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Coordinates: 34°49′24″N 82°35′25″W / 34.82333°N 82.59028°W / 34.82333; -82.59028
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{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
<!-- Infobox begins -->
{{Infobox Settlement
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Easley
| official_name = Easley
| settlement_type = [[City]]
|other_name =
|native_name = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| other_name =
| native_name = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname =
| nickname =
|settlement_type = [[City]]
| motto = "Time Well Spent"
| image_skyline = EasleySCMon.png
|motto = You can Easily do Better in Easley!<ref name="motto">{{cite web|url=http://cityofeasley.org/default.asp|date=2007-05-09|title="Welcome to the City of Easley, SC"}}</ref>
|image_skyline =
| imagesize = 300px
| image_caption = Top, left to right: Downtown Easley, [[Norfolk Southern Railway]], [[Easley Mill]], Easley water tower, Easley City Hall
|imagesize =
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| image_seal = Easley, SC City Seal.png
|image_flag =
| image_map =
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| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = South Carolina<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
|image_seal = Easleyseal.gif
| pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|seal_size =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Easley in South Carolina
|image_shield =
| subdivision_type = Country
|shield_size =
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
|image_blank_emblem =
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|blank_emblem_size =
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|South Carolina}}
|image_map =
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in South Carolina|Counties]]
|mapsize =
| subdivision_name2 = [[Pickens County, South Carolina|Pickens]], partially [[Anderson County, South Carolina|Anderson]]
|map_caption =
| government_footnotes =
|image_map1 =
| government_type =
|mapsize1 =
| leader_title = Mayor<ref name="mayorandothers">{{cite web|url=http://upstatelife.com/easley/reps.htm|date=2007-05-06|title=Your Government Representatives|access-date=2007-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813152206/http://www.upstatelife.com/easley/reps.htm|archive-date=2007-08-13|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|map_caption1 =
| leader_name = Lisa Talbert
|image_dot_map = SCMap-doton-Easley.PNG
|dot_mapsize =
| leader_title1 = Police Chief
|dot_map_caption =
| leader_name1 = Brandon Liner
|dot_x =
| leader_title2 = Fire Chief
|dot_y =
| leader_name2 = Bradley Owen
| established_title = Established
|pushpin_map = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| established_date = 1874
|pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| established_title2 = Incorporated
|pushpin_map_caption =
| established_date2 = 1901
|pushpin_mapsize =
| area_magnitude =
|subdivision_type = [[List of countries|Country]]
|subdivision_name = [[United States]]
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='45'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
|subdivision_type1 = [[Political divisions of the United States|State]]
| area_total_km2 = 33.86
|subdivision_name1 = [[South Carolina]]
<!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->| area_land_km2 = 33.80
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in South Carolina|Counties]]
<!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->| area_water_km2 = 0.05
|subdivision_name2 = [[Anderson County, South Carolina|Anderson]], [[Pickens County, South Carolina|Pickens]]
| area_water_percent =
|subdivision_type3 =
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|subdivision_name3 =
| population_total = 22921
|subdivision_type4 =
| population_density_km2 = 678.11
|subdivision_name4 =
| timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
| utc_offset = &minus;5
| timezone_DST = EDT
|leader_title = Mayor<ref name="mayorandothers">{{cite web|url=http://upstatelife.com/easley/reps.htm|date=2007-05-06|title="Your Government Representatives"}}</ref>
| utc_offset_DST = &minus;4
|leader_name = Larry Bagwell
| coordinates = {{coord|34|49|24|N|82|35|25|W|region:US-SC_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|leader_title1 = Police Chief
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="GR3"/>
|leader_name1 = Danny Traber
|leader_title2 = Fire Chief
| elevation_ft = 1063
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]s
|leader_name2 = Butch Womack
|leader_title3 =
| postal_code = 29640-29642
|leader_name3 =
| area_codes = [[Area codes 864 and 821|864, 821]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|leader_title4 =
|leader_name4 =
| blank_info = 45-21985
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|established_title = Established
| blank1_info = 1247594<ref name="GR3">{{GNIS|1247594}}</ref>
|established_date = 1874
| website = {{url|cityofeasley.com}}
|established_title2 = Incorporated
|established_date2 = 1901
| footnotes =
| pop_est_footnotes =
|established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| area_total_sq_mi = 13.07
|established_date3 =
| area_land_sq_mi = 13.05
|area_magnitude =
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.02
|unit_pref = Imperial
| population_density_sq_mi = 1756.26
|area_footnotes =
| image_flag =
|area_total_km2 = 27.6 <!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
| pop_est_as_of =
|area_land_km2 = 27.6 <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
| population_est =
|area_water_km2 = 0.0
| population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
|area_total_sq_mi = 10.6
|area_land_sq_mi = 10.6
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
|area_water_percent =
|area_urban_km2 =
|area_urban_sq_mi =
|area_metro_km2 =
|area_metro_sq_mi =
|population_as_of =
|population_footnotes =
|population_note =
|population_total = 17754
|population_density_km2 = 644.3
|population_density_sq_mi = 1668.8
|population_metro =
|population_density_metro_km2 =
|population_density_metro_sq_mi =
|population_urban =
|population_density_urban_km2 =
|population_density_urban_sq_mi =
|population_blank1_title =
|population_blank1 =
|population_density_blank1_km2 =
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|timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|latd = 34 |latm = 49 |lats = 24 |latNS = N
|longd = 82 |longm = 35 |longs = 25 |longEW = W
|elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
|elevation_m = 329
|elevation_ft = 1079
|postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code = 29640-29642
|area_code = [[Area code 864|864]]
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 45-21985{{GR|2}}
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = 1247594{{GR|3}}
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
}}
<!-- Infobox ends -->


