View source for Greenville, South Carolina

{{Distinguish|Greenville, North Carolina}}
{{Pp-move}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Greenville
| settlement_type    = [[List of municipalities in South Carolina|City]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
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| image1                 = Greenvillenightskyline.jpg
| caption1               = [[Downtown Greenville, South Carolina|Downtown Greenville]]
| image2                 = 2024-4-12-Falls Park Waterfall Greenville South Carolina by Yousef AbdulHusain.jpg
| caption2               = [[Falls Park on the Reedy]]
| image3                 = Greenville County Museum of Art building.jpg
| caption3               = [[Greenville County Museum of Art]]
| image4                 = Peace Concert Hall Exterior Dusk.jpg
| caption4               = [[Peace Center]]
| image5                 = Furman library.jpg
| caption5               = [[Furman University]]
}}
| image_blank_emblem = Greenville, SC City Logo.webp
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| image_seal         = GreenvilleSC seal.png
| image_map          = {{maplink
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| map_caption        = Interactive map of Greenville
| pushpin_map        = South Carolina#USA
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| pushpin_label      = Greenville
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within South Carolina##Location within the United States
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = South Carolina
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in South Carolina|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Greenville County, South Carolina|Greenville]]
<!-- Government -->
| named_for          = [[Nathanael Greene]]
| established_title  = Incorporated (as a village)
| established_date   = December 17, 1831<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge02mccogoog|quote=South Carolina act to incorporate the Village of be it enacted -amend -repeal.|title=The Statutes at Large of South Carolina: Acts from 1814 to 1838, with an appendix|first=South|last=Carolina|date=January 1, 1839|publisher=A.S. Johnston|access-date=April 12, 2017|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
| government_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |title=City of Greenville |url=https://www.masc.sc/municipality/greenville |website=Municipal Association of South Carolina |access-date=3 March 2025}}</ref>
| government_type    = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
| leader_title       = [[List of mayors of Greenville, South Carolina|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Knox H. White]]
| leader_party       = [[Republican Party (United States)|R]]
| leader_title1      = [[City manager]]
| leader_name1       = Shannon Lavrin 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='45'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 30.02
| area_land_sq_mi    = 29.80
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.23
| area_total_km2     = 77.76
| area_land_km2      = 77.17
| area_water_km2     = 0.58
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_total   = 70720
| population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_rank    = SC: [[List of cities and towns in South Carolina|6th]]
| population_density_km2 = 916.37
| population_density_sq_mi = 2373.39
| population_urban = 408626 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|109th]]) (Greenville/Mauldin Urbanized Area Combined 568,132)
| population_density_urban_km2 = 570.3
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 1,477.2
| population_metro_footnotes = <ref name="PopEstCBSA"/>
| population_metro   = 996680 (US: [[List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|57th]])
| population_demonym = Greenvillian
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = −5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −4
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 955
| coordinates        = {{coord|34|51|40|N|82|24|48|W|region:US-SC_city|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 29601–29617
| area_code          = [[Area codes 864 and 821|864, 821]]
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info_sec2    = 45-30850
| blank1_name_sec2   = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info_sec2   = 2403750<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2403750}}</ref>
| nicknames           = G-Vegas/Green Vegas,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://greenvillejournal.com/community/great-g-vegas-controversy/ |title=The Great G-Vegas Controversy |date=October 19, 2017 |work=Greenville Journal |first=Vincent |last=Harris |access-date=April 3, 2023 }}</ref> GVL
| website            = {{URL|greenvillesc.gov}}
}}

'''Greenville''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|r|iː|n|v|ɪ|l}} {{respell|GREEN|vil}}; {{IPAc-en|local|ˈ|ɡ|r|iː|n|v|əl}} {{respell|GREEN|vəl}}) is a city in [[Greenville County, South Carolina]], United States, and its [[county seat]]. It is the [[List of municipalities in South Carolina|sixth-most populous city]] in South Carolina with a population of 70,720 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="CensusCities">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2010–2020 |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates/2020-evaluation-estimates/2010s-cities-and-towns-total.html |publisher=Census Bureau |access-date=October 19, 2021}}</ref> while the Greenville metropolitan area has an estimated 997,000 residents and is the [[South Carolina statistical areas|largest metropolitan area]] in the state. Greenville is the anchor city of [[Upstate South Carolina]], an economic and cultural region in the foothills of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] with an estimated population of 1.63 million.<ref name="PopEstCBSA">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html#v2024 |title=Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Population Totals: 2020-2024 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division |date=March 13, 2025 |access-date=March 14, 2025 }}</ref>

Greenville was established in 1797 and incorporated in 1831. The city experienced early growth through the development of cotton mills and rail infrastructure, which positioned it as a key industrial hub in the Southeast. In recent decades, Greenville has shifted toward advanced manufacturing and automotive production. Numerous companies have offices within the city, such as [[Michelin]], [[Prisma Health]], [[Bon Secours (Virginia & South Carolina)|Bon Secours]], and [[Duke Energy]].<ref name="GreenvilleEmployers">{{cite web |title=Greenville, S.C.'s largest employers |date=February 12, 2020 |url=https://gvltoday.6amcity.com/largest-employers-greenville-sc/ |access-date=October 19, 2021}}</ref> Its cultural institutions include the [[Peace Center]] and [[Greenville County Museum of Art]], as well as the [[Falls Park on the Reedy]] next to [[Downtown Greenville, South Carolina|Downtown Greenville]]. It is located approximately halfway between [[Atlanta]] and [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] along [[Interstate 85 in South Carolina|I-85]]; its metro area also includes [[Interstate 185 (South Carolina)|I-185]] and [[Interstate 385|I-385]].

