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Cowpens, SC

Full City Profile · South Carolina · Cherokee County County

2.6 /5.0
C+ Fair
2,031 Population 883/sq mi density
$37,168 Median Income $29,632 per capita
$152,700 Home Value $199,216 Zillow
$815 Median Rent 30.3% income on rent
59°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
166 Violent Crime/100K 2,367 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.6 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.7 / 5.0
$37,168 median income, 0.9% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.4 / 5.0
$152,700 home value, $815/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
166 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.5 / 5.0
18.9% bachelor's degree or higher
Cowpens enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 39°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 51.7 inches. The area receives 1.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

39°F Jan (4°C) 78°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average58.7°F
9% above US avg
January Average39°F (4°C)
July Average78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days301 days/yr

Geography

Elevation869 ft (265 m)
Area2.4 sq mi (6.1 km²)
Population Density883/sq mi
Coordinates35.0186°N, 81.8041°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyCherokee County County
Nearest AirportGreenville Spartanburg International (GSP)
25 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 51.7"
36% above US avg
Snowfall 1.2"
Wettest Month (Mar) 5.20"
Driest Month (Apr) 3.46"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score69.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability63.0 / 100
Community Resilience26.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

53 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.1. Most recent: M2.5 on Aug 23, 2025.

Feb 15, 2014 12 km ENE of Parksville, South Carolina M4.1 136 km
Apr 13, 1998 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina M3.9 126 km
Jun 29, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.6 137 km
Jun 29, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.5 137 km
Jun 26, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.4 137 km
Jun 16, 2006 9 km W of Maggie Valley, North Carolina M3.4 138 km
Jan 3, 1992 4 km ENE of Willington, South Carolina M3.4 129 km
May 9, 2022 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina M3.3 137 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 115 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 110 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km N of Coronaca, South Carolina M3.0 86 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 99 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 58 km
Feb 16, 2014 13 km WNW of Edgefield, South Carolina M3.0 134 km
Feb 18, 2005 7 km ENE of Irmo, South Carolina M2.9 119 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 128 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km NNW of Coronaca, South Carolina M2.9 86 km
Apr 26, 2013 9 km E of Lincolnton, Georgia M2.8 148 km
Mar 6, 2006 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina M2.8 111 km
Feb 12, 2021 8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee M2.8 132 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

2 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Fran (1996, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
1996 Fran Category 1 283 km
1989 Hugo Category 4 73 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

422 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 25 fatalities, 515 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 5, 1989 EF4 98 km 1
May 5, 1989 EF4 54 km 4
May 5, 1989 EF4 13 km 2
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 85 km 5
Dec 13, 1973 EF4 95 km 2
Mar 15, 2008 EF3 88 km 0
Aug 16, 1994 EF3 50 km 0
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 68 km 0
Mar 28, 1984 EF3 85 km 0
Dec 13, 1973 EF3 91 km 1
Dec 13, 1973 EF3 90 km 0
May 27, 1973 EF3 63 km 0
May 10, 1952 EF3 47 km 2
Mar 23, 2022 EF2 95 km 0
May 5, 2020 EF2 85 km 0
Apr 25, 2020 EF2 55 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 79 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 40 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 18 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 13 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BRUSHY RIDGE (12,405 ac, 2000).

Year Name Acres Distance
2000 BRUSHY RIDGE 12,405 95 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 64 km
2016 PINNACLE MOUNTAIN 7,869 84 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 91 km
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 68 km
2010 BURNING UNIT 5,567 50 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 79 km
2022 LOST BEAR RX FY2022 4,276 85 km
2017 WHITE CREEK 4,166 91 km
2016 CLEAR CREEK 3,493 83 km
2010 C-94-95 133 RX 3,192 62 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,976 97 km
2010 UNNAMED 2,909 65 km
2015 UNNAMED 2,690 64 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,514 52 km
2009 UNNAMED 2,458 65 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,395 45 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,362 49 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,274 65 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,237 52 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 39°F (4°C) 4.3 in Coldest
February 43°F (6°C) 4.3 in
March 51°F (11°C) 5.2 in Wettest
April 59°F (15°C) 3.5 in Driest
May 67°F (19°C) 4.4 in
June 74°F (24°C) 4.4 in
July 78°F (26°C) 4.5 in Warmest
August 77°F (25°C) 4.4 in
September 71°F (22°C) 4.0 in
October 60°F (15°C) 4.1 in
November 50°F (10°C) 3.7 in
December 43°F (6°C) 4.1 in

Cowpens has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 39°F in January to 78°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 50.9 inches, with March being the wettest month (5.2") and April the driest (3.5").

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