BlockBefore

Pickens County, South Carolina

77 topographic sheets and 12 fire insurance atlases across 3 places.

Research this county

From the record

29 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

South Carolina within the United States
Pickens County within South Carolina
Explore by year 1883 1911

What the record shows

  • 3 places in this county were surveyed for fire insurance: Pickens, Easley, Liberty, between 1894 and 1950.
  • 12 fire insurance atlases survive for the county. Topographic coverage is national; fire insurance survey reached only incorporated places with something worth insuring.
  • 1,812 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 29 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 20 buildings, 6 districts and 3 sites.
  • 4 of the 29 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 107 populated places in this county; 106 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Photographs

10 photographs,

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Lower Gassaway Bridge, State Route 137, spanning Twelve Mile Creek, Norris, Pickens County, SC
Lower Gassaway Bridge, State Route 137, spanning Twelve Mile Creek, Norris, Pickens County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Hopewell Meetinghouse, Anderson-Seneca Road, U.S. Route 76 vicinity, Clemson, Pickens County, SC
Hopewell Meetinghouse, Anderson-Seneca Road, U.S. Route 76 vicinity, Clemson, Pickens County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Fort Hill, Clemson University Campus, Clemson, Pickens County, SC
Fort Hill, Clemson University Campus, Clemson, Pickens County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Fort Hill, Spring House, Clemson University Campus, Clemson, Pickens County, SC
Fort Hill, Spring House, Clemson University Campus, Clemson, Pickens County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Fort Hill, Kitchen, Clemson University Campus, Clemson, Pickens County, SC
Fort Hill, Kitchen, Clemson University Campus, Clemson, Pickens County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Rocky Bottom 4-H Camp, Dining Hall, Intersection of Routes 178 & 199, Pickens, Pickens County, SC
Rocky Bottom 4-H Camp, Dining Hall, Intersection of Routes 178 & 199, Pickens, Pickens County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Old Stone Church & Cemetery, Off US Route 76, Clemson, Pickens County, SC
Old Stone Church & Cemetery, Off US Route 76, Clemson, Pickens County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Hanover, (moved to Clemson University campus, Clemson, SC), Pinopolis, Berkeley County, SC
Hanover, (moved to Clemson University campus, Clemson, SC), Pinopolis, Berkeley County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Fort Hill, Office, Clemson University Campus, Clemson, Pickens County, SC
Fort Hill, Office, Clemson University Campus, Clemson, Pickens County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Hopewell Plantation, Clemson University Campus, near intersection of Old Cherry Road and Old Stone Church Road, Clemson, Pickens County, SC
Hopewell Plantation, Clemson University Campus, near intersection of Old Cherry Road and Old Stone Church Road, Clemson, Pickens County, SC
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress

Places on the National Register

29

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Arial Milldistrict2023100008970
Central High Schoolbuilding199494000475
Central Roller Millsbuilding201313000454
Civilian Conservation Corps Quarry No. 1 and Truck Traildistrict198989000479
Civilian Conservation Corps Quarry No. 2site198989000480
Clemson College Sheep Barnbuilding199089002140
Clemson University Historic District Idistrict199089002138
Clemson University Historic District IIdistrict199089002139
Easley High School Auditoriumbuilding199998001646
Easley Milldistrict201309000818
Fort Hillbuilding196666000708
Griffin-Christopher Housebuilding200101001160
Hagood Millbuilding197272001217
Hagood-Mauldin Housebuilding199797001185
Hanover Housebuilding197070000594
Hester Storebuilding201312001263
Liberty Colored High Schoolbuilding200303000270
Morgan Housebuilding200101000312
Old Pickens Jailbuilding197979002390
Old Stone Church and Cemeterybuilding197171000794
Oolenoy Baptist Church Cemeterysite200303000659
Roper House Complexbuilding198989000482
Sheriff Mill Complexbuilding198787002058
J. Warren Smith Housebuilding200504001564
J.C. Stribling Barnbuilding200101001161
Structural Science Buildingbuilding201009000365
Table Rock Civilian Conservation Corps Camp Sitesite198989000481
Table Rock State Park Historic Districtdistrict198989000478
Williams-Ligon Housebuilding201212000015

Digitised newspapers

16 issues

Sampled issues, machine-read from the Library of Congress scan and published page by page, so every headline and column is searchable text.

The Sentinel-Journal

Pickens, S.C., 1906 to 1909. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

The Pickens Sentinel-Journal

Pickens, S.C., 1909 to 1911. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

The Pickens Sentinel

Pickens, S.C., 1871 to 1903. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

The People's Journal

Pickens, S.C., 1891 to 1903. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

The Easley Messenger

Easley, S.C., 1883 to 1891. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

The Pickens Sentinel-Journal

Pickens, S.C., 1903 to 1906. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

The Pickens Sentinel

Pickens, S.C., 1911 to 2016. Machine-read from the Library of Congress scan.

