Cherokee Native Americans first inhabited the lands now known as Oconee County. Ultimately, the Cherokee relinquished control of the region to the United States via 1777 and 1816 treaties. However, the county chose to honor its Cherokee roots through the name Oconee, which is Cherokee for “land by the water.”
Settlement of the region began after the Revolutionary War, and most settlers came from other parts of South Carolina. Oconee County was eventually founded in 1868 with lands previously belonging to Pickens District.
The county’s economy depended on agriculture until after the Civil War. Soon after Reconstruction, an increase in the amount of railroads going through the county led to the growth of the textile industry. In recent decades, industry has continued to grow due to the creation of I-85, which connects Oconee County to Charlotte and Atlanta. The county’s economy is most dependent on manufacturing. However, the completion of the Hartwell Dam and Lake project in 1962 led to the growth of one of the county’s central economic focuses: tourism.
The outdoor recreation offered in Oconee County draws a large number of tourists every year. More than 100 waterfalls, in addition to rivers and lakes, exist in the county. Additionally, Oconee County is home to Jocasee Gorges, which is “one of only two rainforests in North America.” Visitors can camp, white-water raft, and fish among other outdoor activities.
Oconee County lies in the Northeast portion of the Upstate, below the Blue Ridge Mountains. Walhalla serves as its county seat.
About Us. Accessed June 10, 2016. http://scmountainlakes.com/about-us/
Oconee County Industrial Base. Accessed June 10, 2016. http://investoconeesc.com/business-industry/industry/oconee-county-industrial-base/
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Explore the enchanting beauty and rich history of Oconee County, South Carolina, from the sky. In this episode we uncover the natural wonders of Isaqueena Falls, where the cascading waters echo the...
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Lake Jocassee is a 75,000-acre reservoir outside of Salem, South Carolina and is considered the jewel of the Appalachian Mountains.
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Devyn heads to one of South Carolina's beautiful state parks to experience her first waterfall hike in the mountains of the upstate.
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The enchanting peaks and serene basins of Lake Jocassee are unlike anything else in South Carolina! And they can best be seen...From the Sky! Fly over the 75,000-acre reservoir that is commonly known...
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Milt Putnam, from Seneca, South Carolina, was a U.S. Navy photographer, who also served in the Vietnam War. Putnam was assigned to take official photographs of several Apollo recoveries: Apollo 8...
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Before the trees start to bloom, the flowers in the area explode with blossoms first. Here we see Lousewort and Pennywort flowers. While observing the flowers, Rudy and Jim come across a Black Chinned...
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Another characteristic of this forest which makes it unique is that it is has remained relatively unchanged for millions of years. The Mayapple flower is a common flower in the area, and features an...
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Rudy and Jim visit Appalachian Cove, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina. Some of the flowering plants found here have cousins nowhere else in the world except China and Japan. At this first...
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In the same stop, Rudy and Jim talk about the plants growing on a nearby rock: moss, Walking Fern, and another Canada Violet. On a nearby tree, Rudy and Jim find a cocoon of a Large Silkworm Moth.
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The constant stream of mist coming from the waterfall at this next stop affects the variety of plants found here. The mountain, like the forest, is ancient, and the waterfall continues to wear away...
