Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville | |||
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City | |||
City of Greenville | |||
Skyline of Downtown Greenville | |||
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Location in South Carolina | |||
Coordinates: 34°50′40″N 82°23′8″W / 34.84444°N 82.38556°WCoordinates: 34°50′40″N 82°23′8″W / 34.84444°N 82.38556°W | |||
Country | United States of America | ||
State | South Carolina | ||
County | Greenville | ||
Founded | 1831 | ||
Government | |||
• Mayor | Knox H. White (R) | ||
Area | |||
• City | 67.7 km2 (26.1 sq mi) | ||
• Land | 67.3 km2 (26.0 sq mi) | ||
• Water | 0.2 km2 (0.1 sq mi) 0.23% | ||
• Urban | 829.4 km2 (320.3 sq mi) | ||
• Metro | 7,221 km2 (2,788 sq mi) | ||
Elevation | 294 m (966 ft) | ||
Population (2013) | |||
• City | 61,397[1] | ||
• Rank | 6th (SC) | ||
• Density | 911.7/km2 (2,361.4/sq mi) | ||
• Urban | 400,492 (US: 93rd) | ||
• MSA | 850,965[2] (US: 65th) | ||
• CSA | 1,438,550[3] (38th) | ||
Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | ||
• Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
ZIP codes | 29601-29617, 29698. | ||
Area code(s) | 864 | ||
FIPS code | 45-30850 | ||
GNIS feature ID | 1245842[4] | ||
Website |
www |
Greenville (/ˈɡriːnvɪl/; locally /ˈɡriːnvəl/) is the seat of Greenville County in upstate South Carolina, United States.[5] The city's mayor is Knox White, who has served as the mayor of Greenville since December 1995.[6] With a population of 61,397 as of 2013, it is the sixth-largest municipality in the state.[1] The population of the surrounding area was 400,492 as of 2010, making it the third-largest urban area in South Carolina as well as the fastest growing.[7] Greenville is the largest city in the Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The MSA had a population of 850,965 in 2013, making it the largest in South Carolina.[2]
Greenville is the largest city in the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Combined Statistical Area. According to GSA Business Market Facts, the CSA had a population of 1,438,550 as of 2013, putting it in the position of largest in the state.[3] The CSA, a 10-county region of northwestern South Carolina, is known as "The Upstate". Greenville is located approximately halfway between Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina along Interstate 85, and its metropolitan area also includes Interstates 185 and 385.
Greenville has gained recognition in various national publications such as CNN Money, which ranked Greenville as one of the "Top 10 Fastest Growing Cities in the U.S." Bloomberg named Greenville the 3rd Strongest Job Market, 2010; and Forbes named Greenville the 13th Best City for Young Professionals. Additionally, the state of South Carolina has been ranked within the top 10 fastest-growing states and economies by the U.S. Commerce Department.
Geography
Greenville is located at 34°50′40″N 82°23′8″W / 34.84444°N 82.38556°W (34.844313, −82.385428),[8] roughly equidistant between Atlanta, Georgia (120 miles southwest), and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Greenville is in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and includes many small hills. Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina, is in northern Pickens County, which adjoins Greenville County to the west. Many area television and radio station towers are on Paris Mountain, the second most prominent peak in the area, less than 7 miles (11 km) from downtown Greenville. According to the United States Census Bureau, Greenville has a total area of 26.1 square miles (68 km2), of which 26.1 square miles (68 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) is water.
Greenville is located in the Brevard Fault Zone and has had occasional earthquakes, though they are minor.
Climate
Greenville, like much of the Piedmont region of the southeastern United States, has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with four distinct seasons; the city is part of USDA Hardiness zone 7.[9] Winters are short and generally cool, with a January daily average of 42.2 °F (5.7 °C). On average, there are 59 nights per year that drop to or below freezing, and only 1.3 days that fail to rise above freezing.[10] April is the driest month, with an average of 3.36 inches (85 mm) of precipitation.
Summers are hot and humid, with a daily temperature average in July of 79.9 °F (26.6 °C). There are an average 43 days per year with highs at or above 90 °F (32 °C).[10] Official record temperatures range from 107 °F (42 °C) on July 1, 2012, down to −6 °F (−21 °C) on January 30, 1966; the record cold daily maximum is 19 °F (−7 °C) on December 31, 1917, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is 80 °F (27 °C) on January 12, 1937, the last of three occasions.[10] The average window for freezing temperatures is November 4 thru April 1, allowing a growing season of 217 days.[10]
Precipitation is generally less frequent in autumn than spring [10] and, on average, Greenville receives 47.2 inches (1,200 mm) of precipitation annually, which is somewhat evenly distributed throughout the year, although summer is slightly wetter; annual precipitation has historically ranged from 31.08 in (789 mm) in 2007 to 72.53 in (1,842 mm) in 1908.[10] In addition, there is an average of 4.7 inches (11.9 cm) of snow, occurring mainly from January thru March, with rare snow occurring in November or April. More frequent ice storms and sleet mixed in with rain occur in the Greenville area; seasonal snowfall has historically ranged from trace amounts as recently as 2011–12 to 21.4 in (54 cm) in 1935–36.[10] These storms can have a major impact on the area, as they often pull tree limbs down on power lines and make driving hazardous.
