Greenville, South Carolina

For other places with the same name, see Greenville.

Greenville, South Carolina
City
Location in South Carolina Nicknames: G-Vegas
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Greenville
Founded	1831
Government
• Mayor	Knox White
Area
• City	26.1 sq mi (67.7 km2)
• Land	26.1 sq mi (67.5 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)  0.23%
Elevation	1,007 ft (307 m)
Population  (2006)
• City	56,002
• Density	2,148.0/sq mi (829.4/km2)
• Urban	302,194
• Metro	601,986 (2,006 est.)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP codes	29601-29617
Area code	864
FIPS code	45-30850Template:GR
GNIS feature ID	1245842Template:GR
Website	www.greatergreenville.com

Greenville is a mid-sized city located in the upstate of South Carolina. It is the county seat of Greenville CountyTemplate:GR and the principal city in the Greenville-Mauldin-Easley metropolitan area (MSA). As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 56,002, and an urbanized area population of 302,194. As of the July 1, 2006 census estimates the Greenville Metropolitan Area (MSA) has a population of 601,986. Greenville is the largest city of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Combined Statistical Area (CSA) which has a 2006 estimated population of 1,203,795. The CSA, an 8-county region of northwestern South Carolina, is known as "The Upstate". Greenville is located approximately halfway between the cities of Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina along Interstate I-85, and its metropolitan area is further serviced by I-385 and I-185.

Geography and Climate

Greenville is located at 34°50′40″N 82°23′8″W (34.844313, -82.385428),Template:GR centrally located among Atlanta (120 miles southwest), Charlotte (90 miles northeast) and Columbia (90 miles southeast). This central location contributed to Greenville's selection as a railroad and FedEx airfreight hub.

Greenville is in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains and therefore contains many hills and knolls. The highest point in South Carolina, Sassafras Mountain, is nearby in the northern part of Pickens County, which adjoins Greenville County on the west. Paris Mountain, home to many of the area's television and radio stations' towers, is the second most prominent peak in the area and overlooks the downtown area from less than 7 miles (11 km) away. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Greenville has a total area of 26.1 square miles (67.7 km²), of which, 26.1 square miles (67.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it is water.

Geology and seismology

Gold and other minerals have been mined in Greenville since the early 1800s. Rubies, amethysts, garnets, tourmalines, unakite and emeralds occur within 60 miles (97 km) of the city, likely washed down from the nearby mountains. Granite abounds in the area and is mined in Greenville as well as in neighboring counties.

Greenville sits on the associated faults of the Brevard fault, a mostly quiet system which has nonetheless seen some earthquakes of up to 6.0 on the Richter scale in the past 50 years; however, local earthquakes usually measuring not more than 3.0 are more the norm. Most of the city sits on various fault lines which seem to come together around Paris Mountain, a monadnock below which sits the city. This activity could be connected with the construction of Lake Hartwell. Since 1990, Greenville has experienced fewer than 15 noticeable quakes, mostly centered in the Sandy Flats area.

Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rec High °F	79	81	89	93	97	100	104	103	96	92	85	76
Norm High °F	50.2	54.8	62.7	71	78.2	85.1	88.8	87.1	81.1	71.4	61.3	52.7
Norm Low °F	31.4	33.9	40.5	47	56.2	64.3	68.7	67.9	61.7	49.7	41	34.3
Rec Low °F	-6	8	11	25	31	40	54	52	36	25	12	5
Precip (in)	4.41	4.24	5.31	3.54	4.59	3.92	4.65	4.08	3.97	3.88	3.79	3.86
Source: USTravelWeather.com [1]

Law & Government

Main article: Government of the City of Greenville, South Carolina

The City of Greenville was originally incorporated in the year 1831 and was known at that time as the Village of Greenville. In the year 1869, the Village of Greenville altered and amended its Charter and was then known as the City of Greenville. In the year 1907, the City of Greenville was rechartered on February 14, 1907. On August 10, 1976, the City of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of government pursuant to the Home Rule Statute, Act No. 283 of 1975. The Certificate of Incorporation was issued by the Secretary of State on August 11, 1976.