Photographs from libraries nationwide

4 of 10 shown

Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 10 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.

Fort Hill, home of John C. Calhoun, Clemson College, Clemson, S. C., Boston Public Library - undated
Fort Hill, home of John C. Calhoun, Clemson College, Clemson, S. C.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
C-4. The Clemson House, Carolina's newest... Smartest hotel, Clemson, S. C., Boston Public Library - undated
C-4. The Clemson House, Carolina's newest... Smartest hotel, Clemson, S. C.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
The Clemson House, Carolina's newest... smartest hotel, Clemson, S.C., Boston Public Library - undated
The Clemson House, Carolina's newest... smartest hotel, Clemson, S.C.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
The Clemson House, Carolina's newest... smartest hotel, Clemson, S.C., Boston Public Library - undated
The Clemson House, Carolina's newest... smartest hotel, Clemson, S.C.. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

The county from the air

44 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 795 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 44 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-02-02, scale 1:37400
1947-02-02, scale 1:37400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-02-02, scale 1:37400
1947-02-02, scale 1:37400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-02-02, scale 1:37400
1947-02-02, scale 1:37400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-02-02, scale 1:37400
1947-02-02, scale 1:37400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1948-03-08, scale 1:37400
1948-03-08, scale 1:37400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1948-03-08, scale 1:37400
1948-03-08, scale 1:37400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1948-03-08, scale 1:37400
1948-03-08, scale 1:37400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1948-03-08, scale 1:37400
1948-03-08, scale 1:37400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-01-26, scale 1:59000
1951-01-26, scale 1:59000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-01-26, scale 1:59000
1951-01-26, scale 1:59000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-01-26, scale 1:59000
1951-01-26, scale 1:59000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-01-26, scale 1:59000
1951-01-26, scale 1:59000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-03-27, scale 1:33000
1955-03-27, scale 1:33000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-03-27, scale 1:33000
1955-03-27, scale 1:33000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-03-27, scale 1:33000
1955-03-27, scale 1:33000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-03-27, scale 1:33000
1955-03-27, scale 1:33000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-03-17, scale 1:32000
1956-03-17, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-03-17, scale 1:32000
1956-03-17, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-03-17, scale 1:32000
1956-03-17, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1956-03-17, scale 1:32000
1956-03-17, scale 1:32000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-11-20, scale 1:24000
1959-11-20, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-11-20, scale 1:24000
1959-11-20, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-11-20, scale 1:24000
1959-11-20, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-11-20, scale 1:24000
1959-11-20, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-02-01, scale 1:24000
1960-02-01, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-02-01, scale 1:24000
1960-02-01, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-02-01, scale 1:24000
1960-02-01, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-02-01, scale 1:24000
1960-02-01, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-09-08, scale 1:30000
1964-09-08, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-09-08, scale 1:30000
1964-09-08, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-09-15, scale 1:30000
1964-09-15, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-09-15, scale 1:30000
1964-09-15, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-08-25, scale 1:122354
1969-08-25, scale 1:122354. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-08-25, scale 1:122354
1969-08-25, scale 1:122354. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-08-25, scale 1:123176
1969-08-25, scale 1:123176. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-08-25, scale 1:120722
1969-08-25, scale 1:120722. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-02-23, scale 1:33000
1976-02-23, scale 1:33000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-02-23, scale 1:33000
1976-02-23, scale 1:33000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-02-23, scale 1:33000
1976-02-23, scale 1:33000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-02-23, scale 1:33000
1976-02-23, scale 1:33000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-03-08, scale 1:80000
1977-03-08, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-03-08, scale 1:80000
1977-03-08, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-03-08, scale 1:80000
1977-03-08, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-03-08, scale 1:80000
1977-03-08, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