Climate data for Greenville, South Carolina (Greenville–Spartanburg Int'l), 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1884–present[lower-alpha 1] | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 82 (28) |
81 (27) |
91 (33) |
94 (34) |
100 (38) |
105 (41) |
107 (42) |
105 (41) |
101 (38) |
97 (36) |
86 (30) |
79 (26) |
107 (42) |
Average high °F (°C) | 52.4 (11.3) |
56.6 (13.7) |
64.5 (18.1) |
72.8 (22.7) |
80.2 (26.8) |
87.5 (30.8) |
90.3 (32.4) |
88.6 (31.4) |
82.2 (27.9) |
72.8 (22.7) |
63.5 (17.5) |
54.1 (12.3) |
72.1 (22.3) |
Average low °F (°C) | 32.0 (0) |
34.9 (1.6) |
41.2 (5.1) |
48.3 (9.1) |
57.2 (14) |
65.8 (18.8) |
69.4 (20.8) |
68.7 (20.4) |
61.8 (16.6) |
50.4 (10.2) |
41.3 (5.2) |
34.0 (1.1) |
50.4 (10.2) |
Record low °F (°C) | −6 (−21) |
−5 (−21) |
11 (−12) |
22 (−6) |
27 (−3) |
40 (4) |
53 (12) |
50 (10) |
32 (0) |
25 (−4) |
11 (−12) |
3 (−16) |
−6 (−21) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.82 (97) |
3.97 (100.8) |
4.52 (114.8) |
3.36 (85.3) |
3.76 (95.5) |
3.80 (96.5) |
4.80 (121.9) |
4.48 (113.8) |
3.43 (87.1) |
3.44 (87.4) |
3.70 (94) |
4.11 (104.4) |
47.19 (1,198.6) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.3 (5.8) |
1.0 (2.5) |
0.9 (2.3) |
trace | 0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0.1 (0.3) |
0.4 (1) |
4.7 (11.9) |
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10.2 | 9.2 | 9.6 | 9.0 | 9.7 | 10.4 | 11.7 | 10.4 | 8.1 | 7.2 | 8.9 | 9.8 | 114.2 |
Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 2.8 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 65.8 | 62.6 | 62.1 | 60.7 | 68.5 | 70.5 | 74.0 | 75.6 | 75.8 | 70.9 | 68.2 | 67.7 | 68.5 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 176.6 | 182.7 | 236.2 | 264.7 | 269.2 | 270.8 | 267.8 | 253.9 | 229.2 | 235.2 | 184.3 | 169.4 | 2,740 |
Percent possible sunshine | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 62 | 62 | 61 | 61 | 62 | 67 | 59 | 55 | 62 |
Source: NOAA (relative humidity 1962–1990, sun 1961–1990)[10][11][12] |
Law and government
The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.[13]
History
The colony of South Carolina was founded in 1663 by King Charles II of England, who divided the land and gave it to eight nobles. After mismanagement of the colony, the area was reclaimed by the English Crown. The Crown made this area part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the British defeated the French in the Seven Years' War and made the Treaty of 1763.
No White man was allowed to enter, though some families already had settled just within the boundary, and White traders regularly crossed the area. The first White man to settle permanently in the area was Richard Pearis; he married a Cherokee woman and was given several tracts of land by the tribe.[14] The City of Greenville and Paris Mountain (named after Pearis), are on part of that land.[14] During the American Revolution, the Cherokee (and Pearis) sided with the British. After a campaign in 1776, the Cherokee agreed to the Treaty of DeWitt's Corner, ceding territory to South Carolinia that includes present-day Greenville County.
Greenville was originally called Pleasantburg before an 1831 name change.[15][16] Greenville County was created in 1786 from Spartanburg District (now Spartanburg County), but was called Greenville District from 1800 until 1868. Greenville may have been named for American Revolutionary General Nathanael Greene, or perhaps for an early resident, Isaac Green.[14] Greenville is the mother district to Pendleton (now Anderson County), Pickens (now Pickens County) and Oconee districts (now Oconee County).
In February 1869, Greenville's Town Charter was amended by the S. C. General Assembly establishing Greenville, the town, as a City. In the late 19th century, textile mills were founded here, providing new employment to area whites, who had earlier been subsistence farmers.
In 1917, when Greenville was known as the "Textile Center of the World," Old Textile Hall was designed by the J. E. Sirrine Company as the first exposition facility in the Southeast for textile products and machinery. Textile Hall also served as a civic auditorium. The building was listed on National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It was demolished in 1992.[17]
During World War I, Greenville served as a training camp center for Army recruits. Donaldson Air Force Base was built here during World War II, which was very important to the economy of the City of Greenville. Donaldson served as a military base until the early 1960s, when it was returned to the City of Greenville. The former air base has been developed into a business park. Its military-style barracks have been adapted for use by businesses.
In 1876 Democrats had regained power in the state legislature, and Reconstruction officially ended the next year. They passed laws imposing racial segregation and Jim Crow. In 1895 they passed a new constitution that effectively disfranchised blacks and excluded them from politics. This status was maintained until after the passage of federal civil rights legislation in 1964 and 1965.
Until the early 1960s, blacks in the area were subject to segregationist restrictions; for example, they were limited to the back of city buses, were not permitted to stay in hotels or motels for whites, had to sit in the balcony of movie theaters, and were not permitted to use the public library. It ruled that local segregation ordinances violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.[18]
The William Bates House, Paris Mountain State Park Historic District, and Woodson Farmstead are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[19]
Attractions
As the largest city in the Upstate, Greenville offers many activities and attractions. Greenville's theaters and event venues regularly host major concerts and touring theater companies. Four independent theaters present several plays a year.
Notable event venues
- Bon Secours Wellness Arena (formerly Bi-Lo Center), a 16,000-seat arena in downtown Greenville
- Peace Center, a performing arts center
- The Warehouse Theatre offers productions of live theater.
- Centre Stage, Greenville's Professional Theater is a year-round theater hosting the annual New Play Festival. It also hosts the Greenville Light Opera Works (GLOW), a professional operetta company.
- Timmons Arena, a 6,000 seat multi-purpose venue on the campus of Furman University.
- Fluor Field at the West End is the home of the Greenville Drive baseball team, the Class-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
- TD Convention Center, a convention and meeting facility.
Landmarks
- Falls Park on the Reedy, a large regional park in the West End with gardens and several waterfalls, with access to the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Dedicated in 2004, the $15.0 million park is home to the Liberty Bridge, a pedestrian suspension bridge overlooking the Reedy River. The park's development sparked a $75 million public-private development, Riverplace, directly across Main Street. Falls Park has been called the birthplace of Greenville, but in the mid-20th century the area was in severe decline, and the Camperdown Bridge had been built across the Falls, obstructing view. In the mid-1980s, the City adopted a master plan for the park, leading to the removal of the Camperdown Bridge and making way for extensive renovations, to include 20 acres (81,000 m2) of gardens and the Liberty Bridge. While bridges with similar structural concepts have been built in Europe, the Liberty Bridge is unique in its geometry.
- Greenville County Museum of Art specializing in American art, frequently with a Southern perspective that dates back to the 18th century. It is noted for its collections of work by Andrew Wyeth and Jasper Johns, as well as a contemporary collection that features such notables as Andy Warhol, Georgia O'Keeffe, and others.
- Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery has two locations; the original is located on the campus of Bob Jones University at 1700 Wade Hampton Boulevard; the satellite location is located at Heritage Green in downtown Greenville.[20]
- Roper Mountain Science Center is home to a historic 23" refractor telescope, eighth largest of its kind in the United States.[21]
Festivals
- Euphoria Greenville is an annual three-day culinary event held in the Wyche Pavilion at Larkin's on the River, Art in the Park, and the Peace Center for the Performing Arts.[22]
- Fall for Greenville is a three-day music and food street festival held each fall.[23]
- Artisphere is a three-day art festival held each spring.[24]
- iMAGINE Upstate is a weeklong celebration and showcase of STEM, entrepreneurial, creative, and innovative activity in the Upstate held each spring.[25]
- The Comics & Toys MonsterCon is a three-day comic book and science fiction convention held each summer.[26]
- Indie Craft Parade is a festival of handmade art held each September.[27]
- The Upstate Shakespeare Festival performs Shakespeare and other classic plays each summer in Falls Park.[28]
- The Greek Festival a three-day festival put on by the Greek Orthodox Church in downtown Greenville to celebrate Greek culture.
- New South Comedy Festival is a four-day comedy festival featuring improvisational, stand-up, sketch, and musical comedy from around the country.[29]
Downtown renewal
Greenville has one of the last Frank Lloyd Wright homes ever built, constructed in 1954.[30]
At one time the retail center of the region, Greenville's downtown district began to languish in the 1960s as shopping centers lured the retailers and customers to the suburbs. In response, the city started a downtown renewal project.
City leaders initially focused on improving the streetscape along a portion of Main Street in the Central Business District. This included narrowing the street from four lanes to two lanes; installing angled parking spaces, trees, flowers and light fixtures; and creating parks and plazas throughout the central core of downtown. Initial planning began in the 1970s and under Mayor Max Heller, an Austrian immigrant who wanted to implement some of the urban features he had seen in Europe. The downtown streetscape renovation was designed by Landscape Architect Lawrence Halprin.