Under this form of government, the Mayor and City Council set policy, such as establishing service standards and guiding the City's development. The City Council serves as the "Board of Directors" for the municipal corporation with the Mayor functioning as the "Chairman of the Board". Although City Council members devote a great deal of time to guiding the City, they are not full-time employees.

The "President," or " Chief Executive Officer" of the corporation is the City Manager. The City Manager is responsible for daily operations through administration of the annual budget, which is approved by City Council. All employees of the City report directly or indirectly to the City Manager, with the exception of the Municipal Judge and City Attorney. Both these positions, as well as the City Manager, are directly appointed by the City Council. Other appointees of Council include all Assistant and Administrative Judges.

It is also the County seat of County Government for Greenville County.

Attractions

As the largest city in the Upstate, Greenville offers many activities and attractions. Greenville's activity and attraction venues regularly host major concerts and touring theatre companies. Four independent theatres present several plays a year.

St. Peter Preaching at Pentecost by Benjamin West

• Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery. Bob Jones, Jr. was a connoisseur of European art who first concentrated on collecting the Italian Baroque, a style then out of favor and relatively inexpensive in the years immediately following World War II. Fifty years after the opening of the gallery, the BJU collection included more than 400 European paintings from the 14th to through the 19th centuries (mostly pre-19th century), period furniture, and a notable collection of Russian icons. The museum also includes a hodgepodge of Holy Land antiquities collected in the early twentieth century by Frank and Barbara Bowen, missionaries and amateur archaeologists.

Not surprisingly, the gallery is especially strong in Baroque paintings and includes notable works by Rubens, Tintoretto, Veronese, Cranach, Gerard David, Murillo, Mattia Preti, Ribera, van Dyck, and Doré. Included in the Museum and Gallery collection are seven very large canvases, part of a series by Benjamin West painted for George III, called "The Progress of Revealed Religion," which are displayed in the War Memorial Chapel.

• Frank Lloyd Wright House, one of the last private homes Wright designed and built. It was created in the early 1950s upon the requests of two county librarians. The House is located just off Roper Mountain Road in the Pine Woods and is in private hands. Inquire with the Chamber of Commerce if you would like to see it. It is featured in a number of books on Wright's Houses with generous color photographs.
• The Hans Einstein House. Hans Einstein was the son of Albert Einstein, the famous physicist and mathematician, who was a frequent visitor to the house. The house is located just off Earle Street in the Historic District. Hans taught at Furman University and both he and his father were often seen walking on the old downtown Furman Campus,now County Square. Albert was on the board of Black Mountain College and took side trips to Greenville when attending to his duties at Black Mountain. (Black Mountain, North Carolina ---approximate 70 miles (113 km) from Greenville)

• Walter and Minnie Quinn Gassaway Mansion which is located just off East North Street. Walter was Greenville's most successful banker and mill owner in the 1920s. Mr. Gassaway had transformed from a very poor country boy to a millionaire. The mansion was completed just before the 1929 stock market crash. Mr. Gassaway died of a heart attack and the house was sold. Greenville County later bought it and made it the first home of the Greenville County Art Museum in the 1950's. After the museum moved to College Street it was rented out to private citizens. In the late 1990, it was again on the market and the County sold it for $1,000,000 to a Jewish group who used it as a temple. The group sold it after a few years and it returned to private ownership. Visitors may see the outside of the home and contact the owners for a private tour.

• The Greenville County Museum of Art features major collections of work by Andrew Wyeth and Jasper Johns, as well as a Southern Collection that traces the history of American art using Southern-related examples.
• Roper Mountain Science Center is owned and run by the Greenville County School District. There are nature walks, a working farm and the one of the world's largest refractor telescopes.

