Population: 24,463
Population in 2010: 19,993
Median income: $62,551
Mayor: Lisa Talbert
City Council:
Tom O’Shields, Ward 1
Denise Davidson, Ward 2
Donna Rainey, Ward 3
David Jones, Ward 4
Justin Alexander, Ward 5
Jim Robinson, Ward 6
Big number: 14.8% of the city’s employment is in health care and social assistance, as of 2021.
Fast fact: The city’s parks and recreation department hosts an average of 65 sports tournaments a year, a major economic driver. J.B. Red Owens Sports Complex includes multiple fields for baseball, softball, football, soccer and more.
Business history:
Like much of the area, Easley’s business history begins with textile mills in the early 1900s. The mills flourished throughout most of the century before beginning to close down in the early ’90s. As the mills closed, they sold areas of the mill villages to the workers. Many of these areas are being restored and converted into residences and businesses. Notable examples are Woodside Mill in Easley, which was converted into luxury, loft-style apartments, and the redevelopment of The Silos of Easley as a food-and-beverage collective. The majority of industry for the city of Easley comes from health care and social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. Easley’s downtown, including Main Street on both sides of the railroad tracks, has seen significant investment and improvement in recent years, with few vacancies.
What’s next:
