Page 14 - Clemson NCG

Engineers, conductors, and telegraph permanent residents and serves
operators brought their families. as a home to students from SWU,
Finding the refreshing climate and Clemson University, and Tri-County
friendly people to their liking, they built Technical College.
homes and shops and settled down.
The railroad’s repair shops were Central is a warm and inviting community
located in Central. With the Southern that welcomes visitors and neighbors to
Railway’s relocation of its repair shops join them in its annual festivals – Trunk
to Greenville in the late 1890s, Central or Train in the fall, Christmas Parade,
citizens were left dazed. Trains no longer and Spring Car Show. The town is also
stopped to change engines and the becoming known for its recreational
shops and offices closed. Families that options, such as having Clemson
had built their homes and settled down
University’s “home” disc golf course, and
were uprooted. Houses were vacant and
seven miles of trails for mountain biking.
business was at a standstill.
Central recently became part of the
In the early 1900s, Central again
Main Street South Carolina program.
experienced prosperity and an increase
Through a combination of community
in population due to the opening of a
engagement, market analysis, and
textile mill and the establishment of
organizational positioning, Central will
Central Wesleyan College, now called
establish a series of key, market-driven
Southern Wesleyan University (SWU). Six Mile of the original settlers still populate the
strategies designed to elevate and focus
Central grew rapidly during the The area now known as Six Mile town along with many new residents.
1990s thanks to an expanded road the community’s resources and capacity once belonged to the Cherokee
system, new industries, restaurants, on building a sustainable, competitive Nation. A popular legend says Six Six Mile incorporated in 1910. The
library, recreational facilities, student advantage downtown. In 2021, Central’s Mile was named by the Indian maiden, community was chiefly a farming
apartments, and new homes. Today Main Street program introduced a new Issaqueena, who rode her horse on a community until World War II, when many
Central has approximately 5,000 Farmer’s Market. men went overseas to fight and still
journey of ninety-six miles to warn her
others moved to bigger cities seeking
lover, an English trader named Francis
employment. Historical sites in Six Mile
Allen, of a coming Cherokee attack on
include Dr. Peek’s hospital and nursing
the English fort. Issaqueena numbered
school downtown and the nearby
the creeks she crossed until she reached
Issaqueena Bombing Range.
the fort in the area she labeled Ninety
Six. Six Mile’s Main Street approximates a The Six Mile community gathers for
section of the Cherokee Trading Path. annual events including Memorial
Day, Independence Day, Christmas
Six Mile was signed over from the celebrations, and the Community Trick
Cherokee to South Carolina in a treaty in or Treat. The downtown has a weekly
1777. Around the year 1800, Scots-Irish, farmer’s market beginning in the spring.
Dutch-German, and English pioneers The Issaqueena Festival, the largest
gradually began moving in, clearing the event of the year, is on the 3rd Saturday
land, and planting crops. Descendants of each May.

10 Our Communities 864.654.1200 | ClemsonAreaChamber.org