• Paris Mountain State Park Located just 7 miles (11 km) from downtown Greenville, Paris Mountain State Park is a great getaway. With wilderness trails, camping, and paddle-boats, and the annual Music in the Woods Festival powered by the sun, this park brings the great outdoors to Greenville. In 2006-2007; the Park was renovated. There is a small entrance fee.

Event Venues

• Carolina First Center, formerly known as the Palmetto Expo Center, is the largest convention center in South Carolina as well as being one of the largest on the East Coast. It has more than 315,000 square feet (29,300 m²) of exhibition space and 88,000 square feet (8,200 m²) of meeting and conference space. Many trade shows, conventions, and other events are held here each year.
• BI-LO Center[2], a 15,000-seat arena in downtown Greenville that hosts major concerts and sporting events.
• Peace Center, a performing arts center that hosts touring Broadway shows, symphonies, concerts, and civic events. Known internationally for its excellent acoustics, the Peace Center is also home to the Carolina Ballet Theatre, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, and Greenville Chorale.
• The Warehouse Theatre, a black box theater operating since 1974, is located in the Historic West End.
• The South Carolina Governor's School For The Arts & Humanities, a state-funded residential high school for the Fine Arts and hosts many performances and exhibits put together by its student population.
• Bob Jones University presents an opera during the spring semester and Shakespearean plays both fall and spring. A Sunday afternoon service called “Vespers,” presented occasionally throughout the school year in Rodeheaver Auditorium, combines music, speech, and drama and attracts numerous off-campus visitors because of its blending of the devotional and cultural. Rodeheaver Auditorium contains a 57-rank Zimmer pipe organ revoiced and digitally enhanced in 2004. Each Easter season, the University and the Museum and Gallery present the Living Gallery, a series of tableaux vivants recreating noted works of religious art using live models disguised as part of two-dimensional paintings.
• Furman University presents organ recitals regularly at their chapel on a Fisk Organ and in the McAlister Auditorium is the Walter Holtkamp Organ. Furman also hosts concerts and other performances on campus in Timmons Arena. Meeting space is also available within Furman's Younts Conference Center.

Shopping

Greenville is the main shopping destination of The Upstate region. Major shopping centers under construction include The Point (500,000 sq ft (50,000 m²) of retail space, 600,000 sq ft (60,000 m²) of office space and a 420 room hotel on 75 acres) and Magnolia Park Town Center, a proposed shopping center that will include a Costco. Haywood Mall is the largest mall in South Carolina, comprising of many of the state's exclusive stores that include Aerosoles, The Body Shop, Helzberg Diamonds, Guess?, Godiva Chocolatier, and The Buckle. Downtown Greenville is home to many specialty shops and boutiques.

Landmarks

Falls Park on the Reedy

View of park from foot bridge showing cascades.

File:Fallgvl.jpg

Pedestrian activity on Main Street during "Fall for Greenville"

File:Mainstgvl.jpg

Greenville's tree-lined Main Street

• Falls Park on the Reedy, a large regional park in the West End with beautiful gardens and several waterfalls. The park is home to the Liberty Bridge, a pedestrian suspension bridge overlooking the Reedy River.

• Greenville County Museum of Art specializing in American art, frequently with a Southern perspective that dates back to the 1700s. 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, a collection of religious art, is located on the campus of Bob Jones University.

• Greenville Zoo, in Cleveland Park.

• Roper Mountain Science Center is a resource for area students, and is home to the largest planetarium in South Carolina.

• The Furman University campus features a prominent Bell Tower housing a 61 Bell Carillon, one of the largest in the southeast. The campus also contains an authentic Japanese Garden.

• The former Duke Power building and Greenville Waterworks. located at Highway 123 and Washington Street in downtown Greenville. The Duke Power building has a chandelier in the lobby that weights over 2 tons and was especially made for the lobby.