In the 1980s, Greenville turned to laying the foundation for their downtown vision and providing an example of business potential to encourage business relocation to downtown (examples include the Greenville Commons/Hyatt Regency hotel). The city worked with consultants to develop and implement a downtown master plan and facilitated public-private investment partnerships which resulted in the city's first luxury convention hotel on Main Street.
Through the 1990s, Greenville continued to strengthen its public/private partnerships to create strong anchors throughout downtown. The city redeveloped a languishing industrial area adjacent to the West End Historic District into a thriving performing arts complex that incorporated historically significant buildings. It then stabilized the stagnant historic district with the transformation of an abandoned cotton warehouse into the West End Market, a mixed-use project of shops, restaurants, and offices, which in turn encouraged adaptive reuse of several other historic buildings throughout downtown. The city's initiative to invest in its blighted urban center at a time when such revitalization was unpopular, not only successfully encouraged private investment, but also eventually garnered recognition from municipalities across the United States.
Although the majority of Greenville-area residents live outside the urban core, the last decade has brought a significant increase in downtown living and working as new luxury condos, apartments and lofts go up and more businesses are moving their offices to the now thriving downtown.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded Greenville with the Great American Main Street Award in 2003 and 2009. Since then it has been featured in numerous publications, including Southern Living Magazine and the U.S. Airways Magazine (March 2010).
Downtown Greenville has attracted a wide variety of national and regional chain stores and restaurants, ranging from Brooks Brothers, Anthropologie, Mast General Store and Staples to local retailers such as Rush Wilson Ltd.
Education
Public schools
The Greenville County School District is the largest school district in the state of South Carolina and ranked the 49th largest district in the United States, with 14 high schools, 18 middle schools, and 50 elementary schools in the district.[31][32] With a budget of $426 Million, the district employs 5,200 teachers, 63.1% of which hold a Master's degree or higher.[33] In addition to traditional public schools, Greenville's downtown area is home to the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities, a boarding school for young artists.
Private schools
In addition to public schools, Greenville county has a number of private and religious schools, including Camperdown Academy (for students with learning disabilities),[34] Christ Church Episcopal School (a college-preparatory Episcopalian school with an American school outside of Germany certified by the Bavarian Ministry of Education),[35] Shannon Forest Christian School (an evangelical Christian school),[36] Saint Joseph's Catholic School, Southside Christian School (established in 1967, by Southside Baptist Church founded on the commitment to partnering with Christian parents in providing an excellent education) and Bob Jones Academy and Elementary School.
Post-secondary education
Public four-year institutions:
- South Carolina College of Pharmacy-Greenville
- University Center of Greenville-Consortium of 8 Institutions of Higher Education, which include:
Public two-year institution:
South Carolina-based Private Institutions:
- Furman University
- Limestone College-Greenville Campus
- North Greenville University
- Southern Wesleyan University-Greenville Campus
- Bob Jones University
National Institutions with Greenville locations:
- Brown Mackie College
- ECPI University
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- ITT Technical Institute
- Strayer University
- University of Phoenix
- Virginia College
- Webster University
Religious and Theological Schools:
- Evangelical Institute of Greenville, School of Biblical Training
- Geneva Reformed Seminary
- Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
- Holmes Bible College
- Tabernacle Baptist College
- The Academy of Arts, Christian Drama and Music Ministry
- Bob Jones Seminary
Economy
Greenville's economy was formerly based largely on textile manufacturing, and the city was long known as "The Textile Capital of the World." In the last few decades, favorable wages and tax benefits have lured foreign companies to invest heavily in the area. The city is the North American headquarters for Hubbell Lighting, PerceptIS, and Michelin, and has offices for BMW. In 2003, the International Center for Automotive Research was created, establishing CUICAR as the new model for automotive research. The Center for Emerging Technologies in mobility and energy was opened in 2011, hosting a number of companies in leading edge R&D and the headquarters for Sage Automotive.
When the former Donaldson Air Force Base closed, the land became the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center, and became home to a Lockheed Martin aircraft and logistics center, as well as facilities operated by 3M and Honeywell.
Caterpillar Inc. has a diesel engine manufacturing plant and engineering operations located in Greenville. General Electric has a gas turbine, Aviation and wind energy manufacturing operations located in Greenville. O'Neal, Inc. a project planning, design, and construction firm, has its headquarters in Greenville.[37]
Hospitals
Greenville has two main health systems, the Bon Secours St. Francis Health System and the Greenville Health System.
Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, which includes St. Francis Downtown; St. Francis Eastside; and St. Francis Outpatient Center and Upstate Surgery Center, is ranked among the best hospitals in the nation by HealthGrades for heart surgery and overall orthopedic services.
