Laurens County is located in upstate South Carolina thirty-five miles southeast of Greenville and 70 miles northwest of Columbia. It derived its name from patriot and statesman Henry Laurens of Charleston who was president of the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War. One of the larger counties in the state with 713 square miles of land area, Laurens County boasts a population of 69,567 according to the 2000 census.

The educational needs of Laurens County are met with two public school districts, three private schools, one technical college, one four year college and a branch university. Recreational opportunities abound on nearby Lake Greenwood and various parks located throughout the county.