OCONEE COUNTY
County Offices
415 South Pine Street
Walhalla 864-638-4244
http://oconeesc.com
Chamber of Commerce
135C Eagles Nest Drive
Seneca 864-882-2097
www.oconeechambersc.com
Oconee County is the westernmost county of South Carolina. It is home to a population of just over 74,273. Its county seat is Walhalla. Other cities in the county include Seneca and Westminster. Towns include Salem and West Union.
Lifestyle
In the northwestern-most corner of South Carolina is Oconee County, known as the “Mountain Lakes Region” because of its climate, its spectacularly beautiful lakes and the beauty of its Blue Ridge Mountains. Oconee County offers the perfect setting for active families, outdoor types of all ages, couples and retirees. Biking, horseback riding, boating, whitewater rafting, paddling, fishing, hiking, camping, golfing and antiquing are plentiful here. Oconee County includes lakes Hartwell, Keowee and Jocassee, rushing and lazy rivers, including the federally-designated Wild and Scenic Chattooga, endless waterfalls, the Sumter National Forest and the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, all neighboring the mountains of North Carolina and Northeast Georgia, making it within easy access to most of the Southeast.
Outdoor recreation is a key part of this area and there are more than 50 hiking trails in Oconee County, most leading to, around or near pristine forests, rivers, mountain streams, lakes and waterfalls. There are several county parks including the Chau Ram County Park, located at the confluence of the Chauga River and Ramsay Creek. It features a 40 foot waterfall and Oconee’s longest suspension bridge. Approximately a quarter of the county is in the Sumter National Forest – meaning that nature truly is at your backdoor.
Water and water sports make up a significant portion of life in this county, and residents wouldn’t have it any other way. Lake Hartwell is one of the Southeast’s largest and most popular public recreation sites. It has 56,000 acres of water and many recreation opportunities. There are numerous natural sand beaches along the 962-mile shoreline in addition to campgrounds, recreation areas and boat access ramps. Lake Keowee covers Keowee Town, site of the capitol of the Lower Cherokee Nation. Keowee, meaning “place of the mulberries,” was visited by Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto when he came through the area in 1540. With 18,500 acres of water and a 300-mile shoreline, the Lake Keowee area is a popular place for fishing, waterskiing, swimming, camping and picnicking. Lake Jocassee has 7,500 acres of deep water and 75 miles of shoreline. The popular recreation area is surrounded by mountains and waterfalls. Flowing freely through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains is the Chattooga River. The premier whitewater destination in the southeast. On the Chauga River, spectacular scenery and class IV rapids provide the ultimate rush for anyone daring enough to paddle this river.
For those looking for less rigorous adventure, shopping in the region is exceptional with lots of small local shops and galleries featuring items of every shape and size. Theater productions can be found running at the Oconee Community Theater as well as the Walhalla Civic Auditorium. Or with a short drive to nearby Clemson or Greenville, ever more awaits.
Whatever the choice, Oconee County offers a little of everything set in a backdrop of natural beauty and quiet calm.
Services
Oconee County, South Carolina is a world-class location and is home to several Fortune 500 Companies such as the Duke Energy Corporation, which operates the Oconee Nuclear Station and hydroelectric plants on Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee and has more than 1,700 workers. In addition Johnson Controls, Inc, Sandvik, US Engine Valve, Schneider Electric and BorgWarner Automotive all are located in the county.
The County affords outstanding educational opportunities at all levels. Public and private schools offer strong college preparatory, vocational and technical programs. Oconee County Schools offer a variety of enrichment programs which take students beyond the normal curriculum. Academic enrichment in music, drama and art broaden the cultural awareness of local students and community. Accredited private schools that offer classes in kindergarten through grade twelve are also available. Oconee County Schools are highly rated. The Oconee County school district contains 21 schools, ranging from k-12 and including specialty schools. The district enrollment is more than 10,500 students. The school district serves the towns of Seneca, Walhalla, Westminster, Townville, Fairplay, Long Creek, Tamassee, Salem, and West Union, all of which comprise the county of Oconee in the “Golden Corner” of South Carolina. With over 1400 employees, including approximately 941 teachers, the school district is one of Oconee County’s largest employers. Higher education is well represented in the area with Tri-County Technical College, Anderson University, nearby Clemson and many others.
Health care is a priority in the County and is well represented by an excellent full-service hospital, healthcare facilities and human service agencies that offer a continuum of care, resources and support to meet the physical, mental and developmental needs of the community. The county is served by the Oconee Medical Center, with over 1400 employees is one of the largest employers in Oconee County. In addition to providing quality healthcare and services, makes a major contribution of the economy of Oconee County through its payroll. Oconee Medical Center offers 160 beds and the services of approximately 125 affiliated physicians, as well as more than 75 allied health professionals, and offers hospital-based specialty services in the areas of Pathology, Radiology, Anesthesiology, and Emergency Medicine.
