Clemson, South Carolina

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Clemson

| settlement_type = City

| nickname = South Knoxville

| motto = "In season, every season."

| image_skyline = ClemsonSCM.png

| imagesize = 290 px

| image_caption = Top, left to right: Tillman Hall (near Clemson City), Hanover House, Fort Hill, Memorial Stadium, College Avenue

| image_seal = Clemson, SC City Seal.jpg

| image_map = SCMap-doton-Clemson.PNG

| mapsize = 250px

| map_caption = Location of Clemson, South Carolina

| pushpin_map = South Carolina#USA

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = United States

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = South Carolina

| subdivision_type2 = Counties

| subdivision_name2 = Pickens, Anderson

| government_footnotes =

| government_type =

| leader_title =

| leader_name =

| leader_title1 =

| leader_name1 =

| established_title =

| established_date =

| unit_pref = Imperial

| area_footnotes = {{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}}

| area_magnitude =

| area_total_km2 = 21.11

| area_land_km2 = 19.92

| area_water_km2 = 1.19

| area_total_sq_mi = 8.15

| area_land_sq_mi = 7.69

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.46

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 17681

| population_density_km2 = 887.54

| population_density_sq_mi = 2298.62

| population_urban = 118369 (US: 286th){{cite web |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/29/2022-28286/2020-census-qualifying-urban-areas-and-final-criteria-clarifications|title=2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications|author=United States Census Bureau|website=Federal Register|date=December 29, 2022}}

| population_density_urban_km2 = 476.4

| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 1233.8

| timezone = Eastern (EST)

| utc_offset = −5

| timezone_DST = EDT

| utc_offset_DST = −4

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m =

| elevation_ft = 725

| coordinates = {{coord|34|41|6|N|82|48|53|W|region:US-SC_type:city|display=inline,title}}

| postal_code_type = ZIP codes

| postal_code = 29631-29634

| area_codes = 864, 821

| blank_name = FIPS code

| blank_info = 45-14950{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}

| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank1_info = 1247312{{GNIS|1247312}}

| website = {{URL|www.clemsoncity.org}}

| footnotes =

| pop_est_as_of =

| pop_est_footnotes =

| population_est =

}}

Clemson ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|l|ɛ|m|p|s|ən|,_|ˈ|k|l|ɛ|m|z|ən}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6449DwAAQBAJ&q=clemson+pronunciation&pg=PT288|title=The Routledge Handbook of Contemporary English Pronunciation|editor1=Okim Kang |editor2=Ron I. Thomson |editor3=John M Murphy |publisher=Routledge|date=2017|isbn=9781351383981}}{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Daniel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jGSXwqTCwpkC&q=clemson+pronunciation&pg=PA96|title=English Pronouncing Dictionary|publisher=Cambridge University Press|date=2006|page=96|isbn=9780521680868}}{{ref|fn_a|[note a]}}) is a city in Pickens and Anderson counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. Clemson is adjacent to Clemson University,{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st45_sc/place/p4514950_clemson/DC20BLK_P4514950.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Clemson city, SC|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-07-22}}
{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st45_sc/place/p4515040_clemson_university/DC20BLK_P4515040.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Clemson University CDP, SC|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-07-22|quote=Clemson Uni}} - The blue-shaded pattern denotes university property. This shows Clemson University is outside of the Clemson city limits.
and is identified with it. In 2015, the Princeton Review cited the town of Clemson as ranking #1 in the United States for "town-and-gown" relations with its resident university.{{cite web|url=https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/best-colleges|title=Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition|website=www.princetonreview.com|access-date=15 March 2018}} The population of the city was 17,681 at the 2020 census.{{Cite web |date=November 19, 2022 |title=QuickFacts - Clemson city, South Carolina |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/clemsoncitysouthcarolina/POP010220 |access-date=November 19, 2022 |website=United States Census Bureau}}

Clemson is part of the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC Combined Statistical Area.

History

Image:Fort Hill 1887.jpg, photographed in 1887, was the home of Thomas Green Clemson and his wife Anna Maria Calhoun, who inherited it from her mother. He carried out Anna Maria's wish to found an agricultural college here but was credited as founder.]]

European Americans settled here after the Cherokee were forced to cede their land in 1819. They had lived at Keowee, and six other towns along the Keowee River as part of their traditional homelands in the Southeast. They migrated and settled in Tennessee and deeper into Georgia and Alabama, before most were subjected to forced Indian Removal in 1839 to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).

The community was originally named Calhoun. Clemson University, founded in 1889 and located adjacent to Clemson, has developed as a large public university that defines the town and serves as a cultural center. Its campus developed south of the original town. This was renamed as Clemson in 1943, reflecting its identification with the university. A small, multi-block downtown has some housing, retail and restaurants.

The university provides housing for students, but many students live off campus in a wide variety of apartment complexes. Outside the downtown, there are few paved sidewalks, but some streets have bike paths. The city's comprehensive plan{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofclemson.org/files/Chapter_V._Cultural_Resources_Goals_and_Objectives.pdf|title=Cultural Resources Goals and Objectives|publisher=City of Clemson|access-date=2016-09-29|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030182859/http://www.cityofclemson.org/files/Chapter_V._Cultural_Resources_Goals_and_Objectives.pdf|archive-date=2008-10-30}} has a historic preservation component to apply to keep a range of structures in the area.

The Clemson (train) Depot, built in 1893, was renovated in 2001; it now houses the local chamber of commerce and visitor center.{{cite web |url=http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/CSN |title=Clemson, SC — Great American Stations |website=Greatamericanstations.com |date=1990-07-26 |access-date=2016-09-29 |archive-date=May 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503220529/http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/CSN/ |url-status=dead }} The station was temporarily closed in 2016 for a road project, but was reopened in 2019.{{cite web|last1=LaFleur|first1=Elizabeth|title=Amtrak to resume service in Clemson next month|url=https://www.independentmail.com/story/news/local/2019/07/25/amtrak-resumes-service-clemson-august-2019/1826827001/|website=Anderson Independent Mail|publisher=AI Online}} U.S. Route 123 runs along the northern end of the city and its edges have been developed with typical suburban-style shopping centers.

=Development of Clemson College/University=

Clemson University was founded as an agricultural college starting in 1889, on the former Fort Hill Plantation of statesman John C. Calhoun, which he had acquired by marriage. The plantation was originally owned by his mother-in-law, mother of his wife Floride. Floride Calhoun inherited the property after her mother's death in 1836 but, under South Carolina law, she likely lost any individual rights to it because of her marriage.

In the meantime, Floride and John C. Calhoun had a daughter named Anna Maria. At age 21, she married Thomas Green Clemson. After her father John C. Calhoun died in 1850; his widow Floride Calhoun gained total ownership of Fort Hill Plantation.

Because Anna Maria was the only living child, she inherited a part of Fort Hill when Floride died in 1866. Anna Maria bequeathed Thomas G. Clemson a portion of the property in her will. When Anna Maria died in 1875, he inherited the plantation. He knew that Anna Maria had wanted the land to be used as the site of an agricultural college, so Thomas Green Clemson bequeathed land for such a college in his will. After his death in 1888, what developed as Clemson University was founded on that land.

Geography

File:Clemson University Aerial (50697385708).jpg

Clemson is located at {{coord|34|41|6|N|82|48|53|W|type:city}} (34.684930, −82.814777){{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} approximately {{convert|27|mi}} west of downtown Greenville and {{convert|15|mi}} north of Anderson. The city is situated near the northwestern corner of South Carolina in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains while also on the shores of Lake Hartwell.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of {{convert|20.5|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|19.3|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|1.2|sqkm|order=flip}}, or 5.85%, is water.{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4514950| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212202019/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4514950| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Clemson city, South Carolina| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=August 7, 2013}}

