Anderson County & the City of Anderson
Anderson County and its county seat, Anderson, were named for Revolutionary War general Robert Anderson. Occupied by the Cherokee Indians until 1777, the region was ceded by treaty to the state. Part of the region was known as the Pendleton District. The area was given its present name in 1826, when Pendleton District was split into what are now Anderson and Pickens Counties. Most of the early settlers of this area were Scots-Irish farmers who moved south from Pennsylvania and Virginia in the eighteenth century. Due to the innovations of Anderson engineer William Whitner, hydro-electricity could be transmitted by wire to mills throughout the county. The first cotton gin in the world to be operated by electricity was in Anderson County in 1897. Anderson became known as "The Electric City," a nickname that it still holds today. Map
Belton
This area originally developed a rural agrarian economy yet was isolated from the main centers of trade both within the state and the nation. A meeting of citizens from the Upstate, Columbia and Charleston in 1845 changed Belton’s future. The group formed "The Greenville and Columbia Railroad" to connect the Upstate to the existing rail system from Columbia to Charleston. The original route planned would have passed through Anderson. However, a more direct route proposed by John Belton O'Neal, chief engineer for the railroad was used, and this followed the natural ridge west of the Saluda River where Belton was to develop. The town was named in his honor. Map
Honea Path
The first settlers arrived in the Honea Path area in 1794. Origins of this name may be speculation, but it is definitely the only town in the world named Honea Path. A settler named William Honey maintained a trail in the area. Early deeds show the town named Honey Trail. In 1855, the town was chartered as Honey Path. During Reconstruction, an error listed the post office as Honea Path, which the postmaster honored. By 1876, the name Honea Path appears on deeds and other official records and in 1917, the town was chartered as the Town of Honea Path. Map
Iva
When the Savannah Valley Railroad reached this community in the mid-1880s, it was called Cook’s Station. The town changed its name to Iva in honor of Iva Cook Bryson, daughter of Dr. A.G. Cook, one of the area’s first settlers. Map
Pendleton
Cherokee Indians lived in this region long before the American Revolution. The Cherokees sided with Great Britain during the War of Independence, which led to the loss of their land after the war. Pendleton was chosen as the courthouse town for the then Pendleton District in April 1790. The original settlers were Scots-Irish. Wealthy Low Country planters and politicians soon discovered Pendleton as an escape from the heat of summer, building large summer homes. In 1815, the Pendleton Farmers Society was formed. It’s one of the five oldest societies in continuous operation in the nation. Map
Piedmont
It’s located on the Saluda River where the water flows over huge rocks on its way from the mountains to the sea. The Indians and early settlers called it “Big Shoals of the Saluda.” Irish immigrant, David Garrison, built his grist mill upon the shoals, giving it its second name, Garrison Shoals. When Henry Pinckney Hammett bought the property for his cotton mill, using the water power of the shoals, the name was again changed, this time to Piedmont, “Foot of the Mountains.” This name was added to his charter for Piedmont Manufacturing Company and also as a railroad station. Map
Powdersville
The town of Powdersville was founded during the Civil War. It is believed to have received its name because general stores sold gunpowder and the powder could be seen spread about the town. So when entering the town people would say "This must be Powdersville."
