CHEROKEE COUNTY 5/14/12
Date Formed:  1897 Cherokee,Cherokee,Cherokee,Cherokee
Land Area (square miles): 393
County Seat: Gaffney
Other Cities and Towns: Blacksburg
Form of Government: Council-Administrator
Council Members: 7
Method of Election Single Member
Term Length 4 years
Council of Government:  Appalachian
County History
Cherokee County was named for the Cherokee Indians who once made it their home. It was formed in 1897 from parts of Spartanburg, Union, and York counties, and the county seat is Gaffney. During the Revolutionary War at the battle of Cowpens, an important victory for the revolutionary forces, took place there on January 17, 1781. Iron mining was an important activity in this region up to the time of the Civil War, and it is sometimes called the Old Iron District. In the mid-nineteenth century, the resort at Limestone Springs was a popular retreat for lowcountry planters. Writer Wilbur Joseph Cash (1901-1941) was a native of Cherokee County, as is actress Andie MacDowell.
Population Trends Value Rank Value Rank
Census Population 1990 44,506 23 Numeric Change Census 1990-2010 10,836 19
Census Population 2000 52,537 24 Numeric Change Pop. Est. 2010-2011 124 19
Census Population 2010 55,342 24 Percent Change Pop. Est. 2010-2011 0.2% 18
Population Estimate 2010 55,416 24 Persons Per Square Mile 140.8 17
Population Estimate 2011 55,540 24
Economic Data Value Rank Value Rank
Jobs 2010 18,981 21 Personal Income 2010, in thousands $1,470,297 24
Jobs 2009 19,306 22 Per Capita Personal Income  2010 $26,532 31
Jobs 2008 18,981 21 % of U.S. Per Capita PI 2010 66% 31
Avg. Ann. Growth Rate Jobs 1990-2010 -0.2% 22 Average Wage Per Job 2010 $34,343 26
Percent Change Jobs 2009-2010 -1.7% 28 % of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2010 73% 26
Numeric Change Jobs 2009-2010 -325 30 Unemployment Rate 2011 13.1% 18
Tax Data Value Value
Assessed Property 2010 $175,380,052 Per Capita Assessed Property 2010 $3,169
County Base Millage Rate 2011 0.0831 Additional Sales Tax, if applicable
Value of One Mil 2011 $151,922 Local Option Sales Tax 1.0%
Net Taxable Sales FY10 $412,246,896 Capital Projects Sales Tax  
Admissions Tax Collected FY10 $42,947 School District Sales Tax  
Accommodations Tax Collected FY10 $106,609 Transportation Sales Tax  
County Finance & Employment Data Value
Total Revenues FY10 $24,455,691 Value
Total Expenditures FY10 $26,754,132 Per Capita Revenues FY10 $442
General Fund Budget FY12 $19,170,028 Per Capita Expenditures FY10 $483
Total Debt Outstanding FY11 $9,570,000 Per Capita Gen. Fund Budget FY12 $346
Payroll FY12 $8,151,637 Per Capita Debt Outstanding FY11 $170
Full-Time Employees FY12 268 Credit Rating(s) FY11
Part-Time Employees FY12 29 Moody's:  
Full-Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents 4.84 Standard & Poor:  
Fitch: