Central, South Carolina

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Central, South Carolina | settlement_type = Town | motto = | image_skyline = CentralSCMon.png | imagesize = 280px | image_caption = Top, left to right: Downtown Central, Southern Wesleyan University, Central Roller Mills, Central High School | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_map = SCMap-doton-Central.PNG | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Location of Central within South Carolina  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = South Carolina | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Pickens  | established_title = Incorporated | established_date = 1875<ref name="CHShist"/> | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Andrew J. Beckner<ref>[http://www.cityofcentral.org/town_hall/mayor.shtml Mayor's Corner] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061217112728/http://www.cityofcentral.org/town_hall/mayor.shtml |date=December 17, 2006 }} from Central's official website</ref>  | 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> | area_total_sq_mi = 3.07 | area_land_sq_mi = 3.06 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.00 | area_total_km2 = 7.94 | area_land_km2 = 7.93 | area_water_km2 = 0.01  | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 5247 | population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/> | population_density_sq_mi = 1713.59 | population_density_km2 = 661.56  | timezone = Eastern (EST) | utc_offset = −5 | timezone_DST = EDT | utc_offset_DST = −4 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> | elevation_ft = 873 | coordinates = {{Coord|34|43|24|N|82|46|39|W|type:city|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>  | postal_code_type = ZIP Code | postal_code = 29630 | area_codes = 864, 821 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 45-13015<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 31, 2008}}</ref> | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 2406246<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2406246}}</ref> | website = [https://www.cityofcentral.org/ cityofcentral.org] | footnotes = }}

'''Central''' is a town in Pickens County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Central had a population of 5,247.<ref name="Census2020PLLede">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N&for=place%3A13015&in=state%3A45|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 8, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cityofcentral.org/about |publisher=City of Central, SC |title=404 | Town of Central |access-date=November 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115110407/http://cityofcentral.org/about/ |archive-date=November 15, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The town's name represents the fact that it is midway between Atlanta and Charlotte.<ref name="CHShist"/> Central was incorporated as a town on March 17, 1875.<ref name="CHShist">[http://www.centralheritage.org/history.htm History of Central] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720033135/http://www.centralheritage.org/history.htm |date=July 20, 2011 }} from the Central Heritage Society website</ref>

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.<ref name="CHShist"/> The establishment of Issaqueena Mill and, in 1906,<ref>[http://www.swu.edu/about/history.htm History, Mission & Vision] from Southern Wesleyan University</ref> Wesleyan Methodist Bible Institute (now Southern Wesleyan University) brought people back to the town.<ref name="CHShist"/>

Two buildings on Church Street in Central are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Central High School and Morgan House. The Central Roller Mills on Madden Bridge Road was listed in 2013.

==Geography== {{unsourced|section|date=November 2025}} According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has an area of {{convert|2.4|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land.

Downtown Central is bisected by a rail line. A significant number of late 19th- to early 20th-century commercial buildings remain, most of which are single-story and retain a good amount of historical integrity. As of 2006,{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}} a downtown streetscape project is underway that is designed to improve the area's aesthetics. There are also many modest pre-World War II homes near the downtown. Central has several large apartment complexes, including The Reserve, which primarily house students from nearby Clemson University (who can use Clemson Area Transit to get there), as well as from Southern Wesleyan University.

The Central Heritage Society has a museum and information on many historic buildings and homes in the area.

===Attractions=== In addition to Southern Wesleyan University, the town is home to Grand Central Station, a disc golf course that hosts Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) tournaments.

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1880= 184 |1890= 396 |1900= 349 |1910= 886 |1920= 898 |1930= 1440 |1940= 1496 |1950= 1263 |1960= 1473 |1970= 1550 |1980= 1914 |1990= 2438 |2000= 3522 |2010= 5159 |2020= 5247 |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N%2CNAME&for=place%3A%2A&in=state%3A45|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref> }} Central is part of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley metropolitan area.

===2000 census=== As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 3,522 people, 1,560 households, and 617 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,463.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,832 housing units at an average density of {{convert|761.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 79.70% White, 15.25% African American, 1.79% Asian, 0.03% Native American, 2.13% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.32% of the population.

There were 1,560 households, of which 17.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.1% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 60.4% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 15.1% under the age of 18, 37.4% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 12.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24. For every 100 females, there were 116.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,869, and the median income for a family was $39,524. Males had a median income of $26,855 versus $22,207 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,394. About 11.3% of families and 29.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census=== Central's population has grown rapidly since 2000, mostly due to the construction of apartment complexes for students attending Clemson University, Southern Wesleyan and Tri-County Technical College.

===2020 census=== {| class="wikitable" |+Central racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4513015&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 14, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> !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<ref>{{cite web|title=Southern Wesleyan University|url=http://www.scicu.org/colleges/southern-wesleyan-university|work=scicu.org|accessdate=February 21, 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.greenvillelibrary.org/locations-and-hours | title=Locations & Hours | publisher=Greenville County Library System | accessdate=June 13, 2019}}</ref>

==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<ref>{{Cite web |title=GRAHAM, Lindsey O. |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/G000359 |access-date=November 10, 2025 |website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}}</ref> * 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== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * [https://www.cityofcentral.org/ City of Central] * [http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?MarkerID=29834 Central Historic Marker] from hmdb.org

Category:Central, South Carolina Category:Towns in Pickens County, South Carolina Category:Towns in South Carolina Category:Upstate South Carolina Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1875 Category:1875 establishments in South Carolina