Belton

History

In 1845 a group was created to connect the Piedmont region of South Carolina by rail to the existing rail system which then ran from Columbia to Charleston. The expanded rail line ran through what was to become Belton, with a spur line which ran to the nearby town of Anderson. Because of the population explosion that occurred by the time the railroad had been completed in 1853, the state incorporated the town in 1855, with the boundaries being located within a half mile radius from the new railroad depot. The city was given the name of Belton after the first president of the Columbia and Greenville Railroad from Newberry, John Belton O'Neal. The city prospered not only due to the railroad junction, but also because of the area's cotton crop, which led to the establishment of cotton mills. In 1908, a municipal water system was established. A reinforced concrete tower with a capacity was built. Known as the Belton Standpipe, the tower is still in use today. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 5, 1987. The standpipe is the inspiration for the yearly Belton Standpipe Festival, first held in 1987 as a fundraising event. In bygone years Belton was the cotton ginning center for South Carolina, with many cotton mills that were part of the heritage. Belton boasts an arts center that holds regular art exhibitions open to the public. The arts center adds much character and artistic vibrancy to the city, and is available for event rentals and hosting many city events. The old train depot has been completely refurbished and is currently used as a comfortable function venue. Part of the depot is a museum filled with old Belton history. Tennis is an integral part of Belton's culture. The South Carolina Palmetto championships are held in…

Geography

Belton is located in eastern Anderson County. It is east of Anderson, the county seat, by U.S. Routes 76 and 178. Honea Path is to the southeast by the same highway, and South Carolina Highway 20 leads north to Greenville. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which , or 0.33%, is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,815
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  3,260
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  2,542
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  2,459
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,355
• Northern Mockingbird

  Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,336
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  2,317
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,317

Largest nearby schools

• T. L. Hanna High
  High · Anderson · 1,910 students · 18.4:1 ratio
• Belton Honea Path High
  High · Honea Path · 1,097 students · 18.3:1 ratio
• Palmetto High
  High · Williamston · 1,021 students · 17.6:1 ratio
• Palmetto Middle
  Middle · Williamston · 774 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• Glenview Middle
  Middle · Anderson · 733 students · 14.7:1 ratio
• Midway Elementary
  Elementary · Anderson · 699 students · 15.2:1 ratio
• Cedar Grove Elementary
  Elementary · Williamston · 602 students · 14.3:1 ratio
• Concord Elementary
  Elementary · Anderson · 596 students · 15.7:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.54 — 2025-08-23
  4 km NNW of Coronaca, South Carolina
• M 3.04 — 2025-08-23
  3 km N of Coronaca, South Carolina
• M 2.88 — 2025-08-23
  3 km NNW of Coronaca, South Carolina
• M 2.73 — 2025-08-14
  7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina
• M 2.7 — 2025-07-05
  11 km ENE of Parksville, South Carolina
• M 2.53 — 2024-10-13
  3 km NNW of Coronaca, South Carolina