=Climate=

Typical of the Upstate, Clemson has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen) characterized by hot, humid summers and cool winters. Precipitation is ample through the year, although it reaches a maximum in August and February; snowfall is typically sporadic with a normal seasonal (December through March) total accumulation of {{convert|2.2|in|cm|abbr=on}}.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|location = Clemson University, South Carolina (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1896–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 80

|Feb record high F = 82

|Mar record high F = 89

|Apr record high F = 93

|May record high F = 100

|Jun record high F = 105

|Jul record high F = 106

|Aug record high F = 104

|Sep record high F = 104

|Oct record high F = 98

|Nov record high F = 86

|Dec record high F = 81

|year record high F = 106

|Jan high F = 53.4

|Feb high F = 57.1

|Mar high F = 64.6

|Apr high F = 73.3

|May high F = 80.6

|Jun high F = 87.6

|Jul high F = 91.0

|Aug high F = 89.5

|Sep high F = 84.2

|Oct high F = 74.3

|Nov high F = 64.3

|Dec high F = 55.9

|year high F = 73.0

|Jan mean F = 42.9

|Feb mean F = 45.8

|Mar mean F = 52.6

|Apr mean F = 60.8

|May mean F = 68.9

|Jun mean F = 76.4

|Jul mean F = 79.8

|Aug mean F = 78.6

|Sep mean F = 73.0

|Oct mean F = 62.2

|Nov mean F = 51.9

|Dec mean F = 45.1

|year mean F = 61.5

|Jan low F = 32.5

|Feb low F = 34.6

|Mar low F = 40.6

|Apr low F = 48.2

|May low F = 57.2

|Jun low F = 65.1

|Jul low F = 68.5

|Aug low F = 67.7

|Sep low F = 61.9

|Oct low F = 50.0

|Nov low F = 39.5

|Dec low F = 34.4

|year low F = 50.0

|Jan record low F = −5

|Feb record low F = -7

|Mar record low F = 4

|Apr record low F = 24

|May record low F = 32

|Jun record low F = 42

|Jul record low F = 49

|Aug record low F = 52

|Sep record low F = 34

|Oct record low F = 23

|Nov record low F = 10

|Dec record low F = 2

|year record low F = −7

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 4.94

|Feb precipitation inch = 4.36

|Mar precipitation inch = 4.80

|Apr precipitation inch = 4.20

|May precipitation inch = 4.06

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.16

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.09

|Aug precipitation inch = 5.27

|Sep precipitation inch = 3.80

|Oct precipitation inch = 3.76

|Nov precipitation inch = 3.87

|Dec precipitation inch = 5.07

|year precipitation inch = 52.38

|Jan snow inch = 0.8

|Feb snow inch = 0.8

|Mar snow inch = 0.3

|Apr snow inch = 0.0

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 0.0

|Dec snow inch = 0.3

|year snow inch = 2.2

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 10.6

|Feb precipitation days = 10.5

|Mar precipitation days = 10.7

|Apr precipitation days = 9.7

|May precipitation days = 9.7

|Jun precipitation days = 11.1

|Jul precipitation days = 10.4

|Aug precipitation days = 10.8

|Sep precipitation days = 8.3

|Oct precipitation days = 7.7

|Nov precipitation days = 9.2

|Dec precipitation days = 11.3

|year precipitation days = 120.0

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 0.4

|Feb snow days = 0.5

|Mar snow days = 0.1

|Apr snow days = 0.0

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.0

|Nov snow days = 0.0

|Dec snow days = 0.4

|year snow days = 1.4

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=gsp

| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = August 16, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00381770&format=pdf

| title = Station: Clemson UNIV, SC

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = August 16, 2021}}

}}

=National Register of Historical Places=

The following places and buildings in Clemson City are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

Places on the Clemson University campus on the NRHP:

Other places with Clemson addresses:

File:J. C. Striblin Barn, Pickens County, 220 Issaqueena Trail, Clemson (Pickens County, South Carolina).JPG|J. C. Stribling Barn (Clemson City)

File:OldStoneChurchCemetery16.png|Old Stone Church and Cemetery (Clemson City)

File:Clemson College Sheep Barn, S. Palmetto Blvd., Clemson (Pickens County, South Carolina).JPG|Clemson College Sheep Barn

File:CU Sikes Hall & Bowman Field Aug2010.jpg|Bowman Field and Sikes Hall of the Clemson University Historic District I

File:Hanover House (Clemson).JPG|Hanover House (Clemson University)

File:Clemson amphitheatre.jpg|Amphitheater of the Clemson University Historic District II

=Attractions=

Clemson University is home to South Carolina Botanical Garden, Fort Hill Plantation and Bob Campbell Geology Museum. Lake Hartwell, a reservoir, is a popular recreation area that borders the city on the west. The Blue Ridge Mountains are just {{convert|30|mi}} from the city center.