'''Easley''' is a city in [[Anderson County, South Carolina|Anderson]] and [[Pickens County, South Carolina|Pickens]] counties in the [[U.S. state]] of [[South Carolina]], near [[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]]. Most of the city lies in Pickens County, with only a very small portion of the city in Anderson County. The population was 17,754 at the 2000 census.
'''Easley''' is a city in [[Pickens County, South Carolina|Pickens County]] (with parts extending into [[Anderson County, South Carolina|Anderson County]]) in the [[U.S. state]] of [[South Carolina]]. Most of the city lies in Pickens County, with a small portion of the city in Anderson County.


In 2001, Easley hosted the [[Big League World Series]] for the first time, and continued to host the tournament annually until it was disbanded in 2016. In 2017, the [[Senior League World Series]] moved to Easley as the host for the annual tournament. The [[Upper South Carolina State Fair]] is located in Easley and is held annually in early September.
Easley has been hosting the [[Big League World Series]] for several years.

==History==
[[Image:EasleySC1900s.png|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Downtown Easley in early 1900s.]]
In 1791, Washington District was established by the state legislature out of the former [[Cherokee]] territory. '''Rockville''' was also created in 1791 but changed to '''Pickensville''' in 1792. Pickensville became the district seat of Washington District which was then composed of Greenville and Pendleton Counties. In 1798, Washington District was divided into Greenville and Pendleton Districts. In 1828, Pendleton District was divided further with the lower portion becoming [[Anderson County, South Carolina|Anderson County]] and the upper becoming [[Pickens County, South Carolina|Pickens County]] named after [[Andrew Pickens (congressman)|Andrew Pickens]].

