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Greenville County, South Carolina facts for kids

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Greenville County
U.S. county
Old Greenville County Courthouse
Old Greenville County Courthouse
Official seal of Greenville County
Seal
 Official logo of Greenville County
Logo
Motto(s): 
"Unrivaled Quality Of Life"
Map of South Carolina highlighting Greenville County
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting South Carolina
South Carolina's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  South Carolina
Founded 1786
Named for Nathanael Greene
Seat Greenville
Largest community Greenville
Area
 • Total 795.57 sq mi (2,060.5 km2)
 • Land 785.93 sq mi (2,035.5 km2)
 • Water 9.64 sq mi (25.0 km2)  1.21%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 525,534
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 558,036 Increase
 • Density 660.575/sq mi (255.0496/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts 3rd, 4th

Greenville County is a busy and growing area in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It's often called "Upstate South Carolina." In 2020, over 525,000 people lived here, making it the most populated county in the state.

The main city and county seat is Greenville. This county is also home to the Greenville County School District, which is the biggest school system in South Carolina. Greenville County is a central part of a larger metropolitan area that includes nearby cities like Anderson and Greer.

History of Greenville County

Early Years: 1700s and 1800s

Greenville County was created in 1786. It was named after General Nathanael Greene, a hero from the American Revolution. Back then, it was part of a larger area called Ninety-Six District.

After the American Civil War in the 1860s, big changes happened. Slavery ended, and many former slaves gained their freedom. The textile industry, which makes cloth and fabric, started to grow very fast. Cotton farming also became more popular. In 1893, the Southern Railway was completed. This train line connected Greenville County's economy to the rest of the country.

The 1900s and Modern Growth

In the early 1900s, more railroads helped connect the county to the national economy. Many textile companies opened, and people who worked on farms moved to live in the "mill villages" near these factories.

During World War I (1914-1918), Camp Sevier was built in Taylors, South Carolina. This military camp brought more people and connections to the county. A famous food company, Duke's Mayonnaise, started in Greenville in 1917 and still has its main office here.

World War II (1939-1945) brought even more work for the textile industry. After the war, farming became less important. Local leaders looked for new industries to replace textiles. In the 1960s, Donaldson Air Force Base became an industrial park, and the Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport opened. These changes helped the county grow and connect with the world.

The 1960s also saw important social changes. Schools in the county gradually became integrated, meaning students of all races could attend together. By January 1970, the entire school district was integrated. New interstate highways like I-85, I-185, and I-385 were built. These roads made travel and trade easier, helping the economy grow even more.

Geography of Greenville County

Greenville County covers about 795 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Nature and Parks

Greenville County has many beautiful natural areas and parks. These places help protect wildlife and offer fun outdoor activities. Some popular spots include:

  • Caesars Head State Park
  • Conestee Nature Preserve
  • Falls Park on the Reedy
  • Greenville Zoo
  • Jones Gap State Park
  • Paris Mountain State Park

Rivers and Lakes

Important rivers and water bodies in the county include:

  • Enoree River
  • North Saluda Reservoir
  • Reedy River
  • Saluda River

Neighboring Counties

Greenville County shares its borders with several other counties:

Main Roads and Transportation

Many major highways cross Greenville County, making it easy to travel. These include:

  • I-85

  • I-185 / I-185
  • I-385
  • I-385 Bus.
  • US 25

  • US 25 Conn.
  • US 29

  • US 29 Conn. (Greenville)

  • US 29 Conn. (Wade Hampton)
  • US 123
  • US 276

  • US 276 Conn.
  • SC 11
  • SC 14

  • SC 14 Truck
  • SC 20
  • SC 86
  • SC 101

  • SC 101 Truck
  • SC 124
  • SC 146
  • SC 183
  • SC 253
  • SC 288
  • SC 290

  • SC 290 Truck
  • SC 291
  • SC 417
  • SC 418

The county also has several airports, including Donaldson Center Airport and Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport. There's also an Amtrak train station in Greenville.

