Spartanburg Methodist Pioneers Softball Coaches
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Spartanburg is a city in and the
seat A seat is a place to sit. The term may encompass additional features, such as back, armrest, head restraint but also headquarters in a wider sense. Types of seat The following are examples of different kinds of seat: * Armchair (furniture), ...
of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city of Spartanburg has a municipal population of 38,732 as of the 2020 census, making it the 11th-largest city in the state. For a time, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) grouped Spartanburg and Union Counties together as the Spartanburg metropolitan statistical area, but as of 2018,the OMB defines only Spartanburg County as the Spartanburg MSA. Spartanburg is the second-largest city in the greater Greenville–Spartanburg–Anderson combined statistical area, which had a population of 1,385,045 as of 2014. It is part of a 10-county region of northwestern South Carolina known as " The Upstate", and is located northwest of
Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...
, west of Charlotte, North Carolina, and about northeast of Atlanta, Georgia. Spartanburg is the home of Wofford College, Converse University, and Spartanburg Community College, and the area is home to USC Upstate and Spartanburg Methodist College. It is also the site of headquarters for Denny's. Spartanburg was ranked number 24 on the "150 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2021-2022" by ''US News & World Report''.


History

Spartanburg was formed in 1785, after a deal was made with the
Cherokee Nation The Cherokee Nation (Cherokee: ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ ''Tsalagihi Ayeli'' or ᏣᎳᎩᏰᎵ ''Tsalagiyehli''), also known as the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, is the largest of three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States. It ...
in 1753, and was named after a local militia called the Spartan Regiment in the American Revolutionary War. The Spartan Regiment, commanded by Andrew Pickens, participated in the nearby Battle of Cowpens. In 1831, Spartanburg was incorporated, later becoming known as the "Hub City"; railroad lines radiated from the city forming the shape of a wheel hub. It became a center of textile manufacturing in the late 19th century, with around 40 textile mills being established through the early 1900s. During World War I, Camp Wadsworth was used to train 100,000 soldiers for the war. Camp Croft trained soldiers during World War II. The facility was transferred to the state and adapted as Croft State Park. By the 1950s, the production in these mills began to decline as wages increased. Most textile manufacturing jobs were moved offshore by the companies.


Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which , or 0.47%, is covered by water. The most common soil series is Cecil. The bedrock is mostly
biotite gneiss Gneiss ( ) is a common and widely distributed type of metamorphic rock. It is formed by high-temperature and high-pressure metamorphic processes acting on formations composed of igneous or sedimentary rocks. Gneiss forms at higher temperatures an ...
.


Climate

The city of Spartanburg has a humid subtropical climate with long, hot, and humid summers, and cool to semimild winters. The average annual temperature is . In the summer from June through September, average highs are in the 80s °F (20s °C) to low 90s °F (30s °C), while in the winter, average highs are in the mid-50s °F (10s °C). Annual rainfall is spread fairly evenly throughout the whole year. Spartanburg receives very little snowfall, with the annual average being only . Average precipitation is and the average growing season is 231 days.


Demographics


2010 census

As of the census of 2010, 37,013 people, 15,989 households, and 9,721 families were residing in the city. The population density was 2,066.3 people per square mile (799.9/km2). The 17,696 housing units had an average density of 923.9 per square mile (356.8/km2). The racial makeup was 49.55% African American, 47.15% White, 0.18% Native American, 1.33% Asian, 0.82% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.78% of the population. Of the 15,989 households, 28.9% had children under 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples living together, 23.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were not families. About 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33, and the average family size was 3.00. In the city, the age distribution was 25.2% under 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $28,735, and for a family was $36,108. Males had a median income of $30,587 versus $23,256 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,136. About 29.4% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.6% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.


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 ...
, e 38,732 people, 15,154 households, and 8,638 families resided in the city.


Economy

Within the past decade, developers and community leaders have spearheaded an effort to revitalize Spartanburg's downtown commercial district. This has resulted in a remodeling of Morgan Square, the restoration of a number of historic structures and the relocation of several businesses and company headquarters to the downtown vicinity. These new developments include a nine-floor, 240-room Marriott hotel. Spartanburg is home to many large companies, including Denny's, KYMCO,
Smith Drug Company Smith Drug Company is a Spartanburg, South Carolina based drug wholesale company and a division of J M Smith Corporation. The company was founded in 1944 with annual revenue in excess of $2.5 Billion as of 2013. The company specializes in whole ...
, Advance America Cash Advance, Southern Conference,
Spartanburg Herald-Journal The ''Spartanburg Herald-Journal'' is a daily newspaper, the primary newspaper for Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. History The origins of the paper lie with ''The Spartan'', a weekly paper reportedly first printed in about 1842 ...
, RJ Rockers Brewing Company, American Credit Acceptance, and Upward Sports. The economy of Spartanburg benefits from the BMW manufacturing facility located in the city of Greer, South Carolina, which is in Spartanburg County. As of February 2017, the plant employed around 8,800 people with an average daily output of about 1,400 vehicles. Spartanburg is also home to the world headquarters and research facility for Milliken & Company, a textile and chemical manufacturer.


