Greenwood County, South Carolina facts for kids

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Greenwood County

U.S. county

Greenwood County Courthouse

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina

South Carolina's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

South Carolina

Founded

1897

Named for

Greenwood Plantation

Seat

Greenwood

Largest community

Greenwood

Area

• Total

463.81 sq mi (1,201.3 km²)

• Land

455.60 sq mi (1,180.0 km²)

• Water

8.21 sq mi (21.3 km²) 1.77%

Population

(2020)

• Total

69,351

• Estimate

(2023)

69,460

• Density

152.22/sq mi (58.77/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional district

3rd

Greenwood County is a county located in the state of South Carolina. It's a place where many people live and work. As of the 2020 census, about 69,351 people called Greenwood County home. The main city and the place where the county government is located is Greenwood.

Greenwood County is the largest county in the Piedmont region of South Carolina. It is also the center of the Greenwood, SC Micropolitan Statistical Area, which means it's an important area for jobs and services.

Discovering Greenwood County's Past

Greenwood County was officially created in 1897. It was formed from parts of two older counties: Abbeville and Edgefield. These areas were once part of a very old district called Ninety-Six District.

The county got its name from its main city, Greenwood. The city itself was named around 1824 after a large farm called Greenwood Plantation. This farm belonged to an early settler named John McGehee. In the past, this area had many cotton farms. These farms relied on the hard work of enslaved people. Even today, farming is still an important part of the county's economy.

A historical event called the Phoenix Election riot happened in Greenwood County in November 1898.

Exploring Greenwood County's Geography

Greenwood County covers a total area of about 463 square miles. Most of this area, about 455 square miles, is land. The rest, about 8.2 square miles, is water. That's about 1.8% of the county's total area.

The county is located in two important river systems. It's part of the Savannah River basin and the Saluda River basin. This means that water from the county eventually flows into these rivers.

Neighboring Counties

Greenwood County shares its borders with several other counties:

Laurens County to the north
Newberry County to the northeast
Edgefield County to the southeast
Saluda County to the southeast
McCormick County to the southwest
Abbeville County to the west

Main Roads in Greenwood County

Many important roads run through Greenwood County, connecting it to other parts of South Carolina and beyond. These roads help people travel and transport goods.

US 25
US 178
US 178 Bus.
US 221
SC 10
SC 34
SC 72
SC 702
SC 246
SC 248
SC 252

Protected Natural Areas

Greenwood County is home to some special protected areas:

Ninety Six National Historic Site: This site preserves an important part of American history.
Sumter National Forest (part): A large forest area that offers outdoor activities.

Understanding Greenwood County's Population

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	28,343	—
1910	34,225	20.8%
1920	35,791	4.6%
1930	36,078	0.8%
1940	40,083	11.1%
1950	41,628	3.9%
1960	44,346	6.5%
1970	49,686	12.0%
1980	57,847	16.4%
1990	59,567	3.0%
2000	66,271	11.3%
2010	69,661	5.1%
2020	69,351	−0.4%
2023 (est.)	69,460	−0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

The number of people living in Greenwood County has changed over the years. In 2020, the population was 69,351.

Who Lives in Greenwood County?

The 2020 United States census showed the different groups of people living in Greenwood County:

White (non-Hispanic): 58.58%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic): 30.02%
Native American: 0.15%
Asian: 0.98%
Pacific Islander: 0.06%
Other/Mixed races: 3.37%
Hispanic or Latino: 6.85%

In 2020, there were 69,351 people living in the county. These people lived in 28,544 households, which are like homes or apartments. About 17,855 of these households were families.

Back in 2010, the population was slightly higher at 69,661 people. The average household had about 2.43 people. The average family had about 2.96 people. The median age of people in the county was 37.9 years old.

The median income for a household in 2010 was $38,797. For a family, it was $49,785. This means half of the households earned more than this amount, and half earned less. About 17.6% of the people in the county lived below the poverty line. This included about 27.3% of children under 18.

Greenwood County's Economy and Jobs

Greenwood County has a strong and varied economy today. Many different types of businesses operate here. For example, Fujifilm has its North American research, manufacturing, and distribution center in Greenwood. The Greenwood Genetic Center also does important genetics research.

About 26% of the people who work in the county have jobs in manufacturing. This means they make things in factories.

In 2015, the average income for a household in Greenwood County was $37,060. Many people work in manufacturing, healthcare, social assistance, and retail.

The cost of living in Greenwood County is lower than the average for South Carolina and the whole country. This means it's generally less expensive to live here. Things like groceries, healthcare, housing, and transportation are often more affordable.

Major Employers in the County

Many large companies and organizations provide jobs in Greenwood County. Some of the biggest employers include:

Self Regional Healthcare (a hospital)
Greenwood County School Districts (schools)
Eaton Corporation (a power management company)
FujiFilm Manufacturing, U.S.A.
Carolina Pride (food products)
Capsugel (pharmaceuticals)
Lander University (a college)
Piedmont Technical College
Cardinal Health (healthcare products)
Ascend Performance Materials (materials company)
VELUX (roof windows and skylights)

Key Industries

Greenwood County has several important industry groups:

Life Sciences (like medical research)
Food Processing (making food products)
Advanced Materials (creating new materials)
Wood Products (making things from wood)

In 2022, the total value of all goods and services produced in the county, called the GDP, was $4.2 billion.

Education in Greenwood County

Greenwood County has three main school districts. These districts manage the public schools for students in different parts of the county.

School Districts

Greenwood School District 50: This district serves the main Greenwood city area. It has 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 2 high schools, a career center, and an adult education center.
Greenwood School District 51: This district serves the town of Ware Shoals and nearby areas. It has schools in both Greenwood and Laurens counties.
Greenwood School District 52: This district serves the town of Ninety Six and surrounding areas.

Elementary Schools

Benjamin E. Mays Elementary School (Pre-K to 5th grade)
Hodges Elementary School (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
Lakeview Elementary School (Pre-K to 5th grade)
Mathews Elementary School (Pre-K to 5th grade)
Merrywood Elementary School (Pre-K to 5th grade)
Ninety Six Elementary School (3rd to 5th grade)
Ninety Six Primary School (Pre-K to 2nd grade)
Pinecrest Elementary School (Pre-K to 5th grade)
Rice Elementary School (Pre-K to 5th grade)
Ware Shoals Elementary School (4th to 6th grade)
Ware Shoals Primary School (Pre-K to 3rd grade)
Woodfields Elementary School (Pre-K to 5th grade)

Middle Schools

Brewer Middle School (6th to 8th grade)
Edgewood Middle School (6th to 8th grade)
Northside Middle School (6th to 8th grade)
Westview Middle School (6th to 8th grade)

High Schools

Emerald High School (9th to 12th grade)
Greenwood High School (9th to 12th grade)
Ninety Six High School (9th to 12th grade)
Ware Shoals High School (7th to 12th grade)

Higher Education Opportunities

After high school, students in Greenwood County have options for college:

Lander University: A four-year state-supported university.
Piedmont Technical College: Offers technical and associate degrees.

Other Learning Centers

G. Frank Russell Technology Center: Provides career and technical training for high school students.
Genesis Education Center: Offers alternative education for middle and high school students, and adult education.