Col. Robert Elliott Holcombe became a co-founder of the town by starting off as a farmer and [[Sawmill|timber mill]] owner in the area. His farming ventures enabled him to establish the storeroom in 1845 as the first business in the area. The namesake of the town was William King Easley. Easley was born in [[Pickens County, South Carolina]] in 1825. Easley and four others from [[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]] represented the Greenville area in the [[South Carolina in the American Civil War|South Carolina Secession Convention]]. When the [[American Civil War]] erupted, Easley raised a company of [[cavalry]] from Greenville and Pickens counties. During the war, Easley served as a major in the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate Army]].<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Easley|url=http://www.cityofeasley.com/#!easley-history/c1c2c|website=cityofeasley.com|publisher=City of Easley}}</ref>

After the civil war, Easley became a local attorney and persuaded the [[Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railway]] to be established through Pickensville by raising $100,000 to invest in the railroad. Holcombe was considered to be the first citizen of Easley, building the first dwelling and train depot in the town from his family's lumber mill. Holcombe became the first mayor of the town and was also the first agent of the train depot.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Owens|first1=Brantli|title=Images of America: Easley|date=2008|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|pages=10–11}}</ref> The town of Easley was chartered in 1873. At the time, the consensus was that it should be named Holcombe or Holcombetown, but Col. Holcombe said that he didn't think Holcombe was a very attractive name and that Easley sounded better. The Pickensville Post Office became Easley Post Office in 1875. The railroad transformed Easley into an industrious and thriving textile town. The Easley Textile Company, later known as Swirl Inc., came to Easley in 1953. The construction of [[U.S. Route 123]] helped establish retail and new business in Easley. On April 25, 1951, a department store was on fire threatening many buildings in downtown Easley but the quick response of the fire department extinguished the fire.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Easley, SC|url=http://www.easleychamber.org/live_and_work/history.aspx|website=easleychamber.org}}</ref>

In 1968, [[NASCAR]] driver [[Curtis Turner]] caused a [[telephone]] outage in Easley while landing his airplane on the town's main street.<ref>
{{Cite news|date=1970-10-06|title=CURTIS M. TURNER, RACING DRIVER, 46 (Published 1970)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/06/archives/curtis-m-turner-racing-driver-46-star-of-the-grand-circuit-dies-in.html|access-date=2020-11-21|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 2020, longtime fire chief Butch Womack was elected mayor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Jarvis |title=Butch Womack sworn in as new Easley mayor |url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/news/butch-womack-sworn-in-as-new-easley-mayor/article_0de199ee-3684-11ea-ad4d-ab5a66f5db13.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523051644/https://www.foxcarolina.com/news/butch-womack-sworn-in-as-new-easley-mayor/article_0de199ee-3684-11ea-ad4d-ab5a66f5db13.html |archive-date=2021-05-23 |access-date=2020-11-21 |website=FOX Carolina |language=en}}</ref> However, in 2023, Lisa Talbert challenged his reelection, becoming Easley's first female mayor when she defeated him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cromer |first=Brookley |last2=Stoddard |first2=Freeman |date=2023-11-14 |title=Talbert declares victory to become first female mayor in Easley history |url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/2023/11/08/easley-mayoral-race-headed-runoff/ |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=FOX Carolina |language=en}}</ref>


==Geography==
==Geography==
Easley is located in southeastern Pickens County at {{coord|34|49|24|N|82|35|25|W|type:city}} (34.823371, -82.590394),<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> {{convert|12|mi}} west of the center of [[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]].
Easley is located at {{coor dms|34|49|24|N|82|35|25|W|city}} (34.823371, -82.590394){{GR|1}}.


According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|31.8|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|31.7|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqkm|order=flip}}, or 0.17%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4521985| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212201913/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4521985| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Easley city, South Carolina| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=August 7, 2013}}</ref>
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 10.6&nbsp;[[square mile]]s (27.6&nbsp;[[km²]]), all of it land.


==Demographics==
==Demographics==
{{US Census population
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 17,754 people, 7,227 households, and 5,058 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,668.8 people per square mile (644.3/km²). There were 7,932 housing units at an average density of 745.6/sq&nbsp;mi (287.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.35% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 11.81% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.14% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.52% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.25% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.90% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.82% of the population.
|1880= 327
|1890= 421
|1900= 903
|1910= 2983
|1920= 3568
|1930= 4886
|1940= 5183
|1950= 6316
|1960= 8283
|1970= 11175
|1980= 14264
|1990= 15195
|2000= 17754
|2010= 19993
|2020= 22957
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 26386
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2023-POP-45.xlsx |date=May 16, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 16, 2024}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 12, 2013}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:45&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 15, 2022}}</ref>
}}


===2020 census===
There were 7,227 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.90.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Easley racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4521985&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-14|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|17,340
|75.65%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|2,680
|11.69%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|32
|0.14%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|268
|1.17%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|5
|0.02%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|1,041
|4.54%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|1,555
|6.78%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 22,921 people, 8,738 households, and 5,571 families residing in the city.


