About the Greenville, South Carolina Area 

Greenville is the 4th largest city in South Carolina with a population of approximately 56,000 people in the city proper, and a population of over 583,000 in the entire metro area. It is considered the economic center of the South Carolina Upstate Region. (The Upstate Region includes the six counties of northwestern South Carolina.) 

Greenville has been growing rapidly due to its diverse economy, sunny weather in all seasons, affordable cost of living, top-notch entertainment and cultural offerings, as well as its proximity to other major cities, the Smoky Mountains and the Atlantic Coast. For all these reasons, many choose Greenville as their city of choice when relocating from other states or retiring. The locals are proud of their beautiful town and continue to uphold the old-fashioned southern ideals of hospitality and cleanliness. Greenville’s great arts, music, economic climate, shopping, and sports appeals to both families and businesspersons. 

Location 

Greenville is located in the Piedmont region of northwest South Carolina and just a few miles south of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Greenville area provides breathtaking view of rivers, streams and waterfalls. 

Greenville is the county seat of Greenville County. I-85 passes through Greenville and a strong business sector has developed along this highway. 

Greenville is located within close proximity to several major cities. Charlotte, North Carolina is 91 miles away, Atlanta, Georgia is 137 miles away, and the capital city of Columbia, South Carolina is 91 miles away. The Atlantic coastal beach cities of Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston are only a 3-1/2 hour drive away. Spartanburg is 27 miles away and Greenwood is 47 miles away. 

Geography 

Greenville has a total area of 26.1 square miles and .23% of that is made up of water. Greenville is in the Upstate Region of South Carolina that includes Greenville and Spartanburg. This region is comprised of high plateaus and mountains.  

Greenville is in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The Atlantic coast with the port of Charleston and all the recreation opportunities of the ocean is 200 miles east. The highest point in South Carolina is Sassafras Mountain, which is nearby in the northern part of Greenville County. Paris Mountain is another prominent peak in the area. 

The beautiful and historic Reedy River runs through downtown Greenville.  

Jobs 

Greenville offers a highly skilled and educated workforce and competitive wages.
Major employers in the Greenville area include Michelin, BMW, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, The City of Greenville, The County of Greenville, Fiberweb, and Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center.  

The new ICAR (International Center for Automotive Research) project is bringing new high-tech jobs to the area. In addition, the economic development in Greenville over the past two decades has brought many automotive suppliers.

Greenville touts excellent major venue and meeting facilities including the Palmetto Exposition Center, Bi-LO Center, the Peace Center for the Performing Arts and Timmons Arena. This draws conventioneers, concert goers, and sports fans to Greenville by providing some of the largest meeting facilities in the southeast. This goes hand and hand with the growth of excellent hospitality services in the area.  

Housing  

Greenville has that special home to suit every life style at an affordable price. New construction is booming in the metro Greenville area. Existing older homes, many delightfully, renovated are also popular. You can find some great bargains on fixer-uppers with great potential. Currently, the condo market in downtown Greenville is one of the strongest markets. 

The average list price of a home in Greenville is approximately $225,000.  

Recreation 

The Reedy River Falls Historic Park is located in the heart of the city just off South Main Street behind The Peace Center. Here you can drop into another world and enjoy the river and spectacular waterfall. The park is called the "Cradle of Greenville" because a saw mill, an Indian trading post and a grist mill were built here in 1776 in what is now downtown Greenville. 

Cleveland Park is one of Greenville's oldest city parks. This lovely park offers miles of trails along the historic Reedy River. The Fernwood Nature Trail, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Major Rudolf Anderson Memorial and the Greenville Zoo are all featured in this beautiful historic park in downtown Greenville. 

Cleveland Park provides trails to many other Greenville highlights including Falls Cottage Garden, the historic Westend, Falls Park on the Reedy, the Peace Center, and the Rock Quarry Garden. All these destinations are a “must-see” for visitors.  