Top employers

According to Spartanburg's 2015 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the principal employers in the city are:


Arts and culture

Cultural events and institutions in the city include: *The Chapman Cultural Center, Spartanburg's cultural anchor for history, art, theatre, dance, music, and science, is located in a three-building complex on the northern edge of downtown. Opened in October 2007, the Center was designed by
David M. Schwarz David M. Schwarz (born 26 January 1951) is an American architect and designer. He is the President & CEO of Washington, D.C.-based David M. Schwarz Architects, Inc. and serves as the Chairman of the Yale School of Architecture's Dean's Council. ...
Architects of Washington, D.C. It houses the Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg County Regional History Museum, Science Center, Little Theatre, Ballet, Music Foundation, and other groups that were formerly located in The Arts Center on South Spring Street. It is owned and operated by The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting arts and cultural agencies in Spartanburg County. * Hub City Writers Project, serves the community as a local publishing company and independent bookstore. * Converse University is a nationally known four-year liberal arts institution recognized for its strong music and visual art programs. It hosts events open to the community throughout the year. Twichell Auditorium is located on the campus of Converse University. Home of the Greater Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Twichell Auditorium has served as hosts to other groups such as the Spartanburg All-County High School Band and Boston Brass. Twichell Auditorium was built in 1899 and renovated for the school's centennial celebration in 1989. The 1500-seat auditorium is home to a 57-rank Casavant organ with 2,600+ pipes. Theatre Converse puts on several plays a year, and Converse puts on an opera annually, as well as opera scenes. The university has had major concerts in recent years with such artists as Caedmon's Call, Jason Mraz, Corey Smith, and Colbie Caillat. *Wofford College is a liberal arts college. Not traditionally known for its arts and cultural strength, Wofford has made notable strides to develop arts programs in recent years. Poet and environmental writer
John E. Lane John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...
, theater artist Mark Ferguson, and visual artist
Kris Neely Kristofer M. Neely (born November 21, 1978) is an American creative writer and visual artist in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA who serves as Professor of Art and Director of Interdisciplinary Studies at Spartanburg Methodist College.George, Dusti ...
are all graduates of Wofford. Each returned to their alma mater to develop curricular and co-curricular opportunities in the Arts, including a Creative Writing program, a Theatre Major, and a minor in Studio Art. John Lane was also a critical visionary in the creation of the Goodall Environmental Studies Center in Glendale, SC. *The Spartanburg County Public Library headquarters, housed in an innovative building on South Church Street, is home to a voluminous collection of fiction, nonfiction, children's literature, A/V materials and items relating to local history and genealogy. The library hosts many meetings, concerts and presentations. The County Librarian is Todd Stephens. *The Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium is located on N. Church Street, across from the municipal building in the northwest end of the city of Spartanburg. The "SMA" has hosted acts such as Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills and Nash, B.B. King,
Billy Joel William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, pianist and songwriter. Commonly nicknamed the "Piano Man (song), Piano Man" after his album and signature song of the same name, he has led a commercially successful career as a solo ...
, David Copperfield, Lewis Grizzard, Harry Connick, Jr., Gerald Levert,
Dave Chappelle David Khari Webber Chappelle ( ; born August 24, 1973) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is best known for his satirical comedy sketch series ''Chappelle's Show'' (2003–2006), which he starred in until quitting in the middle of p ...
,
Jerry Seinfeld Jerome Allen Seinfeld ( ; born April 29, 1954) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He is best known for playing a Jerry Seinfeld (character), semi-fictionalized version of himself in the sitcom ''Seinfeld'', which he ...
,
Phish Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band is known for musical improvisation, extended jams, blending of genres, and a dedicated fan base. The band consists of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon ...
, ''
A Prairie Home Companion ''A Prairie Home Companion'' is a weekly radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor that aired live from 1974 to 2016. In 2016, musician Chris Thile took over as host, and the successor show was eventually renamed ''Live from He ...
'', and many others. Originally built in an Art Deco style and was renovated c. 2002 including a new facade and backstage with loading area.


