Central is a town in Pickens County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Central had a population of 5,247. Contrary to its name, it is not near South Carolina's center. It received its name from being halfway or the central point between Atlanta and Charlotte along the former Atlanta and Richmond Air-Line Railway line. Southern Wesleyan University's main campus is east of downtown Central.

History

Central was founded by the Atlanta and Richmond Air Line Railway in a railroad boom that began in 1873. The town's name represents the fact that it is midway between Atlanta and Charlotte.

In 1897, Southern Railway moved its headquarters from Central to Greenville; trains no longer stopped to change engines, and soon all shops and offices were closed. Wesleyan Methodist Bible Institute (now Southern Wesleyan University) brought people back to the town.

Central is part of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley metropolitan area.

2000 census

As of the census

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

|-

|White (non-Hispanic)

|3,375

|64.32%

|-

|Black or African American (non-Hispanic)

|911

|17.36%

|-

|Native American

|18

|0.34%

|-

|Asian

|305

|5.81%

|-

|Other/Mixed

|251

|4.78%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino

|387

|7.38%

|}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,247 people, 2,483 households, and 796 families residing in the town.

Education

Public education is provided by the School District of Pickens County (Pickens 01), including D. W. Daniel High School, a 2005 National Blue Ribbon School.

The Central Clemson Regional Branch library, part of the Pickens County Library System, serves as the community's public library.

Central shares educational facilities and transportation services with the adjacent city of Clemson.

Southern Wesleyan University

Central is home to Southern Wesleyan University's main campus. Southern Wesleyan University is a SACS-accredited four-year Christian university founded in 1906. The main campus houses over 600 traditional undergraduate students. It has three main housing buildings, two fine arts centers, a dining hall, a library, a gym, and many class buildings. The campus is also home to FWC Alive, a Wesleyan church that offers a traditional worship service and a contemporary worship service.

Library

Central has a public library, a branch of the Pickens County Library System.

Town government

The town has a council form of government, with six elected council members and a mayor serving as the presiding officer. Members of council are elected to four-year terms. Day-to-day operations are governed by a town administrator.

Notable people

  • Lindsey Graham, senior United States senator from South Carolina, born and raised in Central
  • DeAndre Hopkins, NFL wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans, born and raised in Central
  • Jarvis Jenkins, former NFL defensive lineman, born and raised in Central
  • Shaq Lawson, NFL defensive end for the Buffalo Bills was born and raised in Central
  • Furman L. Smith, Medal of Honor recipient, fought and died during World War II, is buried in Central.
  • Timothy L. Smith, noted historian and educator, born in Central
  • DeShawn Williams, NFL defensive lineman for the Denver Broncos

References

  • City of Central
  • Central Historic Marker from hmdb.org