Born And Raised In The South...,: Clemson, SC

College Avenue in Downtown Clemson

Nickname(s): Tigertown
Motto: "In season, every season."

Clemson is a city in Anderson and Pickens counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 11,939 at the 2000 census and center of an urban cluster with a total population of 42,199. It is best known as the home of Clemson University. The town of Calhoun that bordered the campus was renamed Clemson in 1943.

The Pickens County portion of Clemson is part of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Anderson County portion is part of the Anderson Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Demographics

The population does not reflect the additional on-campus population of Clemson University, which adds approximately 17,000 additional residents for eight months of the year.

Transportation

Amtrak's Crescent connects Clemson with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham, Meridian and New Orleans. The Amtrak station is situated at Calhoun Memorial Highway and College Avenue, astride the Norfolk Southern railway line.

Oconee County Regional Airport, which has a 4,800 ft runway, is a general aviation airport about three miles west of Clemson. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport near Greer, South Carolina is the nearest airport with commercial service.

Clemson is also serviced by Clemson Area Transit (CAT), a zero-fare bus line. CAT is a joint venture between the City of Clemson and Clemson University, covering both the campus as well as surrounding areas.

Topography

The city of Clemson's character is largely defined by Clemson University, a large public university that dates to 1889. The university is the cultural center of the city even though a small 2-block downtown is located directly to the north of the campus.

The built environment is predominately rural and post WWII. Although the university provides housing for students, many students live off-campus in a wide variety of apartment complexes. Save for the downtown, sidewalks are largely absent, but some streets have bike paths. U.S. Route 123 on the northern end of the city, exhibits typical suburban-style shopping center developments.

The city recently added recreational facilities and paths along Lake Hartwell including a new boardwalk.

The city's comprehensive plan has a historic preservation component (PDF file), which will likely become more important as 1950s and 60s buildings acquire historic status. The Clemson (train) Depot, built in 1893, was rehabilitated in 2001 and now houses the local chamber of commerce.

The following places and buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

Clemson College Sheep Barn
Clemson University Historic District I
Clemson University Historic District II
Fort Hill
Hanover House
Old Stone Church and Cemetery
J.C. Stribling Barn

Attractions

Clemson is home to Clemson University, the South Carolina Botanical Garden, and is along the shores of Lake Hartwell.

Clemson In Pictures: