Oconee County, South Carolina
Oconee County | |
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UTC−4 (EDT) | |
Congressional district | 3rd |
Website | www |
Oconee County is the westernmost
History
Oconee County was named after a historic Cherokee town and the word "Ae-quo-nee", meaning "land beside the water." Oconee (Cherokee: ᎤᏊᏄ, romanized: Uquunu) town developed on the Cherokee trading path near present-day Oconee Station State Historic Site along Oconee Creek. The town was located along the Cherokee trading path of the early 18th century between the English colonial Atlantic port of Charleston and the Mississippi River to the west.
Oconee Town did not develop around an ancient
Due to its geographic position, the town was at the intersection of the trading path and the Cherokee treaty boundary of 1777. In 1792, the newly formed South Carolina State Militia built a frontier outpost near the town site, and named it Oconee Station.
European-American settlement in this far western area of the colony did not begin until the late eighteenth century. Most did not take place until decades after the American Revolutionary War. South Carolina jurisdictions were successively called parishes, counties, judicial districts and counties again. Oconee County was not created until 1868, after the American Civil War and during the Reconstruction era. It was taken from part of the Pickens District and named after Oconee Town.
Post-Revolutionary and 19th-century history
- 1780s - The rare American wildflower, Oconee Bell, was first recorded by French botanist André Michaux.
- 1780s - Colonel Benjamin Cleveland and a group of Revolutionary veterans received land grants from the state of Georgia (which then claimed this area according to their colonial charter), in lieu of payment for service, and settled in present-day Oconee County.
- 1787 - Georgia withdrew its claims to the land between the Tugaloo and Keowee rivers by the Treaty of Beaufort with South Carolina.
- 1816 - Under pressure from encroaching European Americans, the Cherokee sold their remaining South Carolina land.
- 1850s - The largest town in the county was Tunnel Hill, located above Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel.
- 1868 - Oconee County was formed by the state legislature dividing Pickens County. Walhalla was designated as the county seat.
- 1870 - Air Line Railroad built a railroad through the county; it stimulated development at stops known as Seneca and Westminster
- 1893 - Newry was established as a mill village to house workers of the Courtenay Manufacturing Company, a textile mill that produced cotton, wool, and other textile products.[6]
Geography
According to the
Bad Creek Reservoir, located in the mountains above Jocassee, is also used for generating electricity during peak hours. The water level can fall by tens of feet per hour and, during off-peak times, water is pumped back into the lake for the next peak period. Because of the dramatic changes in water level due to these uses, boating and swimming are prohibited in this reservoir.
Oconee County is in the Savannah River basin.
National protected areas
- Ellicott Rock Wilderness (part)
- Sumter National Forest (part)
State and local protected areas/sites
- Brasstown Creek Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area[8]
- Buzzard Roost Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area[8]
- Chau Ram County Park
- Devils Fork State Park
- High Falls County Park
- Horsepasture River
- Lake Hartwell State Recreation Area
- Oconee State Park
- Oconee Station State Historic Site
- Piedmont Forestry Center
- Poe Creek State Forest (part)
- South Cove County Park
- Stumphouse Mountain Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area[8]
- Sumter National Forest - Andrew Pickens Ranger District[8]
- W.P. Anderson City Park
- Yellow Branch Falls Recreation Area
Major water bodies
Adjacent counties
- Jackson County, North Carolina – north
- Transylvania County, North Carolina – northeast
- Pickens County – east
- Anderson County – southeast
- Hart County, Georgia – south
- Franklin County, Georgia – south
- Stephens County, Georgia – southwest
- Habersham County, Georgia – west
- Rabun County, Georgia – west
- Macon County, North Carolina – northwest
Major highways
Major infrastructure
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1870 | 10,536 | — | |
1880 | 16,256 | 54.3% | |
1890 | 18,687 | 15.0% | |
1900 | 23,634 | 26.5% | |
1910 | 27,337 | 15.7% | |
1920 | 30,117 | 10.2% | |
1930 | 33,368 | 10.8% | |
1940 | 36,512 | 9.4% | |
1950 | 39,050 | 7.0% | |
1960 | 40,204 | 3.0% | |
1970 | 40,728 | 1.3% | |
1980 | 48,611 | 19.4% | |
1990 | 57,494 | 18.3% | |
2000 | 66,215 | 15.2% | |
2010 | 74,273 | 12.2% | |
2020 | 78,607 | 5.8% | |
2023 (est.) | 81,221 | [2] | 3.3% |
U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11] 1990–2000[12] 2010[13] 2020[2] |
2020 census
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (non-Hispanic)
|
64,696 | 82.3% |
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
|
5,119 | 6.51% |
Native American
|
176 | 0.22% |
Asian
|
591 | 0.75% |
Pacific Islander
|
16 | 0.02% |
Other/Mixed
|
3,625 | 4.61% |
Latino
|
4,384 | 5.58% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 78,607 people, 31,530 households, and 21,214 families residing in the county.