==History==
===From Cherokee land to Greenville County===
[[File:FallsPark1844.jpg|left|thumb|Falls Park and McBee's Mill in 1844]]
The land of present-day Greenville was once the hunting ground of the [[Cherokee]], which was forbidden to colonists. A wealthy settler from [[Virginia]] named [[Richard Pearis]] arrived in South Carolina around 1754 and established relations with the Cherokee. Pearis had a child with a Cherokee woman and received about {{Convert|100000|acre}} from the Cherokee around 1770. Pearis established a plantation on the [[Reedy River]] called the Great Plains in present-day [[Downtown Greenville, South Carolina|Downtown Greenville]]. The [[American Revolution]] divided the South Carolina country between the [[Loyalist]]s and [[Patriot (American Revolution)|Patriot]]s. Pearis supported the Loyalists and together with their allies, the Cherokee, attacked the Patriots. The Patriots retaliated by burning down Pearis' plantation and jailing him in [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]]. Pearis never returned to his plantation but [[Paris Mountain State Park|Paris Mountain]] is named after him.<ref>Whitemire, 76; Archie Vernon Huff, Jr., ''Greenville: The History of the City and County in the South Carolina Piedmont'' (Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1995), 13.</ref> The [[Treaty of Dewitt's Corner]] in 1777 ceded almost all Cherokee land, including present-day Greenville, to [[South Carolina]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Treaty of Dewitt's Corner between the Cherokee Nation and South Carolina, 1777|url=http://www.teachingushistory.org/lessons/treatyofdewittscorner.htm|website=teachingushistory.org|publisher=Teaching American History in South Carolina Project|access-date=October 28, 2015|archive-date=October 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024034720/http://www.teachingushistory.org/lessons/treatyofdewittscorner.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Greenville County, South Carolina|Greenville County]] was created in 1786.  Some sources state it was named for its physical appearance, while others say the county is named after [[Nathanael Greene|General Nathanael Greene]] in honor of his service in the [[American Revolutionary War]], or after early settler Isaac Green.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Huff|first1=Archie Jr.|title=Greenville: The History of the City and County in the South Carolina Piedmont|date=March 6, 2017|publisher=University of South Carolina Press|page=48}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last1=Gannett| first1=Henry| title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States| date=1905| publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]], [[United States Department of the Interior]]| location=[[Washington, D.C.]]| page=144| edition= Second| url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/0258/report.pdf| access-date=March 29, 2016| ref=Bul258}}</ref><ref name="britannica" /> [[Lemuel J. Alston]] came to Greenville County in 1788 and bought {{Convert|400|acre}} and a portion of Pearis' former plantation. In 1797 Alston used his land holdings to establish a village called Pleasantburg where he also built a stately mansion. In 1816, Alston's land was purchased by [[Vardry McBee]], who then leased the Alston mansion for a summer resort, before making the mansion his home from 1835 until his death in 1864.<ref name="The History of Greenville" /> Pleasantburg was renamed as Greenville in 1821 and became a village in 1831.<ref name="britannica">{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Greenville-South-Carolina |title=Greenville, South Carolina |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=December 13, 2022 }}</ref> Considered to be the father of Greenville, McBee donated land for many structures such as churches, academies, and a cotton mill. [[Furman University]] was funded by McBee who helped bring the university to Greenville from [[Winnsboro, South Carolina]], in 1851. In 1853 McBee and other Greenville County leaders funded a new railroad called the [[Greenville and Columbia Railroad|Greenville & Columbia Railroad]]. Greenville boomed to around 1,000 in the 1850s due to the growth of McBee's donations and the attraction of the town as a summer resort for visitors.<ref name="The History of Greenville">{{cite web| title=The History of Greenville| url=http://greenvillesc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1317| website=greenvillesc.gov| access-date=October 28, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=American History Greenville County, South Carolina| url=http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/counties/greenville.htm| website=electricscotland.com| publisher=Electric Scotland| access-date=October 28, 2015}}</ref>

===Latter 19th century===
[[File:SwampRabbitGRNV1890s.jpg|thumb|The [[Greenville and Northern Railway]] in the 1890s which was converted into the [[Swamp Rabbit Trail]] in 2010]]

In December 1860 Greenville supported a convention to debate the issue of secession for [[South Carolina]]. The Greenville District sent James Furman, William K. Easley, Perry E. Duncan, William H. Campbell, and James P. Harrison as delegates for the convention. On December 20, 1860, the South Carolina state convention, along with the Greenville delegation, voted to secede from the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]]. Greenville County provided over 2,000 soldiers to the [[Confederate States Army]]. The town supplied food, clothing, and firearms to the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]]. Greenville saw no action from the war until 1865 when [[Union Army|Union troops]] came through the town looking for [[Jefferson Davis|President Jefferson Davis of the Confederacy]] who had fled south from [[Richmond, Virginia]]. In June 1865, President [[Andrew Johnson]] appointed Greenville County native [[Benjamin Franklin Perry]] as [[Governor of South Carolina]].<ref name="The History of Greenville"/><ref>{{cite web|title=The Civil War in Greenville|url=http://library.furman.edu/specialcollections/HST21/civil/greenville.htm|website=Furman.edu|access-date=December 4, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220043257/http://library.furman.edu/specialcollections/HST21/civil/greenville.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In February 1869, Greenville's [[Municipal charter|town charter]] was amended by the S. C. General Assembly establishing Greenville, the town, as a city. Construction boomed in the 1870s which saw the establishment of a bridge over the [[Reedy River]], new mills on the river, and new railroads. [[The Greenville News]] was established in 1874 as Greenville's first daily newspaper. [[Southern Bell]] installed the first telephone lines in the city. The most important infrastructure that came to the city were cotton mills. Prominent cotton mill businesses operated near Greenville making it a cotton mill town. By 1915 Greenville became known as the "Textile Center of the South."<ref name="The History of Greenville"/> From 1915 to 2004, the city hosted an important textile manufacturing trade fair, the [[Southern Textile Exposition]].