Annual Events

• InnoVenture each March is designed to help Communities of Innovation around corporations, universities, and emerging companies in the Southeastern Innovation Corridor.
• ARTISPHERE each April to showcase the arts, reflects the area's international flair and maximizes existing arts programs by providing a diverse menu of experiences that center around the arts.
• St. Francis Fall for Greenville is a major festival held on the 2nd weekend in October. This festival features local cuisine, live performances on several stages, and the Greenville Cycling Classic bicycle race.
• Arts in the Park is a major arts festival that takes place in Falls Park near downtown Greenville.
• Reedy River Run a 10K race that is held in late February or early March.
• The Red Party an annual dance party, held at the History Museum of the Upcountry, a fundraiser for AID Upstate, an AIDS Service Organization serving Upstate South Carolina (Anderson, Oconee, Pickens and Greenville counties).
• United States Road Race Cycling Championships[3] - held in early September and brings professional cyclists to vie for the crown as the United States National Road Race Champion and Time Trial Champion.
• Foodies find culture and cuisine during Greenville's Southern Exposure from Friday, September 14 - Sunday, September 16, 2007. Highlights include celebrity-chef demonstrations, tasting events, select wine pairing and music by platinum selling musician Edwin McCain, among others. [4]

Greek Festival- Mid May

• Music in the Woods, a FREE Festival at the Paris Mountain State Park Amphitheater. (The only charge being a $2 park entrance fee) This annual festival, powered by the sun, features a different local artist every Saturday from 6pm until dusk running April through August. Families are encouraged to come enjoy a picnic supper and a casual musical experience nestled in the woods.

Downtown Renewal

Initially, Greenville's buildings were demolished and rebuilt fairly frequently. Greenville has one of the last Frank Lloyd Wright homes ever built.

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. It was a moribund downtown in the midst of a growing region. In response, the City started a downtown renewal project.

It initially focused on improving its image through streetscape and traffic improvements, including narrowing main street from four lanes to two lanes; installing free, angled parking, trees, flowers and light fixtures; and creating parks and plazas throughout downtown. This began in the 1960s and later under Mayor von Heller who settled in the United States from Austria. 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 re-location to downtown (Greenville Commons/Hyatt Regency). 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 into an arts complex that incorporated historically significant buildings. It stabilized a stagnant historic district with a mixed-use project of shops, restaurants, and offices, which in turn encouraged residential use of vacant upper stories and former church classrooms.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded Greenville with the Great American Main Street Award in 2003.

Education

Greenville's public elementary and secondary schools are part of the Greenville County School District, which is the largest district in South Carolina. Greenville is also served by a number of private and religious schools. One important landmark of education, the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities, is located in Greenville overlooking the Falls Park on the Reedy. In addition the Greenville Fine Arts Center[5], a non-residential arts program is available free of charge to high school students living in Greenville County.

Greenville has a total of 16 official public high schools in the general county:

• Berea High School[6]
• Blue Ridge High School[7]
• Carolina Academy[8]
• Eastside High School (Taylors, South Carolina)[9]
• South Carolina Governor's School For the Arts & Humanities[10]
• Greenville High Academy[11]
• Greenville Technical Charter High School [12]
• Greer High School[13]
• Hillcrest High School[14]
• J. L. Mann High School[15]
• Mauldin High School[16]
• Riverside High School[17]
• Southside High School[18]
• Travelers Rest High School[19]
• Wade Hampton High School[20]
• Woodmont High School[21]

Greenville is also home to many private schools as well, including:

• Christ Church Episcopal School
• Hampton Park Christian School
• Hidden Treasure Christian School
• Saint Joseph's Catholic School
• Shannon Forest Christian School
• Southside Christian School
• Tabernacle Christian School
• Bob Jones Academy
• Bob Jones Junior High
• Bob Jones Elementary School

Greenville is home to several colleges, universities, and technical schools:

