“P” is for Pickens (Pickens County; 2020 population 3,377). The upcountry city of Pickens, named for Revolutionary War general Andrew Pickens, was chartered in 1868 as the seat of government for newly created Pickens County. It was the second town of that name, replacing Old Pickens, which had been the courthouse seat for the Old Pickens District. Some of the structures in Old Pickens, including the jail, were dismantled and rebuilt in the new town. Growth was slow and for years some town lots remained vacant and used to grow corn, cotton, or oats. Although the population of Pickens County grew considerably in the years after World War II, the population of Pickens remained stable at around three thousand. Today, Pickens remains a small town in the foothills, convenient to urban areas but without their attendant problems.
“P” is for Pickens