The extensive Greenville Health System (formerly known as Greenville Hospital System) is a non-profit academic medical center which, with five campuses, including Greenville Memorial Medical Center, North Greenville Long Term Acute Care Hospital and ER, Hillcrest Hospital, Greenville Memorial Hospital Patewood Campus, and the newest Greer Memorial Hospital. It is one of the largest employers in the region. It was recognized for 2010-2011 as a top provider of Cardiac and Gastroenterology Care by U.S. News & World Report. GHS also boasts the only Children's Hospital in the Upstate region of South Carolina, with the majority of Pediatric Specialties represented for inpatient and outpatient care. GHS hosts a full four-year branch of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. There are numerous residencies for training physicians at GHS including Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Family Practice, OBGYN, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery and fellowships in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics and Vascular Surgery.
Additionally, Greenville's Shriners Hospital for Children exclusively treats pediatric orthopaedic patients free of charge.
Transportation
Greenville is located on the Interstate 85 corridor, approximately halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte. The northern terminus of Interstate 385 is located downtown, and the area is also served by Interstate 185 and U.S. Highway 123 (Calhoun Memorial Highway). Other major highways include U.S. 25, U.S. 29 and U.S. 276.
There are several airports servicing the Greenville area. The largest in the region, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), is the second busiest in the state and is served by most major airlines. SCTAC (formerly Donaldson Air Base) has undergone significant moderization and is the site of the new S.C. National Guard Helicopter Base and proposed Super General Aviation Center. Greenville serves as a freight hub for FedEx Express. The Greenville Downtown Airport, is the busiest general aviation airport in South Carolina with nearly 80,000 take-offs and landings annually and more than 245 based aircraft.[38]
Public transit in Greenville is handled by the Greenville Transit Authority (GTA), which contracted out operations to the City Of Greenville in 2008 under a tri-party agreement with Greenville County. The City rebranded the service with the name Greenlink. Greenlink runs a bus system that serves the Greenville area, much of Greenville County including Mauldin and Simpsonville, and a portion of Pickens County via a connector to Clemson. Community leaders are in the early planning stages for a comprehensive transit system that will help ease the high traffic volume on interstates and roadways. Considerations include the expansion of the current Greenlink bus routes.
Greenville has an Amtrak station, which is part of Amtrak's Crescent, connecting Greenville with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. Additionally, Greenville is included in the proposed Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor, which will run from Washington, DC to Birmingham, AL. Freight railroad service is provided by CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and the Carolina Piedmont Railroad. The former Greenville and Northern Railway line to Travelers Rest has been abandoned and converted into a hiking and biking trail.
Interstate 3
Interstate 3 is a proposed freeway that would begin in Savannah, Georgia, continue to Augusta, then possibly to Greenville, before reaching Knoxville, Tennessee. Greenville is not along the original I-3 route; however, there are several alternative routes, including one in which Greenville is a major destination along the highway.[39]
Sports teams
Greenville has hosted several minor league sports teams:
- Greenville Drive, a single A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox in the South Atlantic League. The Drive started their first season in their new downtown ballpark on April 6, 2006, which, prior to the start of the 2008 season, was renamed Fluor Field at the West End. For a short time after their founding, they were called the Greenville Bombers.
- Greenville Force, an indoor football team in the American Indoor Football Association. Played only two seasons, 2009 and 2010.
- Greenville Grrrowl, a minor league hockey team in the ECHL League Champions in 2001-02. Ceased operations in July 2006.
- Greenville Road Warriors, a minor league hockey team in the ECHL. Began play in the 2010-11 hockey season.
- Greenville Braves, a minor league baseball team located in Greenville from 1984 until 2004. Moved to Pearl, Mississippi for the 2005 season.
- Greenville Groove, a minor league basketball team in the NBA D-League; won the first NBA D-League championship. Ceased operations in 2003.
- Carolina Rhinos, an arena football team in the af2 that began in 2000 and ceased operations in 2002.
- The Furman Paladins. Furman competes at the NCAA Division I level. (Note: Furman football is a member of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.) Furman athletic teams compete on-campus in various venues, including Paladin Stadium, Timmons Arena, and the Eugene Stone Soccer Stadium. Furman is a member of the Southern Conference.
- Bob Jones University competes at the NCCAA Division I level. The BJU Bruins began intercollegiate athletics in the 2012-2013 school year. The school began with men and women's soccer and basketball, and hopes to eventually add other sports.[40] Cross country and golf are to be added for the 2013-2014 school year.
There are at least 4 stadiums for football and baseball located within the city, and many outside, with total capacities of 100,000. There are also a number of soccer fields and at least three municipal and many private community swimming pools.
Lake Jocassee, Lake Keowee, and Lake Hartwell, within 50 miles (80 km) of Greenville, accommodate boating and other water sports.