Points of interest

*Lawson's Fork Creek, a tributary of the Pacolet River, was once known for its plentiful wildlife and crystal clear waters. Parks and woodlands line much of its banks (which lie entirely within Spartanburg County), and rocky shoals and natural waterfalls can be found throughout its course. It stretches from the northern end of the county to the eastern end, where it empties into the Pacolet. *The Cottonwood Trail is a walking trail located in the Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve that runs along part of Lawson's Fork Creek. The trail includes picnic areas, a raised path over an extensive wetlands area and access to sporadic sandbars. Located just east of downtown, it is used frequently by cyclists, joggers and walkers. Since the Lawson's Fork floodplain is not suitable for development, wildlife populate the area. Larger animals that can be found here include white-tailed deer, raccoons, wild turkeys, pileated woodpeckers, mallard ducks, Canada geese and snapping turtles. * Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, is a preserve located in the midst of an urban environment. Retired social activist Harold Hatcher and his wife Josephine transformed an eroding gully into a thick woods and flower garden which now provides a haven for birds and other wildlife. Early European settlers to this area included French fur trappers, English woodsmen, and Scots-Irish farmers. Few remnants survive from these early pioneering days, but traces can be found in the more rural areas of the county. *
Walnut Grove Plantation Walnut Grove Plantation, the home of Charles and Mary Moore, was built in 1765 on a land grant given by King George III. The property is located in Roebuck in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Charles Moore was a school teacher and used the plantati ...
, an 18th-century farmhouse, has been preserved by The Spartanburg County Historical Association. The site of a locally famous skirmish during the American Revolutionary War, it was the home of the Moore family. The plantation lies south of Spartanburg near the town of Roebuck, and is open to the public for tours and during annual festivals. *The Seay House, another 18th-century home, is a more typical representative of a pioneer home. Its single stone fireplace and simple construction were common traits of farmsteads from this period. *The Price House, the third 18th-century home maintained by the Historical Association, is unique. Its sturdy
Flemish-bond Brickwork is masonry produced by a bricklayer, using bricks and mortar. Typically, rows of bricks called '' courses'' are laid on top of one another to build up a structure such as a brick wall. Bricks may be differentiated from blocks by ...
brick construction and three stories are less common in this area. By carefully examining the original inventory lists of the house, the Historical Association has been able to retrieve period pieces that approximate the original contents of the house. First established in the 1780s as a courthouse village, Spartanburg may have been named for the Spartan regiment of the South Carolina militia. The city was incorporated in 1831, at the time of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens, a pivotal fight of the American Revolution that took place only a few miles away. The city's streets and architectural record reflect the changes of the 19th and 20th centuries. *Morgan Square, the city's primary downtown hub, is the original courthouse village. It was founded adjacent to a small spring (now underground) on the western slope of a ridge, which forms the border of the Tyger and Pacolet River watersheds. The square's name derives from
Daniel Morgan Daniel Morgan (1735–1736July 6, 1802) was an American pioneer, soldier, and politician from Virginia. One of the most respected battlefield tacticians of the American Revolutionary War of 1775–1783, he later commanded troops during the sup ...
, the general who commanded the American forces at Cowpens. A statue of Morgan was placed in the square in 1881. The oldest existing buildings on Morgan Square date to the 1880s. *The Magnolia Street Train Depot is one of the older buildings in Spartanburg and stands as a reminder of Spartanburg's old nickname "the Hub City," referring to the many transportation routes that connected Spartanburg with cities throughout the region. It is now the home of the Amtrak station, the Hub City Railroad Museum, and the Hub City Farmers' Market. * Hampton Heights Historic District is the city's oldest intact downtown neighborhood, located a couple of blocks south of Morgan Square. Architectural styles in this neighborhood range from large Queen Anne and Neoclassical homes to cozy early 20th-century bungalows. Cotton mills have abounded in the Spartanburg area since 1816, earning Spartanburg the reputation as the " Lowell of the South." Although there were few mills in the area before the Civil War, technological advances, northern capital, and out-migration from the poor farms that made white labor available, created a wave of
postbellum may refer to: * Any post-war period or era * Post-war period following the American Civil War (1861–1865); nearly synonymous to Reconstruction era (1863–1877) * Post-war period in Peru following its defeat at the War of the Pacific (1879 ...
mill development here and in much of the Piedmont
South South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...
. Additionally, the abundant streams and rivers in the area are just beginning their descent towards the lower-lying
Midlands The Midlands (also referred to as Central England) are a part of England that broadly correspond to the Kingdom of Mercia of the Early Middle Ages, bordered by Wales, Northern England and Southern England. The Midlands were important in the Ind ...
region. In many places, these waterways descend abruptly, providing a source for plentiful waterpower. Cotton mills were built along these rivers to harness this power, and so began the region's servitude to King Cotton. These mills, their owners and their slaves dominated the politics and economy of the region for nearly a century. Although nearly all abandoned, many mills remain along the riverbanks, the Piedmont equivalent of
Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...
ruins. *Glendale Mill is located off Lawson's Fork Creek southeast of the city. Although gutted by fire in 2004, a few towers and smokestacks remain, providing a dramatic backdrop to the dam, shoals and waterfalls of the creek below. The former company store now serves as the home of the Wofford College Environmental Studies Center. The Glendale Shoals bridge will be getting a $600,000 makeover, and will ultimately connect to the state's
Palmetto Trail The Palmetto Trail is a planned foot and mountain bike trail in South Carolina for recreational hiking and biking. Several of the sections are also equestrian trails. It will extend from the Oconee County, South Carolina, Oconee County mountains ...
. *Beaumont Mill, north of the downtown, has recently been purchased by Spartanburg Regional Healthcare who moved their billing, human resources, and medical records to the 180,000 square foot mill. The adjacent mill village has been designated as a local historic district. *Converse Mill is located east of the city along the Pacolet River. It has recently been purchased by a developer. The mill was reconstructed in 1903 after a huge flood washed away the original mill. The dam is still in use by Converse Energy Inc as a hydroelectric plant. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, one of the sixteen divisional cantonments for the training of National Guard troops was Camp Wadsworth, which is located in the vicinity of Westgate Mall. Large numbers of New York National Guardsmen trained there in addition to many southern troops. During World War II, Camp Croft south of the city trained Army recruits. This is now a South Carolina state park with the same name. Some portions of the park contain the original quonset huts.


