“P” is for Pendleton (Anderson County; 2020 population 3,499). The town of Pendleton was created in 1790 as the seat of Pendleton County. Situated on the Cherokee Path, it was named for Judge Henry Pendleton, a Revolutionary War veteran. Until the division of Pendleton District in 1826, the town was one of the most influential in the upper half of South Carolina. With the division of the district, Pendleton lost its courthouse status. The Pendleton Farmers Society, organized in 1815, was still active in the twenty-first century—making it one of the oldest agricultural societies in the country. By 1820 lowcountry planters had discovered the town and built summer homes there. In 1970 much of the town was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, helping Pendleton become a tourist center attracting more than 100,000 visitors annually.
“P” is for Pendleton
