SPARTANBURG COUNTY
County Offices
Administration Building
366 North Church Street
Spartanburg 864-596-2500
www.spartanburgcounty.org
Chamber of Commerce
105 North Pine Street
Spartanburg 864-594-5000
www.spartanburgchamber.com
Spartanburg is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, between Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC and less than an hour from Asheville, NC. The county is home to more than 285,000 residents and its county seat is Spartanburg.
Lifestyle
Spartanburg County is an area with an active and entertaining lifestyle. Residents enjoy everything that they could need or want close to home. Whether it’s outdoor sports, shopping or the arts, the quality of life in the area is second to none. Spartanburg County has a long-standing reputation of being one of South Carolina’s creative hot-spots. Nearly all forms of the cultural arts are practiced in Spartanburg, including writers, artists, dancers, musicians, historians and scientists. Whether you are producing art or enjoying it, there is always an exhibit, concert, lecture, dance or special program being presented. In 2007, after the community raised more than $44 Million, the traditional arts of Spartanburg re-established themselves at the 86,000 sq. ft. Chapman Cultural Center in downtown Spartanburg. The “partner” organizations that make up The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg are the Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg, Ballet Spartanburg, the Carolina Foothills Artisan Center, the Spartanburg County Historical Association, the Music Foundation of Spartanburg, the Spartanburg Art Museum, the Spartanburg Science Center, and Spartanburg Little Theatre/Spartanburg Youth! Theatre and the Spartanburg Repertory Company.
Residents can enjoy an afternoon at the museum, an evening at the theater or the symphony. What was once an old Nash Rambler car dealership is now the heart of culture in downtown Spartanburg, HUB-BUB offers more than 100 nights of art, culture and entertainment a year in the Showroom Gallery and Performance Hall. Events range from concerts to progressive art exhibits, film, experimental theatre, workshops, community forums and more. For those that want to perform a little retail arts, the county offers many places to shop including Downtown, Hillcrest Specialty Row and Westgate Mall in Spartanburg or one of the dozens of unique stores found in historic downtowns located in communities throughout the county.
Spartanburg Parks Commission maintains parks and 4 recreation centers throughout Spartanburg County. From tennis courts and baseball fields to walking trails and disc golf courses, these facilities offer a wide variety of amenities that allow you to partake in your favorite activities and discover new interests too. Spartanburg is also home to recreational complexes hosting soccer, baseball, golf and tennis events. There is an abundance of parks and lakes and rivers for boating, fishing and kayaking and over 46 miles of bike lanes within the City of Spartanburg.
Numerous housing subdivisions offering a friendly neighborhood setting can be found throughout Spartanburg County. New patio home and condominium developments offer a cozy setting without the hassle of a lot of yard-work. An abundance of farmland provides the opportunity for anyone yearning to exercise a “green thumb.” If you prefer luxury or resort housing, Spartanburg offers homes near a number of golf courses or at a country club. A wide variety of apartments and other rental properties are also available in Spartanburg.
Services
The County was once a leader in textiles but today has become the center of the southern automotive industry by serving as the North American manufacturing headquarters of BMW. Manufacturing related to supporting the auto industry has become a key component of the economy in the county and the entire upstate region.
Education is important in the county, and students are offered a quality educational program that excels in academics. Spartanburg County is home to seven school districts comprised of more than 44,000 students. It has more than 39 elementary schools, 15 middle or junior high schools, nine high schools and four career centers or vocational schools. Many fully accredited private and parochial schools such as the Spartanburg Day School, Oakbrook Preparatory School, Spartanburg Christian Academy, St. Paul’s Apostolic School, Montessori Academy of Spartanburg and Montessori West Christian School are also located in Spartanburg. Spartanburg is also home to the Spartanburg Charter School (founded in 2009), one of only 45 public charter schools in the state. Spartanburg Charter School offers an educational program inspired by the Reggio Emilia method. It emphasizes respect, responsibility, and community, encourages student exploration in an enriching environment.
For higher education, the county is home to eight institutions of higher learning providing opportunities for students and working professionals interested in a variety of paths. With more than 12,000 students in Spartanburg County each year, the College Town atmosphere is enhanced each fall as they return to class. The colleges and the community have begun offering joint social and academic programming to bring the strength of these institutions together. With the recent additions of downtown campuses for USC Upstate in the George Dean Johnson College of Business and Economics and for Spartanburg Community College in the historic Evans Building.
Health care is a priority in the County and is well represented by an excellent full-service hospital, healthcare facilities and human service agencies that offer a continuum of care, resources and support to meet the physical, mental and developmental needs of the community. Spartanburg County is home to an excellent health care system, a continually expanding and improving hospital staffed with outstanding physicians, support by a dedicated emergency medical service staff. It is home to the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System and the Mary Black Memorial Hospital.
