Easley, South Carolina

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Easley
—  City  —

Seal
Coordinates: 34°49′24″N 82°35′25″W / 34.82333°N 82.59028°W / 34.82333; -82.59028Coordinates: 34°49′24″N 82°35′25″W / 34.82333°N 82.59028°W / 34.82333; -82.59028
Country United States
State South Carolina
Counties Pickens, partially Anderson
Established 1874
Incorporated 1901
Government
 • Mayor[1] Larry Bagwell
 • Police Chief Danny Traber
 • Fire Chief Butch Womack
Area
 • Total 10.6 sq mi (27.6 km2)
 • Land 10.6 sq mi (27.6 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 1,079 ft (329 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 19,993
 • Density 1,668.8/sq mi (644.3/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 29640-29642
Area code(s) 864
FIPS code 45-21985[3]
GNIS feature ID 1247594[4]
Website www.cityofeasley.net

Easley is a small city in Pickens County (with parts extending into Anderson County) in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is a principal city of the GreenvilleMauldin–Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area. Most of the city lies in Pickens County, with only a very small portion of the city in Anderson County. The population was 19,993 at the 2010 census.

Easley has been hosting the Big League World Series for several years. The Upper South Carolina State Fair is located about 2 miles east of Easley.

Contents

Geography [edit]

Easley is located at 34°49′24″N 82°35′25″W / 34.82333°N 82.59028°W / 34.82333; -82.59028 (34.823371, -82.590394)[5].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.6 square miles (27 km2), all of it land.

Larry Bagwell is the elected mayor.

Demographics [edit]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1880 327
1890 421 28.7%
1900 903 114.5%
1910 2,983 230.3%
1920 3,568 19.6%
1930 4,886 36.9%
1940 5,183 6.1%
1950 6,316 21.9%
1960 8,283 31.1%
1970 11,175 34.9%
1980 14,264 27.6%
1990 15,195 6.5%
2000 17,754 16.8%
2010 19,993 12.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 17,754 people, 7,227 households, and 5,058 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,668.8 people per square mile (644.3/km²). There were 7,932 housing units at an average density of 745.6 per square mile (287.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.35% White, 11.81% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.25% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.82% of the population.

There were 7,227 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,204, and the median income for a family was $47,867. Males had a median income of $35,399 versus $25,443 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,965. About 8.4% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

History [edit]

What was first named Rockville in 1791 became Pickensville the next year and, later, Easley in the late 1800s. During its short history, Pickensville played a major role in the development of upstate South Carolina. In 1792 it held the distinction of being the district seat for Washington District which was composed of Greenville and Pendleton Counties. In 1798 the Washington District was divided into the Greenville and Pendleton Districts with Pickensville maintaining its place as the district seat for Pendleton. Pendleton District was composed of what would later be known as Pickens, Anderson, and Oconee Counties.

When a new courthouse was built in Pendleton for the Court of General Sessions and Common Pleas, the importance of Pickensville began to wane. The ultimate demise came when the railroad located through Easley, a scant 2 miles away. The state granted a charter for Easley in January, 1874. The next year (1875), the US Post Office Department renamed the Pickensville Post Office, which had opened in 1795 to the Easley Post Office.

Both Pickensville and the county of Pickens, SC were named after General Andrew Pickens of Revolutionary War fame. Easley's namesake was General William King Easley who fought for the confederacy during the Civil War. Of note is the fact that General Easley was an attorney for the Atlanta and Charlotte Railroad Company, which owned the railroad that passed through Easley. Robert Elliot Holcombe, who became the first mayor of Easley financed and built the first depot in town.

Notable people [edit]

References [edit]

External links [edit]