Simpsonville is a city in
Greenville County,
South Carolina
)'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
, United States. It is part of the
Greenville–
Mauldin–
Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...
. The population was 22,234 at the 2020 census,
up from 18,238 in 2010. Simpsonville is part of the "
Golden Strip", along with
Mauldin and
Fountain Inn, an area which is noted for having low unemployment due to a diversity of industries including
H.B. Fuller,
KEMET,
Sealed Air
Sealed Air Corporation is a packaging company known for its brands: Cryovac food packaging and Bubble Wrap cushioning packaging. It sold off its stake in Diversey Holdings in 2017. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, its c ...
and
Milliken.
History
The
Burdette Building
The Burdette Building, also known as Burdette Hardware Building or B.W. Burdette Building, in Simpsonville, South Carolina, was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
It is a two-story building with brick walls laid in r ...
,
Cureton-Huff House
The Cureton-Huff House is located in Greenville County
Greenville County is located in the state of South Carolina, in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 525,534, making it the most populous county in the state. It ...
,
Hopkins Farm, and
Simpsonville Baptist Church are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
.
The oldest brick building in town is a former pharmacy built in 1886 on East Curtis Street. The Woodside Mill, central to the local economy in the early 1900s, includes an antique water tower.
In October 2018, a winning lottery ticket for a $1.6 billion
Mega Millions
Mega Millions (originally known as ''The Big Game'' in 1996 and renamed, temporarily, to ''The Big Game Mega Millions'' six years later) is an American multi-jurisdictional lottery game; as of January 30, 2020, it is offered in 45 states, the D ...
jackpot was sold at the #7 KC Mart in Simpsonville.
Geography
Simpsonville is located in southeastern Greenville County at (34.733375, -82.260001),
between Mauldin to the northwest and Fountain Inn to the southeast. The center of town has an elevation of above sea level.
South Carolina Highway 14
South Carolina Highway 14 (SC 14) is a state highway in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 76 Business (US 76 Bus.) in Laurens north to Interstate 26 (I-26) in Landrum. SC 14 connects Laurens and Landrum w ...
runs through the center of Simpsonville as Main Street, leading north to
Greer and southeast to the center of Fountain Inn. The center of Mauldin is to the northwest via
South Carolina Highway 417
South Carolina Highway 417 (SC 417) is a state highway in central Greenville and Spartanburg counties in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of South Carolina.
Route description
SC 417's western terminus is at junction with U.S. ...
.
Interstate 385
Interstate 385 (I-385) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway located in the Upstate region of South Carolina. I-385 is a spur route of I-85. The highway provides a connection between Greenville and I-26 to the south, connecting Greenville t ...
passes through Simpsonville west of the city center, with access from exits 26 through 29. I-385 leads northwest to the center of
Greenville and southeast to
Interstate 26
Interstate 26 (I-26) is a main route of the Interstate Highway System in the Southeastern United States. Nominally east–west, as indicated by its even number, I-26 runs from the junction of U.S. Route 11W (US 11W) and US 23 in K ...
near
Clinton.
Columbia, the state capital, is southeast of Simpsonville.
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...
, Simpsonville has a total area of , of which are land and , or 0.22%, are water.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the
2020 United States census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
, there were 23,354 people, 8,464 households, and 6,104 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...
was 2,732.9 people per square mile (916.2 per km
2). There were 9,044 housing units at an average density of 1,016.2 per square mile (392.2 per km
2). 24.1% of the population was under 18, and 14.4% of the population was over 65. 51.3% of the population was female.
The median annual income for a household in the city was $71,990, and the
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
was $32,821. 5.4% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
.
Crime
Simpsonville's 2006 crime statistics were higher than national average crime rates. Violent crimes in 2010 totalled 82 for the year. 2006 statistics of violent crime in Simpsonville reflect there was not one murder, reported incidents of rape were slightly higher than the national average (39 per 100,000 in Simpsonville, with a national average of 33 per 100,000), and incidents of aggravated assaults were what tipped the 2006 violent crime scales, tallying in at 75% over the national average.
In 2007 the personal crime incidents rate tallied in at 6 per 1000 residents, while the national average was 1.3 per 1000. In September 2007, the
FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...
reported that the state of South Carolina's violent crime rate was the highest in the nation per capita, although Simpsonville is not mentioned at all in the article. Simpsonville car theft in 2006 was lower than the national average,
calling into question claims that Simpsonville had a high rate of car-jackings.
In 2017, Simpsonville was named the safest city in South Carolina, based on FBI Crime Report data gathered by the SafeWise security organization; its ranking as of 2021 is 15th.
Emergency services
The Simpsonville Police Department was founded in 1907 and its first police chief was hired in 1928. Citizen-based programs were added in 2014 that provide opportunities for civilians to work alongside police officers. The current chief of police is Michael D. Hanshaw.
The Simpsonville Fire Department was formed in 1922. Fire protection was supported by annual contract fees until the mid-1980s when a tax system was adopted instead. Protection is provided to citizens within Simpsonville's city limits and some parts of surrounding Greenville County via six fire stations within a district of about . The department's current fire chief is Wesley Williams.