===20th century===
[[File:Greenville - North Main street 01.jpg|left|thumb|North Main Street Postcard, {{circa|1903}}]]
[[File:GreenvilleSC1910.jpg|left|thumb|Main Street around 1910]]
During World War I, Greenville served as a training camp center for US Army recruits. After World War I commercial activity expanded with new movie theaters and department stores. The Mansion House was demolished and replaced with the [[Poinsett Hotel]] in 1925.<ref name="The History of Greenville"/> The [[Great Depression]] hurt the economy of Greenville forcing mills to lay off workers. Furman University and the Greenville Women's College also struggled in the crippling economy forcing them to merge in 1933. The [[Textile workers strike (1934)|Textile Workers Strike of 1934]] had a major impact in the city and surrounding mill towns, and the [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] subdued the strike. The [[New Deal]] established [[Sirrine Stadium]] and a new [[Greenville Technical Charter High School|Greenville High School]]. The [[Donaldson Air Force Base|Greenville Army Air Base]] was established in 1942 during World War II contributing to the further growth of Greenville.<ref name="The History of Greenville"/>

After the war, a [[1946 Greenville propane explosion|November 19, 1946, propane explosion]] left 6 dead and over 150 injured. The explosion involved a tank containing about {{convert|3,500|USgal|m3}} of [[propane]] and could be heard from [[Gaffney, South Carolina|Gaffney]], {{convert|50|mi}} away.

[[File:Greenville Main Post Office 2017.jpg|thumb|Greenville Main US Post Office]]
On February 16, 1947, [[The lynching of Willie Earle|Willie Earle]], a black man accused of stabbing a cab driver, was taken from his jail cell by a mob of mostly taxi drivers and [[Lynching|murdered]]. Thirty-one white men were jointly tried for the crime; most of the accused signed confessions, many of them naming Roosevelt Carlos Hurd as the lynch mob leader and the person who ultimately killed Earle with the shotgun. On May 21, 1947, a jury of 12 white men returned verdicts of not guilty for every defendant.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VjYMCAAAQBAJ&q=willie+earle+greenville&pg=PT116|title=The Palmetto State: The Making of South Carolina|first1=Jack|last1=Bass|first2=W. Scott|last2=Poole|date=June 5, 2012|publisher=Univ of South Carolina Press|isbn=9781611171327|access-date=April 12, 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name="Moredock">{{cite news |last1=Moredock |first1=Will |title=The Good Fight: The Last Lynching |url=https://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/the-good-fight-zwnj-the-last-lynching/Content?oid=1108264 |access-date=November 3, 2018 |work=Charleston City Paper |date=February 14, 2007 |archive-date=February 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227034246/https://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/the-good-fight-zwnj-the-last-lynching/Content?oid=1108264 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After World War II, Greenville's economy surged with the establishment of new stores and the expansion of the city limits. Furman University doubled its student population and moved to a new location. Higher education facilities such as [[Bob Jones University]] in 1947 and [[Greenville Technical College]] in 1962 were established in Greenville. The [[Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport]] was established in nearby [[Greer, South Carolina|Greer]] in 1962. The 1966 construction of the [[Landmark Building (Greenville, South Carolina)|Landmark Building]] added what remains the city's tallest building.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 7, 2022 |title=Local investors purchase Landmark Building |url=https://gsabusiness.com/news/real-estate-commercial/82287/ |access-date=October 16, 2023 |website=GSA Business Report |language=en |first=Ross |last=Norton }}</ref> Greenville's economy waned in the 1970s, leaving a void due to the flight of many retailers. Mayor Max Heller then began a revitalization with the [[Greenville County Museum of Art]] and the Hughes Main Library. Main Street was then converted into a two-lane road lined with trees and sidewalks. With a 1978 federal grant, a convention center and hotel were built, bringing business back to the area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Max Heller Collection: Biography|url=http://library.furman.edu/specialcollections/southcarolina/heller_biography.htm|website=furman.edu|publisher=Furman|access-date=October 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121090106/http://library.furman.edu/specialcollections/southcarolina/heller_biography.htm|archive-date=November 21, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After a succession of several mayors in the early 1980s, [[Bill Workman]] was elected in 1983 and made economic development a priority.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94998257/mayor-elect-targets-economic-development/ |title=Mayor-elect targets economic development |date=June 13, 1983 |work=[[The Greenville News]] |first=Claudette |last=James |access-date=February 14, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com }}</ref> He and the chamber of commerce convinced [[Michelin]] to move its North America headquarters to Greenville in 1984. Tens of other companies also moved to Greenville in following years, including pulp and paper business [[Bowater]] in 1992.<ref>{{cite news |title=S.C. Luring Corporate Headquarters – Columbia Hopes to Match the Upstate's Success in Enticing Companies to Relocate Their Home Offices |date=March 29, 1993 |work=[[The State (newspaper)|The State]] |location=Columbia, SC |first=Fred |last=Monk |page=1 |via=[[NewsBank]] }}</ref> The [[Greenville Municipal Stadium]] was constructed in 1984.<ref>{{cite news |title=Strike 2? Unlike Other Cities, Charlotte Lukewarm to New Ballpark |date=April 10, 1986 |work=[[The Charlotte Observer]] |publication-place=NC |first=Jim |last=Morrill |page=1A |via=[[NewsBank]] }}</ref> The city acted as developer for the West End Market project, which later brought an arts and entertainment district.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://saveourgateways.com/HowGreenville.php |title=How Greenville, South Carolina, Brought Downtown Back |date=Spring 2008 |work=Real Estate Review |first1=Nancy P. |last1=Whitworth |first2=Mary Douglas |last2=Neal |access-date=January 29, 2022 |via=saveourgateways.com }}</ref>

