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Laurens County, the upcoming community in the upcountry of South Carolina, offers historic charm, a pastoral landscape, abundant outdoor recreation, quality education, health care, cultural diversity and friendly, caring neighbors.
The present population of Laurens County is 72,000. Thirty percent of the residents live in the two main cities of Clinton and Laurens. The remainder live in the smaller communities of Cross Hill, Fountain Inn, Gray Court, Hickory Tavern, Mountville, Joanna, Ware Shoals and Waterloo, or in rural areas. Together, the towns and cities make up 722 square miles dotted with majestic oak trees and blooming azaleas.
The average temperature in January is 43.6 degrees, with a pleasant 79.9 average in July.
Laurens County is located in the northwest quadrant of South Carolina, between Columbia and Greenville/Spartanburg, two of the New South’s most rapidly growing metropolitan areas. Laurens County lies inland about 170 miles from the port city of Charleston, on the Atlantic Ocean, and about 50 miles southeast of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Important to any new business or resident is the health and vibrancy of the current business structure. From humble beginnings as a textile manufacturer to the diverse industry mix of today, Laurens County has always enjoyed a climate conducive to business and economic growth.
Laurens County’s public school system is divided into two districts. Laurens and the surrounding towns of Hickory Tavern and Gray Court-Owings make up Laurens District 55. District 56 comprises Clinton, Joanna, Cross Hill and Mountville.
Founded in 1880 by Dr. William P. Jacobs, Presbyterian College is a private, four-year liberal arts college that has become a key educational, cultural and entertainment resource for Laurens County.
The student body of 1,150 students represents 28 states and eight foreign countries. With 75 full-time faculty members, 90 percent of whom have their doctorates, the student faculty ratio is 15-1.
For the past seven years, U.S. News and World Report has listed Presbyterian College as one of the top small colleges in the nation. Since 1987, Presbyterian College students have earned 33 major academic awards, including a Rhodes Scholarship, 11 Rotary International Scholarships and a National Science Foundation Fellowship.
Complementing the academic excellence at Presbyterian College is a lectures and fine arts program that brings more than 50 cultural events to campus each year. These events make Presbyterian College a cultural center for Laurens County. Click Here to visit Presbyterian College's web site.
Folks in Laurens County think being in the middle has its advantages, living in an area situated squarely between the mountains and the sea, that is. The mountains are just two hours away, the South Carolina coast, three. So admiring autumn leaves, basking in the summer sun and a myriad of activities in between are all within an easy driving distance for county residents who want a change of scenery.
Rather stay closer to home? Laurens County offers plenty of choices to relieve stress and cultivate relaxation. For recreation, there are outdoor outlets such as local Lake Greenwood, as well as places such as the YMCA.
