Page 16 - Athens Newcomers Guide 2023

COMMUNITIES

Pelzer Manufacturing Company was one GRAPHICS | STATS AREA
Known as the Gateway to the of the South’s most successful mills.
Established ..........................................1790
Freshwater Coast, five bodies of water The Historic Pelzer Auditorium is
Population .........................................3,447
inspire a lakeside lifestyle: Lake Hartwell, home to the Mill Town Players, one of
Address ..................310 Greenville Street
Lake Secession, Lake Thurmond, Lake the state’s most-attended and awarded
Pendleton, SC 29670
Russell, and Lake Greenwood. community theaters.
Phone .............................. (864) 646-9409
Iva is populated by folks who are The Pelzer Light People, an Upstate
Council Meets .................1st Mondays –
proud of their rural heritage and Christmas tradition since 1990, brings
Town Hall – 7 p.m.
progressive town – complemented by a joy to visitors each December with their
Website ...............townofpendleton.org
Farmers Market, summer concert series, festive light suits.
Social Media ...............................................
and annual community events.
GRAPHICS | STATS AREA Twitter @TownofPendleton;
Facebook @TownofPendletonSC
GRAPHICS | STATS AREA Established .......................................... 1881
Incorporated ...................................... 1904 Population ..........................................1,335
Population ..........................................1,253 Address ....................103 Courtney Street
Address .................204 E. Jackson Street Pelzer, SC 29669
Iva, SC 29655 Phone ................................(864) 947-6231
Council Meets ............... 2nd Tuesdays –
Phone ............................... (864) 348-6193
Pelzer Gym, 112 Lebby St. – 7 p.m.
Council Meets ...............2nd Mondays –
City Hall – 10 a.m.
Website .............................townofiva.org
Facebook ...............................@townofiva
TOWN OF STARR
Starr started as a place called Twiggs
before it was incorporated as Starr in
1888. Starr is a town known for its spirit
of volunteerism, whether that means
serving at the fire station or the Starr
Athletic Association.
Starr is home to Santee Cooper
utility’s John Rainey Generating Station.
TOWN OF PENDLETON It is also home to Evergreen Plantation,
Pendleton is on the South Carolina an antebellum home with 400 acres
National Heritage Corridor. The original of preserved land and hayfields that
TOWN OF PELZER
county seat for Anderson County, the is rented for weddings and social
Small town values guide the progress occasions, and to Generostee Creek,
town and its surroundings are known
of Pelzer, a town on the Saluda River that as the Pendleton Historic District, a reservation-only outdoor adventure
honors its historical, cultural, and natural preserved in the earliest mansions, plantation. As an agricultural center,
heritage. Capt. Ellison A. Smyth served the landmark Farmers Hall, and Milky Way Farm’s Jersey cows graze on
as president of Pelzer Manufacturing Hunter’s Store, which now neighbors grass and produce milk that is widely
Company – established in 1881 – for its with new establishments for local distributed across the state.
first 43 years. eateries and retailers.
Known as “The Pioneer,” Smyth took Pendleton is a bedroom community GRAPHICS | STATS AREA
advantage of the newest technology of nearby Clemson and is home to Established .............................. Late 1830s
available. Pelzer was the first cotton mill Tri-County Technical College. The Population .............................................149
in the nation to use incandescent lights. Village Green serves as Pendleton’s Address ......................... 7641 Highway 81
In 1895 Pelzer installed the first Draper town center. Starr, SC 29684
Automatic Looms ever sold. The Number The historic landscape, picturesque Phone ................................ (864) 352-2138
Four mill, built in 1896, drew its electrical village green, agricultural legacy, Council Meets ................. 1st Tuesdays –
power from a generating station four and arts community energize the 6:30 pm
miles down the river. By the early 1920s, Pendleton experience. Social Media ...................@TownofStarr
12 Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce • (864) 226-3454 • andersonscchamber.com