57 stations, 7 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

83 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 39-1School District 1, Croswell
  • 39-2School District 2, Dayton
  • 39-3School District 3. Zion
  • 39-4School District 4, Flat Rock
  • 39-5School District 5, Ruhamah
  • 39-6School District 6, Symmes
  • 39-7School District 7. Tabor
  • 39-8School District 8, Calhoun: Clemson town
  • 39-9School District 8, Calhoun - That part outside Clemson town, excluding Clemson College (part)
  • 39-10Clemson College - That part in School District 8, Calhoun (Remainder of Clemson College is in Seneca township, Oconee county)
  • 39-11School District 9, Central: Central town: Central town - That part north of Southern Railway
  • 39-12Central town - That part south of Southern Railway
  • 39-13School District 9, Central - That part outside of and adjacent to Central town
  • 39-14School District 10, Johnston: Norris town
  • 39-15School District 10, Johnston - That part outside Norris town
  • 39-16Liberty town, comprising parts of School Districts 11, Liberty, and 12, Reunion: Liberty town - That part in School District 11, Liberty Bounded by Town limits; School District line, Town limits; U.S. Hwy. 178; N. 1st, U.S. Hwy. 178
  • 39-17Liberty town - That part in School District 11, Liberty Bounded by Town limits; U.S. Hwy. 178, N. 1st; Southern Railway; Town limits
  • 39-18Liberty town - That part in School District 11, Liberty Bounded by Southern Railway, U.S. Hwy. 178; Town limits; Town limits; Town limits
  • 39-19Liberty town - That part in School District 12, Reunion Bounded by Town limits; Town limits; School District line
  • 39-20School District 11, Liberty - That part outside Liberty town (Remainder of School District 11, Liberty is in Liberty town)
  • 39-21Arial, unincorporated, comprising parts of School Districts 12, Reunion, 13, Easley, 19, Cedar Rock, and 20, Bethlehem: Arial, unincorporated - That part in School District 12, Reunion (See boundaries shown on aerial photo GM-30-160)
  • 39-22Arial, unincorporated - That part in School District 13, Easley (See boundaries shown on aerial photo GM-3C-160)
  • 39-23Arial, unincorporated - That part in School District 19, Cedar Rock (See boundaries shown on aerial photo GM-3C-160)
  • 39-24Arial, unincorporated - That part in School District 20, Bethlehem (See boundaries shown on aerial photo GML-3C-160)
  • 39-25School District 12, Reunion - That part outside Liberty town and the unincorporated place of Arial ((See aerial photo GM -3C-160 for boundaries of Arial) (Remainder of School District 12, Reunion, is in Liberty town and the unincorporated place of Arial)
  • 39-26School District 13, Easley, outside Arial, unincorporated: Easley city: Easley city - That part comprising Ward 1 Bounded by Southern Railway; City limits; City limits; S. Pendleton
  • 39-27Easley city - That part comprising ward 2 Bounded by Pickens Railroad, Southern Railway; S. Pendleton; Ward line, Second Ave., Ward line; S. Fifth, Ward line, N. Fifth
  • 39-28Easley city - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by Ward line, Second Ave., Ward line; S. Pendleton; City limits; S. Fifth
  • 39-29Easley city - That part of Ward 3 Bounded by Second Ave.; S. Fifth; City limits; Liberty Rd.
  • 39-30Easley city - That part of ward 4 Bounded by Pickens Railroad; N. Fifth; W. Main, Highland Rd.; City limits
  • 39-31Easley city - That part of Ward 4 Bounded by Highland Rd., W. Main; Ward line, S. Fifth; Second Ave., Liberty Rd.; City limits
  • 39-32Easley city - That part of Ward 5 Bounded by Dacusville Rd.; Ward line, N. "C", Ward line; Southern Railway; N. "A"
  • 39-33Easley city - That part of Ward 5 Bounded by City limits; Dacusville Rd., N. "A"; Southern Railway, Pickens Railroad; City limits
  • 39-34Easley city - That part comprising Ward 6 Bounded by City limits; City limits; Southern Railway; Ward line, N. "C", Ward line
  • 39-35Alice Mill, unincorporated (See boundaries shown on aerial photo GM-5C-160)
  • 39-36School District 13, Easley - That part east of State Hwy. 135, outside Easley city
  • 39-37ASchool District 13, Easley - That part south of State Hwy. 8 and west of State Hwy. 135, outside Easley city and the unincorporated places of Alice Mill and Arial, (See aerial photo GM-3C-160 for boundaries of Alice Mill and Arial)
  • 39-37BSchool District 13, Easley - That part west of State Hwy. 135 and north of State Hwy. 8, outside Easley city, and the unincorporated places of Alice Mill and Arial (See aerial photo GM-3C-160 for boundaries of Alice Mill and Arial)
  • 39-38School District 14, Cateechee
  • 39-39School District 16, Farrs
  • 39-40School District 17, Dacusville
  • 39-41School District 18, Maynard
  • 39-42School District 19, Cedar Rock - That part outside Arial, unincorporated. (See aerial photo GM-3C-160 for boundaries of Arial) (Remainder of School District 19, Cedar Rock, is in Arial, unincorporated)
  • 39-43School District 20, Bethlemen - That part outside Arial, unincorporated (See aerial photo GM-3C-160 for boundaries of Arial) (Remainder of School District 20, Bethlehem is in Arial, unincorporated)
  • 39-44School District 21, Roanoke
  • 39-45School District 22, Gates
  • 39-46School District 9, Central - That part west of Twelve Mile Creek
  • 39-47School District 24, Pleasant Hill
  • 39-48School District 25. Kings
  • 39-49School District 26, Palestine
  • 39-50School District 27. Six Mile: Six Mile town
  • 39-51School District 27. Six Mile - That part outside Sim Mile town
  • 39-52School District 28, Praters
  • 39-53School District 29, Wolf Creek - That part outside Pickens town (Remainder of School District 29, Wolf Creek is in Pickens town)
  • 39-54School District 30, Town Creek: Pickens Mill, unincorporated: Pickens Mill, unincorporated - That part east of Old School District line
  • 39-55Pickens Mill, unincorporated - That part west of Old School District line
  • 39-56School District 30, Town Creek - That part outside the unincorporated place of Pickens Mill (See aerial photo GM-4C-60 for boundaries of Pickens Mill)
  • 39-57Pickens town - That part in School District 31, Pickens Bounded by Town limits; Town limits; Jewel, E. Main, W. Main, Old town limits, Town limits; School District line
  • 39-58Pickens town - That part in School District 31, Pickens Bounded by W. Main, E. Main; Pendleton Ave.; Town limits; Old town limits
  • 39-59Pickens town - That part in School District 31, Pickens Bounded by E. Main, Jewel; Town limits; Town limits; Pendleton Ave.
  • 39-60School District 31, Pickens, outside Pickens town: School District 31, Pickens - That part outside Pickens town (Remainder of School District 31, Pickens, is in Pickens town)
  • 39-61School District 32, Glassy Mount
  • 39-62School District 33, Mica
  • 39-63School District 35, Olga
  • 39-64School District 36, Oolenoy
  • 39-65School District 37, Ambler
  • 39-66School District 38, Hagood
  • 39-67School District 39, Twelve Mile
  • 39-68School District 40, Martin
  • 39-69School District 41, Mile Creek
  • 39-70School District 42, Keowee
  • 39-71School District 44, Shady Grove
  • 39-72School District 45, Antioch
  • 39-73School District 46, Hampton
  • 39-74School District 47, Holly Springs
  • 39-75School District 48, Rock
  • 39-76School District 49, Pleasant Grove
  • 39-77School District 50, Rocky Bottom
  • 39-78School District 51, Eastatoee
  • 39-79School District 52. Cane Creek
  • 39-80School District 55, New Town
  • 39-81School District 56, Montvale
  • 39-82Pickens town, comprising parts of School Districts 29, Wolf Creek and 31, Pickens: Pickens town - That part in School District 29, Wolf Creek Bounded by School District line; Town limits; Town limits

