Pickens Chamber of Commerce -

History:

On June 15, 1869, a handbill distributed in South Carolina's Upcountry advertised the "Last Sale of Town Lots" for the new county of Pickens.

The ad stated, "The location is most desirable, one situated on a beautiful plateau and surrounded by a fertile region, with thrifty inhabitants and the village rapidly growing."

The town of Pickens was founded in 1868 and named for the Revolutionary War hero General Andrew Pickens. Scottish-Irish settlers were the original inhabitants of the Pickens area, with a few traders who lived among the Cherokees. When the new Pickens was being created, Elihu Griffin offered 40 acres of his land for the courthouse; it was this land being offered for sale in the 1869 handbill.

Much of the City's past is present today, giving a glimpse of its rich and fascinating heritage. Pickens County is proud to have the most Medal of Honor recipients per capita in the nation. This mixture of past and present is one of the factors which makes Pickens a place of historical interest and significance

The City of Pickens, which serves as the County Seat, is located near the geographical center of Pickens County’s 512.68sq. miles with Pickens being 2.48 sq. miles. The elevation of the City of Pickens is 1,100 ft. above sea level. Pickens County is home to Sassafras Mountain, which is the state's highest point, at 3,548 ft.

The County has an annual mean temperature of 60.0 degrees F. Normal precipitation is 51.27 inches with an average snowfall of 5.9 inches. The scenic beauty of Pickens and its surrounding area is truly indescribable. You will find a nature lover's paradise filled with beautiful lakes and majestic mountains.

The City of Pickens boasts over 4000 residents but more than 18,000 claim Pickens as home. Residents enjoy the many benefits of a friendly small town and the beauty of the foothills, while being less than 30 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Greenville with its commercial and cultural diversity and Clemson University "where the Tigers play."

Pickens County is fortunate to own and operate the Pickens County Airport, located off Hwy. 178 about 5 miles south of Pickens. Some of the many services offered are repairs, aircraft rental and flight instruction. The state's busiest airport, Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, is approximately 35 miles from Pickens. Greenville-Spartanburg serves over 1.4 million passengers annually with fifteen airline services available

The Upstate has approximately 14,000 miles of maintained highways with 1-85 being the main Interstate only minutes away. Of these 14,000 miles, Pickens County has 721 miles that are state maintained and 750 miles that are county maintained. Main Street in downtown Pickens is Hwy. 183 connecting with Hwy. 8 and Hwy. 178.

Pickens is proud to be the home of the oldest business in Pickens County. The Pickens Sentinel was established in 1871. The Pickens Sentinel is our local newspaper which is published weekly. There are many radio stations broadcasting into our area, the local station being WELP 1360AM. Two cable companies also service our area.

The City of Pickens is rich with dedicated, active, civic-minded people. Pickens boasts of over 30 civic, special interest and volunteer groups and organizations that work toward the betterment of our community and its citizens.

In 1868, after the town was founded, the first place of worship was a one-room office of an attorney beside the courthouse and was called Pickens Court House Methodist Church. Today, there are many faiths and

denominations represented in Pickens and the surrounding area.

The City of Pickens and the Pickens Chamber of Commerce invite you and your family to come and see for yourself why Pickens is such a great place to live and work. In this brochure, we have highlighted just some of what Pickens has to offer but some things cannot be put into words. You will also find that "Welcome to Pickens" is not always spoken with a Southern accent! Please contact Pickens City Hall or the Greater Pickens Chamber of Commerce for any questions you may have and for additional information.

Statistical Source: 2003-2004 Pickens County Profile-SC
Appalachian Council of Governments

Nature based tourism abounds in Pickens County. Hiking trails, including access to Foothills Trail and Appalachian Trail, cool mountain lakes, waterfalls, scenic vistas, trails for .horseback riding, camping and boating are just a few of the many opportunities available. Pickens County sports two State Parks and one County Park, each with a variety of outdoor activities.

In addition, historic and cultural sites are easily accessible. An award winning art and history museum, The Pickens County Museum, sits conveniently in downtown Pickens. Close by, the

Hagood-Mauldin House, full of period furnishings, art and a lovely rose garden, welcomes visitors. Three miles north of town, the historic Hagood Mill stands, with regular corn grindings demonstrated by our volunteer miller. Antique shops and lunchtime refreshments are available in downtown Pickens and on Scenic Highway 11. The golfing visitor can play one of the beautiful courses close by and others can shop the largest Flea Market in the Upstate.

When it comes to health care, Cannon Memorial Hospital is one of the best in providing state of the art health care with a personal touch.. Cannon. Memorial is],(11.Qwn for its excellent facilities, professional health care team and personal, caring attention. Canno11. Memorial Hospital offers a variety of wellness programs designed for fun and fitness, including kickboxing, yoga and other classes. Pickens is able to satisfy all of your medical needs, from eye care and chiropractic care, to dental care and many others.

Public education in Pickens is among the best in Pickens County. Fifty-seven percent of the district's teachers are masters level and above. Many programs are available to allow the schools to cater to the individual needs of each student. In the City of Pickens, five elementary schools feed Pickens Middle School. Pickens Middle and Dacusville Middle feed Pickens High school Pickens is rich in private schools as an alternative to public school and home schooling also a viable option.

Southern Wesleyan University, Clemson University and two Technical colleges offer top quality higher education in Pickens County.

The Village Library, a branch of the Pickens County Library System, is located at 124 N. Catherine St. The Village Library is equipped with computers, reference materials and an excellent staff ready to assist you.

Recreational opportunities for residents of all ages are available in Pickens. The YMCA of Pickens County has a beautiful facility with pool programs, youth teams, and a full fitness studio. Senior citizens enjoy many activities in our local Senior Center and through the Pickens County Seniors Unlimited programs. Our City Recreation Department has a full program of children's sports teams and volunteer opportunities for the sports minded adult.

The Playground of Promise is a perfect example of the "volunteer spirit" in Pickens. Funded in part by local industry and grants, it was the hundreds of volunteers working together that built the playground to give endless hours of enjoyment to the children of Pickens.

The Town Creek Trail is located adjacent to the Pickens Playground of Promise on Homestead Road. The Trail offers beautiful vistas along Town Creek and a nice leisurely stroll through the woods. An easy 2.5 mile walk, the trail showcases native plant and animal life as well as picturesque shoals in the creek. Parking for the trail is on West Jones Avenue off Hwy. 178 North.

The new Pickens Recreation Center was opened in March 2005 to the delight of the.... citizens of Pickens and surrounding areas. The center consists of Recreation Department offices, two full size gyms, meeting rooms and a full service concession area. The Recreation Center is funded by a 2% hospitality tax in the City of Pickens.