Greenwood, South Carolina

Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Greenwood County, South Carolina, United States.[5] The population was 23,222 at the 2010 census.[6] The city is home to Lander University.

Greenwood, South Carolina
City
Greenwood County Courthouse in Greenwood
Nickname(s): 
Gremwold
Location of Greenwood, South Carolina
Greenwood, South Carolina
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 34°11′43″N 82°09′42″W
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Carolina
CountyGreenwood
Government
 • MayorBrandon Smith
Area
 • Total16.46 sq mi (42.62 km2)
 • Land16.34 sq mi (42.32 km2)
 • Water0.12 sq mi (0.31 km2)
Elevation
663 ft (202 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total23,222
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
23,403
 • Density1,432.43/sq mi (553.06/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
29646-29649
Area code(s)864
FIPS code45-30895[3]
GNIS feature ID1245844[4]
Websitewww.cityofgreenwoodsc.com

Geography

Greenwood is located slightly northwest of the center of Greenwood County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.3 square miles (42.3 km2), of which 16.2 square miles (42.0 km2) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.72%, are water.[6]

U.S. Routes 25, 178 and 221 pass through the eastern side of the city, bypassing the downtown area. US 25 leads north 51 miles (82 km) to Greenville and south 63 miles (101 km) to Augusta, Georgia, US 178 leads northwest 42 miles (68 km) to Anderson and southeast 29 miles (47 km) to Saluda, and US 221 leads northeast 26 miles (42 km) to Laurens and southwest 23 miles (37 km) to McCormick.

Lake Greenwood, a reservoir on the Saluda River, is 8 miles (13 km) northeast of the city at its nearest point. The lake has 212 miles (341 km) of shoreline, covers 11,000 acres (4,500 ha), and is almost 20 miles (32 km) long. Lake Greenwood State Park, built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, is 14 miles (23 km) east of the city on the south shore of Lake Greenwood and includes two boat ramps, a campground, trail and playgrounds, and many picnic areas.[7] The area around Greenwood is locally billed as the "Lakelands", due to several lakes for recreational fishing and diverse terrain for hiking trails.[8]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870700—
18807456.4%
18901,32678.0%
19004,824263.8%
19106,61437.1%
19208,70331.6%
193011,02026.6%
194013,02018.1%
195013,8066.0%
196016,64420.6%
197021,06926.6%
198021,6132.6%
199020,807−3.7%
200022,0716.1%
201023,2225.2%
2019 (est.)23,403[2]0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census[3] 2000, there were 22,071 people, 8,496 households, and 5,174 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,612.1 people per square mile (622.5/km2). There were 9,373 housing units at an average density of 684.6 per square mile (264.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 50.10% White, 45.51% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.41% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.52% of the population.

There were 8,496 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.5% were married couples living together, 21.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 15.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,284, and the median income for a family was $32,573. Males had a median income of $26,477 versus $21,476 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,347. About 22.2% of families and 40.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.4% of those under age 18 and 18.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Greenwood, SC, are Manufacturing, Retail trade, and Healthcare & Social Assistance. In 2015, the Greenwood, SC institution with the largest number of graduating students was Lander University with 494 graduates. In 2015, the median property value in Greenwood, SC grew to $87,800 from the previous year's value of $86,800.[9]

67.4% of the city population over 16 is in the civilian labor force.[10]

Unemployment rate in Greenwood County, SC was 4.0% as of Sept 2017.[11]

Arts and culture

South Carolina Festival of Flowers

Greenwood's first South Carolina Festival of Flowers was held in the summer of 1968 to coincide with the 100th anniversary celebration of George W. Park Seed Company. The festival was the brainchild of what was known then as the Tourist and Conventions Committee of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Director Al Parker and committee members recognized that Park Seed Company hosted "grower days" each year and that hundreds of professional flower growers would come to Greenwood to meander through Park Seed's famous trial gardens (the gardens closed in 2013). The committee thought it would be a good idea to capitalize on having those visitors see other venues in Greenwood.

Dick Stowe, chair of the Tourist and Conventions Committee, served as the first Festival Chairman, and Judy Funderburk of Bennettsville was crowned Princess of Flowers. During the festival's early years, admission was free to most events, including the Park Seed gardens and open house, arts and craft show, photo exhibit, military band concerts and other popular attractions.

Since then, the festival has grown to include a wide array of activities, many added under the leadership of Frank Cuda, who was Festival Director from 1992 to 2006. In 2007, the festival celebrated its 40th anniversary and welcomed Kay Self as the new Executive Director.

In 2008, the South Carolina Festival of Flowers introduced a new logo celebrating its Carolina roots. The logo features yellow jessamine (the state flower) encircling the words "Festival of Flowers" with two Carolina wrens (the state bird) perched below.

Also in 2008, the Topiary Project was launched, which has become the signature event. Presently, there are 42 topiaries on the square in Greenwood.

Then in 2009, the festival gained regional recognition by winning four Excellence Awards at the Carolina Showfest Convention. The awards were for "Best Merchandise", "Best Website", and "Overall Event of the Year" for South and North Carolina, and Executive Director Kay Self was recognized as "South Carolina Director of the Year".

