Clearwater Elementary School was
established to serve the small textile village of Clearwater, SC in the
Horse Creek Valley section of Aiken County. As with other communities
in the Horse Creek Valley area, Clearwater's economy was based almost
entirely on textiles until after World War II.
Construction
of
the
Savannah
River
Plant
and
continued strength of the
textile industry generated growth which saw the addition of six
classrooms during the early 1950's.
With
the
influx
of
new
industry
into
the Central Savannah River Area,
construction began in 1966 for the majority of our present
facility. The school attained the present configuration in a 1993
project, which added four classrooms, a multi-purpose room, offices,
and a new media center.
The
1970's
and
1980's
saw
a
decline
in the textile industry, which
resulted in the loss of both of Clearwater's textile plants. Clearwater
Finishing Plant was closed, changed hands and reopened, then closed
again. Seminole Mill was closed for years before being destroyed in a
fire. It appears unlikely that textiles will regain its status as
center of the local economy.
Although
there
has
been
no
industrial
development
to replace the loss
of the textile plants, population has not declined and enrollment has
been relatively stable. Much of this can be attributed to the
availability of housing and Clearwater's convenient access to both
Augusta, GA and Aiken, SC.
