Powdersville

History

The name Powders comes from the production and trade of gunpowder in the area. One of the first stores in present-day Powdersville was called the Powdersville Area General Store. In 1859 a powder mill was established in present-day Powdersville by John Bowen. During the American Civil War, the area was used to store gunpowder though Columbia remained the primary production site of the state's powder. Due to the area's use of gunpowder, the name Powders became a fixture for the location. The Saluda Valley-Powdersville Water Company was created in 1971 to serve drinking water to around 1,200 customers. In 1992, the name changed to Powdersville Water Company and in 2001 the name changed again to Powdersville Water District. The first high school in Powdersville was established in 2011 as Powdersville High School.

Geography

Powdersville is located in the northern corner of Anderson County. Its northwest border is the Pickens County line, and its northeast border is the Saluda River, which forms the Greenville County line. The southeast border of the CDP is formed by Interstate 85, a six-lane highway with access to Powdersville via exits 39 and 40. Greenville, the largest city in the region, is to the northeast. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.90%, is water.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Wren High
  High · Piedmont · 1,202 students · 18.2:1 ratio
• Powdersville High
  High · Greenville · 999 students · 19.2:1 ratio
• Wren Middle
  Middle · Piedmont · 973 students · 16.2:1 ratio
• Concrete Primary
  Elementary · Easley · 843 students · 18.3:1 ratio
• Spearman Elementary
  Elementary · Piedmont · 801 students · 17:1 ratio
• Powdersville Middle
  Middle · Greenville · 756 students · 14.5:1 ratio
• Powdersville Elementary
  Elementary · Greenville · 751 students · 15.6:1 ratio
• Wren Elementary
  Elementary · Piedmont · 616 students · 16.6:1 ratio