Page 13 - 2021 Clemson Community Guide

Over the 20th century, Central again Six Mile
experienced prosperity and an increase in Six Mile is another of our towns that is
population due to the opening of a textile awash in history and small-town charm.
mill and the establishment of Central Its name is linked to the local legend of
Wesleyan College, now called Southern Issaqueena, an Indian maiden. As the story
Wesleyan University (SWU). goes, Issaqueena set out on horseback to
warn her lover, an English trader named
During the 1990s, Central grew rapidly and Francis Allen, of an impending Cherokee
today has approximately 5,000 permanent attack on Star Fort. As she rode, Issaqueena
residents and serves as a home to students numbered the creeks and landmarks
from SWU, Clemson University, and Tri- she crossed on her 96-mile journey,
County Technical College. hence Six Mile.

Central is a relaxed and welcoming On land that once belonged to the Cherokee
community that invites visitors and Nation, Six Mile was signed over to South
neighbors to join them in its annual festivals Carolina in a treaty in 1777, but the region
- the Railroad Festival in the fall, Christmas was not settled until about 1800 when Scots-
Parade, and Spring Car Show. Irish, Dutch-German, and English pioneers
gradually moved in, cleared the land, and
Recently, the town has announced its planted crops.
participation in the Main Street South
Carolina Program. Through a combination The community was incorporated in 1910,
of community engagement, market analysis, and a few establishments sprung up over
and organizational positioning, Central the next few decades. Six Mile was chiefly
will establish a series of key, market-driven a farming community until World War
strategies designed to elevate and focus II when many men went overseas to fight
the community’s resources and capacity and still others moved to bigger cities to
on building a sustainable, competitive obtain jobs. After the war, Six Mile became
advantage downtown. In 2021, Central’s a community with strong ties to larger cities
Main Street program introduced a new where townspeople could find more jobs,
Farmer’s Market. goods, and services while still enjoying their
charming hometown.

Descendants of the original settlers still
populate the town although there have been
several waves of new residents as well.

Year-round the Six Mile community
comes together for annual events including
the Memorial and Independence Day
Celebrations, Community Trick or Treat,
and the Christmas Parade and Ole Fashioned
Christmas. Each spring, Main Street
closes for the Issaqueena Festival/Music
Six Mile Fest when children and adults enjoy free
entertainment, great food, and arts and
crafts vendors.

(864) 654-1200 | ClemsonAreaChamber.org