Abbeville (and Abbeville County)

Thanks to its vibrant cultural atmosphere and community events, Abbeville County has a unique food scene that is sure to leave foodies wanting more. One prime example is the annual Hogs & Hens BBQ Festival, which draws thousands to the historic city. Featuring craft vendors, live music, a “wine walk” and some of the best BBQ in the South, the festival unifies Abbeville County with great food and an even better time. Another popular event is the annual Spring Festival, where families and friends gather each year to enjoy a warm day with food from craft vendors and products from Abbeville’s downtown merchants. Popular restaurants include the Village Grill, Two Brews, Indigenous Underground, Blondes on the Brick, JP’s Food & Spirits and Wings 101. Abbeville County also gives residents and visitors the opportunity to pick the juiciest, brightest-red, SC-grown strawberries at Due West Strawberries. In downtown Due West, you can try the delicious coffee and donuts at Mama’s Sweet Shoppe.

At the center of Abbeville and Abbeville County’s arts and culture scene is the Abbeville Opera House, which initially opened its doors in 1908. The theatre is a two-time winner of the South Carolina Governor’s Travel Award for Tourism and is also designated as the Official State Theatre of South Carolina. Finally, the opera house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and hosts live performances 40 weekends each year. In 2019, Abbeville launched a “City Opera House Events Season,” including music, comedy, movies and more. The Burt-Stark Mansion is also a popular cultural attraction, where visitors can learn about the area’s rich history in the Civil War era. Downtown Abbeville, known as “The Square,” features locally owned boutiques such as Breezy Quarters and Divine Your Space. Other cultural attractions include:

• Abbeville Live Concert Series
• Abbeville Spring Festival
• City Opera House Events
• The McGowan-Barksdale-Bundy House

Abbeville and Abbeville County’s outdoor activities are centered around its two lakes: Lake Secession and Lake Russell. Although Lake Secession is residential, it frequently plays host to boat parades, holiday activities and other local events. Lake Russell’s 26,650 acres are inviting to fisherman, water sportsmen and more. Connected to Lake Russell is Calhoun Falls State Park, an extensive park and campground that includes 86 standard campsites and 14 walk-in tent sites. The park’s abundant campsites, 1.75-mile loop trail for walking and exercise and access to Lake Russell makes it an ideal location for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors.

In addition to the area’s lake scene, Abbeville County is home to Parson’s Mountain Recreation Area. The park has a total of 23 camping sites with accessible picnic areas and a pedestrian bridge. Parson’s Mountain Recreation also gives visitors the opportunity to stretch their legs with hiking and biking trails. A 1.4-mile trail reaches 400 feet in elevation from the lake to the fire tower and even runs along a few gold mines.

Strategically located along I-85 in Upstate South Carolina, Abbeville County is positioned for businesses to grow and thrive. Abbeville County’s close proximity to major highways, a thriving state Inland Port, and other metropolitan areas, including Greenville, Anderson and Greenwood, are also major factors that encourage companies to locate in Abbeville. Beyond its ideal location, Abbeville County offers a growing workforce, and state and local resources that align students’ educational experiences with jobs in a variety of in-demand sectors, from manufacturing to health care. Abbeville County’s major employers include:

• Burnstein von Seelen Precision Casting
• Flexible & Thermaflex Technologies, Inc.
• Global Refrigeration Inc.
• Pro Towels
• Prysmian Group
• Sage Automotive Interiors
• Stoll Industries

Home to more than ten public schools, Abbeville County provides residents and their families with an excellent education to prepare them for the future. On the higher education front, Piedmont Technical College holds a campus in Abbeville County and provides students with customized training to prepare them for highly-specialized industries. Offering state-of-the art classrooms and flexible remote courses, Piedmont Technical College grants students the flexibility to earn a specialized degree, while furthering their career at the same time. Discover more about Abbeville County’s schools below.

• Abbeville County School District
• Piedmont Technical College Abbeville Campus
• Erskine College