Economic Characteristics
Education
Public Safety
Public Works
|
| Pickens County General Statistics |
Community Profile
Established - 1868
County Seat - City of Pickens
Form of Government - Council, Administrator
Area - 497 Square Miles
| Climate |
|
Average Minimum Temperature
Average Maximum Temperature
Average Annual Temperature
Average Annual Precipitation
|
48.7°F
70.6°F
59.7°F
55.91"
|
| Elevation |
|
Range:
Average:
|
600-3,548 feet above sea level
1,200 feet above sea level
|
| Population Trends and Projections |
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
|
110,757
116,090
123,960
135,190
139,710
147,580
|
|
| Population by Municipality (2000) |
Central
Clemson
Easley
Liberty
Norris
Pickens
Six Mile
Unincorporated
|
3,522
11,897
17,754
3,009
847
3,012
553
70,163
|
|
Rank: 13 out of 46 counties in South Carolina
Population Density: 222.85 per square mile
|
| Age Composition (2000) |
Under 5 years
5-19 years
20-24 years
25-44 years
45-64 years
65 and over
|
6,722
24,306
13,034
30,554
23,525
12,616
|
6.1%
21.9%
11.8%
27.6%
21.2%
11.4%
|
| Age Composition (2000) |
0-17 years
18 and over
|
24,692
86,065
|
22%
78%
|
| Median Age (2000) |
United States
South Carolina
Pickens County
|
35.3 years
35.4 years
32.7 years
|
|
|
|
| Gender Composition |
|
Males
Females
|
55,276
55,481
|
49.9%
50.1%
|
| Elections |
|
Registered Voters
Number of Voters
Last General Election
Percentage Voting
Voter Precincts
Number of Representatives-State
Number of Senators-State
|
63,848
40,941
73%
56
4
2
|
| Land Use |
Square Miles |
Percent |
Population |
Rural
Urban
|
467
30
|
94%
6%
|
40%
60% |
Rank: 35 out of 46 counties in South Carolina
|
| Households (2000) |
Family
Non-Family
With Children under 18 years
With Persons over 65 years
|
28,453
12,853
14,092
8,769
|
68.9%
31.1%
34.1%
21.2%
|
Average Household Size Owner Occupied:
Average Household Size Renter Occupied:
Average Family Size:
|
2.57
2.32
2.95
|
| Housing Units (2000) |
Owner Occupied
Renter Occupied
Vacant-Seasonal Use
Vacant-For Rent
Vacant-For Sale
Vacant-Other
|
30,350
10,956
726
1654
555
1759
|
66.0%
23.8%
1.6%
3.6%
1.2%
3.8%
|
Homeowner Vacancy Rate:
Rental Vacancy Rate:
|
1.8%
13.1%
|
| Index Crime Rate |
Year |
Pickens
County |
South
Carolina |
United
States |
| 2001
2002
2003 |
1,761.0
2,526.7
2,588.0
|
4,752.7
5 ,297.3
5,264.6 |
4,160.5
4,118.8
4,063.0 |
|
(Per 100,000 of Population ) |
|
|
Economic Characteristics
Manufacturing is the County’s primary source of economic growth. There are approximately 150 facilities in the Easley, Liberty, and Pickens areas. There are an estimated 12,000 people employed in manufacturing. More than half are employed in the metalworking and industrial equipment industries. The County is in transition to become heavily focused on research and development. Clemson University, a top 100 research university, has concentrated on advanced materials, biopharma, motorsports, and fibers. In addition, the University plays a major role in the local economy by employing over 4,600 faculty and staff.
