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Greenwood, South Carolina
Greenwood County Courthouse in Greenwood
Greenwood County Courthouse in Greenwood
Nickname(s): 
Greenwood, "The Emerald City"
Location of Greenwood, South Carolina
Location of Greenwood, South Carolina
Greenwood, South Carolina is located in the United States
Greenwood, South Carolina
Greenwood, South Carolina
Location in the United States
Country United States
State South Carolina
County Greenwood
Area
 • Total 16.46 sq mi (42.62 km2)
 • Land 16.34 sq mi (42.32 km2)
 • Water 0.12 sq mi (0.31 km2)
Elevation
663 ft (202 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 23,222
 • Estimate 
(2019)
23,403
 • Density 1,432.43/sq mi (553.06/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
29646-29649
Area code(s) 864
FIPS code 45-30895
GNIS feature ID 1245844

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

Geography

Greenwood is located slightly northwest of the center of Greenwood County at 34°11′N 82°10′W / 34.183°N 82.167°W / 34.183; -82.167 (34.1885, -82.1605). 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.

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. The area around Greenwood is locally billed as the "Lakelands", due to several lakes for recreational fishing and diverse terrain for hiking trails.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 941
1870 700
1880 745 6.4%
1890 1,326 78.0%
1900 4,824 263.8%
1910 6,614 37.1%
1920 8,703 31.6%
1930 11,020 26.6%
1940 13,020 18.1%
1950 13,806 6.0%
1960 16,644 20.6%
1970 21,069 26.6%
1980 21,613 2.6%
1990 20,807 −3.7%
2000 22,071 6.1%
2010 23,222 5.2%
2019 (est.) 23,403 0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Greenwood racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 9,001 39.92%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 9,787 43.41%
Native American 48 0.21%
Asian 240 1.06%
Pacific Islander 17 0.08%
Other/Mixed 625 2.77%
Hispanic or Latino 2,827 12.54%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 22,545 people, 8,772 households, and 4,878 families residing in the city.

Festivals

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 committee thought it would be a good idea to capitalize on having those visitors see other venues in Greenwood.

Since that year, the festival has been built around Park Seed Company's annual Flower Day. 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.

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

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.

Points of interest

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.

Infrastructure

The city is served by Greenwood County Airport.

Economy

The most common employment sectors for residents of Greenwood are manufacturing, retail trade, and healthcare and social assistance.

In 2015, the Greenwood educational institution with the largest number of graduating students was Lander University, with 494 graduates.

The median property value in Greenwood grew from $86,800 in 2014 to $87,800 in 2015.

67.4% of the city population over the age of sixteen is in the civilian labor force.

As of September 2017, the unemployment rate in Greenwood County was 4.0%.

Education

Lander College Old Main Building
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):

  • Greenwood High School (1,700)
  • Emerald High School (950)

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)
  • Woodfields Elementary

Private schools:

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

Post-secondary:

  • Lander University
  • Piedmont Technical College

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

Notable people

  • Gaines Adams, former defensive end for NFL's Chicago Bears
  • Pinky Babb, coached Greenwood High School for 39 years, is among top 20 nationally in high school football victories
  • Robert Brooks, former NFL wide receiver for Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos.
  • Tomiko Brown-Nagin, legal historian and professor at Harvard Law School of Harvard University
  • Ben Coates, starting tight end for New England Patriots 1991-99, ranked fourth in receptions at that position in NFL all-time
  • Leroy Jenkins, Televangelist
  • William Jennings Bryan Dorn, former U.S. and state representative
  • John W. Drummond, South Carolina businessman and legislator
  • Armanti Edwards, starting quarterback for Appalachian State Mountaineers football team, winner of 2008 & 2009 Walter Payton Award given to top Football Championship Subdivision offensive player; drafted by Carolina Panthers with 3rd round, 25th pick in 2010 NFL Draft
  • John Gilliam, former NFL wide receiver, four-time Pro Bowler
  • Allisha Gray, 2017 WNBA Rookie of the Year
  • Keith Harling, country music artist
  • Grainger Hines, Greenwood native and actor, once married to Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas
  • William "Hootie" Johnson, former chairman of Augusta National golf course
  • Courtney Khondabi, QVC host
  • Gregg Marshall, head coach of Wichita State University's men's basketball program
  • Benjamin Mays, minister, educator, scholar, social activist, mentor to Martin Luther King Jr, and president of Morehouse College
  • John McKissick, national high school football leader in coaching victories, (Summerville, S.C., High School)
  • Sam Montgomery, drafted by Houston Texans in third round of 2013 NFL draft out of LSU
  • Josh Norman, drafted by Carolina Panthers in 2012 as cornerback out of Coastal Carolina
  • Marrio Norman, football player
  • George Singleton, author
  • Jerome Singleton, Paralympic athlete
  • Chino Smith, former Negro leagues player, named one of S.C.'s top 100 athletes by Sports Illustrated
  • D.J. Swearinger, all-SEC conference safety for South Carolina Gamecocks, drafted by Houston Texans
  • The Swingin' Medallions, 1960s beach music group best known for their hit Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)
  • Bill Voiselle, professional baseball player.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Greenwood (Carolina del Sur) para niños

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