Located in Anderson County, South Carolina, just moments away from Clemson University, the Town of Pendleton was officially created in 1790. Long occupied by the Cherokee, the region saw violence during the Revolutionary War and ultimately was ceded by its Cherokee stewards to the newly minted American colonists. For several decades, Pendleton was one of the most powerful and influential districts in the states, thanks to rich families from the coast building vacation homes and estates in the more temperate Upstate. However, these aristocratic planters did not leave the institution of slavery behind; many brought their own slaves with them as well as purchasing more humans to work in their luxe vacation homes.
After the Civil War, life remained difficult for many of the now-free Black residents of the town. As the years wore on, segregation remained the norm and racism was openly practiced. Yet Black luminaries across the region, state, and country continued to work toward equality and integration. Pendleton’s Faith Cabin Library, Ben Keese’s gathering place The Hundreds, AME churches, and small schools allowed Pendleton’s African Americans to build a strong sense of community and unique history. The Pendleton Foundation for Black History & Culture works to preserve that legacy and educate future generations of Pendleton residents about our region’s past and dreams for the future.