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

1,148 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 1,148 of them, burning about 15,024 acres. 36 started naturally and 53 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined425
Debris and open burning416
Misuse of fire by a minor78
Equipment and vehicle use62
Arson/incendiarism53
Natural36
Smoking34
Recreation and ceremony23
Power generation/transmission/distribution12
Railroad operations and maintenance4
Other causes3
Fireworks2

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
9 November 2016Recreation and ceremony10,623 acresSouth Carolina Forestry CommissionPINNACLE MTN FIRE
11 April 2014Recreation and ceremony468 acresSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
9 April 2007Recreation and ceremony250 acresSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
22 March 1996Missing data/not specified/undetermined200 acresSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
23 March 1999Recreation and ceremony150 acresSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
18 April 1996Missing data/not specified/undetermined150 acresSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
21 April 2004Smoking102 acresSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
2 April 2014Power generation/transmission/distribution100 acresSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1960 to 2025

60 of 576 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 576 reports for this county, causing 4 deaths, 37 injuries and about $12,350,030 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind318
Hail171
Tornado35
Flash Flood31
Heavy Rain8
Flood7
Lightning6

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 2019Thunderstorm WindEastatoe2 killed, 2 hurt, $50,000County comms reported strong thunderstorm winds caused a home under construction to collapse on Waterlake Dr, killing two workers, and injuring two others. Several trees and power lines were also blown down in the vicinity.
January 1998Flash FloodPickens1 killed, 3 hurt, $50,000Excessive rain fell just north of Pickens causing raging water flowing into a lake to wash out a road. Two cars drove into this washout around 2300 EST and then were swept into the lake, killing one young man and injuring three other people.
August 2013Flash FloodCateechee1 killed, $50,000A car was swept away by flood waters on Silver Creek Road. The car and it's occupant, a 23 year old male, were found separately downstream. The occupant was killed and the car destroyed. Two other cars were swept away at this location with 4 passengers rescued.
January 2007Tornado (F1)Liberty15 hurt, $50,000This tornado touched down very briefly in the parking lot of the Liberty Elementary School. Nine vehicles were severely damaged. At least 4 vehicles were lifted off the ground or flipped over by the wind. Some of the vehicles were occupied by parents awaiting school dismissal. Fifteen people received mostly minor injuries, with 5 being transported to the hospital. A shed was also blown over.
April 2020Tornado (EF2)Pumpkintown8 hurt, $200,000NWS Storm Survey determined the path of a tornado that began in northern Pickens County near the intersection of Highway 8 and Log House Rd. Numerous trees were uprooted and large trees snapped as the tornado moved northeast, crossing Dacusville Highway, Cedar Rd, and the Oolenoy River. From there, it moved roughly parallel to Highway 288 before crossing into Greenville County. The most significant damage was found along the banks of the Saluda River, including along Yankee Rebel Pt and Sherwood Rd, where two mobile homes were rolled and several large hardwood trees snapped. A total of eight people were injured in this area.
January 1998Tornado (F2)Easley4 hurt, $3,000,000A tornado developed from a fast moving severe thunderstorm that raced north out of eastern Georgia. The F2 tornado destroyed several houses and mobile homes and severely damaged many other homes and businesses. Damage was sustained to the south of the track of the tornado due to strong inflow into the storm. Damage from severe thunderstorm winds in the rear flank downdraft occurred north into Easley.
May 2003Tornado (F1)Easley1 hurt, $250,000This tornado traveled just south of highway 123, causing some structural damage and blowing down numerous trees and power lines before lifting near the Greenville County line. Several homes and a church received light to moderate roof damage, and several vacant mobile homes were damaged or destroyed at a sales lot.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindSix Mile1 hurtMutliple trees and power lines were blown down in the Clemson area. Several trees fell on roads and at least three trees fell on homes, with significant damage to a home and minor injuries to an occupant on Augusta Rd.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindPickens1 hurtno account filed
August 1997LightningClemson1 hurtno account filed
April 1990Thunderstorm Windnot stated1 hurtno account filed