===2000 census===
In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 17,754 people, 7,227 households, and 5,058 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,668.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 7,932 housing units at an average density of {{convert|745.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 85.35% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 11.81% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.14% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.52% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.25% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.90% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.82% of the population.

There were 7,227 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.


The median income for a household in the city was $38,204, and the median income for a family was $47,867. Males had a median income of $35,399 versus $25,443 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,965. About 8.4% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,204, and the median income for a family was $47,867. Males had a median income of $35,399 versus $25,443 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $20,965. About 8.4% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Military==

===National Guard===
Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 263rd Army Air Missile Defense Command, is based at the Easley National Guard Armory in Easley.

===Recruiting===
* U.S. Army Recruiting Substation
* U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Substation

===JROTC===
* Easley High School Navy JROTC Battalion
Awarded Distinguished Unit 20 consecutive years in a row by NJROTC Area 6.

==Education==
Public school services are provided to Easley by the School District of Pickens County. 7 of their schools provide public education to the children of Easley.
* [[Easley High School]] (Grades: 9–12)
* R.H. Gettys Middle School (Grades: 6–8)
* West End Elementary School (Grades: K4-5)
* Forest Acres Elementary School (Grades:K4-5)
* East End Elementary School (Grades: K4-5)
* Crosswell Elementary School (Grades: K4-5)
* McKissick Elementary School (Grades: K4-5)
Most preschools in the city are private and provided by churches. There are also several private schools, such as Easley Christian School.

[[Tri-County Technical College]] maintains a campus in Easley. [[Clemson University]] is also located in nearby [[Clemson, South Carolina|Clemson]]. [[Southern Wesleyan University]] is located in nearby [[Central, South Carolina|Central]], [[Greenville Technical College]] and [[Furman University]] are located nearby in [[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]].

Easley has a [[public library]], a branch of the Pickens County Library System.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.greenvillelibrary.org/locations-and-hours | title=Locations & Hours | publisher=Greenville County Library System | access-date=13 June 2019}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Kyle Benjamin]], [[NASCAR]] race car driver
*[[Shannon Forrest]], [[Country rock|Country-Rock]] studio session drummer. Road drummer for rock group [[Toto (band)|Toto]]. Son of gospel musician/producer Otis Forrest.
*[[E. Allison Hagood]], Professor of Psychology at [[Arapahoe Community College]] in [[Littleton, Colorado]] and author of [[Your Baby's Best Shot]]
*[[Kayla Watson]], Producer of the [[Good Mythical Morning]] [[YouTube]] Show
*[[Kimberly Hampton]], U.S. Army captain, first female military pilot to be killed by hostile fire
*[[Wes Knight]], [[Major League Soccer]] player for the [[Vancouver Whitecaps FC]]
*[[Stanley Morgan]], [[National Football League]] player for the [[New England Patriots]]
*[[Rob Stanifer]], Former Major League Baseball player for the [[Florida Marlins]], [[Boston Red Sox]], and the [[Hiroshima Toyo Carp]]
*[[Jasmine Twitty]]''',''' [[Associate Justice|associate judge]] for the Easley Municipal court. Youngest appointed judge in America.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.cityofeasley.com}}
{{Mapit-US-cityscale|34.823371|-82.590394}}
* [http://www.easleychamber.org Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce]


{{Anderson County, South Carolina}}
{{Anderson County, South Carolina}}
Line 140: Line 212:
{{South Carolina}}
{{South Carolina}}


{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Cities in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Anderson County, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Pickens County, South Carolina]]


