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Upstate South Carolina facts for kids

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"The Upstate" redirects here. For the area in New York State, see Upstate New York.
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Greenville–Spartanburg
Metropolitan Area
CSA
Greenville–Spartanburg–Anderson, SC
Combined Statistical Area
Country Flag of the United States.svg United States
State Flag of South Carolina.svg South Carolina
Principal cities
 - Greenville
 - Spartanburg
 - Anderson
 - Mauldin
 - Easley
 - Clemson
 - Gaffney
 - Greer
 - Greenwood
 - Seneca
Area
 • Total 6,168 sq mi (15,980 km2)
 • Land 6,008 sq mi (15,560 km2)
 • Water 141 sq mi (370 km2)  2.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • CSA
1,487,610 (39th)
Time zone UTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Area code(s) 864 and 821

The Upstate, also known as the Upcountry, is a special region in South Carolina, USA. It's located in the northwestern part of the state. People usually think of it as the area along the I-85 highway, which is a busy road for business.

This area is home to about 1.5 million people as of 2020. It's located right between two big cities: Atlanta in Georgia and Charlotte in North Carolina. Many international companies, especially from Germany, have chosen to set up their offices and factories here.

Greenville is the largest city in the Upstate. It has a population of over 72,000 people and is the main center for business. Other important cities include Spartanburg and Anderson.

Counties in the Upstate

The Upstate region includes ten different counties. These counties work together to form the larger Upstate area.

The ten counties are:

Major Cities and Towns

The Upstate has many cities and towns, ranging from large cities to smaller communities.

Main Cities of the Upstate

These are the biggest and most important cities in the region:

Other Larger Communities

Some other communities in the Upstate have more than 10,000 residents. These include:

If you count students, Clemson can have nearly 30,000 residents.

Colleges and Universities

The Upstate is home to many colleges and universities, offering different types of education.

Clemson's Memorial Stadium
Clemson University Memorial Stadium
Furman University - tower view
Furman University Belltower

Here are some of the major schools in the Upstate:

  • Anderson University
  • Bob Jones University
  • Clemson University
  • Converse College
  • Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas
  • Erskine College
  • Furman University
  • Greenville Technical College
  • Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
  • Lander University
  • Limestone College
  • North Greenville University
  • Piedmont Technical College
  • Presbyterian College
  • Sherman College of Chiropractic
  • Southern Wesleyan University
  • Spartanburg Methodist College
  • Spartanburg Community College
  • Tri-County Technical College
  • University Center – Greenville
  • University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Greenville
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate
  • University of South Carolina-Union
  • Wofford College

Some of these schools are highly ranked. For example, U.S. News has recognized Furman University, Wofford College, Presbyterian College, and Clemson University among the best in their categories.

Economy and Businesses

The Upstate region has a strong and growing economy. Most of the business activity happens in Greenville County.

Key Industries in the Upstate

  • Financial Services: Downtown Greenville has many banks and financial companies, like Bank of America.
  • Automotive Industry: The area between Greenville and Spartanburg is a big hub for car manufacturing. BMW has its only North American manufacturing plant in Spartanburg County.
  • Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: Major healthcare systems like Greenville Hospital System and Bon Secours St. Francis Health System are here. Companies like Bausch & Lomb also have operations in the Upstate.
  • Research and Development: Many companies have research centers here. These include Michelin, Fuji, and General Electric. They work on new ideas for cars, life sciences, and more.
  • Automotive Research: Clemson University, BMW, IBM, Microsoft, and Michelin have teamed up to create the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. This center focuses on developing new car technologies.

Major Companies in the Upstate

Many well-known companies have a significant presence in the Upstate:

  • Adidas
  • Advance America
  • Bank of America
  • BMW of North America
  • Bon Secours St. Francis Health System
  • Bosch North America
  • Denny's Restaurants
  • Dunlop Sport
  • Ernst & Young
  • Fluor Corporation
  • Freightliner
  • GE Power Systems
  • Prisma Health
  • IBM
  • Kemet Corporation
  • Liberty Corporation
  • Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
  • Michelin of North America
  • Microsoft
  • Milliken & Company
  • Spartanburg Regional Health System
  • Spectrum Communications
  • SunTrust
  • Ovation Brands
  • Perrigo Company of South Carolina
  • Techtronic Industries
  • Toronto-Dominion Bank
  • Verizon

Transportation in the Upstate

Getting around the Upstate is easy thanks to its good transportation network.

View-from-interstate-26-scnc-border
View of the Upcountry on I-26 near the North Carolina border.

Highways and Airports

  • Interstate Highways: Two major interstate highways, I-85 and I-26, run through the Upstate. There are also smaller interstate roads like I-185, I-385, and I-585.
  • Airports: The main airport is Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. It's located between Greenville and Spartanburg. Many smaller airports also serve cities like Anderson, Clemson, and Gaffney.

Train Service

  • Amtrak: The Crescent Line train service stops in Spartanburg, Greenville, and Clemson, connecting the Upstate to other parts of the country.

Media and News

The Upstate has several ways for people to get their news and entertainment.

Local Newspapers

The region is served by three main newspapers, each focusing on its city and nearby areas:

  • The Greenville News
  • Herald-Journal (Spartanburg)
  • Anderson Independent-Mail

The Post and Courier has also opened new offices in Greenville and Spartanburg to cover the Upstate.

Television Stations

The Upstate is part of a larger TV market that includes parts of North Carolina and Georgia. Here are some of the TV stations that serve the area:

  • WYFF Channel 4 – Greenville (NBC)
  • WSPA-TV Channel 7 – Spartanburg (CBS)
  • WLOS-TV Channel 13 – Asheville, North Carolina (ABC)
  • WGGS-TV Channel 16 – Greenville (TBN)
  • WHNS Channel 21 – Greenville (Fox)
  • WNTV Channel 29 – Greenville (SCETV)
  • WUNF-TV Channel 33 – Asheville (UNC-TV)
  • WMYA-TV Channel 40 – Anderson (MNTV)
  • WYCW Channel 62 – Asheville (CW)
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