February 2020Flash FloodSunset$1,500,000Emergency manager and automated stream gauges reported significant flash flooding developed across Pickens County after 4 to 7 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts fell in about an 18-hour period. More than half of that rain fell in less than 6 hours from daybreak through late morning of the 6th. The main impact was within the Twelvemile Creek basin. A stream gauge on the creek near Liberty exceeded major flood stage by the evening of the 6th. At this level, significant flooding occurs to the Pickens County Flea Market on Highway 183, and most of the bridges over Twelvemile Creek become inundated. One home on Williams Dr was rendered uninhabitable due to water damage. Flash flooding of the Saluda River also occurred on the Pickens County side of west Greenville, where water was beginning to inundate some houses by late evening. Town Creek overflowed its banks in the city of Pickens and inundated and caused significant damage to an industrial park that was in the process of being converted to new business sites. Two people had to be rescued from this location. Other roads were flooded and closed throughout the county due to a combination of drainage and small stream flooding. Dozens of roads were closed at the height of the event.
November 2010Tornado (EF1)Easley$1,500,000A tornado damage path was surveyed starting in the Old Market Square area near downtown Easley. Numerous buildings in the downtown area received minor to significant roof damage. Some trees fell on homes as well. The tornado appeared to lift briefly as it traveled north northeast from the downtown area. However, the damage path appeared again in the Lenhardt Rd area just north of downtown. An anchored mobile home was rolled 60 to 80 feet and completely destroyed at this location. Numerous trees were also uprooted or snapped in this area.
February 2020FloodSunset$500,000Although heavy rain gradually wound down across Pickens County through the evening, high water conditions persisted, including throughout the Saluda River and Twelvemile Creek basin into the daylight hours of the 7th. Major flooding developed along the Saluda during this time, and the flooding in the west Greenville area was the worst since October 1964. Multiple structures were inundated in extreme southeast Pickens County, including homes on Shady Acres Circle and Old Easley Bridge Rd. Meanwhile. the stream gauge on Twelvemile Creek near Liberty remained in moderate to major flooding until around sunrise on the 7th. However, flooding persisted on the Saluda River, and multiple roads remained closed throughout the day.
June 1994Tornado (F1)Salem to$500,000A thunderstorm became severe after moving out of the Georgia mountains and generated two tornadoes in the mountainous areas of the upstate. The first tornado started near Pickett Post - where the tornado of March 27, 1994 ended. This storm reached F2 intensity blowing off roofs of several well built homes and downing numerous large trees. In all, about 25 homes were damaged and property loss is estimatred at about $250,000. The tornado moved from Pickett Post over or near Salem, Tamassee, Boone's Creek and dissipated around the dam at Lake Jocassee in the northeast corner of Oconee County. A 15-year-old girl was slightly injured when the roof of her mobile home was caved in by the storm. A second tornado, F1 began near Antiock just inside the Pickens County line and south of the first tornado track. This storm caused about $50,000 in damage to homes, outbuildings, and sheds, and downed quite a bit of timber. The tornado moved near the Nine Times Community and ended north northwest of Pickens along Highway 11.
March 1993HailPickens$500,000no account filed
July 2005Flash FloodPickens$400,000Flooding began around Easley during the late morning, when several roads were underwater, including Stewart Dr, Campbell Ave, and Saluda Dam Rd, where a car was swept away by flood water. Flooding became quite serious around 10 AM, when water from Georges Creek entered 8 homes in the Quail Haven s/d, forcing evacuations. Some of the homes and their contents were damaged extensively and rendered uninhabitable. At least 1 bridge was washed out. A family required rescue when their van succombed to flood water in the Oak Creek subdivision. Near Pickens, a flea market was underwater when a feeder creek of Twelvemile Creek flooded. Several roads were closed in Pickens, including City Lake and Slickum Rds. A bridge on Odom Rd in Pickens received some minor damage and a portion of Ballard Hill Rd was washed out.
September 2024Flash FloodLatham$300,000A stream gauge on the Saluda River in west Greenville indicated flash flooding developed along the river after 8-15 inches of rain fell across the foothills in three days, with 1.5 to 2.5 inches of that falling in less than three hours on the morning of the 27th. Multiple homes and structures were inundated and damaged on the Pickens County side of the river in east Easley, including on Shop Ct, Shady Acres Circle, Covenant Dr, and Easley Bridge Rd.
March 2022Tornado (EF2)Six Mile$250,000NWS storm survey found the path of a strong tornado that touched down on Duncan Rd near Sarah Rose Dr, where numerous trees were blown down, one of which fell on a mobile home. The tornado traveled northeast from there, continuing to blow down numerous trees as it crossed Rolling Hills Rd and Mile Creek Rd. Hundreds of trees were down in this area, including trees as large a couple of feet in diameter. The tornado intensified as it moved towards Windmont Rd, which is where the worst damage was observed. Much of the roof was removed and one exterior wall collapsed on a brick house on Windmont Rd. Three occupants of this home were trapped and had to be rescued, with minor injuries. The tornado weakened as it continued northeast, crossing Mt Bethel Rd, Shady Grove Rd, and Reece Mill Rd before intensifying again in the area between Reece Mill Rd and Lost Valley Road, where a mobile home was split in two and rolled over off of its foundation on Crystal Ln and hundreds of trees were downed. The tornado weakened a bit but continued to blow down numerous trees northeast of there, crossing Nine Times Rd and Meece Mill Rd before lifting near Gravley Rd.
