Clemson University has long stood as one of the reasons why many people have moved to the Lake Keowee and Oconee County area.  Starting out as a state land-grant university specializing in agriculture and engineering, Clemson has advanced into areas that have gained national recognition.  In my opinion, Clemson’s greatest impact on our area can be narrowed down to academics, athletics and cultural events.

    Recently, Clemson was named in the U.S. News and World Report’s list of top public universities at #30 (from 34th last year).  With an enrollment of around 17,000 undergraduate students, the school offers 70 different undergraduate degrees and 100 graduate degrees in five separate colleges.  As the state's land-grant university, Clemson reaches out to citizens, communities and businesses all over South Carolina.  Clients ranging from farmers and schoolteachers to at-risk youth and community leaders benefit from Clemson's diverse, local public service activities.  Moreover, Clemson is the institution of choice for South Carolina's brightest students.  At 1225, the average SAT score for Clemson freshmen is the highest among public institutions in the state. Clemson enrolled more than a third of the state's Palmetto Fellows, the state's highest academic scholarship, more than any other public or private institution.

    A local favorite pastime is enjoying Clemson University athletics.  Clemson’s Death Valley holds over 80,000 fans that regularly pack the stadium on fall football days.  Talk about impact, think about this:  Oconee County’s entire population is roughly 66,000!  Some people say that Clemson becomes the 3rd largest city for a day when fans pack the stadium for a home football game.  “The most exciting 25 seconds in college football” is at Clemson when the team rubs Howard’s Rock for luck and runs down “The Hill”.  Clemson offers an array of athletic teams to enjoy other than just football, too.  Clemson’s baseball team is usually ranked nationally inside the top five programs.  With a recently updated baseball complex, Clemson has one of the nicest facilities nationwide.  Littlejohn Coliseum was recently renovated to provide an exciting venue for ACC basketball throughout the winter months.  For any athletic enthusiast, Clemson can provide a year-a-round sports atmosphere.

    Cultural events at Clemson give local residents a diverse balance of theatre and performance that is hard to find in such a small community.  The Brooks Center is Clemson’s center for the performing arts, offering a wide array of concert, lecture, theatre and performance that opened in 1994.  The center presents more than 75 performances each year, including Broadway touring shows, international chamber music ensembles, Clemson student productions and family entertainment.  Clemson is a very open campus and many people enjoy making the 10 minute drive to downtown and walking throughout the campus.  The beauty of Clemson is in its agricultural roots.  For instance, the SC Botanical Gardens, a 270-acre public garden, features several thousand varieties of ornamental plants and a unique collection of nature-based sculptures.

    Many locals believe that Clemson provides just the right balance of culture and college atmosphere to an otherwise quiet community around the lakes and mountains.  If quality of life is what you are looking for in a community, look no further.  Whether you enjoy a Broadway production or an exciting Clemson football game, Clemson University is right in our “backyard”.

For more information about Clemson and our area contact Keese Realty at info@keeserealtysc.com