Clemson, S.C. Information

The signs on the side of the highway as you enter the Clemson city limits say "Clemson: In Season Every Season." From the point of view of most Clemson graduates, the seasons this slogan speaks of are football, basketball, baseball, etc. But a drive through town in the middle of spring, when the azaleas and dogwoods are in full bloom, or a walk through campus in October, when the trees are blazing in the brilliant colors of autumn, will leave little doubt that Clemson is indeed in season, every season.

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and caressed by the shores of the beautiful Lake Hartwell, Clemson is located in the northwestern corner of South Carolina, two hours north of Atlanta, GA, and two hours southwest of Charlotte, NC. The town may not be one of the state's largest most days of the week, but on many autumn Saturdays, it becomes the second-largest city, as 81,000 fans come from all directions to watch the Tigers play football, but the friendly residents of Clemson and the surrounding towns welcome the visitors home each year with a true dose of southern hospitality.

Clemson is steeped in history. The university campus is located on what was Fort Hill Plantation, home of John C. Calhoun, one of the great statesmen of the 19th century, and of his son-in-law, Thomas Green Clemson. The house, which was built in 1806, stands in the center of campus and is open to the public. Also on the Clemson campus is a 1716 low country French Huguenot home, Hanover House, which was transported to Clemson in 1941. Just a mile or so down the road, is the Pendleton Historic District, where several other antebellum homes are open to the public. The entire village of Pendleton is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The area boasts a great variety of restaurants, ranging from the downtown barbeque and hamburger spots, to the historic Liberty Hall Inn and Calhoun Corners. Any palate or budget can find something to his or her liking, as over 50 eating establishments are located in the Clemson/Pendleton/Central area. The area adopts Clemson Fever, as Tiger Paws are omnipresent on local billboards and entrances.

The mild climate of the foothills lends itself to many outdoor activities throughout the year. Clemson has excellent and ample facilities for tennis and golf, fishing, swimming or hiking, white water rafting, and various other pursuits.

And, when one wants to leave Clemson, they don't have far to go to find whatever they are looking for. Professional sports are only a couple of hours away in Atlanta and Charlotte. Clemson was the home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers for eight regular season and two exhibition games in 1995.

For sun and fun, its an easy interstate drive to the coast of South Carolina, to Hilton Head Island, Myrtle Beach, or even historic Charleston. All kinds of water sports are right at the campus' back door, as a 926-mile shoreline borders the edge of campus. And for those who enjoy cooler climates, the mountains of North Carolina are only an hour's drive away.