• Furman University - furman.edu
• Bob Jones University - bju.edu
• North Greenville University - ngu.edu
• Greenville Technical College - gvltec.edu
• ECPI College of Technology - ecpi.edu
• ITT Technical Institute - itt-tech.edu
• Strayer University - strayer.edu
• University Center of Greenville — a consortium of 7 universities offering limited programs in Greenville: the universities of Clemson, Lander, South Carolina State, and Furman participate, as well as the Medical University of South Carolina, University of South Carolina and USC Upstate.
• Webster University - webster.edu

Seminaries

• Bob Jones University Seminary
• Destiny Bible College
• Evangelical Institute
• Geneva Reformed Seminary - Run by the Free Presbyterian Church of North America
• Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
• Holmes Bible College

Economy

Greenville's economy was formerly based largely on textile manufacturing, and the city was once known as "The Textile Capital of the World." In the last few decades, low wages and favorable tax benefits have lured foreign companies to invest heavily in the area. The city is the North American headquarters for Michelin and is home to the manufacturing arm of BMW in the US. Recently, the International Center for Automotive Research (ICAR) has been created by a consortium including Clemson University, BMW, Timken, IBM, Microsoft, Michelin, and the Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE). Surrounding ICAR along Interstate 85 a large office park, The Millennium Campus, has been built to attract more investment by large companies and their headquarters. Among the first to locate on the campus is Hubbell Lighting, Inc., a major manufacturer of commercial lighting systems. Lockheed Martin Aircraft & Logistics Center is a large aircraft maintenance facility located in Greenville at Donaldson Center Industrial Air Park, a former U.S. Air Force base. Donaldson Center is also home to 3M, Honeywell, and Stevens Aviation.

Healthcare

Greenville is a respected medical center and has two main health systems.

Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, which includes ST. FRANCIS downtown, ST. FRANCIS eastside, 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 Hospital System University Medical Center is a non-profit academic medical center, and with five campuses, including Patewood Memorial Hospital, it is one of the largest employers in the region.

Additionally, Greenville Shriners Hospital 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 also the busiest in the state and is served by most major airlines. The Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU), capable of landing private jets, helicopters, and other aircraft, is the third-busiest in the state. Greenville serves as a freight hub for Federal Express, Air Canada, Lufthansa, and British Airways.

Amtrak's Crescent train connects Greenville with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. The Amtrak station is situated at 1120 West Washington Street. Additionally, Greenville is a part of the proposed Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor, which will run from Washington, DC to Birmingham, AL.

Public transit in Greenville is handled by the Greenville Transit Authority (GTA). GTA runs a bus system that serves the Greenville area and much of Greenville County. In preparation for the future, city 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 for the expansion of the current GTA bus routes, creation of a tram-trail running from Travelers Rest to Downtown Greenville, and discussions on the future potential for commuter rail and light rail transit systems will connect suburban commuter stations with urban destinations, office parks, and retail centers.

Sports Teams

Spectators at a Greenville Drive game

Greenville has hosted several minor league sports teams:

• Greenville Drive, a minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The Drive started their first season in their new downtown ballpark on April 6, 2006.
• Greenville Grrrowl, a minor league hockey team in the ECHL. Ceased operations in July 2006.
• Greenville Braves, a minor league baseball team that played there from 1984 until 2004. Moved to Pearl, Mississippi for the 2005 season.
• Greenville Groove, a minor league basketball team in the NBA D-League. Ceased operations in 2003.
• Greenville Griffins, a rugby union team that competes in USA Rugby South Division II
• Carolina Rhinos, Arena football team that began in 2000, and in 2002, left Greenville and became the Carolina Cobras

Furman University:

• The Furman Paladins of Furman University. Furman competes in NCAA Division I. Furman football is a member of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly known as Division I-AA, and won the 1988 National Championship. Furman Paladins athletics 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.

There are at least 4 stadiums for football and baseball 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 pools.

Yachting and boating are also popular in Greenville. Although the city itself is landlocked, nearby Lakes Jocassee, Keowee, Hartwell and others afford this activity within 50 miles (80 km) of Greenville.