In 1990, the [[Peace Center]] arts venue opened in [[Downtown Greenville, South Carolina|downtown Greenville]]. In 1994, BMW opened its first manufacturing plant outside Germany between Greenville and Spartanburg. [[Knox H. White|Knox White]] became mayor in 1995. In 1998, [[Bon Secours Wellness Arena]] replaced [[Greenville Memorial Auditorium]] as an entertainment arena. The Poinsett Hotel was renovated in the late 1990s with Poinsett Plaza at its entryway, and the Camperdown Bridge that had crossed Reedy Falls for four decades was removed and replaced with a renovated [[Falls Park on the Reedy|Falls Park]].<ref name="glimpses"/>

===21st century===
During the 2000s, thousands of people began moving to Greenville. [[Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy|Liberty Bridge at Falls Park]] was completed in 2004 and became a major landmark.<ref>{{cite web |title=Local News: A park's birthday, a city's rebirth - Greenville Journal |url=http://greenvillejournal.com/local/3656-a-park-s-birthday-a-city-s-rebirth.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010063315/http://greenvillejournal.com/local/3656-a-park-s-birthday-a-city-s-rebirth.html |archive-date=2014-10-10 |access-date=2014-10-10}} A park's birthday, a city's rebirth</ref> Greenville has continued to evolve and grow with over 70,000 residents in its city limits as of 2020.<ref name="CensusCities" /> Its growth has also improved the popularity of close cities such as [[Simpsonville, South Carolina|Simpsonville]], [[Mauldin, South Carolina|Mauldin]], and [[Fountain Inn, South Carolina|Fountain Inn]]. Under the leadership of Knox White, the [[Swamp Rabbit Trail]] was opened in 2010. It is an old railroad converted into a path that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.<ref>April A. Morris, "[http://issuu.com/cjdesigns/docs/gj11302012?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222 Safe on the Swamp Rabbit Trail]", ''Greenville Journal'', November 30, 2012, 8–9; [http://greenvillerec.com/studies-surveys/Greenville Rec survey]; Jenny Arnold, "Swamp Rabbit Trail is worth the ride from Spartanburg", July 5, 2012, [http://www.goupstate.com/article/20120705/ent/207051004?p=1&tc=pg GoUpstate.com] The trail is planned to reach Lake Conestee to the south; and anticipating development toward the north, the mile marker at the current Travelers Rest terminus reads "23", the distance to the North Carolina border. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130714104747/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20110305/PC1602/303059954 "Bikeville, S.C.: Scenic Swamp Rabbit Trail gets Greenville moving"], ''Charleston Post and Courier'', March 5, 2011.</ref>

==Geography==
Greenville is roughly equidistant between [[Atlanta]] ({{Convert|145|mi|disp=sqbr}} southwest), and [[Charlotte, North Carolina]] ({{convert|100|mi|disp=sqbr}} northeast). [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]], the state capital, is {{convert|100|mi|-1}} to the southeast.

Greenville is in the foothills of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]], a [[physiographic province]] of the larger [[Appalachian Mountains]] range, and includes many small hills. [[Sassafras Mountain]], the highest point in South Carolina, is in northern Pickens County, less than {{convert|40|mi}} northwest of Greenville. Many area television and radio station towers are on [[Paris Mountain State Park|Paris Mountain]], the second most prominent peak in the area, {{convert|8|mi|0}} north of downtown Greenville. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|30.02|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|29.80|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.23|sqmi}} (0.77%) is water.<ref name="TigerWebMapServer"/> The [[Reedy River]], a tributary of the [[Saluda River]], runs through the center of the city.

Greenville is located in the Brevard Fault Zone and has had occasional minor [[earthquake]]s.

===Climate===
Greenville, like much of the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont]] region of the southeastern United States, has a mild version of a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfa''), with four distinct seasons; the city is part of USDA [[Hardiness zone]] 8a/8b.<ref>{{cite web|title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=June 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227032333/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/|archive-date=February 27, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Winters are short and generally cool, with a January daily average of {{convert|42.2|°F|1}}. On average, there are 59&nbsp;nights per year that drop to or below freezing, and only 1.3&nbsp;days that fail to rise above freezing.<ref name = "NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (GSP)"/> April is the driest month, with an average of {{convert|3.36|in|mm}} of precipitation.

Summers are hot and humid, with a daily temperature average in July of {{convert|79.9|°F|1}}. There are an average 43&nbsp;days per year with highs at or above {{convert|90|°F|0}}.<ref name = "NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (GSP)"/> Official record temperatures range from {{convert|107|°F|0}} on [[Summer 2012 North American heat wave|July 1, 2012]], down to {{convert|-6|°F|0}} on January 30, 1966; the record cold daily maximum is {{convert|19|°F|0}} on December 31, 1917, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is {{convert|80|°F|0}} on July 12, 1937, the last of three occasions.<ref name = "NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (GSP)"/> The average window for freezing temperatures is November 4 through April 1, allowing a growing season of 217 days.<ref name = "NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (GSP)"/>