Ellesor G. Holder took the helm in 2011 for the 44th Festival of Flowers. She rebranded the festival with a more distinctive and contemporary logo which symbolized the diversity and floral history of the festival. Under Holder's leadership, the festival received the SC Festival & Event Association's Excellence Award, 2013 Event of the Year. She also garnered two Silver Awards for the festival's 2013 TV ad and mobile application/website at the International Festival and Events Association Conference.

The South Carolina Festival of Flowers continues to be named one of the Southeast Tourism Society's "Top Twenty Events".

Attendance at the festival has steadily grown, reaching a record of over 80,000 visitors in the past few years. In 2016, the economic impact of the Festival of Flowers was $3,300,000.[12]

The South Carolina Festival of Flowers is a division of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and shares the same board of directors.[13]

Festival of Discovery

The South Carolina Festival of Discovery is the premier event of the year sponsored by the Uptown Greenwood Development Corporation. The event started in 2000, celebrating the history, culture, food, arts, crafts, music and people of South Carolina and Greenwood County.

The Festival of Discovery's "Blues Cruise" celebrates the sound of the blues, with numerous musical artists performing at Uptown Greenwood restaurants and venues, while the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) BBQ and Hash Cook-Off focuses on the rich tradition of Carolina barbecue.

Registered historic sites
Vance-Maxwell House

The Barratt House, J. Wesley Brooks House, Lander College Old Main Building, Magnolia Cemetery, Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church, Old Greenwood Cemetery, Old Greenwood High School, James C. Self House, Stony Point, Sunnyside, Tabernacle Cemetery, and the Vance-Maxwell House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[14]

Government

Greenwood is governed via a council-manager system. The mayor is elected at-large. The city council consists of six nonpartisan members who are each elected from one of six single-member district wards.[15] The current mayor of Greenwood is Brandon Smith. Mr. Smith was sworn in on Monday, November 19, 2018. He won election for the office vacated by Mayor Welborn Adams who decided not to seek re-election.[16]

Greenwood City Council [17]
Ward Council member First elected Current term
Mayor (At-Large) Brandon Smith 2018 11/2018-11/2022
Ward 1 Niki Hutto 2000 11/2020-11/2024
Ward 2 Open
Ward 3 Betty Boles 2003 11/2020-11/2024
Ward 4 Johnathan Bass 2019 06/2019-11/2022
Ward 5 Matthew Miller 2016 11/2020-11/2024
Ward 6 Ronnie Ables 2010 11/2018-11/2022

Leath Correctional Institution, a South Carolina Department of Corrections prison for women, is located in unincorporated Greenwood County 5 miles (8 km) north of the center of Greenwood.[18]

Education
Lander University

The city of Greenwood is a part of Greenwood County School District 50, and offers public schooling up to the secondary level, including career and technology education.

Greenwood District 50 consists of the following schools:

Secondary (with enrollment):

Middle:

  • Westview Middle School
  • Brewer Middle School
  • Northside Middle School

Elementary:

  • Greenwood Early Childhood Center (formerly East End Elementary)
  • Hodges Elementary
  • Lakeview Elementary
  • Mathews Elementary
  • Merrywood Elementary
  • Eleanor S. Rice Elementary (formerly Oakland Elementary)
  • Pinecrest Elementary
  • Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Elementary School (formerly Springfield Elementary)[19]
  • Woodfields Elementary

Private schools:

  • Greenwood Christian School
  • Eastside Christian School
  • Palmetto Christian Academy
  • Cambridge Academy

Post-secondary:

Greenwood has a public library, a branch of the Greenwood County Library System.[20]

Infrastructure

The city is served by Greenwood County Airport.

Notable people

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Greenwood
  5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  6. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Greenwood city, South Carolina". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  7. "Recreations/Lake - Greenwood Area Chamber of Commerce, SC". Greenwoodscchamber.org. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  8. "THINGS TO DO AND SEE". Visitgreenwoodsc.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  9. "Greenwood, SC". Data USA. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
  10. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Greenwood city, Arkansas; Greenwood County, South Carolina". Census.gov. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
  11. "Unemployment Rate in Greenwood County, SC". 2017-11-01. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. "Our History". South Carolina Festival of Flowers.
  13. "History". South Carolina Festival of Flowers. Retrieved 2017-02-13.
  14. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  15. City of Greenwood: Government Archived 2010-09-17 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2010–09–08.
  16. City of Greenwood: Elected officials Archived 2010-09-17 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2010–09–08.
  17. "City of Greenwood : Elected Officials". Cityofgreenwoodsc.com. Retrieved 2017-02-13.
  18. "Leath Correctional Institution." South Carolina Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  19. "D50 school board votes to rename Springfield after Benjamin Mays". Index-Journal. February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  20. "Locations & Hours". Greenville County Library System. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  21. "Dr. Tomiko Brown-Nagin: Social Reform and the Law | Greenwood Times". greenwoodtimes.com. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
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