The Olympic Torch has passed through Greenville several times, and the city is an active participant in the Special Olympics.

The Arts

Greenville has a thriving arts community, with a number of venues to support performances. The Bi-Lo Center, constructed in 1998, brings national tours of many popular bands to downtown, and the Peace Center for the Performing Arts provides an excellent venue for orchestras and plays.

Visual Art

A number of local artists operating studios and galleries in the city, especially the West End area of downtown. Greenville also contains 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 McGill. Today it attracts art scholars from all over the country, and contains pieces by Jackson Pollack, Jonathan Greene, Georgia O'Keeffe and native South Carolinians such as Jasper Johns and William H. Johnson.
• The Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery contains one of the finest collections of European masterworks in the United States and is especially strong in the French and Italian Baroque. The collection includes more than 400 paintings from the 14th to through the 19th centuries, period furniture, and a notable collection of Russian icons. Included are works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Tintoretto, Veronese, Cranach, Gerard David, Murillo, Mattia Preti, Ribera, van Dyck, and Doré. Seven very large canvases, part of a series by Benjamin West called "The Progress of Revealed Religion," are displayed in the War Memorial Chapel.

Theatre

• The Warehouse Theatre is in its 34th continuous season of Intense, Intimate and Unexpected productions of live theatre. A cornerstone of Greenville's Historic Westend, this award winning converted textile warehouse, is the home of fifteen (sometimes more) productions a year, including our Mainstage and Edge Series, Shakespeare at Falls Park, Resident Theatre Companies, Shakespeare in the Schools program, Improv Late Nights and MORE!

At The Warehouse you can see the sort of theatre you can't see anywhere else in South Carolina's Upstate region...from re-envisioned classics and intense plays everyone knows to some of the most cutting edge new works you can buy tickets to. You'll find the finest mix of emerging talents, local professionals and artists from around the country...all are at the top of their game.

Other area theaters include Center Stage, the Greenville Little Theatre, the South Carolina Children's Theatre, and the Cafe and Then Some.

Music

Greenville has an active music scene, with frequent live performances in the downtown area by local Jazz, Country, and Rock bands.

The city is home to a number of local orchestras, including the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Greenville County Youth Orchestra, Carolina Youth Symphony, and the Carolina Pops Orchestra [22]. The Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Greenville native Keith Lockhart, regularly performs at the Bi-Lo Center. Furman and Bob Jones Universities offer courses in operatic singing, and BJU has staged a full-scale grand opera each March for more than fifty years.

Dance

The Carolina Ballet Theatre is a professional dance company which regularly presents programs at the Peace Center and elsewhere. Their major annual event is the presentation of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet.

Literature

A number of notable writers have lived in downtown Greenville or nearby. Internationally known author and composer William Rowland lives in the city, as does novelist and educator Robert Powell. Renowned playwright James Rasheed lives in Greenville, and the late Poet Laureate Carl Sandburg was a frequent visitor. Dorothy Allison was raised in Greenville and the city serves as the template for her first novel Bastard Out of Carolina.

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.

Greenville Magazine: Monthly magazine which caters to Greenville middle- and upper-class lifestyle.

The Beat: Greenville's weekly alternative newspaper. Formerly the award-winning MetroBEAT, the Beat is a locally owned paper published in oversized journal format that provides coverage and opinions on local politics, arts and entertainment, and business as well as comprehensive reviews for CDs, books and even houses of worship.

Upstate Link magazine The Upstate's premiere young reader (20s-30s) newsweekly. The weekly publication began in January 2004.