October 2017Tornado (EF2)Cateechee$250,000NWS storm survey found a non-continuous path of tornado damage that began at Maxey Dr near the center of Norris. Multiple trees were blown down, several outbuildings damaged or destroyed, and a home received moderate roof damage at this location. The first of several short breaks in the damage path occurred there, but the path was picked up again in an area along Robinson Bridge Rd, just north of Jule Merck Rd, where the most significant damage was observed. The roof of a brick home was completely removed and part of an exterior wall collapsed. Two mobile homes were also completely destroyed in this area. The path was lost again downstream of this location, in a mostly inaccessible area roughly paralleling Twelvemile Creek, but additional tree damage and minor damage to a mobile home was found along Liberty Highway between Nix Rd and Sweetbriar Rd. Yet another break in the path was observed to the north/northeast of this location, but additional damage to trees and outbuildings was observed along South Belle Shoals Rd and Allgood Bridge Rd. A final area of damage was found just west of downtown Pickens, with roofing material removed from a home on Bradley Dr and multiple trees down along Shady Grove Rd.
February 1990Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
February 1990Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
December 1977Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
July 2023Thunderstorm WindCrow Creek$200,000Multiple sources reported a swath of wind damage in north and through the city of Pickens. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down and several power poles snapped. Around 10 homes were damaged by falling trees and several outbuildings were tossed and destroyed.
July 2013Flash FloodClemson$200,000The Clemson Botanical Garden was heavily damaged by flash flooding. Damage to trails, bridges, and other infrastructure was estimated to total 200,000 dollars. Extensive damage was done to the garden's collection of rare plants, though it is difficult to estimate a dollar value for this loss.
July 2003Tornado (F1)Liberty$200,000The first of 2 tornadoes that tracked across Pickens County on the afternoon of the 13th moved from Liberty to the Anderson County line southeast of Liberty. In Liberty, roofs were blown off several buildings, and numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Damage to trees and power lines, and some structural damage continued as the tornado tracked southeast.
July 2003Tornado (F1)Liberty$200,000Another tornado touched down just west of the track of the first tornado, and moved through the Liberty area before moving into Anderson County. The second tornado was also responsible for significant damage to some roofs, as well as widespread damage to trees and power lines.
April 2017Thunderstorm WindCentral$100,000NWS storm survey and em reported numerous trees blown down due to downburst winds, with one tree on a house and multiple other homes receiving mostly minor damage due to falling limbs. The damage was mainly from Wood St, across Meredith St, to Fernway Dr.
August 2014Thunderstorm WindClemson$100,000EM reported a tree was blown down on a house, causing significant structural damage.
August 2014Flash FloodClemson$100,000Clemson University DPS reported multiple buildings were damaged by flood waters after 3 to 5 inches of rain fell in the area in just a couple of hours. In addition to the flooding resulting from drainage issues, some buildings were damaged by rainwater pouring through leaky roofs.
August 2013Flash FloodCateechee$100,000Todd Creek Road was washed out near the Todd Creek Bridge. The road was damaged as water washed out a culvert under the road. Todd Creek also washed out Sunrise Road and flooded Browning Road in this same area. til 1230 am EDT.
August 2013Flash FloodSix Mile$100,000The Furman L Smith Memorial Highway was flooded over a 40 foot stretch near the intersection of Blue Bird Lane. Six Mile Creek flooded Jones Mill Road. The bridge over Jones Mill Creek was damaged and partially collapsed by flood borne debris.
July 2003HailEasley$100,000Large hail caused considerable damage on the west side of Easley.
June 2006Flash FloodPickens$50,000Severe urban and poor drainage flooding and some stream flooding developed in Pickens when 8 to 10 inches fell across the county in about an 8 hour period. Several roads were closed in an around the city, including highway 178 North. Water entered several businesses along this section of 178, apparently due to flooding along Towne Creek. Other closed roads included City Lake Rd, Hollingsworth Rd, and Runymeade Rd. The Pickens flea market flooded to depths of 5 feet as rapid runoff from heavy rain collected in this low lying area. Highway 183 was also flooded near the flea market.
August 1994HailPickens$50,000,,,,,,,,Thunderstorm Winds
June 1994Thunderstorm WindCentral$50,000no account filed
March 1996Thunderstorm WindLiberty$35,000no account filed
