Gaffney, South Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gaffney, South Carolina
City
Gaffney Commercial Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Seal
Nickname(s):  "Peach Capital of South Carolina"
Gaffney, South Carolina Location in South Carolina
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Cherokee
Area
• Total	8.71 sq mi (22.55 km2)
• Land	8.68 sq mi (22.49 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation	784 ft (239 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,764
• Density	1,470.00/sq mi (567.55/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	29340-29342
Area codes	864, 821
FIPS code	45-28060
GNIS feature ID	1247855

Gaffney is a city in South Carolina, United States. It is the main city of Cherokee County. Gaffney is famous as the "Peach Capital of South Carolina" because of its many peach orchards. In 2020, about 12,764 people lived there. Gaffney is part of a larger area that includes the cities of Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson.

History of Gaffney

Gaffney was founded by Michael A. Gaffney, who was born in Ireland in 1775. He moved to America in 1797. In 1804, he opened a tavern and a place for travelers to stay. This spot became known as "Gaffney's Cross Roads". It was a great location because two important roads met there. One road went from the mountains of North Carolina to Charleston. The other went from Charlotte to Georgia. Michael Gaffney passed away in 1854.

In 1872, the area was officially named "Gaffney City". Later, in 1897, Gaffney became the main city, or "county seat", of the new Cherokee County. This county was created from parts of other nearby counties. For many years, Gaffney was a big center for making textiles (cloth and fabric). This industry was very important to the local economy until the 1980s.

Even though the city's population hasn't grown much recently, new businesses are still opening. Many are located along busy roads like Floyd Baker Boulevard. However, most new homes are being built outside the city limits.

After Interstate 85 was built, many businesses moved closer to the highway. This made the downtown area less busy for a while. But recently, downtown Gaffney has been getting a makeover! There are plans for a large park on the site of an old factory. A new plaza with a fountain has also been built near city hall. The city is also improving its parks, adding a skatepark and several playgrounds for kids.

In 2008, the Cherokee County History & Arts Museum opened. It is in an old school building and is located where the South Carolina militia used to gather. The museum helps people learn about local history and culture. It also hosts fun events like a pottery show and a ghost walk.

The city is also working on turning the old Gaffney Post Office into a visitor's center and art gallery. This will be a great place for both locals and tourists.

A group called the Gaffney Downtown Business Association is helping to bring new life to the historic downtown area. They have programs to help restore old buildings.

The Gaffney Station Farmers' Market is a popular spot downtown. It sells fresh produce on Wednesdays and Saturdays from June to October. The city plans to build a permanent home for the market. It will look like the old train station that used to be there. This will help remember the city's past.

Gaffney also has a concert series called "Shindig at the Gaffney Cabin". Bands play music weekly in the spring and fall. These concerts are a fun way for the community to enjoy live music.

Many historic places in Gaffney are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include old buildings and important archeological sites. Some examples are the Carnegie Free Library and the Gaffney Commercial Historic District.

Geography

Gaffney is located in northern South Carolina. It is about 55 miles southwest of Charlotte, North Carolina, and 50 miles northeast of Greenville, South Carolina. You can reach both cities using Interstate 85. The closest big city is Spartanburg, South Carolina, which is about 21 miles away.

Interstate 85 runs along the northern edge of Gaffney. You can get on or off the highway at Exits 90, 92, and 95. U.S. Route 29 goes through the middle of Gaffney. Other roads like South Carolina Highway 18 and South Carolina Highway 11 also connect Gaffney to nearby towns.

The city of Gaffney covers an area of about 8.7 square miles (22.55 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Population and People

2020 Census Information

In 2020, there were 12,764 people living in Gaffney. There were 4,220 households and 2,116 families.

Arts and Culture

Gaffney has a public library that is part of the Cherokee County Library System.

You can find Harold's Restaurant in downtown Gaffney. It's a diner that opened in 1932. This restaurant was even featured on the TV show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2007!

The Cherokee County History and Arts Museum is another important cultural spot. It opened in 2008 and is located in a historic area.

Many other historic places in Gaffney are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Carnegie Free Library and the Gaffney Commercial Historic District.

Parks and Recreation

Gaffney has a park system with fun places for everyone. You can find a skatepark, two quiet parks for relaxing, and several playgrounds for children.

Education

Limestone University

Gaffney is served by the Cherokee County School District. This district includes all the public schools in the area.

Public schools in Gaffney are:

• Gaffney High School
• Ewing Middle School
• Gaffney Middle School
• B D Lee Elementary School
• Limestone Central Elementary School
• Luther Vaughan Elementary School
• Mary Bramlett Elementary School

Private schools in Gaffney include:

• Village School of Gaffney
• Gaffney Christian Academy

For higher education, Gaffney has:

• Limestone University
• Spartanburg Community College - Cherokee County Campus

Media

Gaffney has several local newspapers and radio stations:

• The Gaffney Ledger is the oldest local newspaper. It comes out on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
• The Cherokee Chronicle is another local newspaper, published on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• WZZQ 104.3 FM and 1500 AM play country music and share local news and sports.
• WFGN 1180 AM plays gospel music.
• WYFG 91.1 FM plays Christian music.

City Services and Landmarks

Peachoid water tower

Transportation

Gaffney is located along Interstate 85, which connects it to big cities like Atlanta and Charlotte. U.S. Route 29 also runs through the center of Gaffney.

If you need public transportation, the Gaffney Cab Company is available.

For air travel, the closest major airports are Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Water Tower

One of Gaffney's most famous landmarks is the Peachoid water tower. It's a giant water tower shaped like a peach! It's both a piece of art and a way to store water for the city.

Healthcare

Gaffney has several healthcare facilities:

• Cherokee Medical Center is a hospital with 125 beds. It offers emergency care, medical services, surgery, and imaging.
• Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute at Gaffney opened in 2011. It provides care for cancer patients.
• Immediate Care Center offers urgent and primary care services.

Notable People from Gaffney

Many interesting people have come from Gaffney, including:

• Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, a NASA launch director
• Andie MacDowell, a famous actress
• Gaylord Perry, a Hall of Fame baseball pitcher
• Sidney Rice, a professional football player
• Rocky McIntosh, a professional football player
• Sara McMann, a mixed martial artist

See also

In Spanish: Gaffney para niños