[[ht:Easley, Kawolin disid]]
[[Category:Easley, South Carolina| ]]
[[Category:Cities in South Carolina]]
[[nl:Easley]]
[[Category:Cities in Anderson County, South Carolina]]
[[pt:Easley]]
[[Category:Cities in Pickens County, South Carolina]]
[[vo:Easley]]
[[Category:Upstate South Carolina]]

Latest revision as of 11:48, 8 October 2024

Easley
City
Top, left to right: Downtown Easley, Norfolk Southern Railway, Easley Mill, Easley water tower, Easley City Hall
Top, left to right: Downtown Easley, Norfolk Southern Railway, Easley Mill, Easley water tower, Easley City Hall
Official seal of Easley
Seal
Motto: 
"Time Well Spent"
Easley is located in South Carolina
Easley
Easley
Location of Easley in South Carolina
Coordinates: 34°49′24″N 82°35′25″W / 34.82333°N 82.59028°W / 34.82333; -82.59028
Country United States
State South Carolina
CountiesPickens, partially Anderson
Established1874
Incorporated1901
Government
 • Mayor[1]Lisa Talbert
 • Police ChiefBrandon Liner
 • Fire ChiefBradley Owen
Area
[2]
 • Total13.07 sq mi (33.86 km2)
 • Land13.05 sq mi (33.80 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation
[3]
1,063 ft (324 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total22,921
 • Density1,756.26/sq mi (678.11/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
29640-29642
Area codes864, 821
FIPS code45-21985
GNIS feature ID1247594[3]
Websitecityofeasley.com

Easley is a city in Pickens County (with parts extending into Anderson County) in the U.S. state of South Carolina. Most of the city lies in Pickens County, with a small portion of the city in Anderson County.

In 2001, Easley hosted the Big League World Series for the first time, and continued to host the tournament annually until it was disbanded in 2016. In 2017, the Senior League World Series moved to Easley as the host for the annual tournament. The Upper South Carolina State Fair is located in Easley and is held annually in early September.

History

[edit]
Downtown Easley in early 1900s.

In 1791, Washington District was established by the state legislature out of the former Cherokee territory. Rockville was also created in 1791 but changed to Pickensville in 1792. Pickensville became the district seat of Washington District which was then composed of Greenville and Pendleton Counties. In 1798, Washington District was divided into Greenville and Pendleton Districts. In 1828, Pendleton District was divided further with the lower portion becoming Anderson County and the upper becoming Pickens County named after Andrew Pickens.

Col. Robert Elliott Holcombe became a co-founder of the town by starting off as a farmer and timber mill owner in the area. His farming ventures enabled him to establish the storeroom in 1845 as the first business in the area. The namesake of the town was William King Easley. Easley was born in Pickens County, South Carolina in 1825. Easley and four others from Greenville represented the Greenville area in the South Carolina Secession Convention. When the American Civil War erupted, Easley raised a company of cavalry from Greenville and Pickens counties. During the war, Easley served as a major in the Confederate Army.[5]

After the civil war, Easley became a local attorney and persuaded the Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railway to be established through Pickensville by raising $100,000 to invest in the railroad. Holcombe was considered to be the first citizen of Easley, building the first dwelling and train depot in the town from his family's lumber mill. Holcombe became the first mayor of the town and was also the first agent of the train depot.[6] The town of Easley was chartered in 1873. At the time, the consensus was that it should be named Holcombe or Holcombetown, but Col. Holcombe said that he didn't think Holcombe was a very attractive name and that Easley sounded better. The Pickensville Post Office became Easley Post Office in 1875. The railroad transformed Easley into an industrious and thriving textile town. The Easley Textile Company, later known as Swirl Inc., came to Easley in 1953. The construction of U.S. Route 123 helped establish retail and new business in Easley. On April 25, 1951, a department store was on fire threatening many buildings in downtown Easley but the quick response of the fire department extinguished the fire.[7]

In 1968, NASCAR driver Curtis Turner caused a telephone outage in Easley while landing his airplane on the town's main street.[8]

