Greenville, SC

Greenville, South Carolina, began as a small mill town and dates back to 1831. Today this thriving city of over 58,000 residents covers 25 square miles of Northwestern South Carolina at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The county seat of Greenville County, Greenville is centrally located between Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Greenville's favorable business climate has made the area a destination for corporate offices, warehouse and distribution operations and especially manufacturing. Notable companies headquartered or doing business in the region include:

• BMW Manufacturing Corp.
• Charter Communications
• Electrolux
• General Electric
• IBM
• Lockheed Martin Aircraft and Logistics
• Michelin North America
• Nestle USA
• Verizon Wireless

In addition, 4.8 million visitors travel annually to Greenville County, providing more than $876 million in visitor expenditures. To accommodate these visitors, the area has 8,000 hotel rooms, with the majority along I-385 for business travelers, four hotels located in Downtown Greenville, and others in various locations across the county.

Carolina First Center, a large, exposition facility used for corporate meetings, conventions, tradeshows and special events, is the main destination for business travelers. Leisure travelers are drawn to the city's downtown area, the area's mountains and natural features, and an abundance of recreational activities.

The Greenville Hospital System operates five medical campus locations in the area, including two within Greenville city limits.

The largest facility in the city, the Greenville Memorial Hospital is a regional medical campus that includes a 24-hour Emergency Trauma Center, Cancer Center, Children's Hospital, Heart Institute, Women's Hospital and Rehabilitation services. The on-site Greenville Life Center is a health-and-conditioning club promoting fitness and wellness and offering members indoor and outdoor tracks, a pool, group fitness classes, personal training, cardio and weight-lifting equipment, personal massage and nutrition counseling.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Greenville's neighborhoods include seven, distinctive, historic districts, many with buildings and structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These districts include:

• Pettigru Historic District: Located at the east end of downtown, the Pettigru District includes frame and brick structures, most built between 1910 and 1930. The area features a wide variety of architecture styles and today is zoned for half-commercial and half-residential use.
• Overbrook Historic District: The Overbrook area was formed in 1913 because of its proximity to the trolley. This district features many craftsman-style, bungalow homes with large lots.
• East Park Avenue Historic District: East Park Avenue District includes many examples of popular, early-20th-century architecture styles, including craftsman, American foursquare, Tudor and neoclassical.
• Heritage Historic District: Designated as a local Preservation Overlay District, this area is located to the northwest of Downtown Greenville and encompasses structures of varying architectural styles.
• West End Historic District: Originally developed because of its location near both Furman University and the railroad, West End District is located across the Reedy River from downtown and serves both commercial and residential uses.
• Hampton-Pinckney Historic District: Hampton-Pinckney is located in the center of Greenville and is one of the oldest neighborhoods in town. This predominantly Victorian-style neighborhood is both a National Register District and a Preservation Overlay District.
• Colonel Elias Earle Historic District: Typical of an early automobile neighborhood, the area's homes include side driveways, porte-cocheres and rear driveways. Architecturally the neoclassical, Dutch colonial, English cottage, Georgian revival and Tudor styles are represented.

Newer neighborhoods abound in Greenville as well, with new residential and commercial construction continuing in both the suburbs and the downtown area to accommodate the area's growth.

FOR VISITORS

Greenville has great outdoor facilities with 39 parks totaling 452 acres. These include:

• Cleveland Park
• Falls Park on the Reedy
• Gower Estates Park
• Holmes Park
• Kiwanis Park
• Linky Stone Park
• Mayberry Park
• McPherson Park
• North Main Park
• S.O. Walker Park
• Timmons Park
• Tindale Avenue Park
• West Washington Park

Amenities at these parks include trails for walking and biking, sports fields, basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts, playgrounds, picnic areas, disc-golf courses, horseshoe pits, miniature golf, shuffleboard and a performance amphitheater. Programs for youth and adults are also offered.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Entertainment, arts, nightlife and dining opportunities are available to Greenville residents and visitors, with its Downtown as the cultural epicenter for the entire region. In addition to restaurants and pubs, Downtown boasts the Peace Center for the Performing Arts, the Greenville County Art Museum, BI-LO Center Arena, Greenville Zoo and Greenville County Library, as well as parks, local galleries and theater venues.

Live arts entertainment in the area includes ballet and symphony performances, major concerts, family entertainment, outdoor local jazz concerts and moonlight movies.

EDUCATION

In addition to the largest public school district in South Carolina, Greenville residents enjoy easy access to the following local colleges and universities:

• Bob Jones University
• Clemson University
• Converse College
• Furman University
• Greenville Technical College
• North Greenville College
• Southern Wesleyan University
• University of South Carolina-Spartanburg
• Virginia College-Greenville Campus
• Wolford College

GETTING AROUND

• Greenville is accessible via Interstate Highways 85, 185 and 385. U.S. Highways 25, 29, 123 and 276 also pass through the city.
• Bus service is provided locally by the Greenville Transit Authority, and interstate bus travel is available via Greyhound Bus Lines.
• Rail transportation to Greenville is provided by Amtrak, with a station located Downtown.
• Air travelers are served by both Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport and Greenville Downtown Airport. Greenville-Spartanburg International provides commercial airline service to domestic and international destinations. Downtown Airport is South Carolina's busiest general aviation airport, offering a full range of aviation services.