{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofclemson.org/ |title=City of Clemson, SC | In Season, Every Season |website=Cityofclemson.org |access-date=2016-09-29}}

File:South Carolina Botanical Garden - view 2.JPG|South Carolina Botanical Garden

File:Fort Hill.jpg|Fort Hill

File:Lake Hartwell in Clemson, South Carolina 02.jpg|Lake Hartwell

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1940= 761

|1950= 1204

|1960= 1587

|1970= 6690

|1980= 8118

|1990= 11096

|2000= 11939

|2010= 13905

|2020= 17673

| estyear = 2022

| estimate = 17834

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|website=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:45&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=Oct 15, 2022}}

}}

File:Tillman Hall 2008.jpg in 2008]]

=2000 census=

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,939 people, 5,061 households and 2,196 families residing in the city. The population does not reflect the additional on-campus population of Clemson University, which adds roughly 17,000 additional residents for eight months of the year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/10/30/proposed-clemson-sc-apartments-highlights-tensions-between-residents-city/4074344002/|title=Clemson's Dockside Development highlights tensions between city officials, residents|last=Nicholson|first=Zoe|website=The Greenville News|language=en|access-date=2019-12-29}}

The population density was {{convert|1,620.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,679 housing units at an average density of {{convert|770.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The city's racial makeup was 80.98% White, 11.38% African American, 5.73% Asian, 0.11% Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.82% of the population.

There were 5,061 households, out of which 17.8% had children younger than 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 56.6% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.30, and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 14.5% younger than 18, 36.8% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 15.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females. there were 106.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and older, there were 107.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,892, and the median income for a family was $61,176. Males had a median income of $39,318 versus $28,663 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,272. About 8.8% of families and 33.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

=2010 census=

The 2010 census shows Clemson's population rose to 14,089 in 2012, showing an increase of 0.9% over two years and three months (from April 1, 2010, to July 1, 2012). The population in 2010 consisted of 5,823 households with an average of 2.33 people living in each household. This household quantity includes 2,474 family households, 932 of which had children younger than 18. 37% of these households were married couples, 2.3% male householder with no wife present and 3.2% female householders with no husband present. The rest of these households were composed of non-family households (57.5%) and householders living along (31.3%).

The city of Clemson had a population density of 1,869 persons per square mile. The number of housing units in the city was 6,925. The overall racial distribution of the city was 78.4% white, 8.9% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 8.3% Asian, and 2.2% Hispanic or Latino.

The age distribution for Clemson is as follows: 4.1% under the age of 5 years, 3.3% 5–9 years, 4.4% 10–14 years, 4.3% 15–19 years, 32.6% 20–24 years, 14% 25–34 years, 8.8% 35–44 years, 8.8% 45–54, and 19.7% older than 55.

The median household income was $29,828 and the median family income was $77,704. The median earnings for a male worker (full-time) was $42,597, compared to the median earnings for a female worker (full-time), which was $32,524. The city of Clemson had a per capita income of about $23,906. 17.6% of the population was below the poverty line, 13.2% of that total being families.{{cite web |title=UNITED STATES QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/4514950.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219003952/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/4514950.html |archive-date=2016-02-19 |access-date=2016-09-29 |website=Quickfacts.census.gov}}

=2020 census=

class="wikitable"

|+Clemson racial composition{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4514950&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-14|website=data.census.gov}}

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

White (non-Hispanic)

|13,317

|75.32%

Black or African American (non-Hispanic)

|1,306

|7.39%

Native American

|38

|0.21%

Asian

|1,501

|8.49%

Pacific Islander

|6

|0.03%

Other/Mixed

|719

|4.07%

Hispanic or Latino

|794

|4.49%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,681 people, 6,751 households, and 2,571 families residing in the city.

{{Asof|2023}}, of the 17,681 people living in the municipality of Clemson, 17,641 live in Pickens County and 40 live in Anderson County.{{cite web|url=https://info2.scdot.org/GISMapping/GISMapdl/Pickens_County.pdf|title=General Highway System PICKENS COUNTY South Carolina|publisher=South Carolina Department of Transportation|date=June 2023|access-date=2025-03-09}}

Public safety

The city of Clemson operates the Clemson Police Department.