In 2020, longtime fire chief Butch Womack was elected mayor.[9] However, in 2023, Lisa Talbert challenged his reelection, becoming Easley's first female mayor when she defeated him.[10]

Geography

[edit]

Easley is located in southeastern Pickens County at 34°49′24″N 82°35′25″W / 34.82333°N 82.59028°W / 34.82333; -82.59028 (34.823371, -82.590394),[11] 12 miles (19 km) west of the center of Greenville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.3 square miles (31.8 km2), of which 12.2 square miles (31.7 km2) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.17%, is water.[12]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880327—
189042128.7%
1900903114.5%
19102,983230.3%
19203,56819.6%
19304,88636.9%
19405,1836.1%
19506,31621.9%
19608,28331.1%
197011,17534.9%
198014,26427.6%
199015,1956.5%
200017,75416.8%
201019,99312.6%
202022,95714.8%
2023 (est.)26,386[13]14.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[14][4]

2020 census

[edit]
Easley racial composition[15]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 17,340 75.65%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 2,680 11.69%
Native American 32 0.14%
Asian 268 1.17%
Pacific Islander 5 0.02%
Other/Mixed 1,041 4.54%
Hispanic or Latino 1,555 6.78%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 22,921 people, 8,738 households, and 5,571 families residing in the city.

2000 census

[edit]

As of the census of 2000, there were 17,754 people, 7,227 households, and 5,058 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,668.8 inhabitants per square mile (644.3/km2). There were 7,932 housing units at an average density of 745.6 per square mile (287.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.35% White, 11.81% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.25% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.82% of the population.

There were 7,227 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,204, and the median income for a family was $47,867. Males had a median income of $35,399 versus $25,443 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,965. About 8.4% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Military

[edit]

National Guard

[edit]

Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 263rd Army Air Missile Defense Command, is based at the Easley National Guard Armory in Easley.

Recruiting

[edit]
  • U.S. Army Recruiting Substation
  • U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Substation

JROTC

[edit]
  • Easley High School Navy JROTC Battalion

Awarded Distinguished Unit 20 consecutive years in a row by NJROTC Area 6.

Education

[edit]

Public school services are provided to Easley by the School District of Pickens County. 7 of their schools provide public education to the children of Easley.

  • Easley High School (Grades: 9–12)
  • R.H. Gettys Middle School (Grades: 6–8)
  • West End Elementary School (Grades: K4-5)
  • Forest Acres Elementary School (Grades:K4-5)
  • East End Elementary School (Grades: K4-5)
  • Crosswell Elementary School (Grades: K4-5)
  • McKissick Elementary School (Grades: K4-5)

Most preschools in the city are private and provided by churches. There are also several private schools, such as Easley Christian School.

Tri-County Technical College maintains a campus in Easley. Clemson University is also located in nearby Clemson. Southern Wesleyan University is located in nearby Central, Greenville Technical College and Furman University are located nearby in Greenville.

Easley has a public library, a branch of the Pickens County Library System.[16]

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Your Government Representatives". May 6, 2007. Archived from the original on August 13, 2007. Retrieved May 6, 2007.
  2. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Easley, South Carolina
  4. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  5. ^ "History of Easley". cityofeasley.com. City of Easley.
  6. ^ Owens, Brantli (2008). Images of America: Easley. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 10–11.
  7. ^ "History of Easley, SC". easleychamber.org.
  8. ^ "CURTIS M. TURNER, RACING DRIVER, 46 (Published 1970)". The New York Times. October 6, 1970. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  9. ^ Robertson, Jarvis. "Butch Womack sworn in as new Easley mayor". FOX Carolina. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  10. ^ Cromer, Brookley; Stoddard, Freeman (November 14, 2023). "Talbert declares victory to become first female mayor in Easley history". FOX Carolina. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  11. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  12. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Easley city, South Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  13. ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau. May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  14. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  15. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  16. ^ "Locations & Hours". Greenville County Library System. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
[edit]
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