Precipitation is generally less frequent in autumn than spring<ref name="NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (GSP)"/> and, on average, Greenville receives {{convert|47.2|in|mm|sigfig=3}} of precipitation annually, which is somewhat evenly distributed throughout the year, although summer is slightly wetter; annual precipitation has historically ranged from {{convert|31.08|in|mm|abbr=on}} in 2007 to {{convert|72.53|in|mm|abbr=on}} in 1908.<ref name = "NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (GSP)"/> In addition, there is an average of {{convert|4.7|in|cm|1}} of snow, occurring mainly from January thru March, with rare snow occurring in November or April. More frequent ice storms and sleet mixed in with rain occur in the Greenville area; seasonal snowfall has historically ranged from trace amounts as recently as 2011–12 to {{convert|21.4|in|cm|abbr=on}} in 1935–36.<ref name="NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (GSP)"/> These storms can have a major impact on the area, as they often pull tree limbs down on power lines and make driving hazardous.
{{Greenville, South Carolina weatherbox}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 1305
|1860= 1518
|1870= 2757
|1880= 6160
|1890= 8607
|1900= 11860
|1910= 15741
|1920= 23127
|1930= 29154
|1940= 34734
|1950= 58161
|1960= 66188
|1970= 61208
|1980= 58242
|1990= 58282
|2000= 56002
|2010= 58409
|2020= 70720
|estyear=2024
|estimate=74371
|estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/greenvillecitysouthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Greenville city, South Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|title=Census Bureau|url=https://www.census.gov/en.html|website=Census Bureau|access-date=October 23, 2021}}</ref><br />2020<ref name="2020Pop">{{cite web|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.2020.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=October 23, 2021}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:45&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
}}

Greenville is the largest principal city of the [[Upstate South Carolina|Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area]], a [[metropolitan statistical area]] that covers Greenville, [[Laurens County, South Carolina|Laurens]], [[Anderson County, South Carolina|Anderson]] and [[Pickens County, South Carolina|Pickens]] counties and had an estimated population of 975,480 in 2023.<ref name="2023OMB">{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2023 |title=OMB Bulletin No. 23-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OMB-Bulletin-23-01.pdf |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=[[United States Office of Management and Budget]]}}</ref><ref name="PopEstCBSA"/>

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2024 estimates report that the Greenville–Anderson–Greer Metropolitan Statistical Area grew from 979,608 residents on July 1, 2023 to 996,680 on July 1, 2024—an annual increase of 17,072 (+1.7%) and +7.4% since 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual and Cumulative Estimates of Resident Population Change for Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States and Puerto Rico and Metropolitan Statistical Area Rankings: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2024/metro/totals/cbsa-met-est2024-chg.xlsx |access-date=30 October 2025 |website=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

Since South Carolina law makes annexing the suburban areas illegal, Greenville's [[city proper]] population is small as a proportion of the total population of the urbanized area.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Greenville racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4530850&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 14, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|45,504
|64.34%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|16,017
|22.65%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|91
|0.13%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|1,528
|2.16%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|89
|0.13%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|2,563
|3.62%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|4,928
|6.97%
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 70,720 people, 32,250 households, and 15,431 families residing in the city.

[[File:Race and ethnicity 2020 Greenville, SC.png|thumb|Map of racial distribution in Greenville, 2020 U.S. census. Each dot is one person: {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(115, 178, 255)|White}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(159, 212, 0)|Black}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(255, 0, 0)|Asian}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(255, 170, 0)|Hispanic}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(140, 81, 181)|Multiracial}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(153, 102, 51)|Native American/Other}}]]

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name="GR2" /> there were 58,409 people, 24,382 households, and 12,581 families residing in the city. The population density was {{Convert|2148.0|PD/sqmi}}. There were 27,295 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|1046.9|/sqmi}}. The racial composition of the city was 62.12% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 31.54% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American]], 3.44% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] (of any race), 1.27% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.14% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.37% of [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.11% of [[Multiracial American|Two or more races]].

There were 29,418 households, out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.7% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.4% were non-families. 40.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 20.0% under the age of 18, 13.8% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,144, and the median income for a family was $44,125. Males had a median income of $35,111 versus $25,339 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $23,242. About 12.2% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over.

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"
|+ '''Greenville racial breakdown of population'''
|-
! Racial composition  !! 2000 !! 2010 !! 2019<ref name="2017Census">{{cite web |title=Greenville city, South Carolina |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/greenvillecitysouthcarolina,US/PST045216 |website=Census Bureau |access-date=September 6, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| [[White American|White]] || 62.1% || 64.0% || 68.7%
|-
| [[African American|Black]] || 34.0% || 30.0% || 25.8%
|-
| [[Asian American|Asian]] || 1.3% || 1.4% || 2.4%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] || 0.14% || 0.3% || 0.3%
|-
| [[Native Hawaiian]] and<br />other [[Pacific Islander]] || 0.06% || 0.1% || 0.1%
|-
| [[Multiracial American|Two or more races]] || 1.1% || 1.8% || 1.7%
|-
| [[Race in the United States|Other]] || 1.3% || 2.4% || 1.0%
|}

==Economy==
Greenville's economy through the late 1800s to the late 1900s was based largely on [[Greenville Textile Industry|its textile manufacturing]], with up to 19 mills{{efn|Those 18 mills being [[American Spinning Company Mill No. 2]], [[Poe Textile Mill]], Union Bleachery Mill, Riverdale Mill, [[Monaghan Mill]], Southern Weaving Mill, Woodside Mill, Carolina/Poinsett Mill, Piedmont Plush Mill, [[Brandon Mill]], KM Fabrics Mill, Westervelt/Judson Mill, Dunean Mill, Franklin Mill, [[Mills Mill]], McGee/Beaver Duck Mill, Camperdown Mill, Vardry Mill, and Huguenot Mill.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bruss |first=Kelley |date=2016-04-29 |title= "Greenville's old mills forge new paths" - Greenville News |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/insider/extras/2016/04/19/greenvilles-old-mills-forge-new-paths/83230136/. |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Greenville News |language=en-US}}</ref>}} at one point, and because of that, the city was known as "The Textile Capital of the World" for that period.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CFShanesy |date=2022-12-09 |title=Introducing "The Textile Crescent and the Making of Greenville County" - MetroConnects |url=https://metroconnects.org/textile-crescent-introduction/#:~:text=A%20Community's%20Seeds%20are%20Sown,were%20operating%20in%20Greenville%20County. |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Metro Connects |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Holdman |first=Jessica |date=2024-08-07 |title=How SC's once-dominating textile industry has transformed to supply new employers • SC Daily Gazette |url=https://scdailygazette.com/2024/08/07/how-scs-once-dominating-textile-industry-has-transformed-to-supply-new-employers/#:~:text=By%201909,%20there%20were%20169,the%20issue%20was%20further%20exacerbated. |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=SC Daily Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> In the last few decades, favorable wages and tax benefits have lured foreign companies to invest heavily in the area. The city is the North American headquarters for [[Michelin]], [[Synnex]], [[United Community Bank]], [[AVX Corporation]], [[Sage Automotive Interiors]], [[NCEES]], Ameco, [[Southern Tide]], [[Confluence Outdoor]], [[JTEKT]], Cleva North America, [[Spinx]], [[Current Lighting Solutions]], [[Prisma Health]], and Scansource. In 2003, the [[International Center for Automotive Research]] was created, establishing CUICAR as the new model for automotive research. The Center for Emerging Technologies in mobility and energy was opened in 2011, hosting a number of companies in leading edge R&D and the headquarters for Sage Automotive.