Clemson University Fire Department provides fire protection to the City of Clemson.{{cite web|url=https://www.clemsoncity.org/Departments/PlanningandCodes/FireandLifeSafety/tabid/281/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1|title=Fire and Life Safety|publisher=City of Clemson|access-date=2024-07-22|quote=[...]the Clemson University Fire Department, which provides fire protection for the City of Clemson,[...]}}

Pickens County EMS, for public safety needs. All departments are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Clemson University Fire Department has two stations. One is on campus at 1521 Perimeter Road while the second station is at 740 Issaqueena Trail. The Police Department is at 1198 Tiger Boulevard. Pickens County EMS Medic 4 is at 115 Commons Way in Central.

Transportation

File:CAT bus.jpg]]

Clemson Area Transit (CAT) is a free transportation service that offers fare free service throughout the Clemson, Anderson, Pendleton and Seneca areas. All CAT buses are made accessible for patrons with disabilities and can accommodate any special needs. The CAT buses also provide transfer services to the local Electric City Transit bus in Anderson. Riders can receive vouchers from CAT bus operators in order to continue their ride fare-free on the Anderson shuttles.{{cite web |url=http://www.catbus.com/home/general.html |title=Clemson Area Transit - General Info |website=Catbus.com |date=2014-10-22 |access-date=2016-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117030041/http://www.catbus.com/home/general.html |archive-date=2015-11-17 |url-status=dead }}

The city of Clemson has an Amtrak station at the corner of Calhoun Memorial Highway and College Avenue.{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=am/am2Station/Station_Page&code=CSN |title=Stations - Clemson, SC (CSN) |website=Amtrak.com |access-date=2016-09-29}} The Crescent Route travels from New Orleans to New York City and stops through the Clemson station (CSN).{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrak.com/crescent-train |title=Crescent - the Train between New York City and New Orleans |publisher=Amtrak |date=2016-01-11 |access-date=2016-09-29}}

The Clemson area is near three major airports. The closest, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, is 45 minutes away in Greenville, South Carolina. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is two and a half hours away in Atlanta, Georgia, and Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) is also two and a half hours away in Charlotte, North Carolina. Many different services provide transportation to and from the airport from the Clemson area, including The Airport Shuttle, Anderson/Clemson Shuttle Service, Yellow Cab and Andrews Airport Services.{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofclemson.org/our-community/transportation |title=Transportation | City of Clemson, SC |website=Cityofclemson.org |access-date=2016-09-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018164709/http://cityofclemson.org/our-community/transportation |archive-date=2016-10-18 }}

Education

=K-12 education=

The portion of Clemson within Pickens County is in the Pickens County School District, which covers the entire county.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45077_pickens/DC20SD_C45077.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Pickens County, SC|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-07-22}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45077_pickens/DC20SD_C45077_SD2MS.txt Text list] Students living in the city of Clemson attend Clemson Elementary School, RC Edwards Middle School and D.W. Daniel High School.{{cite web|url=http://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/ |title=Home - Pickens County School District |website=Pickens.k12.sc.us |date=2016-09-24 |access-date=2016-09-29}}

Clemson Elementary School was originally called the Calhoun-Clemson School and was on College Avenue. In 1964, the school burned down, destroying everything but the cafeteria, and the newer first and second grade wing, a separate building. The school was rebuilt on Frontage Road and was named Margaret Morrison Elementary School. The once segregated Calhoun Colored School was renamed Morrison annex and was used to house the primary grades and self-contained resource students. After the schools had outgrown their buildings, construction began in 1999 on a new school building on Berkeley Drive. This is now the site of the current Clemson Elementary. Clemson Elementary colors are orange and blue, and its mascot is the tiger cub.{{cite web|url=http://pickens.clemson.schoolfusion.us/ |title=Clemson Elementary School - Index |access-date=2014-03-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702074607/http://pickens.clemson.schoolfusion.us/ |archive-date=2014-07-02 }}