People of Greenville County

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790 6,503 —
1800 11,504 76.9%
1810 13,133 14.2%
1820 14,530 10.6%
1830 16,476 13.4%
1840 17,839 8.3%
1850 20,156 13.0%
1860 21,892 8.6%
1870 22,262 1.7%
1880 37,496 68.4%
1890 44,310 18.2%
1900 53,490 20.7%
1910 68,377 27.8%
1920 88,498 29.4%
1930 117,009 32.2%
1940 136,580 16.7%
1950 168,152 23.1%
1960 209,776 24.8%
1970 240,546 14.7%
1980 287,913 19.7%
1990 320,167 11.2%
2000 379,616 18.6%
2010 451,225 18.9%
2020 525,534 16.5%
2023 (est.) 558,036 23.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

In 2020, Greenville County had 525,534 people living in 199,551 households. This means it's a very populated area!

Diversity in Greenville County

Greenville County is home to a diverse group of people. Here's a look at the different racial backgrounds in 2020:

Greenville County racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 343,897 65.44%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 87,124 16.58%
Native American 893 0.17%
Asian 12,875 2.45%
Pacific Islander 398 0.08%
Other/mixed 22,322 4.25%
Hispanic or Latino 58,025 11.04%

Many families live in the county. In 2010, about 33.7% of households had children under 18. The average age of people living here was 37.2 years old.

Ancestry and Heritage

People in Greenville County come from many different backgrounds. In 2016, the largest ancestry groups reported were:

Ancestry Percent
(2016)
English England 12.9%
German Germany 11.0%
Irish Republic of Ireland 10.2%
American United States 9.9%
Scotch-Irish Ulster 3.1%
Italian Italy 3.1%
Scottish Scotland 2.9%
French France 2.2%
Polish Poland 1.5%
Dutch Netherlands 1.2%
Welsh Wales 0.7%
Swedish Sweden 0.7%
Norwegian Norway 0.6%

Economy of Greenville County

Greenville County has a strong economy. In 2022, the total value of all goods and services produced in the county was about $40.6 billion. The unemployment rate, which is the percentage of people looking for jobs who can't find them, has been low, usually between 2.1% and 3.3%.

Many large companies have operations in Greenville County, providing lots of jobs. Some of the biggest employers include:

Here's a look at some of the industries and how many people they employ:

Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Greenville County, South Carolina
Industry Employment Counts Employment Percentage (%) Average Annual Wage ($)
Accommodation and Food Services 27,980 9.6 23,920
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 28,877 9.9 42,848
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 210 0.1 37,960
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 5,632 1.9 22,516
Construction 15,291 5.2 77,896
Educational Services 18,844 6.4 51,168
Finance and Insurance 12,361 4.2 80,756
Health Care and Social Assistance 43,180 14.8 67,756
Information 4,850 1.7 73,684
Management of Companies and Enterprises 6,100 2.1 93,548
Manufacturing 31,693 10.8 71,708
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction 81 0.0 87,256
Other Services (except Public Administration) 7,077 2.4 46,540
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 21,485 7.3 87,308
Public Administration 7,535 2.6 57,616
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 4,143 1.4 58,500
Retail Trade 30,485 10.4 38,584
Transportation and Warehousing 11,422 3.9 59,436
Utilities 890 0.3 71,760
Wholesale Trade 14,230 4.9 83,096
Total 292,366 100.0% 59,212

Education in Greenville County

Greenville County has several school districts that serve its students:

  • Anderson School District 2
  • Greenville County School District
  • Spartanburg County School District 1

There are also many public charter schools in the county. These schools are free for students who live in the state.

The Greenville County Library System has 11 libraries. They offer meeting spaces, programs, books, and other learning materials for everyone in the county. The library board helps manage the system.

Healthcare in Greenville County

Greenville Memorial Hospital is a major hospital in the county. It used to be run by the city government. Now, Prisma Health operates the hospital. The Greenville Health Authority (GHA) owns the hospital buildings.

Communities in Greenville County

Greenville County has many different cities and communities. Here are some of them:

Cities

Census-Designated Places (CDPs)

CDPs are areas that look like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities.

Other Communities

These are smaller, unincorporated communities:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Greenville para niños

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