The Town of Iva kicked off some major projects in 2024, including the renovation of the old fire station downtown which is being renovated to serve as the new home for a branch of the Anderson County Library.

Other improvements downtown, successful events and new housing starts were also welcome improvements in the past year.

SmartAsset listed Anderson County as the second-best county in the state, and the 39th on their Best Places to Raise a Family Index 2025 nationally. Excellent schools, childcare costs and the appreciation of housing prices were among the things considered in the ranking.

The past year was marked by new efforts, major events and updates/changes across Anderson County.

Here’s the Observer’s quick review of the top stories of the year:

Since 2018, there have been 296 more deaths than births in the county, and statewide there were 517 more deaths than births just last year.

But the natural population growth decline has been more than offset by the influx of those from other states and countries.

Americans throw away 25 million tons of trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday season than during any other time of year, 25 percent more than at any other time of year.

Anderson County is offering a convenient way to recycle and dispose of holiday waste, including the Christmas tree. 

The first Christmas Story.

The team from “American Pickers” is coming to South Carolina and is looking for “rusty gold” in our area to film future episodes of the History Channel series.

While most of us will celebrate Christmas on Wednesday, many of our neighbors will begin the celebration of Hanukkah.

Hanukkah is not the Jewish equivalent of Christmas, nor is it an insurmountably difficult holiday to learn about.

Anderson has a strong roster of charitable organizations which are central to what makes this community special and attractive to those looking for a new place to call home.

Most of these groups are run by skeletal paid staffs who depend heavily on volunteers to keep this organizations running day-to-day.

Any many of your friends, neighbors and family workers are generous with their time and money in support of these groups.

But a majority of volunteers on which many of these groups depend are senior citizens, and the number of young people involved in volunteer efforts is not growing appreciably.

Also tonight, Jupiter and Saturn will appear so closely aligned in our sky that they will look like a double planet. This close approach is called a conjunction. The 'Christmas Star' as Jupiter and Saturn come closer than they have in centuries and since it's happening just in time for Christmas, many are giving it the nickname of the "Christmas Star."

This year, the solstice is brighter yet, with the Ursid meteor shower on Friday and Saturday.

The Cheney Mill reclamation and renovation is well on the way to completing, offering a new residential and retail district and extending downtown. The cleanup of the Pendleton Oil Mill was completed, and plans in the works for what will develop on that property. The historic Queen Street Project is nearly complete with updated sidewalks, lighting and landscaping, and the events drew record crowds to the town.

In 1947, Mike Vandiver had only one request from Santa: a model train set. Vandiver said it was at Sears, back when the store was just behind the square in downtown Anderson, and he still has a photo of him with the Jolly Old Elf to commemorate the event.

Green Pond Landing and Events Center has become an economic engine for the local economy generating more than $116 million in the past decade from international, national and regional fishing events.

“The tenth anniversary of Green Pond Landing and Events Center is a great day for Anderson County,” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns. “We knew the lake was an overlooked and important resource for the county, and Green Pond has been a major part of proving we were right.”

West Pelzer Mayor Jim Riddle had a busy first year in office, as the town experience growth in housing and businesses and the need for public services.

A new police chief, Zachary Owen, and new police force were among the highlights of the year Riddle discusses in this interview with the Anderson Observer.

Belton’s top stories of the year include the partnership with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office to provide full-time police protection in the city with a substation and full staff of officers, infrastructure improvements and the growth of new housing and businesses.

Elder is planning to move the Pruitt Shopping Center location to a site on S.C. 81 in 2025, and the current store is already listed on their website as “Elder’s Ace Hardware of Highway 81.”

The new S.C. 81 site is expected to be larger than the current 16,500-foot facility in Pruitt Shopping Center.

In the final meeting of 2024, Anderson County Council said goodbye to Councilman John Wright, Jr., who did not run again for another term in order to spend more time with his young family. Wright will be followed in the Dist. 1 seat by Chris Sullivan.

“It has been an honor to work and serve with him,” said County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn, who echoed the sentiments of other council members. “He has truly been an asset to Anderson County and one of the most honorable people I have worked with. He has done an outstanding job for the people of Anderson County and will be missed.”

The City of Anderson experienced widespread growth in 2024, with record numbers of new housing starts to the beginning of major upgrades to recreation opportunities to some of the biggest events in the city’s history.

The majority of today’s modern artist covers of classic holiday music (there are a few exceptions) pale in comparison to the rich arrangements and musicians who made the originals special. Copying vocal licks or trying to make the sound of a classic Christmas tune “more modern” rarely works.

Sadly, it is these songs that start in October on the radio and leave many begging for and early Spring before Halloween. 

For those who have almost given up on finding the good stuff, here’s a list of holiday albums for almost every mood that will melt the heart of almost any Christmas music Scrooge.

Cold wind and blowing rain did little to dampen holiday spirits in Iva Sunday as folks with umbrellas and winter coats lined Main Street for the annual Christmas parade.