The Olympic Torch has passed through Greenville several times, and the city is an active participant in the Special Olympics.
The arts
Greenville has been named one of the "Top 100 Arts Small Towns in the United States." [41] The Bon Secours Wellness Arena, formally the Bi-Lo Center, brings national tours of many popular bands to downtown, and the Peace Center for the Performing Arts provides a venue for orchestras and plays. A planned multi-million dollar renovation to the center's main concert hall lobby and riverside amphitheatre began in the spring of 2011.
Visual art
A number of local artists operate studios and galleries in the city, especially the Village of West Greenville near downtown. The Metropolitan Arts Council and Upstate Visual Arts provide a number of public events that focus on the visual arts, including the First Fridays Art Walk, Greenville Open Studios, and the West Greenville Arts Festival. Greenville also provides some notable fine arts museums:
- The Greenville County Museum of Art, home of the Andrew Wyeth Collection, was founded with a significant contribution from local industrialist, Arthur Magill. It contains pieces by Jackson Pollock, Jonathan Greene, Georgia O'Keeffe, Jasper Johns and William H. Johnson.
- The Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery contains a diverse collection of European masterworks[42]
Music
Greenville's music scene features live performances by local jazz, country, and rock bands.
Lynyrd Skynyrd played their last concert with all original members in Greenville, on October 19, 1977.[43][44]
The city is home to the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Greenville County Youth Orchestra, Carolina Youth Symphony, and the Carolina Pops Orchestra. The Boston Symphony Orchestra regularly performs at the former Bi-Lo Center. Greenville Light Opera Works (GLOW) is a professional operetta company in residence at Centre Stage Theatre in Greenville where they produce a summer festival season of Musical Theatre, Operetta and Comic Opera.
The Palmetto Statesmen Barbershop Chorus and Quartets perform barbershop harmony and a cappella singing at various locations throughout the Upstate.[45] The Palmetto Statesmen Chorus is a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Greenville is also the home of the Greenville Chorale, a 160-voice choral group.
Home of the upstate hiphop record label HDI Records
Comedy
There are eight comedy venues in Greenville featuring stand up comedy, sketch comedy, ventriloquists, as well as experimental and non-traditional comedy.[46]
Dance and Theater
The Carolina Ballet Theatre is a professional dance company which regularly presents programs at the Peace Center and elsewhere. CBT presents four performances annually as the resident professional dance company of the Peace Center with their largest as the holiday classic, "The Nutcracker, Once Upon A Time in Greenville." This production is modelled after the major companies who have set their holiday class in their hometown. Centre Stage, Greenville Little Theater, South Carolina Children's Theater and the Warehouse Theatre are the major playhouses in the area. These theaters offer a variety of performances including well-known works, such as Death of a Salesman and Grease, and plays written by local playwrights. During the Spring and Summer, the local Shakespearean company performs Shakespeare in the Park at the Falls Park Amphitheater.
Social Dancing
Greenville is also home to a thriving social dance scene. Regular social dances include:
Upstate Swing has been putting on a weekly Tuesday swing dance since 1998, drawing hundreds of people every week to a beginner lesson, followed by a three-hour social dance.[47]
The Greenville Lindy Hoppers meet weekly on Thursdays for beginner and intermediate Lindy Hop lessons, followed by a social dance. They also host The Greenville Lindy Exchange the last weekend of June every year, which draws hundreds of swing dancers from across the southeast to the Upstate.[48]
Greenville Blues hosts blues dances in the Greenville area.
The Carolina Shag Club meets weekly to promote Carolina Shag dancing in the Upstate area.[49]
The Harvest Moon Folk Society meets weekly to host a Contra dance at the River Falls Lodge and hosts Contra events in the downtown Greenville area.[50]
Media
- The Greenville News is the city's daily newspaper and also the Upstate's largest daily newspaper in circulation and readership.
- Greenville Journal: Weekly newspaper dealing with business, economic development, local events, and current issues relevant to Greenville. It was originally The Greenville Civic and Commercial Journal[51]
- Business Black Box is the Upstate South Carolina's Premier Business Magazine, and the ultimate resource to connect, advise and grow local businesses.
- Upstate Business Trends: Monthly business newspaper reaching 7,500 business leaders in Greenville and Spartanburg counties.
- GSA Business: Published every two weeks, it covers business news from across the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson metro area.
- Greenville Business Magazine: Monthly magazine that contains business information for and about the Greenville area.
- Upstate Link magazine: The weekly publication began in January 2004. Link continues to be a print publication, but its Web site ceased operation in 2008. Its new Web site is run by Chicago-based Metromix.
- Greenville HD: An all-video website that gives viewers a look at everything in Greenville, South Carolina.