Greenville is part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson-Asheville DMA which is the nation's 36th largest television market. It is served by the following major network television affiliates:

• WYFF 4 (NBC)
• WSPA 7 (CBS)
• WLOS 13 (ABC)
• WGGS 16 (Christian Independent)
• WHNS 21 (FOX)
• WNTV 29 (PBS/SCETV)
• WUNF 33 (PBS/UNC-TV)
• WMYA 40 (MyNetwork TV)
• WYCW 62 (The CW)

Greenville is part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Arbitron Metro which is the nation's 60th largest radio market with a person 12+ population of 813,700. It is served by the following major radio stations:

• 89.3 WLFJ-FM Christian Contemporary
• 90.1 WEPR-FM News and Classical (PBS/NPR/SCETV)
• 92.5 WESC-FM Country (Clear Channel)
• 93.3 WTPT Alternative Rock (Entercom)
• 93.7 WFBC-FM CHR/Pop (Entercom)
• 94.5 WMUU-FM Easy Listening (Gospel Fellowship Association)
• 95.9 WPLS-FM (Furman University Radio)
• 96.7 WBZT-FM Contemporary Christian (Clear Channel)
• 98.1 WHZT-FM Hip-Hop R&B (COX)
• 98.9 WSPA-FM A/C (Entercom)
• 100.5 WSSL-FM Country (Clear Channel)
• 101.1 WROQ-FM Classic Rock (Entercom)
• 102.5 WMYI-FM A/C (Clear Channel)
• 103.3 WOLT-FM Oldies (Davidson)
• 106.3 WGVC-FM News/Talk (Entercom)
• 107.3 WJMZ-FM Urban Hip-Hop R&B(Cox)
• 162.550 WXJ21 NOAA Radio Station from the SCETV tower on Paris Mountain
• 660 WLFJ-AM News/Talk
• 1070 WCSZ-AM Oldies
• 1260 WMUU-AM Easy Listening
• 1300 WCKI-AM Catholic Radio
• 1330 WYRD-AM News/Talk
• 1540 WTBI-AM Religious/Southern Gospel
• 1400 WSPG-AM ESPN Radio

Greenville is also home to WMXP-LP, a low power community radio station owned by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement. It was constructed with the help of almost 200 volunteers from around the state and nation at the eleventh Prometheus Radio Project community radio barnraising. It broadcasts local news, music, and public affairs at 95.5FM.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 56,002 people, 24,382 households, and 12,581 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,148.0 people per square mile (829.4/km²). There were 27,295 housing units at an average density of 1,046.9/sq mi (404.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.12% White, 33.94% African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.37% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.44% of the population.

There were 24,382 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.

Like most other major urban areas of South Carolina, the city proper population is misleadingly small. Within a six mile (10 km) radius of the center of Greenville, it is estimated that more than 245,000 people reside. Greenville, by far, is the largest population area in the entire state. South Carolina has experienced much population growth and while metro area totals have increased the city populations have not. This is due to South Carolina's restrictive annexation policy, making it very difficult for a city to annex adjacent unincorporated land. The Urbanized Area of Greenville is a more accurate representation of the city's power and size and puts the city on par with places like Greensboro, NC and Augusta, GA which both appear larger when looking only at the city proper population.

Notable people from Greenville

Notable figures who were born in, lived in, or are otherwise associated with Greenville.

Scientists

• Wayne Oates (1917-1999), psychologist who shaped pastoral counseling and coined the word 'workaholic'.
• Charles H. Townes (1915-), Nobel Prize-winning physicist; invented the laser.
• John B. Watson, influential psychologist, established the psychological school of behaviorism.

Athletes

• Johnny Allen, NASCAR driver.
• Kevin Garnett, professional basketball player from Mauldin, SC.
• Lucas Glover, professional golfer.
• Jay Haas and Bill Haas, professional golfers.
• Charles Warren, professional golfer.
• George Hincapie, professional cyclist, Tour de France runner up.
• "Shoeless Joe" Jackson (1889-1951), Major League baseball player with the third-highest career batting average in history.
• Tommy Jones, professional bowler.
• Jason Keller and Butch Lindley, NASCAR drivers.
• Phil Blackwell, Professional Blind Golfer and President of the USBGA, former national champion
• Doug Strange, professional baseball player.