Cowpens
Town Offices
5330 North Main Street
Cowpens 864-463-3201
www.townofcowpens.com
This small rural town is home to just over 2,300 residents. Cowpens was founded near the site of a battle fought during the Revolutionary War on January 17, 1781. Continental Army troops and colonial militia under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan decisively defeated a crack British force – known as the Black Legion – under Lt Colonel Banastre Tarleton. The battle draws its name from its site, pastureland and cow pens, reportedly known then as Hannah’s Cow-pens, used by frontier farmers. Military historians regard Cowpens as one of the most brilliant tactical operations ever fought on American soil. The town is home to a small downtown area and traditional main street. The town hosts several annual festivals including the Mighty Moo Festival, in honor of former crewmen of the USS Cowpens WWII aircraft carrier. The festival has street dances, a golf tournament, pageants, baseball games, reunions, and a parade that honors the former crewmen of both the USS Cowpens CVL 25, and the current USS Cowpens CG 63. The yearly festival is held on the third weekend of June. Residents enjoy a quiet lifestyle, set in a rural community where everyone knows each other and has a strong sense of local pride.
Inman
City Offices
20 South Main Street
Inman 864-472-6200
www.cityofinman.org
Chamber of Commerce
Inman 864-472-3654
www.inmanscchamber.org
Inman is a small community located in the Upstate region of South Carolina. It is home to a little more than 2,300 residents, who enjoy beautiful natural surroundings and mild weather. The weather is temperate year-round, due to its location in the Isothermal Belt, a phenomenon that results when warmer air on the western side of the Appalachian Mountains blows over the mountains, leaving a 60-mile-wide trough where significant temperature inversions of 20 degrees Fahrenheit or greater can occur. Inman is within close, convenient proximity to the Spartanburg-Greenville-Asheville metroplex, yet distant enough to give its residents plenty of breathing, living and recreational room. Close by, Inman residents have access to Lake Bowen that affords water recreational sports and fishing. Residents also have access to other lakes which offer some of the best bass fishing in the world. The city contains a historic main street district, several houses of worship, and a school district. It is also home to pharmacies, medical offices, large food markets and retirement communities. While being a model of small town charm and quiet living, the city is actively renovating its historic storefronts and downtown area. Inman is also known for its antique outlets.
Landrum
City Offices
100 North Shamrock Avenue
Landrum 864-457-3000
www.cityoflandrum.com
Located just west of Interstate 26 between Spartanburg, South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina, the City of Landrum is nestled against the backdrop of the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains. It is home to just over 2,400 residents who enjoy a high quality of life nestle in scenic surroundings. Residents and visitors alike enjoy drives along scenic roads, strolling through unique antique and specialty shops, and dining in Landrum‘s quaint eateries. The city’s mild climate and natural beauty attracts people of every type and interest. Golfing is available at many fine courses in the area, while boaters and water enthusiasts can enjoy Lake Bowen or Lake Lanier, both just minutes from downtown Landrum. Cycling, hiking, and horseback riding are also popular activities in the area. With the home of the Annual Blockhouse Steeplechase also just five minutes from downtown Landrum, equestrian activities and horse farms are evident throughout this community and region. Equestrian trails and hiking trails are provided at the Foothills Equestrian and Nature Center. In addition, a variety of nature oriented programs are available here which include bird watching, nature photography, and star gazing. The Palmetto Trail, (a mountains to the sea trail, that traverses South Carolina) and many local favorites like Bradley Falls and Pearson Falls provide additional hiking activities for the outdoor enthusiast. Landrum is full of exciting attractions, beautiful scenery, historically significant sites, and friendly people which make it a great place to call home.
Pacolet
Town Offices
180 Montgomery Avenue
Pacolet 864-474-9504
www.townofpacolet.com
Pacolet is in an area that was once sacred hunting and fishing territory for the Cherokee and Catawba Nations. Pacolet offers its residents the best of both worlds…a quiet rural setting nestled among mature and soothing urban forests along a meandering river. It also offers easy access to the Greenville/Spartanburg area and all of the urban amenities that they offer. Add to that a low cost of living, excellent schools, a sense of community and caring neighbors. The community experienced its greatest growth in the latter half of the 19th century. Pacolet Manufacturing established a textile mill in 1882, and the town of Pacolet was incorporated in 1896. After the mill closed, Pacolet struggled to find a new identity and economic base. In 2003 Pacolet became a pilot community for “Pilgrimage of Place,” a Clemson University rural revitalization project. The program connected community members with experts in a variety of fields and produced a lengthy community master plan. The master plan recognized a need to protect the historic resources of the town, and recommended new walking trails, a riverfront park, and a community meeting room. Pacolet has been steadily working to carry out all parts of the master plan and has successfully met many goals and completed much of the planned work, producing a unique and vibrant community for residents and visitors alike. Pacolet has seen resurgence in celebrating and protecting its local cultural resources. The importance of the mill and its buildings, as well as the local landscape, designed by noted landscape architect Earl Draper, has been recognized. The town also has one of the largest concentrations of arts and crafts homes in the state. Local landmarks have been placed on the National Register, and buildings associated with the mill have been preserved and re-used. A number of events are held in Pacolet to celebrate the town’s cultural heritage. The Greater Pacolet Indian Summer Festival takes place each fall. The highlights of the festival are performances by members of the Catawba Indian Nation. The festival also includes an antique car show, food and crafts sale, carnival games, and music and dance performances by local entertainers. Each January, Pacolet, in conjunction with a number of local groups, celebrates Gen. Daniel Morgan’s victory march from the Pacolet River to the Cowpens National Battlefield by hiking his route. Pacolet offers newcomers and visitors a taste of traditional American small town living.
