Williamston South Carolina

Williamston is a town in Anderson County South Carolina. It is is adjacent to the towns of Pelzer and West Pelzer. Many people consider Williamston, Pelzer, West Pelzer, Piedmont, and Powdersville one community but I suggest you check them all out because each is different and special in their own unique way. The population was 3,791 at the 2000 census and was 3920 in 2007. Williamston covers 3.6 square miles.

Williamston was founded by West Allen Williams. In 1842 he discovered a spring that had water with with healing qualities. As news of the medicinal water spread, the town grew and became a major resort when the railroads arrived in 1851. Soon it became known as the 'Saratoga of the South' which was a referral to a similar spring in New York. To accommodate the influx, the Mammoth Hotel was built near the spring and was the largest building in the state at that time, featuring 150 rooms plus bowling alleys and ballrooms. Unfortunately, a devastating fire in 1860 destroyed it and other buildings. The site where the mineral spring still exists is now the park where the town holds the annual Spring Water Festival.

The town was initially known as Mineral Springs, but this was changed to Williamston in 1852. Mr. Williams set aside property to preserve the spring and to begin schools and churches. The Civil War brought an end to that “golden era”, but not without leaving its own history. The last skirmish east of the Mississippi took place a few miles north of town when cadets from the Arsenal Academy at Columbia encountered Stoneman’s Raiders on May 1, 1865.

In 1871, Dr. Samuel Lander established a girls school which eventually became Lander College.

Williamston has a great location with Highways 8, 20, and 29 making commuting easy. A fantastic town in a great location! If Williamston sounds like a place you might like to call home, please don't forget you can use the Williamston South Carolina Free MLS Real Estate Search to see all the homes for sale in Williamston South Carolina!