Television
Greenville is part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson-Asheville DMA, which is the nation's 36th largest television market. See the box below for the local television stations:
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Radio
Greenville is part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Arbitron Metro which is the nation's 59th largest radio market with a person 12+ population of 813,700. See the box below for the local radio stations:
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Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1850 | 1,305 | — | |
1860 | 1,518 | 16.3% | |
1870 | 2,757 | 81.6% | |
1880 | 6,160 | 123.4% | |
1890 | 8,607 | 39.7% | |
1900 | 11,860 | 37.8% | |
1910 | 15,741 | 32.7% | |
1920 | 23,127 | 46.9% | |
1930 | 29,154 | 26.1% | |
1940 | 34,734 | 19.1% | |
1950 | 58,161 | 67.4% | |
1960 | 66,188 | 13.8% | |
1970 | 61,208 | −7.5% | |
1980 | 58,242 | −4.8% | |
1990 | 58,282 | 0.1% | |
2000 | 56,002 | −3.9% | |
2010 | 58,409 | 4.3% | |
Est. 2013 | 61,397 | 5.1% | |
Census Bureau Estimate[52] |
Greenville is the largest principal city of the Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan area that covers Greenville, Laurens, Anderson and Pickens counties and had a combined population of 850,965 as of 2013.[13]
Since South Carolina law makes annexing the suburban areas around cities difficult, Greenville's population is larger than what it is said to be. The 2010 city population was 58,409, while the total area population was 400,492.
As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 58,409 people, 24,382 households, and 12,581 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,148.0 inhabitants per square mile (829.4/km²). There were 27,295 housing units at an average density of 1,046.9 per square mile (404.2/km²). The racial composition of the city was 62.12% White, 31.54% Black or African American, 3.44% Hispanic or Latino (of any race), 1.27% Asian, 0.14% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.37% of other races, and 1.11% of Two or more races.
There were 29,418 households out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.7% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.4% were non-families. 40.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 13.8% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,144, and the median income for a family was $44,125. Males had a median income of $35,111 versus $25,339 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,242. About 12.2% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over.
Racial composition | 2000 | 2010 |
---|---|---|
White | 62.1% | 64.0% |
Black | 34.0% | 30.0% |
Asian | 1.3% | 1.4% |
Native | 0.14% | 0.25% |
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander | 0.06% | 0.09% |
Two or more races | 1.1% | 1.8% |
Other | 1.3% | - |
Neighborhoods
Neighborhoods within the City of Greenville include:
- Alta Vista
- Augusta Road
- Berea
- Cleveland Park
- Gower Estates
- Greer
- East Park
- Hampton Pinckney
- Heritage
- Nicholtown
- North Main
- Overbrook
- Parkins Mill
- Sans Souci
- St. Mark
- Taylors
- West End
- West Greenville
Notable people
- Jaimie Alexander (1984–present) - American actress
- Andre Goodman (born 1978) - 10 year NFL career as a Cornerback with Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and Denver Broncos
- Dorothy Allison (born 1949) - writer
- Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. (1927 – 1962) - only person killed by enemy fire during the Cuban Missile Crisis
- Zinn Beck (1885 - 1981) – Former MLB player; managed the Greenville Spinners from 1923 to 1925
- Peabo Bryson (1951–present) - American R&B and Soul singer-songwriter
- Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. (1940-2005) - 112th Governor of South Carolina from 1987 to 1995.
- Judith Chapman (1951–present) - American actress
- Anthony Conway (1961–present) - American classical realism artist
- Jim DeMint (1951–present) - American senator and president of The Heritage Foundation
- Tyler Florence (1971–present) - American chef and television host
- Kevin Garnett (born 1976) - Power forward and Center with the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association.
- Max Heller (1919-2011);- mayor of Greenville from 1971 to 1979; Max Heller Convention Center is named in his honor
- Jesse L. Helms (1909-1982);- mayor of Greenville from 1979 to 1982
- James M. Henderson (1921-1995) - Advertising executive and Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina in 1970; father-in-law of Jim DeMint
- George Hincapie (1973–present) - American road bicycle racer
- Bo Hopkins (1942–present) – Television and film actor
- Jesse Jackson (1941–present) - civil rights activist and Baptist minister
- Joseph Jefferson "Shoeless Joe" Jackson (1887-1951) - Major League Baseball player;
- Bob Jones, Sr., evangelist, founder of Bob Jones University
- Bob Jones, Jr., second president of Bob Jones University
- Monique Jones (1979–present) - IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Harry B. Luthi (1933–present) - mayor of Greenville from 1982 to 1983
- Edwin McCain (1970–present) – musician
- Benjamin F. Perry (1805-1886) - 72nd Governor of South Carolina
- Virginia Inman Postrel (born 1960) - American political and cultural author and journalist.[53]
- Richard Riley (1933–present) - 111th Governor of South Carolina from 1979 to 1987 and 6th United States Secretary of Education from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton
- Patty Shepard (1945 - 2013) - American-born Spanish actress
- A.T. Smith (? - present) – Former Deputy Director of the United States Secret Service
- George Brown Tindall (1921-2006) - historian
- Charles H. Townes (born 1915) - Nobel Prize-winning physicist and educator. Produced first microwave amplifier (maser).