Attractions

*The Hub City Farmers Market, an outdoor market held Saturday mornings from 8:00am – 12:00pm from April to December at Harvest Park in the Northside neighborhood, showcasing local (often organic) produce and goods. *Spring Fling, a weekend festival typically held the first Saturday of May, has many live artists, rides, and other assorted attractions. *Red, White and Boom, a Fourth of July event held at Barnet Park featuring patriotic music and a fireworks display. *The International Festival, an event showcasing culture and cuisine from countries around the globe held at Barnet Park on the first Saturday in October. *Music on Main, a street concert event held every Thursday (April through August) downtown. *The Greek Festival, a major street festival that is held in September by the local Greek community at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The festival offers Greek food and cultural activities, and is the sister festival to the Greek Festival held every spring in Greenville. *Dickens of a Christmas, a Victorian holiday event held annually in downtown Spartanburg on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. *Festifall, an historical celebration held on the grounds of the 18th-century Walnut Grove Plantation in October, featuring demonstrations and reenactments. *Taste of the Backcountry, a historical celebration held on the grounds of the 18th-century Price House in April, featuring food samples and demonstrations. *Th
Hub City Hog Fest
is an annual barbecue festival and competition that benefits Mobile Meals. It is held in the heart of downtown Spartanburg with food trucks, over 40 BBQ teams, and two days of live music. *Hub City Railroad Museum *Spartanburg Music Trail which is a series of signs throughout downtown recognizing local musicians. *The Hotspot Skatepark *The Beacon Drive-In (Since 1946).


Sports

Spartanburg is host to the NFL's Carolina Panthers training camp each year on the campus of Wofford College. Historic Duncan Park Stadium was once home to the Spartanburg Stingers in the Coastal Plain League and the Spartanburg Crickets in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League and is the oldest minor league baseball stadium in the country. It was also once home to the Spartanburg Phillies, a minor league team of the
Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
. It now is the home stadium for the baseball teams of Spartanburg High School and the Spartanburgers. The Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas is held each year at Wofford's Gibbs Stadium. It is a high school football all-star game played between the top players from South Carolina and the top players from North Carolina. The USC Upstate Spartans, Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers, and the Wofford College Terriers offer a variety of sports for both men and women. Converse College also offers NCAA Division II women's sports teams. The city hosts the Spartanburg Criterium. The criterium is a yearly event and is usually one of the events associated with
Speed Week Bonneville Speedway (also known as the Bonneville Salt Flats Race Track) is an area of the Bonneville Salt Flats northeast of Wendover, Utah, that is marked out for motor sports. It is particularly noted as the venue for numerous land speed r ...
which is part of the USA Crits bicycle racing series. The event is billed as the “fastest night in Spartanburg.” Upward Sports, a Christian-based sports organization for kids, is headquartered in Spartanburg.


Government

The current mayor, Jerome Rice, was elected in 2021. Spartanburg operates under a
city manager A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a "Mayor–council government" council–manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief execu ...
form of government in which the mayor and six city council members have equal votes. Council members represent districts within the city and the mayor is elected at large. The council appoints a city manager, who is responsible for the daily administration of city governmental affairs. City Hall is located at 145 West Broad Street. The Spartanburg County Administration Building (this is the old Sears building which was vacated in the mid-1970s when Sears moved to Westgate Mall and renovated in the late 1980s or early 1990s) is located at 366 North Church Street. It is across the street from the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium.


Education


Colleges

Spartanburg is a college town, with four institutions of higher learning: * Spartanburg Community College * Converse University – Founded in 1889, Converse is a comprehensive doctoral institution. * Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) – Carolinas Campus. First classes began in Fall 2011. * Wofford College – Founded in 1854, Wofford is a Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 1,500 students. In the area: *The University of South Carolina Upstate (formerly known as University of South Carolina Spartanburg, or USCS), in Valley Falls. * Spartanburg Methodist College – The only 2-year, private, residential college in the state, in
Saxon The Saxons ( la, Saxones, german: Sachsen, ang, Seaxan, osx, Sahson, nds, Sassen, nl, Saksen) were a group of Germanic * * * * peoples whose name was given in the early Middle Ages to a large country (Old Saxony, la, Saxonia) near the Nor ...
*
Sherman College of Chiropractic Sherman College of Chiropractic is a private graduate college focused on the health sciences and located in unincorporated Spartanburg County, South Carolina, with a Boiling Springs postal address; it is outside of the Boiling Springs census-desi ...
– South Carolina's only chiropractic college