When the former [[Donaldson Air Force Base]] closed in 1963, the land became the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center (SCTAC). SCTAC is the global home of Lockheed Martin F-16. Michelin, 3M, Proterra and Stevens Aerospace have major operations at the park as well. In addition, SCTAC is the home of South Carolina's world-class EV test track, the International Transportation and Innovation Center (ITIC), as well as the South Carolina Army National Guard Aviation Support Facility.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CEO Jody Bryson Leads SCTAC's Development As Upstate Aviation, Automotive Hub |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/money/business/2021/03/04/ceo-jody-bryson-leads-sctacs-development-upstate-aviation-automotive-hub/4577503001/ |access-date=July 6, 2023 |website=The Greenville News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
As the largest city in the [[Upstate South Carolina|Upstate]], Greenville offers many activities and attractions. Greenville's theaters and event venues regularly host major concerts and touring theater companies. Four independent theaters present several plays a year. ''The New York Times'' included Greenville among 52 places in the world to visit in 2023, highlighting the city's wide variety of restaurants.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-01-12 |title=52 Places to Go in 2023 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/travel/52-places-travel-2023.html |access-date=2025-01-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |url-access=subscription |quote=Set in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville has established itself on the culinary scene.}}</ref>

The [[Bon Secours Wellness Arena]] brings national tours of many popular bands to downtown, and the [[Peace Center|Peace Center for the Performing Arts]] provides a venue for orchestras and [[Broadway theatre|Broadway shows]]. A planned multimillion-dollar renovation to the center's main concert hall lobby and riverside amphitheatre began in the spring of 2011.

===Event venues===
[[File:BonSecoursArenaGRN.jpg|thumb|[[Bon Secours Wellness Arena]]]]
* [[Bon Secours Wellness Arena]], the home of the [[Greenville Swamp Rabbits]] of the [[ECHL]], is a 16,000-seat arena in downtown Greenville that opened in 1998 as the Bi-Lo Center.<ref>[http://www.bonsecoursarena.com/info/history-gad-1 History / Greenville Arena District] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010315/http://www.bonsecoursarena.com/info/history-gad-1 |date=February 21, 2017 }}, [[Bon Secours Wellness Arena]]. Accessed February 20, 2017. "GMAD oversaw the Greenville Memorial Auditorium which opened in 1958 and changed to the Greenville Arena District (GAD) in 1998, upon the construction and opening of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena (first known as the BI-LO Center)."</ref>
* [[Fluor Field at the West End]], home of the [[Greenville Drive]] baseball team, the [[Minor League Baseball|Class-A affiliate]] of the [[Boston Red Sox]]. The stadium was designed to echo many of the features of [[Fenway Park]], home of the parent club, including a representation of Fenway's [[Green Monster]] standing {{convert|30|ft}} high in left field.<ref>[https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-522599 Fluor Field], [[Minor League Baseball]]. Accessed February 20, 2017. "Modeled after Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox; Fluor Field at the West End boasts its own 'Green Monster,' a 30-foot high wall in left field, equipped with a manual scoreboard. The dimensions all around the outfield wall are to the same specifications as Fenway Park, including 'Pesky's Pole' in right field."</ref>
* Greenville Convention Center, a {{convert|280000|sqft|adj=on}} convention and meeting facility that was established in 1964 as the newest of a series of Textile Halls, the original dating back to 1915 as the Southern Textile Exposition.<ref>Staff. [http://upstatebusinessjournal.com/snapshot/textile-hall/ "Textile Hall"], ''Upstate Business Journal'', September 13, 2013. Accessed February 20, 2017. "The first Southern Textile Exposition held in Greenville was in 1915 in the warehouse of the Piedmont and Northern Railroad.... The new Textile Hall opened on Highway 291 in 1964; it is now known as the TD Convention Center."</ref>
* [[Peace Center]], performing arts center that includes a concert hall with 2,100 seats and a theater seating 400, and a 1,200-seat amphitheater.<ref>[http://www.peacecenter.org/about-us About Us], [[Peace Center]]. Accessed February 20, 2017. "With a 2,100-seat concert hall, a 400-seat theatre, an amphitheatre, a sophisticated patrons' lounge, and a variety of indoor and outdoor meeting, rehearsal, and event spaces, the Peace Center has become the hub of cultural life in Upstate South Carolina."</ref> In late 2024, the Peace Center will debut A Music Project (AMP), a $36 million project to renovate three existing buildings on its campus into live music venues. This will include the Coach Music Factory, a new 1300-person capacity music club.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Danielle |date=September 13, 2022 |title=Peace Center to open music club, listening room + recording studio in Greenville, SC |url=https://gvltoday.6amcity.com/peace-center-a-music-project-greenville-sc |access-date=June 6, 2023 |website=GVLtoday |language=en}}</ref>

