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Cherokee County, SC
4 cities and towns and 3 ZIP codes in Cherokee County, South Carolina.
Population
56,647
Land area
393sq mi
People per sq mi
144
ZIP codes
3
Cities and towns in Cherokee County
Cherokee County at a glance
- The median household income is $50,288, 27% below the South Carolina median of $69,324.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $142,000 (45% below South Carolina) and median rent is $869 a month.
- Its largest cities are Gaffney (12,596), East Gaffney (2,824) and Blacksburg (2,063).
Local data for Cherokee County, SC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes3
- Schools17
- Libraries2
- Banks8
- Post Offices3
- Parks16
- Grocery Stores11
- Restaurants138
- Affordable Housing5
- Home Health Agencies1
- Hospice Care2
- Dialysis Centers2
- Community Health Centers7
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment2
- Superfund Sites1
- Toxic Release Facilities16
- Historic Places7
Housing and community stats
Cherokee County, SC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$50,288
Poverty rate
18.4%
Median home value
$142,000
Prices +9.0% in a year
Median rent
$869/mo
Homeownership
73.8%
Bachelor's or higher
18.4%
Median age
40.4
Average commute
25.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (4,521), German Americans (3,239), Mexican Americans (1,571).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
5.7%
Sep 2026, -0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,376
18,221 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$43,456
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$332M
FY 2026, $5,914 per person
PPP loans
$56.6M
861 loans, 7,225 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$60.7K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Cherokee County, SC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone84.9%
- Carpooled7.8%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked0.9%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.1%
- Worked from home5.0%
Average one-way commute: 25.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Cherokee County, SC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: ice storm
Storm events since 1996
476
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
23
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 27°F
45.3 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone7 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Cherokee County, SC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.8%
U.S. 33.3% +5.5 pts
Diabetes
15.0%
U.S. 12.1% +2.9 pts
Smoking
17.3%
U.S. 12.8% +4.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
14.0%
U.S. 11.1% +2.9 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Cherokee County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Cherokee County, SC?
- Gaffney is the largest city or town in Cherokee County, with about 12,596 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Cherokee County?
- Cherokee County includes 3 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 29340, 29341, 29702.
- What is the population of Cherokee County, SC?
- About 56,647 people live in Cherokee County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Cherokee County?
- Cherokee County borders Spartanburg County, York County, Cleveland County, NC, Rutherford County, NC, Union County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023