2010 census
At the 2010 census,[13] there were 74,273 people, 30,676 households, and 21,118 families living in the county.[15] The population density was 118.6 inhabitants per square mile (45.8 inhabitants/km2). There were 38,763 housing units at an average density of 61.9 units per square mile (23.9 units/km2).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 87.8% white, 7.6% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.3% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry,[17]
Of the 30,676 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.2% were non-families, and 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 43.4 years.[15]
The median income for a household in the county was $42,266 and the median income for a family was $52,332. Males had a median income of $40,943 versus $29,841 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,055. About 11.8% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the
2000 census
At the
There were 27,283 households, out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.90% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,666, and the median income for a family was $43,047. Males had a median income of $31,032 versus $22,156 for females. The
Government and politics
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 29,698 | 73.03% | 10,414 | 25.61% | 556 | 1.37% |
2016 | 24,178 | 71.88% | 7,998 | 23.78% | 1,459 | 4.34% |
2012 | 21,611 | 70.47% | 8,550 | 27.88% | 505 | 1.65% |
2008 | 21,164 | 67.98% | 9,481 | 30.45% | 487 | 1.56% |
2004 | 18,811 | 68.32% | 8,395 | 30.49% | 326 | 1.18% |
2000 | 15,364 | 65.17% | 7,571 | 32.11% | 640 | 2.71% |
1996 | 10,503 | 52.64% | 7,398 | 37.08% | 2,051 | 10.28% |
1992 | 10,379 | 50.68% | 6,617 | 32.31% | 3,483 | 17.01% |
1988 | 10,184 | 69.83% | 4,299 | 29.48% | 102 | 0.70% |
1984 | 8,625 | 71.61% | 3,333 | 27.67% | 86 | 0.71% |
1980 | 5,651 | 41.58% | 7,677 | 56.49% | 263 | 1.94% |
1976 | 3,805 | 30.90% | 8,447 | 68.61% | 60 | 0.49% |
1972 | 6,824 | 78.19% | 1,740 | 19.94% | 164 | 1.88% |
1968 | 2,618 | 27.94% | 2,009 | 21.44% | 4,742 | 50.61% |
1964 | 2,712 | 32.79% | 5,560 | 67.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 1,886 | 30.35% | 4,328 | 69.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 911 | 18.99% | 3,510 | 73.17% | 376 | 7.84% |
1952 | 1,624 | 33.46% | 3,230 | 66.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 135 | 6.90% | 666 | 34.03% | 1,156 | 59.07% |
1944 | 106 | 7.08% | 1,316 | 87.85% | 76 | 5.07% |
1940 | 143 | 8.24% | 1,593 | 91.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
1936 | 53 | 2.51% | 2,057 | 97.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
1932 | 14 | 0.77% | 1,803 | 99.17% | 1 | 0.06% |
1928 | 70 | 5.24% | 1,263 | 94.61% | 2 | 0.15% |
1924 | 5 | 0.49% | 989 | 96.30% | 33 | 3.21% |
1920 | 70 | 5.31% | 1,249 | 94.69% | 0 | 0.00% |
1916 | 59 | 6.23% | 885 | 93.45% | 3 | 0.32% |
1912 | 58 | 6.54% | 760 | 85.68% | 69 | 7.78% |
1904 | 62 | 7.93% | 720 | 92.07% | 0 | 0.00% |
1900 | 69 | 7.32% | 873 | 92.68% | 0 | 0.00% |
Communities
Cities
- Seneca (largest community)
- Walhalla (county seat)
- Westminster
Towns
Census-designated places
- Chickasaw Point
- Fair Play (partly in Anderson County)
- Keowee Key
- Longcreek
- Newry
- South Union
- Tamassee
- Utica
Unincorporated communities
- Corinth
- Madison
- Mountain Rest
- Oakway
- Picket Post
- Richland
- Tokeena Crossroads
- Townville (partly in Anderson County)
In popular culture
The Oconee region is mentioned in the song "Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)" by the indie rock group the Decemberists, on their 2006 album The Crane Wife. The reference is "When I was a girl how the hills of Oconee made a seam to hem me in."
Parts of the film Deliverance were filmed on the Oconee side of the Chattooga River, including specifically some scenes shot in Salem.[21]
See also
- List of counties in South Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Oconee County, South Carolina
References
- ^ "History Of Oconee County". www.oconeelibrary.org. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c "QuickFacts: Oconee County, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Museum of the Cherokee in South Carolina
- ^ Oconee History Museum
- ^ Project, SC Picture (December 8, 2010). "Newry Mill". SC Picture Project. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "SCDNR Public Lands". www2.dnr.sc.gov. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
- ^ "Scenic adventure and remembering "Deliverance" in Oconee County, S.C." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. May 21, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
External links
- Geographic data related to Oconee County, South Carolina at OpenStreetMap
- Official website