Public and private schools

Most of the City of Spartanburg's public schools are run by
Spartanburg County School District 7 Spartanburg County School District No. 7 (SCSD7) is a public school district in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, US. The district includes most of the city of Spartanburg, as well as all of Ben Avon, Drayton and Whitney, most of Camp Cro ...
, one of seven loosely affiliated districts located in
Spartanburg County Spartanburg County is a county located on the northwestern border of the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 327,997, making it the fifth-most populous county in South Carolina. Its county seat is Spartanburg ...
. District 7 students are zoned to Spartanburg High School. However, the westernmost part of the city is served by Spartanburg County School District 6, which has two elementary schools within city limits. District 6 students are zoned to Paul M. Dorman High School in Roebuck. The Spartanburg area is home to the main campus of the
South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind is a school in unincorporated Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States, near Spartanburg and with a Spartanburg postal address. It was founded in 1849 by the Reverend Newton Pinckney W ...
, which is outside of the city limits in an unincorporated area. It has five Regional Outreach Centers throughout the state. The city is also home to Spartanburg Preparatory School, a K-8 public charter school that is the only "brick and mortar" charter school in the Upstate. Spartanburg is also home to Spartanburg Christian Academy, a K-12 private school in North Spartanburg, the
Spartanburg Day School Spartanburg Day School is an independent, college preparatory 2K-12 school, located in unincorporated Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States, with a Spartanburg post office address, in the Greenville-Spartanburg area. It consists of a ...
, a K-12 private school offering the International Baccalaureate in grades K-4, and to Oakbrook Preparatory and Westgate Christian schools, both K-12 private schools. Located in
Hampton Heights Hampton Heights is a neighborhood and historic district located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Although the oldest existing home of the neighborhood dates to 1885, the majority of the homes in the neighborhood are from the 1900s to the 1930s. It ...
, the Montessori Academy of Spartanburg is a PreK-8 private school providing a Montessori educational approach. The Meeting Street Academy in downtown Spartanburg is a branch of a
Charleston Charleston most commonly refers to: * Charleston, South Carolina * Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital * Charleston (dance) Charleston may also refer to: Places Australia * Charleston, South Australia Canada * Charleston, Newfoundlan ...
-based private school and currently offers PreK and Kindergarten. St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School is located in downtown Spartanburg. It is affiliated with the Diocese of Charleston and is K-8.


Media

* Spartanburg's primary newspaper is the ''
Spartanburg Herald-Journal The ''Spartanburg Herald-Journal'' is a daily newspaper, the primary newspaper for Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. History The origins of the paper lie with ''The Spartan'', a weekly paper reportedly first printed in about 1842 ...
'', owned by
Gannett Gannett Co., Inc. () is an American mass media holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.The Post and Courier'' of Charleston, operates a bureau in Spartanburg, and publishes a Spartanburg e-edition and Spartanburg news online. * The ''Spartan Weekly News'' is a weekly newspaper with offices located in downtown Spartanburg. The paper covers all of Spartanburg County with an emphasis on the city of Spartanburg, and its coverage focuses on items of community interest and well as news from around the upstate of South Carolina. * "The Greer Citizen" publishes online and weekly in print * "The Woodruff Times" publishes online Spartanburg is part of the much greater Greenville-Spartanburg- Anderson- Asheville
DMA DMA may refer to: Arts * ''DMA'' (magazine), a defunct dance music magazine * Dallas Museum of Art, an art museum in Texas, US * Danish Music Awards, an award show held in Denmark * BT Digital Music Awards, an annual event in the UK * Doctor of M ...
which is the nation's 38th largest and is served by the following major television affiliates: * WYFF 4 ( NBC), broadcasting from Greenville, SC * WSPA 7 ( CBS), broadcasting from Spartanburg * WLOS 13 ( ABC), broadcasting from Asheville, NC but also from Anderson, SC on WMYA DT-2 (a digital subchannel) *
WGGS WGGS-TV (channel 16) is a religious independent television station licensed to Greenville, South Carolina, United States, serving Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina. Owned by Carolina Christian Broadcasting, it is sister to Hender ...
16 independent/ Christian Television Station * WHNS 21 (
Fox Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelv ...
), broadcasting from Greenville, SC * WMYA 40 (
My Network TV MyNetworkTV (unofficially abbreviated MyTV, MyNet, MNT or MNTV, and sometimes referred to as My Network) is an American commercial broadcast television syndication service and former television network owned by Fox Corporation, operated by its ...
), transmitting from Anderson, SC but also on WLOS DT-2 a digital subchannel of Channel 13 out of Asheville, NC * WYCW 62 ( The CW Network), licensed to Asheville but broadcasting and transmitting from Spartanburg


Infrastructure


Transportation


Major highways

* Interstate 85 * Business Loop 85 * Interstate 26 * Interstate 585 *
U.S. Route 176 U.S. Route 176 (US 176) is a spur of US 76 in the U.S. states of North Carolina and South Carolina. The U.S. Highway runs from US 25 Business and North Carolina Highway 225 (NC 225) in Hendersonville, North Carolina, east to US 52 in Goose Cre ...
* U.S. Route 29 *
U.S. Route 221 U.S. Route 221 (US 221) is a Spur route, spur of U.S. Route 21. It travels from Perry, Florida, at U.S. Route 19 in Florida, US 19/U.S. Route 98 in Florida, US 98/U.S. Route 27 Alternate (Florida), US 27 Alternate to Lyn ...
*
South Carolina 9 South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz' ...
* South Carolina 295 * South Carolina 56 * South Carolina 296 * South Carolina 215 * South Carolina 129


Public transit

Spartanburg is served by the
Spartanburg Area Regional Transit Agency Spartanburg Area Regional Transit Agency, commonly known as SPARTA, is the provider of mass transportation in Spartanburg County, South Carolina Spartanburg County is a County (United States), county located on the northwestern border of the U ...
(SPARTA), covering the city of Spartanburg and the surrounding urbanized area with 8 routes leading to a wide variety of destinations. All SPARTA buses are equipped with bicycle racks. Two hybrid-electric buses were added to the fleet in 2012. The SPARTA Passenger Center is located at 100 North Liberty Street and also serves Greyhound buses. Mass Transit is provided to all citizens of Spartanburg County through Spartanburg County Dial-A-Ride. It is a door to door service that operates six days a week.


