PICKENS COUNTY
The county and its county seat were named for Revolutionary War hero Andrew Pickens (1739-1817). This area in the northwestern corner of the state was Indian territory until 1777, and the earliest European settlers in this region were Indian traders. John C. Calhoun (1782-1850), United States vice president, senator, and cabinet member, made his home at Fort Hill plantation in Pickens County. His son-in-law, Thomas Green Clemson (1807-1888), bequeathed the plantation to the state for use as an agricultural college, which led to the founding of Clemson University. Pickens County is also part of one of the nation's fastest growing regions, the I-85 corridor. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, Pickens County has the best of both worlds. It has a small town atmosphere while only 30 minutes from Greenville and two hours from Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC. Pickens encompasses beautiful Lakes Jocassee and Keowee, and is home to prestigious Clemson University. It is an area rich in history, beauty, and vision for the future.