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Pickens, SC

Full City Profile · South Carolina · Pickens County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
3,386 Population 1,107/sq mi density
$58,534 Median Income $23,769 per capita
$196,400 Home Value $267,568 Zillow
$874 Median Rent 29.2% income on rent
61°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
599 Violent Crime/100K 5,897 property/100K
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.0 / 5.0
$58,534 median income, 0.5% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.8 / 5.0
$196,400 home value, $874/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
599 violent crimes/100K (58% above avg)
C
Education
2.1 / 5.0
14.0% bachelor's degree or higher
Pickens enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 61°F (16°C). Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 56.7 inches. The area receives 1.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

42°F Jan (5°C) 79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average60.6°F
12% above US avg
January Average42°F (5°C)
July Average79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days301 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,029 ft (314 m)
Area2.8 sq mi (7.3 km²)
Population Density1,107/sq mi
Coordinates34.8857°N, 82.7102°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyPickens County County
Nearest AirportOconee County Regional (CEU)
18 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 56.7"
49% above US avg
Snowfall 1.0"
Wettest Month (Mar) 6.14"
Driest Month (Apr) 4.33"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score77.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability41.0 / 100
Community Resilience45.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

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

May 10, 2025 21 km SE of Greenback, Tennessee M4.1 137 km
Feb 15, 2014 12 km ENE of Parksville, South Carolina M4.1 132 km
Jul 5, 1995 12 km ESE of Tellico Plains, Tennessee M3.7 141 km
Mar 18, 2003 11 km S of Rayle, Georgia M3.5 134 km
Jan 3, 1992 4 km ENE of Willington, South Carolina M3.4 104 km
Jun 16, 2006 9 km W of Maggie Valley, North Carolina M3.4 83 km
Apr 20, 2010 4 km SW of Maryville, Tennessee M3.3 150 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 79 km
Aug 1, 2009 8 km ENE of Ducktown, Tennessee M3.2 146 km
Jul 26, 2001 11 km S of New Market, Tennessee M3.2 146 km
Jul 26, 2001 11 km N of Sevierville, Tennessee M3.2 143 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km N of Coronaca, South Carolina M3.0 87 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 124 km
Feb 16, 2014 13 km WNW of Edgefield, South Carolina M3.0 131 km
Nov 24, 2012 7 km NE of Sevierville, Tennessee M3.0 135 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 88 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km NNW of Coronaca, South Carolina M2.9 86 km
Apr 14, 2005 19 km SE of Vonore, Tennessee M2.8 141 km
Jul 11, 2000 7 km W of Seymour, Tennessee M2.8 149 km
Jul 11, 2000 7 km WSW of Seymour, Tennessee M2.8 147 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

1 hurricane (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Hugo (1989, Cat 2).

Year Name Category Closest
1989 Hugo Category 4 149 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

344 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 13 fatalities, 470 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 5, 1989 EF4 74 km 2
Mar 31, 1973 EF4 91 km 7
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 45 km 1
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 68 km 0
Nov 15, 1989 EF3 87 km 0
Apr 8, 1974 EF3 52 km 0
Dec 13, 1973 EF3 85 km 0
Dec 13, 1973 EF3 98 km 0
May 27, 1973 EF3 29 km 0
May 10, 1952 EF3 43 km 2
Mar 23, 2022 EF2 11 km 0
May 3, 2021 EF2 79 km 0
Apr 25, 2020 EF2 29 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 10 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 93 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 66 km 0
Oct 8, 2017 EF2 80 km 0
Oct 8, 2017 EF2 14 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 98 km 0
Apr 10, 2009 EF2 80 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: ROCK MOUNTAIN (25,224 ac, 2016).

Year Name Acres Distance
2016 ROCK MOUNTAIN 25,224 75 km
2016 TELLICO 14,172 92 km
2016 BOTELER 8,626 90 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 78 km
2016 PINNACLE MOUNTAIN 7,869 19 km
2001 SHARP 6,039 97 km
2016 CAMP BRANCH 3,234 84 km
2023 PANTHER KNOB 3,170 82 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,514 93 km
2020 CHAMBERS-GRAPE-HICKORY AP 2,421 45 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,395 97 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,237 93 km
2021 UNNAMED 2,201 79 km
2010 BRAMLETT RIDGE 2,200 83 km
2023 BRAMLETT RIDGE FY 23 2,172 83 km
2018 UNNAMED 2,133 83 km
2023 TRAIL RIDGE FY23 2,085 99 km
2019 UNNAMED 2,000 96 km
2013 UNNAMED 1,998 100 km
2014 UNNAMED 1,911 83 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 42°F (5°C) 5.4 in Coldest
February 43°F (6°C) 5.0 in
March 51°F (11°C) 6.1 in Wettest
April 59°F (15°C) 4.3 in Driest
May 66°F (19°C) 5.2 in
June 73°F (23°C) 4.7 in
July 79°F (26°C) 5.1 in Warmest
August 76°F (24°C) 5.1 in
September 70°F (21°C) 4.5 in
October 59°F (15°C) 4.7 in
November 50°F (10°C) 4.7 in
December 43°F (6°C) 5.1 in

Pickens has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 42°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 60.0 inches, with March being the wettest month (6.1") and April the driest (4.3").

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