Airports

The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) lies mostly in suburban Greer, and it serves Greenville as well as Spartanburg. It has become one of the busiest airports in South Carolina. The Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport (SPA) is a general aviation/small craft airport owned and operated by the City, which lies southwest of town.


Railroad station

Amtrak's ''Crescent'' train connects Spartanburg with the cities of New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was d ...
, Washington, Greensboro, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. The Amtrak station is situated at 290 Magnolia Street.


Healthcare

Spartanburg County's healthcare is mainly provided by Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System.
Spartanburg Regional Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System (SRHS) is one of South Carolina's largest healthcare systems. SRHS draws patients primarily from the areas of Spartanburg, Cherokee, Union, and Greenville counties (all located in the Piedmont region of South ...
is a public, not-for-profit, integrated health care delivery system with several facilities in Spartanburg, including: * Spartanburg Medical Center (SMC), a research and teaching hospital with two locations: Spartanburg Medical Center campus on East Wood Street and Spartanburg Medical Center — Mary Black Campus on Skylyn Drive. Together, these campuses share a history that stretches back to the 1920s. Spartanburg Medical Center includes a total of 747 beds, and services that include emergency, surgical, maternity, cancer, a Heart Center and inpatient rehabilitation. * Spartanburg Hospital for Restorative Care (SHRC), a 97-bed long-term, acute-care hospital with a 25-bed skilled nursing facility. * Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute, providing an inpatient oncology unit and outpatient care, along with access to clinical trials and the latest cancer technology. * Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health, a state-of-the-art imaging center for digital mammography, ultrasound, stereotactic breast biopsy and bone densitometry. * Medical Group of the Carolinas, a physician group with offices located throughout Spartanburg and Upstate S.C.


