Why Anderson
Situated on the Piedmont plateau in the northwest corner of South Carolina, Anderson is one of the primary urban hubs in the state's Upstate region. Positioned along the Interstate 85 corridor roughly halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte, the city sits approximately a one-hour drive from the Blue Ridge Mountains and four hours from the South Carolina coast. Known both as the "Electric City" and the "Friendliest City in South Carolina," it covers a total area of nearly 16 square miles.
Originally inhabited by the Cherokee, the area was colonized following the American Revolutionary War and incorporated in 1828 as Anderson Court House, named after Revolutionary War officer Robert Anderson. During the Civil War, the local Johnson University was converted into a Confederate treasury. In 1865, Union forces occupied the town, resulting in a minor skirmish known as the Battle of Anderson. The municipality shortened its name to Anderson in 1895, the same year William C. Whitner built a hydroelectric plant on the Rocky River. This milestone made Anderson one of the first cities in the Southeastern United States to supply electricity and the first globally to power a cotton gin electrically.
Visitors to the city can explore numerous designated historic areas, including the Anderson Downtown, North Anderson, and Whitner Street historic districts, as well as individual landmarks like the Denver Downs Farmstead and the Dr. Samuel Marshall Orr House. Downtown features a 38-foot Confederate monument erected in 1902 facing the county courthouse. Anderson is also home to Anderson University, a historic institution affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention that stands as the largest private university in the state.
Recreational amenities center around the 300-acre Anderson Sports and Entertainment Center, the area's largest park. The complex includes a 37,000-square-foot civic center, a 15,000-seat amphitheater, athletic fields, a play structure, trails, and a lake park. Nature enthusiasts can visit the Rocky River Nature Conservancy, a protected wetlands area featuring walking trails and a boardwalk, while sports events take place at the 12-acre Anderson Memorial Stadium.
Anderson is easily reached by highway via Interstate 85 and several major U.S. routes. Local public transportation includes fixed bus routes and trolleys styled after historic streetcars, alongside Clemson Area Transit service. Air travel is supported locally by Anderson Regional Airport for general aviation, while commercial passenger flights operate out of Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport, located about 42 miles away.
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