Walhalla, South Carolina

Walhalla
City
Walhalla Coat of Arms
Oconee County Courthouse
Official seal of Walhalla
Seal
Coat of arms of Walhalla
Coat of arms
Location in Oconee County and the state of South Carolina.
Location in Oconee County and the state of South Carolina.
Coordinates: 34°46′2″N 83°3′52″W / 34.76722°N 83.06444°W / 34.76722; -83.06444
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Carolina
CountyOconee
First settled1848
Government
 • MayorTim Hall
 • Mayor Pro-TemKeith Pace
Area
[1]
 • Total
3.95 sq mi (10.22 km2)
 • Land3.88 sq mi (10.06 km2)
 • Water0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Elevation
[2]
1,027 ft (313 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total
4,072
 • Density1,048.13/sq mi (404.68/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
29691
FIPS code45-74095[4]
GNIS feature ID1230451[2]
Websitecityofwalhalla.com

Walhalla is a city in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. Designated in 1868 as the county seat, it lies within the area of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, an area of transition between mountains and piedmont, and contains numerous waterfalls. It is located 16 miles (26 km) from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina.

This European-American city was founded after Indian Removal of the Cherokee in 1838. Early residents were predominantly German immigrants who had been refugees from the German revolutions of 1848-1849. Some English and Scotch-Irish farmers also settled here. During the Reconstruction era, when Oconee County was organized in 1868, the state legislature designated Walhalla as its county seat.[5]

While its population was 4,072 as of the 2020 census, "Walhalla" is used both colloquially and practically to refer to a larger area than is within city limits, often being expanded to the whole 29691 zip code. This larger area has a higher, more spread-out population.

  1. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Walhalla, South Carolina
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.