Notable people

*
Ted Alexander Theodore R. Alexander (September 15, 1912 – March 6, 1999) was an American baseball pitcher in the Negro leagues. Biography Alexander was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He played with several teams from 1938 to 1949, playing mostly with th ...
(1912–1999), baseball pitcher in Negro leagues * Pink Anderson (1900–1974), blues musician; inspiration for the "Pink" in
Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philo ...
* Norman C. Armitage (1907, as Norman Cudworth Cohn–1972), Olympic medalist saber fencer who lived in Spartanburg, S. C., and in honor of whom the Milliken company plant in Spartanburg County was named. * David Ball (born 1953), country musician * Joe Bennett, lead singer and guitarist from the 1950s rock 'n roll band "Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones" * Ted Bogan (1909–1990), country blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. * Red Borom (1915-2011), Major League Baseball infielder for
Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
*
Emma L. Bowen Emma L. Bowen was a community activist in community health care and fair media. She was an advocate for the disenfranchised and vulnerable. She was one of the co-founders of Black Citizens For Fair Media (BCFM). The Emma L. Bowen Community Se ...
, healthcare and media activist *
Mike Bullman Mike Bullman is an American country and rock & roll singer, guitarist and songwriter originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina. For a period of time that spanned three decades, he was the leader of a group called The Jesters aka Jesters III. So ...
, bandleader, lead singer and guitarist with Jesters III *
James Francis Byrnes James Francis Byrnes ( ; May 2, 1882 – April 9, 1972) was an American judge and politician from South Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in U.S. Congress and on the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as in the executive branch, mos ...
(1882–1972), lawyer, congressman, senator, Supreme Court Justice, advisor to FDR, Secretary of State to Truman, Governor of South Carolina *
Wilson Casey Wilson Casey is an American columnist, book author, political humorist, entertainer, speaker, and record holder. He earned two Guinness World Records (trivia marathon and radio broadcasting) for a thirty-hour live, continuous broadcast on radio st ...
(born 1954), syndicated newspaper columnist, speaking entertainer, and Guinness World Record holder *
Mark Cerney Mark V. Cerney (born April 10, 1967 in San Diego, California, U.S.) is the founder of an American nonprofit organization. He is best known for creating the Next of Kin Registry (NOKR) model. His background includes graduating the St. John's Milit ...
(born 1967), founder Next of Kin Registry (NOKR) * Marshall Chapman (born 1949), singer-songwriter *
Jeremy Clements Jeremy Wayne Clements (born January 16, 1985) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He is the son of Tony Clements, owner of Clements Racing Engines. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 51 Chevrole ...
(born 1985), racing driver *
Landon Cohen Landon Cohen (born August 3, 1986) is a former gridiron football defensive tackle. He was most recently a member of the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2 ...
(b 1986), football player, community-builder *Fieldin Culbreth (Born 1963), Major League Baseball umpire, Olympian * David Daniels (born 1966), counter-tenor * Stephen Davis (born 1974),
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
running back * Steven Duggar (born 1993), baseball player for the San Francisco Giants * Marion Kirkland Fort (1921–1964), mathematician * Art Fowler (1922–2007), pitcher and pitching coach in Major League Baseball * Grace Beacham Freeman (1916–2002), poet,
columnist A columnist is a person who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Column (newspaper), Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs. They take the fo ...
, short story writer;
South Carolina Poet Laureate The South Carolina Poet Laureate is the poet laureate for the state of South Carolina. , the position was vacant following the resignation of Marjory Heath Wentworth after 17 years in the post. No term of office is set by law. Laureates are appoi ...
1985–86 * Hank Garland (1930–2004), legendary Nashville guitarist who accompanied Patsy Cline and Elvis, among others * George Gray (aka One Man Gang) (born 1960), Pro wrestler *
Fred Griffith Frederick Griffith (1877–1941) was a British bacteriologist whose focus was the epidemiology and pathology of bacterial pneumonia. In January 1928 he reported what is now known as Griffith's Experiment, the first widely accepted demonstratio ...
(born 1964), American actor and film producer * Mark Hammond (born 1963), South Carolina Secretary of State * Lee Haney (born 1951), eight-time Mr. Olympia record holder * Dennis Hayes (born 1950), inventor of the Hayes modem *
Heath Hembree Richard Heath Hembree (born January 13, 1989), nicknamed Heater, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Listed at and , Hembree throws and bats right-handed. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the San F ...
(born 1989), baseball player *
Adam Humphries Adam Humphries (born June 24, 1993) is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Clemson and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015. He has also been a member of the ...
(born 1993), NFL wide receiver * Walter Hyatt (1950–1996), country musician and songwriter *
Joseph T. Johnson Joseph Travis Johnson (February 28, 1858 – May 8, 1919) was a United States representative from South Carolina and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of South Carolina. Education and ca ...
(1858–1919), United States Representative from South Carolina * Marcus Lattimore, football player *
Donald Lawrence Donald Lawrence (born May 4, 1961, Gastonia, North Carolina) is an American gospel music songwriter, record producer and artist. He is best known for his Grammy Award-nominated songs "The Blessing of Abraham" and "Encourage Yourself". He studied ...
(born 1961), Gospel artist *
Fred L. Lowery Fred may refer to: People * Fred (name), including a list of people and characters with the name Mononym * Fred (cartoonist) (1931–2013), pen name of Fred Othon Aristidès, French * Fred (footballer, born 1949) (1949–2022), Frederico R ...
(born 1943),
Southern Baptist The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a Christian denomination based in the United States. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination, and the largest Protestant and second-largest Christian denomination in the United States. The word ...
clergyman, televangelist, and Christian author; former pastor of First Baptist Church of North Spartanburg *
Leigh Magar Leigh Magar is a milliner in Charleston, South Carolina and the owner of Magar Hatworks. She makes a range of custom hats from simple fedoras to more elaborate and theatrical ones, such as those worn at the Kentucky Derby. Her work is sold at Barne ...
, milliner and business owner * The Marshall Tucker Band, Southern rock band featuring George McCorkle, Doug Gray, Jerry Eubanks, Toy Caldwell, Tommy Caldwell, and Paul Riddle * Marcus McBeth (born 1980), baseball player * Roger Milliken (1915–2010), billionaire owner of the largest privately held textile manufacturing firm in the world ( Milliken & Company) * Bud Moore (1925–2017), NASCAR team owner/crew chief *
D. J. Moore Denniston Oliver "D. J." Moore Jr. (born April 14, 1997) is an American football wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played college football at Maryland. He was drafted by the Carolina Pant ...
(born 1987), football player *
Kris Neely Kristofer M. Neely (born November 21, 1978) is an American creative writer and visual artist in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA who serves as Professor of Art and Director of Interdisciplinary Studies at Spartanburg Methodist College.George, Dusti ...
(born 1978), artist and educator *
Samuel J. Nicholls Samuel Jones Nicholls (May 7, 1885 – November 23, 1937) was a United States representative from South Carolina. He was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He attended Bingham Military Institute in Asheville, North Carolina; Wofford College, ...
(1885–1937), United States Representative from South Carolina * Angela Nikodinov (born 1980), U.S. figure skater * Cotton Owens (1924–2012), NASCAR team owner/crew chief *
David Pearson David or Dave Pearson may refer to: * David Pearson (librarian) (born 1955), British librarian and scholar * David Pearson (racing driver) (1934–2018), American car racing champion * David Pearson (scientist) (born 1942), Canadian scientist, a ...
(1934–2018), NASCAR champion *
Kitty Black Perkins Louvenia (Kitty) Black Perkins was Chief Designer of Fashions and Doll Concepts for Mattel's Barbie line for over twenty-five years. Her designs include the "First Black Barbie" (1979-1980) the first African American doll from Mattel to have the ...
(born 1948), Chief Designer of Fashions for Barbie, designer of the "First Black Barbie" * Arthur Prysock (1929–1997), jazz singer * Betsy Rawls (born 1928), pro golfer, member of World Golf Hall of Fame, born in Spartanburg * Mike Reid (born 1970), NFL player *
Gianna Rolandi Gianna Rolandi (August 16, 1952 – June 20, 2021)Bordello, Enzo (June 20, 2021)"Gianna Rolandi 1952–2021" '' Parterre Box''. was an American soprano. She was based at the New York City Opera (NYCO) and enjoyed a 20-year national and internati ...
(1952–2021), operatic soprano * Al "Flip" Rosen (1924–2015), MLB 4-time All-Star third baseman and first baseman, MVP, 2-time home run champion, 2-time RBI leader *
Donald S. Russell Donald Stuart Russell (February 22, 1906 – February 22, 1998) was an American attorney from South Carolina who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Administration, President of the University of South Carolina, governor of South Car ...
(1906–1998), former South Carolina governor, president of the University of South Carolina, US Senator, and member of the US 4th Circuit Court of Appeals *
Archibald Rutledge Archibald Hamilton Rutledge (1883–1973) was an American poet and educator, the first South Carolina poet laureate from 1934 to 1973. He wrote over 50 books and many poems, usually about his hunting and life experiences in South Carolina. Biogra ...
(1883–1973), South Carolina poet laureate, resided in Spartanburg for about 20 years * Jack Smith (1924–2001), NASCAR driver * Carey Wentworth Styles, founder of the Atlanta Constitution * Gina Tolleson, Miss South Carolina USA 1990, First runner-up Miss USA 1990, Miss World 1990 * Wayne Tolleson (born 1955), baseball player *
Sandra L. Townes Sandra Lynn Townes (September 29, 1944 – February 8, 2018) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Early life and education Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the Honora ...
(1944–2018), United States District Court judge *
Buck Trent Charles Wilburn "Buck" Trent (born February 17, 1938) is an American country music instrumentalist currently performing in Branson, Missouri. He invented the electric banjo and also plays the five-string banjo, dobro, steel guitar, mandolin, e ...
(born 1938), country music instrumentalist who accompanied Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton, among others *
Ira Tucker Ira B. Tucker (May 17, 1925June 24, 2008) was the lead singer with the American gospel group The Dixie Hummingbirds. He was with The Dixie Hummingbirds for 70 years, from 1938, when he joined at the age of 13, until his death from cardiovascula ...
(1925–2008), lead singer of the influential gospel group the
Dixie Hummingbirds Dixie, also known as Dixieland or Dixie's Land, is a nickname for all or part of the Southern United States. While there is no official definition of this region (and the included areas shift over the years), or the extent of the area it cove ...
* William "Singing Billy" Walker (1809–1875), compiler of shape note tunebooks, including '' The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion''. * Celia Weston (born 1951), actress * Zion Williamson (born 2000), men's basketball player currently playing for
New Orleans Pelicans The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans. The Pelicans compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division and play their hom ...
, and formerly for Duke