RC Edwards was built and opened in 1971, and named for the President of Clemson University. It currently educates sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. The campus is located in Central, and has about 800 students. Its colors are purple and white, and the mascot is the panther.{{cite web |url=http://ems.pickens.k12.sc.us/ |title=Edwards Middle School - Index |access-date=2014-03-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103080643/http://ems.pickens.k12.sc.us/ |archive-date=2013-11-03 }}

The current D.W. Daniel High School was constructed in 2010 and had its first class enter the doors for the 2012–2013 school year. The school is named after David Wistar Daniel, a professor at Clemson College, who was invested in the public school system and spent many years on the South Carolina Board of Education. It recently was named one of the best regular public schools in the state by US News magazine. Its colors are blue and gold, and the mascot is the lion. The school is well known for its football team.{{cite web|url=http://dhs.pickens.k12.sc.us/ |title=Home - Daniel High School |website=Dhs.pickens.k12.sc.us |access-date=2016-09-29}} In the 2013–2014 season, the team ended the year 14 wins to one loss, which occurred in the 3A State Championship against Myrtle Beach High School.

The portion of Clemson in Anderson County is in Anderson School District 4.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45007_anderson/DC20SD_C45007.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Anderson County, SC|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-07-22}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45007_anderson/DC20SD_C45007_SD2MS.txt Text list]

=Colleges and universities=

Clemson is adjacent to Clemson University, and is identified with it; in 2015, the Princeton Review cited the town of Clemson as ranking #1 in the United States for "town-and-gown" relations with its resident university.

As the university is not in the City of Clemson corporate limits, the university does not have to abide by City of Clemson municipal ordinances nor receive permission to do any undertaking from the City of Clemson. The South Carolina General Assembly designated Clemson University as a "municipal corporation" in 1894.{{cite web|last=Simon|first=Mollie R.|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/02/20/clemson-university-municipality-city-separate/2872668002/|title=Clemson University is a town unto itself — literally, legally — and it makes a difference|newspaper=Greenville News|place=Greenville, South Carolina|date=2019-02-20|access-date=2024-07-22}}

In 2019, Mollie R. Simon of the Greenville News wrote that the growth of the university has caused a disruption in the relationship between the municipal government and the university.{{cite web|last=Simon|first=Mollie R.|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com:443/story/news/2019/02/20/clemson-growth-university-city-relationship-strained/2863911002/|title='The 800-pound Tiger': How growth in Clemson has strained a once-model university town|newspaper=Greenville News|place=Greenville, South Carolina|date=2019-02-20|access-date=2024-07-22}}

City government

The city has a City Council and participates as a member of the Pickens County Council. The state senator is Thomas C. Alexander, and the state representative is Phillip Bowers.{{cite web|url=http://www.scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php |title=South Carolina Legislature Online - Find Your Legislators |website=Scstatehouse.gov |date=2016-08-19 |access-date=2016-09-29}}

Clemson City Council consists of an Arts and Culture Commission, a Planning Commission, a Board of Architectural Review and a Board of Zoning Appeals.{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofclemson.org/city/city-council-boards-and-commissions |title=City Council Boards and Commissions | City of Clemson, SC |website=Cityofclemson.org |access-date=2016-09-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006170755/http://www.cityofclemson.org/city/city-council-boards-and-commissions |archive-date=2016-10-06 }}

The city of Clemson also works directly with the International Town Gown Association (ITGA) that works to provide information on common issues between universities and their neighboring towns. Two Clemson representatives serve on the ITGA Executive Board: Jim Oswald, ITGA Treasurer, and Beth Bagwell, ITGA Director.{{cite web |url=https://www.itgau.org/content.aspx?ContentID=1438 |title=Mission And Vision | ITGA |website=Itgau.org |date=2015-08-24 |access-date=2016-09-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817201449/https://www.itgau.org/content.aspx?ContentID=1438 |archive-date=2016-08-17 }}

Footnotes

  • {{note|fn_a|Note a:}}The local, authoritative pronunciation of Clemson is {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|l|ɛ|m|p|s|ən}}. Those not familiar with the local pronunciation often say {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|l|ɛ|m|z|ən}} or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|l|ɛ|m|s|ən}}, as the spelling would suggest. See generally [https://books.google.com/books?id=6449DwAAQBAJ&dq=clemson+pronunciation&pg=PT288 The Routledge Handbook of Contemporary English Pronunciation.]

References

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