[7] It is one of the principal cities in the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 975,480 in 2023.

[8][9] It is included in the larger Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC Combined Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 1,590,636 in 2023.

In 1791, the South Carolina Legislature created the Washington District, which comprised Greenville, Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens Counties.

Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee comprised the newly created Pendleton district.

[10] During the American Civil War, Johnson University was closed and converted into a Confederate treasury.

A minor skirmish erupted at the Battle of Anderson, leading to two Union casualties.

Anderson College was the successor to Johnson University and is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention.

[23][24] AnMed Health is one of the top employers in the county, and the primary healthcare network for Anderson.

Located 2.5 miles north of the facility is the AnMed Health Campus, which includes a women's and children's hospital, minor care, cancer center, speech and occupational therapy, and more.

In addition to these three network hospitals, AnMed also operates several smaller facilities throughout the city and county that range from a free clinic and minor care to doctor's offices.

Several notable highways pass through the city, including US 29, US 76, US 178 (co-signed along Clemson Boulevard, also known as SC 28 Bus.

In 2011, construction began on a new east–west connector that is about 3 miles (4,800 m) long between Clemson Boulevard and South Carolina Highway 81.

[28] Anderson has six bus routes that travel to most major areas of the city, running every hour.

[31] The city uses both newer hybrid buses and older style trolleys resembling Anderson's old streetcars.

One of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor alternatives for a Charlotte - Greenville - Atlanta route includes a stop at Anderson.

[32][33] This would mark the first time that passenger rail reached Anderson, since the passing of Piedmont and Northern Railway in ca.