April 2017Tornado (EF0)Latham$30,000NWS storm survey determined a tornado touched down in eastern Pickens County near Saluda Dam and Pistol Club Roads, downing trees, damaging outbuildings, and ripping metal sheeting off roofs at a farm site. Some minor structural damage, mainly in the form of missing shingles, occurred to a nearby house. The tornado weakened as it moved E/NE and may have lifted briefly before crossing into Greenville County at Saluda Lake.
March 2016Thunderstorm WindPickens$30,000Public, HAM Radio operator, and county comms reported wind damage from the city of Pickens east through the Dacusville area. Some exterior damage occurred to a building on W Main St in Pickens, including part of a tin roof that was peeled off. Part of the roof was also torn off a well-contructed barn near the intersection of Albatross Rd and Hitt Rd. Otherwise, numerous trees and tree limbs were blown down throughout the area, with one limb through the windshield of a vehicle in the Dacusville area.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindEasley$30,000no account filed
January 1999LightningCentral$30,000no account filed
January 1996Thunderstorm WindPickens$30,000no account filed
September 2024Flash FloodCrow Creek$25,000A stream gauge on Twelvemile Creek near Liberty indicated flash flooding developed along the stream after 11 to 17 inches of rain fell over three days, with 1 to 2 inches of that falling in less than three hours on the morning of the 27th. In addition to the creek inundating portions of Concord Church Rd and Riggins Bridge Rd, the grounds of the Pickens County Flea Market were covered with up to 5 feet of water.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindNorris$25,000Multiple sources reported trees, large limbs, and power poles broken across southern Pickens County, primarily in Norris and Easley. One tree fell on and damaged a home on Chastain Rd in Norris. A screened porch was also damaged closer to Pickens.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindClemson$25,000A microburst blew down a number of trees in a small area of Clemson. Trees fell on apartment buildings causing significant damage.
February 1991Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
November 1987Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1973Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
March 1973Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 2009Thunderstorm WindLatham$20,000A large tree fell through a mobile home on Crosswell School Rd. Other trees were reported down in the area.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindSix Mile$20,000Numerous trees were blown down, including 12 large oak trees. Shingles were blown off the roofs of several homes, and a rental home was shifted off of its foundation.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindClemson$20,000Camping trailers were overturned and trees blown down at a campground between Clemson and Pendleton. Some trees fell on and damaged vehicles. Tree damage continued east along the Anderson County line toward the Slabtown area.
May 2005LightningPickens$16,000Lightning killed 16 cows.
April 2005Tornado (F1)Pickens$15,000This tornado touched down just northwest of Pickens, where 3 barns were destroyed near the intersection of Gravley Rd and Artie Rd. Numerous trees were blown down from the intersection of Red Hill and Reece Mill Rds east to highway 178. The tornado continued an intermittent ENE track, snapping off and uprooting numerous trees along an 8 mile path before lifting west of Dacusville. At least one tree fell on a house, and at least one car was damaged. Newspaper reported thousands of power outages across the county. There was also a spotter report of mothball hail in Pickens at 2:30.
August 1995Thunderstorm WindEasley$15,000no account filed
September 2024FloodCrow Creek$10,000Although heavy rain ended across Pickens County by mid-afternoon, flooding continued along Twelvemile Creek and especially the Saluda River through the afternoon. While Twelvemile Creek receded to its banks by evening on the 27th, major river flooding continued along the Saluda until the early morning hours of the 29th, and the river didn't fall below flood stage until the afternoon of the 29th. The river gauge in west Greenville crested at just over 20 feet, which exceeded the record crest by almost a foot (October 1949).
July 2022Thunderstorm WindRock$10,000County comms reported multiple trees blown down in the area near the intersection of Highways 8 and 11. Public reported one tree down on a house.
May 2022Tornado (EF1)Crow Creek$10,000NWS storm survey found a brief tornado touched down on Hagood Mill Road, just south of E Preston McDaniel Rd where a few trees were uprooted. The tornado tracked northeast to Earnest Way, where several trees were uprooted and snapped, and the roofs of a couple of mobile homes were damaged. The tornado continued northeast, where extensive tree damage was noted on private property with dozens of trees snapped or uprooted. As the tornado continued across E Preston McDaniel Road, additional trees were downed and the roof structure over a porch collapsed at a church before the tornado lifted.
July 2021Thunderstorm WindClemson$10,000Public reported (via social media) a tree blown down on two vehicles on Lindsay Rd.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindLiberty$10,000Public reported a tree blown down on a home near Liberty and another tree down near Dacusville.