Spartanburg
City Offices
145 West Broad Street
Spartanburg 864-596-2000
www.cityofspartanburg.org
Chamber of Commerce
105 North Pine Street
Spartanburg 864-594-5000
www.spartanburgchamber.com
Spartanburg is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, between Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC and less than an hour from Asheville, NC. Spartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County and is the fourth largest city (by urban population) in the state.. Spartanburg has a municipal population of over 37,000 and an urban population of more than 180,700. The Spartanburg Metropolitan Statistical Area, corresponding to Spartanburg County, has a population of more than 284,000. It is located 98 miles northwest of Columbia, 80 miles west of Charlotte, North Carolina, and about 190 miles northeast of Atlanta, Georgia. First established in the 1780s as a courthouse village, Spartanburg may have been named for the Spartan regiment of the South Carolina militia. The city was incorporated in 1831, at the time of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens, a pivotal fight of the American Revolution that took place only a few miles away. The city’s streets and architectural record reflect the changes of the last two centuries. Morgan Square, the city’s primary downtown hub, is the original courthouse village. The square’s name derives from Daniel Morgan, the general who commanded the American forces at Cowpens. A statue of Morgan was placed in the square in 1881. The oldest existing buildings on Morgan Square date to the 1880s. The Magnolia Street Train Depot is one of the older buildings in Spartanburg and stands as a reminder of Spartanburg’s old nickname “the Hub City,” referring to the many transportation routes that connected Spartanburg with cities throughout the region. It is now the home of the Amtrak station, the Hub City Railroad Museum, and the Hub City Farmers’ Market. The city is home to many varied neighborhoods, each with its own flavor. Hampton Heights Historic District is the city’s oldest intact downtown neighborhood. Architectural styles in this neighborhood range from large Queen Anne and Neoclassical homes to cozy early-twentieth century bungalows.
For the history buff in the family, Spartanburg is a treasure chest. Cotton mills have abounded in the Spartanburg area since 1816. The mills were built along the rivers to harness their power. The mills, their owners and their laborers dominated the region for nearly a century. Although nearly all abandoned, many mill buildings remain along the riverbanks, some intact and many not. Some of those mills include: the Glendale Mill which consists of a few towers and smokestacks, providing a dramatic backdrop to the dam, shoals and waterfalls of the creek below. The former company store now serves as the home of the Wofford College Environmental Studies Center. The Beaumont Mill, north of the downtown, has recently been renovated to house the NCAA Southern Conference headquarters. The adjacent mill village has been designated as a local historic district and the Converse Mill is located to the east of the city along the Pacolet River.
Spartanburg has many places to shop including Downtown, Hillcrest Specialty Row, Westgate Mall and many more. It is one of the main shopping and dining destinations of The Upstate region. Different shopping and dining areas around the city are home to dozens of restaurants with a handful of different galleries and shops. Dining options include a host of choices including traditional southern cuisine, cafés, Mexican, and American. The City’s Parks & Recreation division operates the City’s 22 area parks, 4 recreational facilities and the River Birch Hiking Trail. For those looking for more active adventures, there are plenty of outdoor activities waiting for them in the lakes, rivers and mountains that make up the county. Spartanburg offers fishing, biking, hiking, boating and more.
Being a progressive city with a youthful feel that is also strongly tied to its heritage make Spartanburg an easy choice to call home.
Woodruff
City Offices
231 East Hayne Street
Woodruff 864-476-8154
www.cityofwoodruff.com
The City of Woodruff blends small-town charm of a historic mill village with the growing presence of multiuse trails, sidewalks, unique shops, restaurants, antique stores and more. The City’s 4,000 residents are located just south of Spartanburg, South Carolina, within 15 minutes of I-26 and I-85, BMW and Greenville Spartanburg Airport, and 20 minutes to downtown Greenville. The quaint historic downtown features wonderful charm that reminds you of earlier days, with shops to visit and your neighbors to talk to. Woodruff is part of Spartanburg County School District Four, which includes Woodruff Primary, Woodruff Elementary, Woodruff Middle, and Woodruff High School. Woodruff High School made Newsweek’s 2010 List of America’s Best High Schools. Throughout its history, Woodruff High has experienced a large amount of success in athletics, most notably football. Woodruff High athletics has numerous state titles. In 2011, Woodruff High advanced to the South Carolina 2A Division I State Championship game against Timberland. Woodruff gives its residents a slice of traditional Americana, within close proximity to major urban centers and all that they have to offer.