Musicians

• Browning Bryant, singer-songwriter.
• Chris Sligh, American Idol Season 6 contestant.
• Peabo Bryson, singer.
• Keith Lockhart, noted performer and conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra.
• Edwin McCain, pop/rock singer-songwriter.
• Sarah Reese, singer in the Boston Opera under Sarah Caldwell, a pioneer female orchestra conductor.
• Paul Peek, pop/rockabilly singer guitarist with Gene Vincent
• Aaron Tippin, country music star.
• Josh White (c.1915-1969), folk, blues, and gospel singer and guitarist.
• Mac Arnold, living Blues Legend, born in Pelzer, SC.
• Karl Sanders vocalist/guitarist for the Egyptian-themed death metal band Nile.
• Emile Pandolfi, pianist
• Arthur Field, conductor of the Carolina Pops Orchestra
• Jesse "The Devil" Hughes, vocalist/guitarist for the Eagles of Death Metal.

Religious and Political Figures

• Jesse Jackson (1941-), two-time presidential candidate, civil rights activist, and Baptist minister.
• Robert Reynolds "Bob" Jones, Sr.(1883-1968), evangelist, founder of Bob Jones University.
• Bob Jones, Jr. (1911-1997), fundamentalist leader, Shakespearean actor, art collector.
• John Piper (1946-) Theologian, minister, and author of several books including Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist,spent most of his youth in Greenville, where he graduated from Wade Hampton High School.
• Jim DeMint (1951 - ) U.S Senator from South Carolina
• William H. Perry, (1839 - 1902) was a United States Representative from South Carolina.

Authors

• Dorothy Allison, author of Bastard Out of Carolina who now lives in Los Angeles area.
• Cat Bauer, author of Harley, Like a Person and Harley's Ninth who now lives in Venice, Italy
• Nicholas Sparks, author. Message in a Bottle was written in Simpsonville.

Actors and Journalists

• Jane Robelot, Anchored CBS This Morning from August 1996 until June 1999.
• Frank Blair (1916-1995), anchor of NBC's Today Show from 1953 to 1975. Formerly worked at WFBC-TV (now WYFF) in Greenville.
• William M. Campbell, named president of Discovery Networks U.S. in May 2002. He went to high school at Christ Church Episcopal School
• Tyler Florence, Food Network Chef, cookbook author.
• Bo Griffin, Actress and television host.
• Orlando Jones, actor.
• Joanne Woodward, Academy Award-winning actress and wife of Paul Newman.
• Norvin C. Duncan Jr., (1917 - 2003) South Carolina Radio and Television Pioneer. Formerly worked at WFBC Radio & WFBC-TV (now WYFF).
• Brittany Robertson, Cinema and television actress.

Military Figures

• Rudolph Anderson, became the only casualty in the Cuban Missile Crisis when his U-2 spy plane was shot down.
• Thomas Quinton Donaldson, Brigadier General during World War I.
• John O. Donaldson (son of Thomas), World War I ace and Mackay Trophy winner; namesake of Donaldson Air Force Base.
• John M. McConnell, former director of the NSA, retired Vice Admiral of the Navy

Sister Cities

Greenville has the following sister cities:

• Bergamo, Italy
• Kortrijk, Belgium
• Tianjin, People's Republic of China

See also

• List of Neighborhoods in Greenville, South Carolina

External links

• The Official Website of the County of Greenville
• The Official Website of the City of Greenville and the Greenville CVB
• Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce
• Greenville SC : business directory & community guide
• Greenville, SC Tourism Information
• Carolina Pops Orchestra
• Greenville County Museum of Art : Free to the public
• The Greenville News : Local Newspaper
• Greenville County Library System
• Bon Secours St. Francis Health System
• The Greenville Hospital System
• Greenville@UrbanPlanet.org Greenville Urban Discussion