Northwest South Carolina is a water sport lover’s paradise with many lakes nearby, including Lake Hartwell, Lake Jocassee, and Lake Keowee. These lakes are popular family recreation spots for boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, camping, and much more.  

For the more adventuresome, Greenville provides close proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the unique recreational opportunities they offer. Popular destinations include Foothills Trail, an 80-mile hiking trail that crosses some of the most rugged terrain in the Carolinas, and Mountain Bridge Wilderness Recreation Area. This recreation area features the "Mountain Bridge", a portion of land that connects the two Greenville watersheds known as Table Rock and Poinsett. The scenic vistas are unsurpassed. Other beautiful spots include Jones Gap State Park, Cleveland Cliffs, Raven Cliff Falls, Ashmore Heritage Preserve, and Caesars Head.  

If you love to golf, Greenville is the place to be! Golfers are seen on the greens in all four seasons. Some of the finest golf courses in the southeast are in the Greenville area including Bonnie Brae, Boscobel, Brookstone Meadows, Carolina Springs, Cobb’s Glen, Furman University, Millstone, River Falls, Southern Oaks, Verdae Greens, Walker Course at Clemson, Willow Creek, and many more. These courses feature world-class greens designed by well-known architects Gary Player, Tom Jackson, and Willard Byrd, to name a few.  

Special Attractions/Events
The Greenville County Museum of Art is one of the exceptional cultural offerings of Greenville. It exhibits one of the best collections of art by outstanding American artists. On the grounds is the Kilgore-Lewis House (now housing the Greenville Council of Garden Clubs).  

Downtown Main Street in Greenville is a fun spot to peruse with quaint shops, unique eateries and coffee shops. This is another Greenville “must-see” destination. 

Greenville hosts an extraordinary annual event called “Artisphere” in April. This is the premiere cultural event for the entire Upstate Region. Artisphere’s mission is to "showcase the arts, reflect the area's international flair, support economic development and maximize existing arts programs by providing a diverse menu of experiences that center around the arts -- visual and performing -- and Greenville's multicultural offerings to appeal to visitors from throughout the world, as well as citizens throughout the region." The event is held in the West End Historic District, Falls Park on the Reedy, and the Peace Center for the Arts. 

Clemson University is located approximately 25 miles from downtown Greenville. There is much to do and see at the university including the state botanical garden, the antebellum mansion of John C. Calhoun, and exciting cultural and sporting events. 

From fantastic arts and entertainment to incredible outdoor recreation and beautiful vistas, Greenville has it all. Car enthusiasts will enjoy the tour of BMW's plant. For kids and science buffs, Roper Mountain Science Center is a great way to fill an afternoon. The Peace Center for the Performing Arts presents the world's finest performers and educational arts programs. Treat the family for live sports action, fantasies on ice, or a rodeo at the Bi-Lo Center. It doesn’t get much better!
 

Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places 

Greenville was originally founded on the banks of the Reedy near the Reedy River Falls, in the 1760's. By the early 1800’s mills, foundries, factories and stores started to pop up in the area. Greenville’s life is owed to the Reedy. If the Reedy River could tell stories, there’d be so much to tell! 

Kilgore-Lewis House (circa 1835-1838) is a beautiful example of Palladian architecture. It was moved to a location near McPherson Park in Greenville in 1974 and was acquired by the Greenville Council of Garden Clubs. Elegant gardens surround the historic house on 5 acres of land. Greenville gardens are not to be missed. The house and grounds have been beautifully refurbished and maintained and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The oldest bridge in South Carolina is the Poinsett Bridge. It was finished in 1820 and is part of the original state road that connects Greenville to Asheville. 

All about South Carolina: 

State Motto - “Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places”.
State Bird - Carolina Wren
State Tree - Palmetto Tree
State Flower - Carolina Jasmine
State Animal - Whitetail Deer
State Gem - Amethyst
State Reptile - Loggerhead Turtle
State Fruit - Peach 

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