Gallery

Image:Clock tower in Spartanburg, SC IMG_4815.JPG, Clocktower Image:Spartanburg, SC, City Hall IMG_4837.JPG, City Hall Image:Fountain at Morgan Square, Spartanburg, SC IMG_4821.JPG, Closeup of Morgan Square fountain Image:Section of downtown Spartanburg, SC IMG_4823.JPG, Part of downtown Spartanburg Image:Citizens and Southern National Bank, Spartanburg, SC IMG_4826.JPG, Citizens and Southern National Bank Image:First Baptist Church in Spartanburg (lower view) IMG_4827.JPG, First Baptist Church Image:Steeple of First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, SC IMG_4830.JPG, High steeple of First Baptist Church Image:First Presbyterian, Spartanburg, SC IMG_4828.JPG, First Presbyterian Church Image:St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Spartanburg, SC IMG_4832.JPG, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church


See also

* List of municipalities in South Carolina


References


Further reading

* Cooper, Peter (1997). ''Hub City Music Makers''. Spartanburg, S.C.: Holocene Publishing. . * Landrum, J.B.O. (1900). ''History of Spartanburg County''. * Racine, Philip N. (1999). ''Seeing Spartanburg''. Spartanburg, S.C.: Hub City Writers Project. . * Racine, Philip N. ''Living a Big War in a Small Place: Spartanburg, South Carolina, during the Confederacy'' (Univ of South Carolina Press, 2013). * Teter, Betsy Wakefield (Ed.) (2002). ''Textile Town: Spartanburg, South Carolina''. Spartanburg, S.C.: Hub City Writers Project. . Pp. 346. 40 authors provide a detailed community study, using oral histories, letters, and 200 illustrations and photographs. Central themes include labor strikes, family life in the mill villages, Depression-era hardships, race and desegregation, the boom of WW2 production, and late-twentieth-century deindustrialization. * WPA (1939). ''History of Spartanburg County''.


External links

*
Spartanburg Tourism Commission
* *
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare SystemGibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute
{{Authority control Cities in South Carolina Cities in Spartanburg County, South Carolina County seats in South Carolina Populated places established in 1831 1831 establishments in South Carolina