Government
Simpsonville is governed by a
city council
A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...
, consisting of a
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
and six council members, one from each city ward. The city also has several boards and commissions to advise the council and complete assigned tasks. The council is elected in November of odd years to staggered four-year terms. The current council includes:
* Mayor: Paul Shewmaker (1st term ends 12-31-2023)
* Council Ward I: Matthew Gooch (3rd term ends 12-31-2023)
* Council Ward II: Aaron Rupe (1st term ends 12-31-2025)
* Council Ward III: Jenn Hulehan (2nd term ends 12-31-2023)
* Council Ward IV: Sherry Roche (2nd term ends 12-31-2025)
* Council Ward V: Ken Cummings (2nd term ends 12-31-2023)
* Council Ward VI: Lou Hutchings (2nd term ends 12-31-2025)
The city council appoints a city administrator, who serves at their pleasure, to work with them in the proper administration of the city's policies and affairs. The council also appoints a city clerk, city treasurer, and city attorney, who serve indefinite terms at the pleasure of City Council. The current city officers include:
* City Administrator: Dianna Gracely (since 2018)
* City Clerk: Phyllis Long
* City Treasurer: Christine Furino
* City Attorney: Daniel Hughes
Education
Public education in Simpsonville is administered by
Greenville County School District. The district operates five schools in Simpsonville.
Hillcrest High School, Hillcrest Middle School, Bryson Middle School, Simpsonville Elementary School, and Plain Elementary School.
Abiding Peace Academy is a K2-5 grade school of the
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), also referred to simply as the Wisconsin Synod, is an American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as theologically conservative, it was founded in 1850 in Milwauke ...
in Simpsonville.
Simpsonville has a
public library, a branch of the Greenville County Library System.
Culture and sports
Simpsonville's CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park, named for sponsor Coastal Carolina National Bank, is an outdoor entertainment venue with seating for up to 15,000. It has hosted performers and community events since 2005.
The Simpsonville Arts Center hosts performing arts by the Mill Town Players of
Pelzer. Renovation of the center was completed in February 2022.
The
Women's American Basketball Association
The Women's American Basketball Association (WABA) is a league that began in 2017 with seven teams. It now has over 20 teams across the country. Season 4 was cancelled in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. There have been previous women's ...
established a team based in Simpsonville to begin its first season in July 2021. Home games for the Carolina Upstate Thunder are to be played in Greenville.
Media
''The Simpsonville Sentinel'' is the local area newspaper, published monthly. The news website ''
Patch
Patch or Patches may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* Patch Johnson, a fictional character from ''Days of Our Lives''
* Patch (''My Little Pony''), a toy
* "Patches" (Dickey Lee song), 1962
* "Patches" (Chairmen of the Board song) ...
'' also has a Simpsonville edition.
Simpsonville is part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson-Asheville
DMA television market. Local television stations include:
Simsponville is part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Arbitron Metro radio market. Station
WYRD-FM
WYRD-FM (106.3 MHz), known on-air as ''106-3 WORD, The Upstate's Talk Station'', is a news/talk-formatted radio station in the Greenville-Spartanburg area of Upstate South Carolina. The Audacy, Inc. outlet is licensed by the FCC to Simpsonville, ...
is licensed in and transmits from Simpsonville. Other local radio stations include:
Notable people
*
Justin Bolli
Justin Bolli (born March 18, 1976) is an American professional golfer. who has played on the PGA Tour and the Web.com Tour.
Bolli was born in Portland, Oregon.
Bolli started playing on the Nationwide Tour (now Web.com Tour) full-time in 2004 ...
, professional golfer
*
Danielle Brooks
Danielle Brittany Brooks (born September 17, 1989) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson on the comedy-drama series ''Orange Is the New Black'' (2013–2019) and Leota Adebayo on the super ...
, actress, stars in ''Orange Is the New Black'' and was
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
-nominated for role as Sofia on Broadway in ''The Color Purple''.
*
Chandler Catanzaro, American football placekicker
*
Lucas Glover
Lucas Hendley Glover (born November 12, 1979) is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. He is best known for winning the 2009 U.S. Open.
Early years and amateur career
Glover was born in Greenville, South Carolina, ...
,
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour (stylized in all capital letters as PGA TOUR by its officials) is the organizer of professional golf tours in the United States and North America. It organizes most of the events on the flagship annual series of tournaments also ...
golfer, winner of
2009 U.S. Open Golf Championship
*
Shane Hall,
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and ...
driver
*
Tommy Jones,
professional bowler; 2005–06 PBA Player of the Year
*
Jamon Meredith
James Jamon Meredith (born May 11, 1986) is a former American football offensive tackle. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.
Meredith has played for t ...
, offensive tackle, 2009 fifth-round draft pick of NFL's
Green Bay Packers
*
Emilio Pagan, pitcher for MLB's
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...
*
Stephen Thompson, UFC fighter
*
Travelle Wharton, offensive tackle for NFL's
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL), as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. ...
References
External links
City of Simpsonville official website
{{authority control
Cities in South Carolina
Cities in Greenville County, South Carolina
Upstate South Carolina