.
Cherokee Indians, daring pioneers, American Patriots, notable
statesmen, educators, business leaders, and many others have called Clemson Home.
Originally inhabited by the Cherokee Indian Nation, the Clemson area has an interesting
history filled with  Indian lore. The influences of the Cherokee Indians still linger and
are especially evident in names of outdoor attractions like Issaqueena Falls, Lakes Keowee
and Jocassee, and even Table Rock Mountain, aptly named by the Indians because it
resembles a large table. As the pioneers moved westward, the
rich soil and moderate climate were appealing. Fortresses were constructed as small
frontier villages were e stablished. Shortly after the American Revolution, the Cherokee
Indians, who sided with Britain during the war, surrendered their claims to the land.
Veterans joined the early pioneers to establish farms with cotton being the crop of
choice.
. Later, wealthy
plantation owners and notable statesmen from across South Carolina began building second
homes in the Upstate to take advantage of the moderate summer climate. John C. Calhoun,
former Vice President of the United States, was among those who built a home in the area.
As a tribute to this great statesman, the town was originally named Calhoun, and the
university bears the name of Calhoun's son-in-law, Thomas Green Clemson, who purchased the
plantation and later deeded it to the state of South Carolina to establish a college. Through the years, Clemson University and the community have grown and
prospered together, maturing from a small agricultural college to a leading university and
a small settlement of homes and businesses to a modern-day village. Founded
in Central in 1906, Southern Wesleyan University has been providing a
quality Christian education for 100 years. Many historical sites
have been preserved and are open for the public. A variety of museums and
educational
centers provide fun and interactive ways to learn about the history and heritage of the
Clemson Area! |
