How a South Carolina textile hub became the world's first electrified cotton gin site
In short: Known as the Electric City, Anderson, South Carolina, pioneered early power integration in the late 19th century. Beyond its industrial roots in textiles and manufacturing, this Piedmont city has evolved into a significant regional hub, hosting the largest private university in the state and a thriving automotive supplier network.
Anderson’s identity as the Electric City stems from 1895, when William C. Whitner established a hydroelectric plant on the Rocky River. This innovation allowed the city to become the first globally to power a cotton gin with electricity. By 1897, the facility at Portman Shoals reached a milestone as the first American hydroelectric station to generate high-voltage power without the use of step-up transformers. Although the original dam was destroyed in 1901, the city’s commitment to electrical infrastructure remained a defining feature of its development.
The city’s economic landscape is heavily anchored in manufacturing, particularly within the textile and automotive sectors. Anderson hosts the largest manufacturing facility for Glen Raven, Inc., the producer of Sunbrella fabrics. The broader region is a critical node for the automotive industry, benefiting from its location along the I-85 corridor between Atlanta and Charlotte. With over 230 manufacturers in the city and dozens of specialized automotive and plastics companies throughout the county, Anderson remains a central player in the Upstate region's industrial output.
Beyond its industrial history, Anderson has developed a robust institutional presence. The city is home to Anderson University, which evolved from the 19th-century Johnson Female Seminary and now serves as the largest private university in South Carolina. The city also maintains a significant healthcare network through AnMed, which provides comprehensive medical services to the surrounding population. Today, Anderson balances this legacy of innovation with its role as a key residential and commercial center, serving a population of over 28,000 residents as of the 2020 census.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Anderson, South Carolina
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