Central, South Carolina

Central is a town in Pickens County, South Carolina, United States. Contrary to its name, it is not at all near the central area of South Carolina. The population was 3,522 at the 2000 census. It received its name from its geographic location, being the halfway or central point between Atlanta and Charlotte along the former Atlanta and Richmond Air-Line Railway line. Central has several very large apartment complexes primarily housing students from nearby Clemson University, as well as from Central's own Southern Wesleyan University. South Carolina's senior U.S. senator Lindsey Graham was born and raised in Central. Mac Martin is the mayor of Central. The town is part of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area.