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Spartanburg County, South Carolina facts for kids

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Spartanburg County
U.S. county
Spartanburg County Courthouse
Spartanburg County Courthouse
Official seal of Spartanburg County
Seal
Map of South Carolina highlighting Spartanburg 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 1791
Named for Spartan Regiment
Seat Spartanburg
Largest community Spartanburg
Area
 • Total 819.74 sq mi (2,123.1 km2)
 • Land 808.34 sq mi (2,093.6 km2)
 • Water 11.40 sq mi (29.5 km2)  1.39%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 327,997
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 356,698 Increase
 • Density 400.1232/sq mi (154.4884/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts 4th, 5th

Spartanburg County is a county located in the northwestern part of South Carolina, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 327,997 people lived here, making it the fifth-most populated county in South Carolina. The main city and county seat is Spartanburg. Spartanburg County is also a big part of the larger Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area.

History

Spartanburg County was started in 1785. It got its name from the "Spartan Rifles," which was a local group of soldiers during the American Revolutionary War. The biggest town and the center of the county is Spartanburg, located in the Upstate South Carolina region.

A ship called the USS Spartanburg County was also named after this county.

Geography

Spartanburg County covers a total area of about 820 square miles. Most of this area, around 808 square miles, is land. The rest, about 11 square miles, is water.

Cool Places to Visit

Spartanburg County has many interesting places to explore, including parks and historic sites:

  • Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site (part)
  • Croft State Park
  • Daniel Morgan Monument
  • Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve
  • Lake Cooley Park
  • Nesbitt Shoals Nature Park
  • Tyger River Park

Rivers and Lakes

Many important rivers and lakes flow through Spartanburg County:

Neighboring Counties

Spartanburg County shares its borders with several other counties:

Important Places and Buildings

The county has key transportation and trade hubs:

  • Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport
  • Inland Port Greer, a big train depot for goods
  • Spartanburg Downtown Airport
  • Spartanburg Station

People and Population

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790 8,800 —
1800 12,122 37.8%
1810 14,259 17.6%
1820 16,989 19.1%
1830 21,150 24.5%
1840 23,669 11.9%
1850 26,400 11.5%
1860 26,919 2.0%
1870 25,784 −4.2%
1880 40,409 56.7%
1890 55,385 37.1%
1900 65,560 18.4%
1910 83,465 27.3%
1920 94,265 12.9%
1930 116,323 23.4%
1940 127,733 9.8%
1950 150,349 17.7%
1960 156,830 4.3%
1970 173,724 10.8%
1980 201,861 16.2%
1990 226,800 12.4%
2000 253,791 11.9%
2010 284,307 12.0%
2020 327,997 15.4%
2023 (est.) 356,698 25.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

In 2020, Spartanburg County had 327,997 people living in 121,256 households. Many different groups of people call Spartanburg County home. Most residents are White (about 65%), followed by Black or African American (about 19%). There are also growing Asian and Hispanic or Latino communities.

In 2010, the average household had about 2.5 people. About 34% of households had children under 18 living there. The median age of people in the county was 38 years old.

Economy

In 2022, the total value of all goods and services produced in Spartanburg County was about $19.5 billion. This shows how much money the county's businesses and workers contribute.

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

People in Spartanburg County work in many different types of jobs. The largest number of jobs are in manufacturing (making things), healthcare, and retail trade (stores).

Education

Spartanburg County has many schools for kids of all ages. There are eight different school districts, with seven of them being part of the Spartanburg County School System.

Some districts share special schools, like a vocational school (where students learn job skills) and the McCarthy Teszler School for students with special needs.

School Districts

  • School District One: Includes schools like Chapman High School and Landrum High.
  • School District Two: Has schools such as Boiling Springs High School and Chesnee High School.
  • School District Three: Includes Broome High School.
  • School District Four: Home to Woodruff High School.
  • School District Five: Features James F. Byrnes High School.
  • School District Six: Includes Paul M. Dorman High School.
  • School District Seven: Home to Spartanburg High School.
  • Greenville County School District: Covers small parts of the county, including areas near Greer.

The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind is also located in Spartanburg County. There is also a private school called Spartanburg Day School.

Colleges and Universities

After high school, students in Spartanburg County have many options for higher education:

Healthcare

Healthcare in Spartanburg County is mostly provided by the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. This system is a public, non-profit group that runs several hospitals and clinics.

Some of their main facilities include:

  • Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health: A modern center for breast health and bone density checks.
  • Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute: Offers care for cancer patients, including special treatments and research studies. It has locations in Spartanburg and Greer.
  • Medical Group of the Carolinas: A group of doctor's offices all over the area.
  • Pelham Medical Center: Located in Greer, it has emergency services and offers many types of medical care.
  • Spartanburg Hospital for Restorative Care (SHRC): A hospital for patients who need long-term care and rehabilitation.
  • Spartanburg Medical Center (SMC): A large teaching hospital with two main locations. It has many beds and offers services like emergency care, surgery, maternity care, and heart care.
  • The Sports Medicine Institute: Helps athletes with injuries and physical therapy.
  • Woodruff Manor: A facility in Woodruff for skilled nursing and rehabilitation.

In 2018, the Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute expanded its Pelham location. This expansion helps provide cancer care to even more patients in the area. The new part of the building opened in March 2020.

Communities

Spartanburg County has many different cities, towns, and smaller communities where people live.

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or towns:

Other Communities

These are smaller, unincorporated communities:

Notable people

Here are some well-known people who have connections to Spartanburg County:

  • Harold Cohen
  • Ira Roe Foster
  • Caleb Kennedy
  • Joe Bennett & the Sparkletones
  • Marshall Tucker Band

See also

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