2/2/2010

Date Formed:

1826

Land Area (square miles):

497

County Seat:

Pickens

Other Cities and Towns:

Central, Clemson, Easley, Liberty, Norris, Six Mile

Form of Government:

Council-Administrator

Council Members:

Method of Election

Single Member

Term Length

4 years

Council of Government:

Appalachian

County History

Pickens County was named for Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens (1739-1817). This area in the northwestern corner of the state was Indian territory until 1777. It subsequently became part of Pendleton District (at one time called Washington District). In 1826 Pendleton was divided into two counties, Pickens and Anderson; the western portion of Pickens County was later split off to form Oconee County (1868). The earliest European settlers in this region were Indian traders. The British built Fort Prince George around 1753 as protection against the Indians, and the fort was the site of several battles in the Cherokee War of 1756. The Cherokee town of Old Seneca was later destroyed by American troops in 1776. John C. Calhoun (1782-1850), U.S. Vice President, Senator, and cabinet member, made his home at Fort Hill plantation in Pickens County. His son-in-law, Thomas Green Clemson (1807-1888), bequeathed the plantation to the state for use as an agricultural college, which led to the founding of Clemson University.

Population Trends

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Population 1980:

79,292

Numeric Change 1980-2000:

31,465

Population 1990:

93,894

Numeric Change 2000-2008:

6,158

Population 2000:

110,757

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 1980-2000:

1.98%

Population Estimate 2007:

115,606

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate 2000-2008:

0.69%

Population Estimate 2008:

116,915

Percent Change 2006-2008:

1.12%

Persons Per Square Mile 2008:

235.2

Economic Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Jobs 1980:

30,379

Personal Income (PI) 2007:

$3,077,890

Jobs 1990:

36,368

Avg. Ann. Growth Rate (PI) 1969-2007:

8.0%

Jobs 2000:

41,478

Per Capita Personal Income 2007:

$26,624

Jobs 2006:

41,174

% of U.S. PCPI 2007:

69%

Jobs 2007:

42,118

Average Wage Per Job 2007:

$30,345

Numeric Change Jobs 2006-2007:

944

% of U.S. Avg. Wage Per Job 2007:

69%

Avg Ann Growth Rate Jobs 1980-2000

1.83%

Unemployment Rate 2007:

6.1%

Avg Ann Growth Rate Jobs 2000-2007

0.22%

Avg. Unemployment 1998-2007:

4.6%

Tax Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Assessed Property 2007:

$403,240,558

Per Capita Assessed Property 2007:

$3,641

County Base Millage Rate 2009:

0.06

Additional Sales Tax (if applicable)

Value of One Mil 2009:

$428,421

Local Option Sales Tax:

1.0%

Millage Cap FY10:

5.0%

Capital Projects Sales Tax:

Net Taxable Sales FY07:

$869,922,747

School District Sales Tax:

Admissions Tax Collected FY07:

$1,869,418

Transportation Sales Tax:

Accommodations Tax Collected FY07

$251,333

Financial & Employment Data

Value

Rank

Value

Rank

Total Revenues FY08:

$52,397,439

Per Capita Revenues FY08:

$473

Total Expenditures FY08:

$52,186,901

Per Capita Expenditures FY08:

$471

General Fund Budget FY10:

$40,874,785

Per Capita General Fund Budget FY10:

$369

Total Debt Outstanding FY08:

$18,415,518

Per Capita Debt Outstanding FY08:

$156

Payroll FY 2008:

$20,629,419

Credit Rating(s) FY08

Full-Time Employees FY10:

486

Moody's:

Part-Time Employees FY10:

Standard & Poor:

A+

Full Time Emp/1,000 Cnty Residents:

4.39

Fitch:

AA-

updated

2/2/2010