===Landmarks===
[[File:2024-4-12-Falls Park Waterfall Greenville South Carolina by Yousef AbdulHusain.jpg|thumb|[[Falls Park on the Reedy|Falls Park On The Reedy River]]]]
[[File:Greenvillezoo giraffes.jpg|thumb|[[Greenville Zoo]]]]
[[File:Mill's Mill.jpg|thumb|[[Mills Mill]], converted into loft condominiums]]
[[File:UpcountryhistorymuseumGRV.jpg|thumb|[[Upcountry History Museum]]]]
* Cancer Survivors Park, opened in 2018<ref>{{cite news |url=https://greenvillejournal.com/news/cancer-survivors-park-opening/ |title=The path to Greenville's Cancer Survivors Park mirrors journey of cancer survivors |date=May 30, 2018 |work=Greenville Journal |first=Cindy |last=Landrum |access-date=April 15, 2024}}</ref>
* The Children's Museum of the Upstate, one of the first children's museums to become Smithsonian affiliated.
* [[Falls Park on the Reedy]], a large regional park in the West End with gardens and several waterfalls, with access to the [[Swamp Rabbit Trail]]. Dedicated in 2004, the $15.0 million park is home to the [[Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy|Liberty Bridge]], a pedestrian [[suspension bridge]] overlooking the [[Reedy River]]. The park's development sparked a $75 million public-private development, Riverplace, directly across Main Street. Falls Park has been called the birthplace of Greenville, but in the mid-20th century the area was in severe decline, and the Camperdown Bridge was built, obstructing the view of the falls. In the mid-1980s, the City adopted a master plan for the park. However, renovation accelerated under Mayor [[Knox H. White|Knox White]] in the late 1990s, leading to the removal of the Camperdown Bridge in 2002 and the construction of the [[Miguel Rosales]]-designed [[Liberty Bridge at Falls Park on the Reedy|Liberty Bridge]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.greenvillesc.gov/178/History |website=Greenville South Carolina |publisher=City of Greenville |access-date=June 27, 2023}}</ref> While bridges with similar structural concepts have been built in Europe, the Liberty Bridge is unique in its geometry.
* [[Greenville County Museum of Art]], specializing in American art, frequently with a Southern perspective that dates back to the 18th century. It is noted for its collections of work by [[Andrew Wyeth]] and [[Jasper Johns]], as well as a contemporary collection that features such notables as [[Andy Warhol]], [[Georgia O'Keeffe]], and others.
* [[Greenville Zoo]], established in 1960 and is located in [[Cleveland Park (Greenville, South Carolina)|Cleveland Park]].<ref>Bishop, Bart. [http://www.goupstate.com/article/NC/20120824/Entertainment/605140471/SJ/ "Zoo-A-Palooza to benefit Greenville Zoo"], ''[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]]'', August 24, 2012. Accessed February 20, 2017. "The Zoo, which is next to Cleveland Park in downtown Greenville, opened in 1960 and is typically thought of as a small but thriving zoo."</ref>
* Linky Stone Park: The Children's Garden, a {{convert|1.7|acre|adj=on}} horticultural attraction featuring a unique garden that allows visitors to experience flowers using all five senses, a geology wall made of rocks and minerals from around the Upstate, a textile garden, a Hansel and Gretel cottage, and a secret garden.
* [[McPherson Park (Greenville, South Carolina)|McPherson Park]], the city's oldest park and has a free public miniature golf course.
* [[Roper Mountain Science Center]], home to a historic {{convert|23|in|adj=on}} refractor telescope, eighth largest of its kind in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ropermountain.org/whats-here/daniel-observatory|title=Welcome to Roper Mountain Science Center!|work=ropermountain.org|access-date=July 8, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210082913/http://www.ropermountain.org/whats-here/daniel-observatory|archive-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref>
* Runway Park at GMU, viewing location for aircraft taking off and landing with an educational amphitheater, exercise "Perimeter Taxiway", walking "Runways", aviation themed playground, a swing set, a Bi-plane "Climber", a picnic hangar and a Cessna 310 display.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://travel.usnews.com/Greenville_SC/Things_To_Do/Runway_Park_at_GMU_63538/ |title=Runway Park at GMU |date=January 2, 2024 |magazine=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |access-date=February 6, 2024}}</ref> A {{convert|15|ft|adj=on}} cross section of a Boeing 737 fuselage serves as a park entrance.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://generalaviationnews.com/2015/10/25/gmus-runway-park-fuselage-entrance-opens/ |title=GMU's Runway Park fuselage entrance opens |date=October 25, 2015 |work=General Aviation News |access-date=February 6, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum|Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum & Baseball Library]], located in the historic home of baseball player [[Shoeless Joe Jackson]] adjacent to [[Fluor Field at the West End]].
* [[Swamp Rabbit Trail]], a {{convert|22|mi|adj=on}} greenway connecting downtown Greenville to the City of Travelers Rest. On June 16, 2023, a {{convert|4.5|mi|adj=on}} extension of the trail was opened, connecting Cleveland Park to the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Danielle |title=The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail extension is now open |url=https://gvltoday.6amcity.com/green-line-extension-swamp-rabbit-trail-greenville-sc |website=GVLtoday |date=June 19, 2023 |publisher=6AM City |access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref>
* Unity Park, located along the [[Reedy River]] just west of downtown, opened in May 2022. The {{convert|60|acre|adj=on}} park features basketball courts, a baseball field, a splash pad, a 10,000-square-foot welcome center/event space and three pedestrian bridges spanning the river. Five walking trails totaling {{convert|2.5|mi}} connect to the [[Swamp Rabbit Trail]] as it passes through the park. The park merged what was once two segregated parks, Mayberry Park for Black residents and Meadowbrook Park for white residents. Just north of the park, at the intersection of West Washington and South Hudson streets, the city dedicated the Lila Mae Brock Memorial, named after the late Southernside community leader described as "the epitome of unity."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Atkinson |first=Macon |title=Greenville honors Southernside missionary Lila Mae Brock with statue in Unity Park |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/greenville/downtown/2022/04/19/greenville-sc-honors-missionary-lila-mae-brock-statue-unity-park/7359378001/ |access-date=May 16, 2023 |website=The Greenville News |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Upcountry History Museum]], the area's largest history museum and a Smithsonian affiliate.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/venues/museum/upcountry-history-museum/ |title=Upcountry History Museum |magazine=[[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian]] |access-date=June 11, 2023 }}</ref>