Seneca
City Offices
221 East North First Street
Seneca 864-885-2700
www.seneca.sc.us
Originally called “Seneca City,” it was founded in 1873 at the point of where two railroad lines connecting Atlanta and Charlotte crossed. Earlier, a Native American village named Esseneca was settled by the Cherokee near present-day Clemson University. Seneca recently adopted the motto “City of Smiles, City with Style.” It is home to more than 8,000 residents.
Nestled in the Foothills of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, Seneca is home to residential and commercial properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Dubbed “The City of Opportunity” at its founding, Seneca still claims its title. With the cool waters of pristine Lake Keowee, Lake Jocassee, and Lake Hartwell nearby, the area offers many recreational opportunities. Native foliage including mountain laurel, dogwood, rhododendron, wild azalea, and the rare Oconee Bell (Oconee County’s official flower), flourish on the hillsides and in the lush river valleys. Magnificent waterfalls and abundant wildlife make hiking the many mountain trails or casting for trout in wild mountain streams a wonderful experience. Fishing the lake waters, visiting the state and county parks or canoeing and kayaking on the scenic Chattooga River are great recreational adventures year round. Favorably positioned between Atlanta, Georgia, and Greenville, South Carolina, just minutes away from Clemson University, Seneca and Oconee County have gained national acclaim for its natural beauty, quaint towns, antique shopping and as a favorite destination for history buffs and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Seneca is a thriving mini-metropolis providing convenient services, shopping, dining and entertainment without congestion. It’s a mix of southern hospitality and cosmopolitan flare. Unique boutique shops are tucked here and there throughout Seneca with a number of them on Ram Cat Alley in historic downtown Seneca. Dining comes in every form in Seneca and after, there is plenty entertainment available – Seneca has an 8-plex cinema and the Oconee Community Theatre puts on numerous excellent productions each year. Down the road, at Clemson University, the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts showcases music and theatre productions from across the United States. Seneca offers all the beauty and variety of nature close at hand with quality services and conveniences readily available, without urban congestion.
Walhalla
Town Offices
206 North Church Street
Walhalla 864-638-4343
www.cityofwalhalla.com
Walhalla is a mountain city in Oconee County; it is located 16 miles from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina and is also located in the Appalachian Mountains. The town of Walhalla is the county seat of the county and is home to just more than 4,000 residents. It began as a settlement for German immigrants, and its name means “Garden of the Gods.” The town of Walhalla was founded in the 1850’s by the German Settlement Society. Today the town is a popular antiquing destination that offers small town living in beautiful natural surroundings. Due to its German heritage, Walhalla is also known for its annual Oktoberfest celebration, which takes place on the third weekend of October. Walhalla is a charming southern town with historical houses, churches and the restored Walhalla Civic Auditorium where regional and local theatre events are held. The Oconee Heritage Center is just down the street and showcases the history of the area as well as two ancient wooden canoes rescued from the Chattooga River and the Keowee River. With unique shops, cafes, antique shops and tree-lined streets, it’s a delightful town to explore on foot. Walhalla is located just minutes away from the variety of outdoor and indoor activities Oconee County has to offer. The four season weather offer a taste of all Mother Nature provides, but none of them stay too long and wear out their welcome! That makes it a great place to raise a family or to enjoy one’s retirement.
Westminster
City Offices
100 Windsor Street
Westminster 864-647-3200
www.westminstersc.com
Westminster is a city in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. It was started mostly as a station on the Southern Railway. Then as stores, shops and factories started to set up around the train stop, it bloomed into a decent-sized town. Its peak of expansion came in the 1920s. The city is home to more 3,200. Westminster is home to several industries; among them are: US Engine Valve plant and Sandvik Tooling Supply, a global supplier of tungsten carbide cutting tools. The City of Westminster is in the foothills of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. With a diversified economic base, ranging from modern industry to the quaint shops along Old Main Street, and surrounded by rivers, lakes, forests, mountains and golf courses, Westminster offers a wide variety of occupational and recreational opportunities. A treasure trove of wonderful architecture, Westminster boasts more than one hundred homes that are unique to the late 1800’s and turn-of-the-century. Old Main Street, with its unique shops and hometown atmosphere, has benefited from an influx of private investment to restore and renovate most of its buildings. Westminster is one of the few small southern communities with a textile mill still located and operating within its’ city limits. This mill, Beacon Manufacturing is a main-stay of the local economy with its employment of 640 plus people. Surrounding the mill are many of the original company-owned homes that housed the workers of the factory. Many have been renovated and stand as a testimony of another era. The yearly Apple Festival celebrates the beginning of the Apple harvest here in Oconee County, the largest apple producing area in South Carolina. Activities include whitewater rafting, a world championship rodeo, live musical entertainment, rides and attractions for the children.
