"C" is for Central [Pickens County

"C" is for Central [Pickens County; population 3,522]. The town of Central came into being when the Atlantic and Richmond Air Line [later the Southern Railroad] laid a track through Pickens County in 1873. The location of the future town was midway between Atlanta and Charlotte and the company chose the site to locate it repair operations. “Central Station” contained shops for railway workers, and engines were refueled and changed using a roundtable. A depot, residences,  and stores soon opened thereafter. In 1875 the town was incorporated. The thriving little town experienced misfortune in the late 1890s. First the Southern Railroad moved its repair operations to Greenville and then a fire destroyed a large portion of Main Street. Today Central has become a bedroom community for Clemson  students and is home to Southern Wesleyan  University.