Starr
This town was called Twiggs up until the mid-1880s. When the Savannah Valley Railroad reached this area, the town was renamed Starr, in honor of a railroad official who was popular at the time. Map
West Pelzer
West Pelzer, was originally called Frankville. There were settlers in the vicinity in the 1800s. The town of Frankville was chartered in 1913. The original survey for the town was made by John Franks. .A new petition was later filed and on September 13, 1918, the name was changed from Frankville to West Pelzer. West Pelzer is less than a quarter of a mile from Pelzer. However, the small town is incorporated and has its own city government. Map
Williamston
West Allen Williams, a wealthy planter who lived on what is now the Greenville County side of the Saluda River, was riding through his property on the west side of the river when he stopped to rest. While asleep, he dreamed of a crystal clear spring with healing qualities that would benefit all the sick and ailing who drank from it. When Mr. Williams awakened, he went in search of water. Seeing damp ground, he pushed back the leaves and vines and discovered clear water trickling through the debris. Mr. Williams had the water analyzed and found it to contain minerals of medicinal qualities. As news of the value of the water spread, people came from miles around to try the water. With the crowds of visitors, Mr. Williams realized a town was in the making, and set aside part of his property for churches and schools. The town, known for a while as Mineral Springs, was chartered Williamston by an act of the state legislature on December 16, 1852. Map
Anderson County & the City of Anderson
Anderson County and its county seat, Anderson, were named for Revolutionary War general Robert Anderson. Occupied by the Cherokee Indians until 1777, the region was ceded by treaty to the state. Part of the region was known as the Pendleton District. The area was given its present name in 1826, when Pendleton District was split into what are now Anderson and Pickens Counties. Most of the early settlers of this area were Scots-Irish farmers who moved south from Pennsylvania and Virginia in the eighteenth century. Due to the innovations of Anderson engineer William Whitner, hydro-electricity could be transmitted by wire to mills throughout the county. The first cotton gin in the world to be operated by electricity was in Anderson County in 1897. Anderson became known as "The Electric City," a nickname that it still holds today. Map
Belton
This area originally developed a rural agrarian economy yet was isolated from the main centers of trade both within the state and the nation. A meeting of citizens from the Upstate, Columbia and Charleston in 1845 changed Belton’s future. The group formed "The Greenville and Columbia Railroad" to connect the Upstate to the existing rail system from Columbia to Charleston. The original route planned would have passed through Anderson. However, a more direct route proposed by John Belton O'Neal, chief engineer for the railroad was used, and this followed the natural ridge west of the Saluda River where Belton was to develop. The town was named in his honor. Map
Honea Path
The first settlers arrived in the Honea Path area in 1794. Origins of this name may be speculation, but it is definitely the only town in the world named Honea Path. A settler named William Honey maintained a trail in the area. Early deeds show the town named Honey Trail. In 1855, the town was chartered as Honey Path. During Reconstruction, an error listed the post office as Honea Path, which the postmaster honored. By 1876, the name Honea Path appears on deeds and other official records and in 1917, the town was chartered as the Town of Honea Path. Map
Iva
When the Savannah Valley Railroad reached this community in the mid-1880s, it was called Cook’s Station. The town changed its name to Iva in honor of Iva Cook Bryson, daughter of Dr. A.G. Cook, one of the area’s first settlers. Map
Pendleton
Cherokee Indians lived in this region long before the American Revolution. The Cherokees sided with Great Britain during the War of Independence, which led to the loss of their land after the war. Pendleton was chosen as the courthouse town for the then Pendleton District in April 1790. The original settlers were Scots-Irish. Wealthy Low Country planters and politicians soon discovered Pendleton as an escape from the heat of summer, building large summer homes. In 1815, the Pendleton Farmers Society was formed. It’s one of the five oldest societies in continuous operation in the nation. Map
Piedmont
It’s located on the Saluda River where the water flows over huge rocks on its way from the mountains to the sea. The Indians and early settlers called it “Big Shoals of the Saluda.” Irish immigrant, David Garrison, built his grist mill upon the shoals, giving it its second name, Garrison Shoals. When Henry Pinckney Hammett bought the property for his cotton mill, using the water power of the shoals, the name was again changed, this time to Piedmont, “Foot of the Mountains.” This name was added to his charter for Piedmont Manufacturing Company and also as a railroad station. Map
Powdersville
The town of Powdersville was founded during the Civil War. It is believed to have received its name because general stores sold gunpowder and the powder could be seen spread about the town. So when entering the town people would say "This must be Powdersville."
Starr
This town was called Twiggs up until the mid-1880s. When the Savannah Valley Railroad reached this area, the town was renamed Starr, in honor of a railroad official who was popular at the time. Map
West Pelzer
West Pelzer, was originally called Frankville. There were settlers in the vicinity in the 1800s. The town of Frankville was chartered in 1913. The original survey for the town was made by John Franks. .A new petition was later filed and on September 13, 1918, the name was changed from Frankville to West Pelzer. West Pelzer is less than a quarter of a mile from Pelzer. However, the small town is incorporated and has its own city government. Map
Williamston
West Allen Williams, a wealthy planter who lived on what is now the Greenville County side of the Saluda River, was riding through his property on the west side of the river when he stopped to rest. While asleep, he dreamed of a crystal clear spring with healing qualities that would benefit all the sick and ailing who drank from it. When Mr. Williams awakened, he went in search of water. Seeing damp ground, he pushed back the leaves and vines and discovered clear water trickling through the debris. Mr. Williams had the water analyzed and found it to contain minerals of medicinal qualities. As news of the value of the water spread, people came from miles around to try the water. With the crowds of visitors, Mr. Williams realized a town was in the making, and set aside part of his property for churches and schools. The town, known for a while as Mineral Springs, was chartered Williamston by an act of the state legislature on December 16, 1852. Map