (GAMAC), which also sponsors the Youth Chorus, Chamber Singers and Boys Choir of Anderson.
A separate group, the Anderson Symphony, is made up of about 60 players who come from many miles around to play six or seven concerts each season.
Anderson College provides a busy calendar of cultural events, many of them free, at the Callie Stringer Rainey Fine Arts Center. The center houses an 1,100 seat auditorium, recital hall, theater and an art gallery. The Electric City Playhouse offers several productions each year, some experimental, and occasionally premier works by local playwrights. For younger audiences, School District 5 sponsors the Project Challenge Playhouse, a group of young players who do children's theater. At the other end of the age spectrum, the light hearted event of the year and one of the tops in popularity is the Senior Follies, old time vaudeville with singers, dancers, musicians and specialty performers all above retirement age.
Nature provides an abundance for the boater, fisherman, hiker, biker, bird and wildlife watcher, equestrian, artist and photographer. Anderson is located beside beautiful Lake Hartwell, a US Army Corps of Engineers project. One of the Southeast's largest and most popular lakes, it has almost 1,000 miles of shoreline. It also provides some of Anderson County's most enjoyed recreation, such as boating and fishing. The nearby Appalachian mountains, including Whitewater Falls, one of the largest in the eastern US, are an easy drive for great views and nature activities. Several beautiful and well-maintained state parks are perfect for an afternoon get-away. For golfers, there are twelve golf courses available in Anderson County, with dozens more within easy reach.
Sports of all kinds, from hunting and fishing to college and professional football, all part of the local scene. Nearby Clemson University Tigers are a perennial part of many Andersonians fall weekends, and both nearby Atlanta and Charlotte are hosts to professional teams in all major sports.
