History Of Pickens County, South Carolina

The Cherokee Indians lived in this region long before the American Revolution. It was the Cherokee's choice to side with Great Britain during the war for independence, which led to the loss of their land in what is now the northwest corner of South Carolina.

In 1789 Pendleton County was created from the lands which were lost by the Cherokees, at the time this also included the old Ninety-Six District. From 1791 to 1795 Washington District was carved out of the old Ninety-Six District, this included the Pendleton County area. The Washington District was an area composed of present day Greenville, Anderson, Pickens and Oconee counties.

In 1798 Washington District was divided into Greenville and Pendleton Districts, and in 1826 Pendleton District was divided into Pickens and Anderson Districts.

A final change was made to the area when the old district system was dismantled in 1868. Anderson District became Anderson County, and Pickens District was divided into Pickens County and Oconee County, giving us present day Greenville, Pickens, Anderson, and Oconee Counties.

Oconee County, located in the northwest corner of South Carolina on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, takes its name from a Cherokee word meaning "land beside the water." Several Revolutionary War heroes moved to present day Oconee County after the war, including Andrew Pickens 1739-1817, Robert Anderson 1741-1813, and Benjamin Cleveland 1738-1806.

Anderson County and its county seat, Anderson, SC was named for Revolutionary War General Robert Anderson.








Pickens County, the town of Pickens and Pickensville, SC were named for Revolutionary war hero General Andrew Pickens.

William Henry Pickens (my 8th Great Grandfather) was born in Ireland in 1669. He married Margaret Pike in Ireland around 1692. Margaret was born there around 1672. They migrated to America bringing along with them their 8 children who were born in Ireland they landing in Pennsylvania in 1719. At Least 2 of their sons moved to South Carolina after a brief stop in Virginia, One being my 7th Great Grandfather Robert Pike Pickens and the other his Brother Andrew Pickens the Father of General Andrew Pickens the one Pickens County was named for. General Andrew Pickens was a lifelong friend of General Robert Anderson they lived near each other and fought in the Revolutionary war together. General Andrew Pickens Granddaughter Mary Martha Barksdale Pickens married Robert Anderson III the Grandson and namesake of General Robert Anderson. So by marriage these families are staying together while keeping these counties together also.

Another famous name to share with you is John Caldwell Calhoun Vice President of the United States to President John Quincy Adams in 1825-1829, and Vice President to President Andrew Jackson in 1829-1832. He was born in Abbeville District, South Carolina in 1782 and is buried in St. Philip's Churchyard in Charlestown, SC. His Brother in Law John and General Andrew Pickens wife Rebecca are Brother and Sister. Oh yea and did I mention that his mansion Fort Hill still stands on the campus of Clemson University, That is in you guessed it Pickens County, South Carolina.