| Annual Average Non-Agricultural Labor (2000) |
Manufacturing
Mining & Construction
Transportation & Public
Utilities
Wholesale & Retail Trade
Finance, Insurance & Real
Estate
Services
Government
|
8,900
2,700
800
10,100
1,200
6,900
7,400
|
23%
7%
2%
27%
3%
18%
20%
|
| Median Family Income |
2003
2004
2005 |
$54,900
$50,200
$50,650 |
| Per Capita Income |
| Year |
Pickens
County |
South
Carolina |
United
States |
2002
2003
2004
|
22,799
23,304
24,135
|
25,361
25,972
27,185
|
27,164
28,062
29,477 |
| Unemployment Rates |
| Year |
Pickens
County |
South
Carolina |
United
States |
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
|
4.3
5.8
6.1
5.5
6.7
|
4.8
5.7
6.4
6.9
6.8
|
4.8
5.8
6.0
5.5
5.1 |
| Gross Retail Sales |
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
|
1,433,126,114
1,532,607,846
1,401,985,540
1,428,949,589
1,274,239,840 |
| New and Expanded Industry |
| Year |
Total Jobs |
Total Investment |
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
|
217
572
35
560
1199
|
12,129,149
26,371,319
1,007,126
61,000,000
64,300,000 |
|
|
| Building Permits Issued |
| Year |
Number |
Value |
2003
2004
2005
|
909
1,064
1,029
|
90,174,000
116,200,000
107,492,000
|
| Taxes |
State Personal Income Tax Range
State Corporate Income Tax
Retail Sales & Use Tax
Local Option Sales Tax
Accommodations Tax
Local Tourism Development Fee
Admissions Tax
|
2.5%-7%
5%
5%
1%
2%
1%
5%
|
No Tax on Inventories or Intangibles
No State Property Tax
|
| Base County Property Tax Millage Rate (2005) |
Pickens County
Anderson County
Greenville County
Oconee County
|
.0609
.0071
.0729
.073 |
| Assessed Property Values |
| Year |
Real
Property |
Personal
Property |
Total Value |
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
|
164,630,292
172,210,774
186,995,306
191,866,823
205,548,707
|
128,236,734
136,022,956
124,960,109
124,008,175
115,654,380
|
292,867,026
308,223,730
311,955,415
315,874,998
321,203,087 |
| |
Ten Largest Taxpayers 2005-2006 Fiscal Year
-
Duke Energy
- Bell South Communications
- Blue Ridge Electric
- Alice Manufacturing
- Cliffs at Keowee Springs
- Keowee River Club
- Keowee Investment Club
- Honeywell Nylon INC
- Milliken & Company
- Sauer Danfoss NA Company
|
|
|
Education
Public Schools
The Pickens County School District is South Carolina’s eleventh largest with an enrollment of 16,004 students in 15 elementary, 5 middle, 4 high schools, 1 career center and 1 alternative school. Test scores are consistently above the state and national average on most measures. Nine schools were named Palmetto Gold, and three were named Palmetto Silver. Two elementary schools were named Red Carpet Schools. All public schools are fully accredited and all teachers fully certified by the South Carolina Department of Education.
| Post-Secondary Enrollment (Fall 2005) |
Clemson University
Southern Wesleyan University
Tri-County Technical
|
17,165
2,700
4,645 |
Highest Educational Attainment
(Adults over 25) |
Less than 9th Grade
Attended High School
High School Diploma
Attended College
College Degree
|
9.5%
16.9%
30.8%
17.4%
25.5%
|
|
|
| Private and Parochial Schools (2005) |
Number of Schools
Kindergarten Enrollment
Grades 1-8 Enrollment
Grades 9-12 Enrollment |
12
77
375
169 |
| Pickens County Library System (2005) |
Headquarters
Branches
Number of Registered Users
Library Holdings
Annual Public Service Hours |
1
3
59,887
169,996
11,908 |
|
|
Public Safety
Pickens County operates EMS stations in Easley, Liberty, Pickens, Central, Six Mile, Dacusville and Holly Springs. The County’s Emergency Management Department prepares and maintains Emergency Operations Plans to cope with potential problems such as natural disasters, hazardous material releases and terrorist events. Pickens County was selected as one of 14 South Carolina counties to organize a rapid response team for emergencies involving weapons of mass destruction or hazardous materials.
| Emergency Medical Services-County (2005) |
EMS Stations
Employees (full-time)
Employees (part-time)
Medical Emergency Calls
Wheelchair Calls
|
7
56
30
13,745
1,100
|
| Emergency Management (2005) |
Rescue Stations
Rescue Personnel (Volunteers)
Rescue Calls
HazMat Team Members
Rescue Dive Team Members
COBRA Team Members
CERT Team Members |
4
85
1,716
25
20
57
14 |
|
|
| Sheriff's Office (2005) |
Sworn Employees
Non-Sworn Employees
Total Calls for Service
Inmates Processed
Warrants Issued |
93
44
45,676
4,304
6,823 |
| Fire Service (2005) |
Fire Districts
Volunteers (approx.)
Paid Firefighters |
12
87
4 |
| Clerk of Court (2005) |
Criminal Court Cases
Civil Court Cases |
4,044
1,905 |
|
|
Public Works
The County operates eight recycling centers. Items recycled include plastic, glass, paper, cardboard, metal, clothes, petroleum products, batteries and tires.
| Solid Waste (2004) |
| |
Tons |
Percent |
Transferred Out of State
C&D Landfill
Incinerator
Recycled
|
44,092
12,607
3,863
9,070 |
63%
18%
6%
13%
|
|
|
| Transportation |
County Roads
State Primary Highway System
Stare Secondary Highway System
County Bridges
Pickens County Airport Runway
|
636 miles
228 miles
493 miles
67
5,001 feet |
|
|
|
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