Mines and quarries

27 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 27 workings inside this county. 5 still produce and 22 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Mica16
Sand and Gravel, Construction4
Granite, Stone, Crushed/Broken2
Gold2
Titanium, Iron1
Feldspar1
Stone, Crushed/Broken1
Sand1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
EasleyTitanium, IronUnknown
Liberty Beverly QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Meece MineFeldspar, MicaProspect
Saluda Lake MineSandUnknownSedimentary
Beverly QuarryGranite, Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducerMetamorphic
Calhoun PlacerGoldUnknownPlacer
Calhoun PlacerGoldPast Producer
Liberty QuarryGranite, Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducer1908
Thomas Sand PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknownSedimentary
W.F. Thomas Sand CompanySand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Zupan Sand PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknownSedimentary
Zupan Sand PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
B E Woodson ProspectMicaProspect
C H Ellis ProspectMicaProspect
Davis ProspectMicaProspect
G F Fuller DepositMicaOccurrence
Harvey Harper ProspectMicaProspect
Head ProspectMicaProspect
John Walker ProspectMicaProspect
Josie Mcmadden DepositMicaOccurrence
Kirksey ProspectMicaProspect
Mattie Falls DepositMicaOccurrence
Mccomb ProspectMicaProspect
Morgan ProspectMicaProspect
Murphrie DepositMicaProspect
Robinson ProspectsMicaProspect
Ross Morgan ProspectMicaProspect

Every populated place in the county

107

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on. The 3 places that were also surveyed for fire insurance come first, with the number of atlases and photographs held for them.

The vanished settlements of Pickens County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Recorded here

Pickens, South Carolina

17 topographic sheets and 7 fire insurance atlases, 1894 to 1942

Easley, South Carolina

16 topographic sheets and 3 fire insurance atlases, 1908 to 1950

Liberty, South Carolina

17 topographic sheets and 2 fire insurance atlases, 1933

Everything this county holds

The complete index, with nothing left out. Each of these is a separate record with its own page: a federal survey report, or the case file that argued a property on to the National Register. Both are public domain and reproduced word for word.

Surveyed structures

12 structures

The vanished settlements of Pickens County, the places these records name that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.