Oconee County
per person
Beautiful Lakes Keowee and Jocassee, majestic waterfalls, and the Chattooga National Wild & Scenic River are found in Oconee County.
The Upcountry’s “Golden Corner” is virtually surrounded by water, making it a recreational mecca for outdoors enthusiasts. Located here are Oconee Station and the William Richards House, both built when the Upcountry was part of America’s first frontier. Duke Energy’s World of Energy offers high-tech, hands-on exhibits about electricity and the environment. The top apple-producing county in the area, Oconee is home of the annual South Carolina Apple Festival in Westminster.
The county was formed in 1868, and the county seat is Walhalla. This area was home to several Indian tribes, including the Creeks and the Cherokees, who gave up their lands in treaties signed in 1777 and 1785. After the American Revolution, settlers from other parts of the state began moving in, including Germans from Charleston who founded Walhalla in 1850. Oconee County is in the foothills of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains and encompasses rivers, lakes, and forests. As one of South Carolina’s most scenic and economically stimulating counties, Oconee County is situated in the northwestern corner of the state and is part of one of the nation’s fastest-growing areas, the I-85 corridor. With a diversified economic base, Oconee offers a wide variety of occupational and recreational opportunities. Oconee County is located on the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor that extends from the Upstate to Charleston.