- Knox H. White (born 1954) - Greenville lawyer and current mayor of Greenville since 1995
- R. Cooper White, Jr. (born 1927) - mayor of Greenville from 1969 to 1971
- Joanne Woodward (1930–present) - American actress and producer
- Bill Workman (born 1940) - mayor of Greenville from 1983 to 1995 and specialist in economic development
- C. Thomas Wyche (1926-2015) - lawyer, conservationist
Sister cities
Notes
- ↑ Official records for Greenville kept April 1884 to 10 December 1941 at downtown, 11 December 1941 to 14 October 1962 at Greenville Downtown Airport, and at Greenville–Spartanburg Int'l near Greer since 15 October 1962. For more information, see Threadex
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Census Bureau. Census Bureau. July 1, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013 - United States -- Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area; and for Puerto Rico". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "GSA Business". GSA Business. GSA Business. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ "Greenville City Council". City of Greenville. City of Greenville. 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
- ↑ "List of 2010 Census Urban Areas". Census Bureau. Census Bureau. 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ "USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/''. United States Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
- ↑ "Station Name: SC GREER". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014-04-24.
- ↑ "WMO Climate Normals for GREENVILLE/G-SPARTANBURG, SC 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "About Greenville County, South Carolina". Greenville County. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- ↑ "Greenville County Genealogy | South Carolina Genealogy - South Carolina Genealogy and History resources, links, information and articles". South Carolina Genealogy. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
- ↑ "American History - Counties - Greenville County, South Carolina". Electricscotland.com. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
- ↑ National Register description.
- ↑ 373 U.S. 244 (1963)
- ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
- ↑ "Home - M&G". M&G. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ http://www.ropermountain.org/whats-here/daniel-observatory
- ↑ "Euphoria Greenville - September 17-20, 2015". euphoriagreenville.com. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "Fall for Greenville, A Taste of Our Town". fallforgreenville.net. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "Artisphere – Arts. Culture. Life. in Greenville South Carolina". artisphere.us. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "Home - Imagine Upstate Fueled by ScanSource". imagineupstate.org. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "MonsterCon - South Carolina". monstercon.org. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "Indie Craft Parade - Home". indiecraftparade.com. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "» Upstate Shakespeare Festival". Warehouse Theatre. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "New South Comedy Festival - About". New South Comedy Festival. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "Broad Margin, 9 West Avondale Drive, Greenville, Greenville, SC". Loc.gov. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
- ↑ "Greenville County School District Fast Facts" (PDF). Retrieved 1 September 2012.
- ↑ "School Centers Profiles".
- ↑ "Greenville County School District Progress Report" (PDF).
- ↑ "Camperdown Academy".
- ↑ "CCES".
- ↑ "Shannon Forest Christian School".
- ↑ "O'Neal - Comprehensive engineering, planning, design and construction services". Onealinc.com. 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
- ↑ A report prepared for the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission by Wilbur Smith Associates in May, 2006
- ↑ Athens Banner-Herald, January 2, 2008
- ↑ "Bob Jones University Athletics". Bju.edu. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
- ↑ The 100 Best Art Towns in America: A Guide to Galleries, Museums, Festivals, Lodging and Dining, Fourth Edition (Paperback) by John Villani (Author)
- ↑ Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery
- ↑ "ASN Aircraft Accident Convair CV-300 N55VM Gillsburg MS". Flight Safety. org website: Aviation Safety network. 19 June 1978. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
- ↑ Pat Adams and Jaquelyn Cooper (20 October 1977). "The Tragic Plane Crash. What Happened? Gillsburg, MS". The Southern Tribute. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
- ↑ "Palmetto Statesmen". palmettostatesmen.org. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ Zusel, Yvonne. "Comedy in the Upstate | Metromix Greenville". Greenville.metromix.com. Retrieved 2012-02-20.
- ↑ "Swing Dance Pictures". upstateswing.com. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "Greenville Lindy Hoppers". greenvillelindyhoppers.com. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "Carolina Shag Club". carolinashagclub.com. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "Harvest Moon Folk Society - Home". harvestmoonfolk.org. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ↑ "Greenville Civic and Commercial Journal". Greenville County Library System. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
- ↑ "Greenville, SC". Census Bureau. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ↑ "Interview with Virginia Postrel : The Future and Its Enemies", Booknotes, PBS, February 14, 1999
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greenville, South Carolina. |
Wikisource has the text of The New Student's Reference Work article Greenville, S. C.. |
- Official website
- Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce
- The Greenville News : Local Newspaper
- Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC)
- "Greenville, a city and the county-seat of Greenville county, South Carolina, U.S.A.". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
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