===Festivals===
* Artisphere, a three-day art festival held each spring.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artisphere.us|title=Artisphere – Arts. Culture. Life. in Greenville South Carolina|work=artisphere.us|access-date=January 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429145755/http://www.artisphere.us/|archive-date=April 29, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 2019 festival featured musicians [[The New Respects]] and [[Jill Andrews]] and over a hundred visual artists and street performers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/03/05/artisphere-2019-greenville-sc-festival-lineup-south-carolina/3068989002/ |title=Artisphere festival lineup announced. Here's what you can expect in 2019 |date=March 5, 2019 |newspaper=The Greenville News |first=Haley |last=Walters |access-date=December 9, 2019 |url-access=limited }}</ref>
* Euphoria Greenville, an annual four-day culinary mid-September event series held at various city venues; the food, wine, and music festival in 2019 included an educational component and dinners by [[Michelin Guide#Stars|Michelin-starred]] chefs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euphoriagreenville.com|title=Euphoria Greenville – September 17-20, 2015|work=euphoriagreenville.com|access-date=January 29, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://greenvillejournal.com/eat-drink/euphoria-line-up-announced-tickets-on-sale-now/ |title=Euphoria line-up announced, tickets on sale now |date=April 28, 2019 |newspaper=Greenville Journal |first=Ariel |last=Turner |access-date=December 9, 2019 }}</ref>
* Fall for Greenville, a three-day music and food street festival held each fall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fallforgreenville.net|title=Fall for Greenville, A Taste of Our Town|work=fallforgreenville.net|access-date=January 29, 2015}}</ref> The 2019 festival was the 37th, with hundreds of food items and tens of musical artists across six stages.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/life/2019/10/07/fall-for-greenville-schedule-events-food-festival-visitors-guide-greenville-sc/3853973002/ |title=Fall for Greenville 2019 guide: Where to park, what to leave at home |date=October 7, 2019 |newspaper=The Greenville News |first=Donna Isbell |last=Walker |access-date=December 9, 2019 |url-access=limited }}</ref>
* First Fridays Gallery Crawl, features more than 30 art galleries and venues opening to the public with free admission.<ref>{{Cite web |title=First Fridays Archives |url=https://www.greenvillearts.com/artist-groups/first-fridays/ |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=Metropolitan Arts Council |language=en-US}}</ref> Hosted by the Metropolitan Arts Council, it occurs the first Friday of every month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.<ref>{{Cite web |title=First Fridays Gallery Crawl |url=https://www.greenvillearts.com/first-fridays/ |access-date=December 21, 2022 |website=Metropolitan Arts Council |date=June 25, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* The Greek Festival, a three-day festival sponsored by the Greek Orthodox Church in downtown Greenville to celebrate Greek culture. 2019's 33rd annual festival of dance, music, and food included tours of St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wyff4.com/article/downtown-greenville-annual-greek-festival-unveils-new-attractions-security-policy/27490663 |title=Greenville's annual Greek Festival continues through Sunday |publisher=WYFF |date=May 17, 2019 |first=Paige |last=Hopkins |access-date=December 9, 2019 }}</ref>
* Greenville Jazz Fest, celebrates jazz music and culture. Its inaugural event on June 3, 2023, included the Grammy award-winning [[Rebirth Brass Band]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fitzgerald |first1=Megan |title=City announces new music festival, Greenville Jazz Fest |url=https://greenvillejournal.com/arts-culture/city-of-greenville-sc-announces-new-music-festival-greenville-jazz-fest/ |website=Greenville Journal |date=May 24, 2023 |publisher=Community Journals Publishing Group |access-date=June 21, 2023}}</ref>
* Greenville Open Studios,<ref>{{cite news|title=Greenville Open Studios to feature 124 area artists|date=November 2, 2013|url=https://www.wyff4.com/article/greenville-open-studios-to-feature-124-area-artists/6499894|language=en|access-date=May 3, 2020|publisher=[[WYFF]]}}</ref> established in 2002,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Experience the mystery of Greenville Open Studios|url=https://greenvillejournal.com/news/experience-mystery-greenville-open-studios/|date=November 9, 2017|newspaper=Greenville Journal|language=en-US|access-date=May 3, 2020}}</ref> is an annual three-day local arts celebration in which 158 local artists open their studios to the public.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Greenville Open Studios Event Returns This Weekend|url=https://www.greenville.com/news/2019/11/greenville-open-studios-2019/|newspaper=Greenville.com|language=en-US|access-date=May 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Greenville Open Studios sets new sales record in 2019|url=https://greenvillejournal.com/arts-culture/greenville-open-studios-sets-new-sales-record-in-2019/|date=January 30, 2020|newspaper=Greenville Journal|language=en-US|access-date=May 3, 2020}}</ref>  The 2019 festival was the 18th, with record-setting attendance.
* iMAGINE Upstate, weekend celebration and showcase of STEM, entrepreneurial, creative, and innovative activity in the [[Upstate South Carolina|Upstate]] held each spring.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imagineupstate.org/|title=Home – Imagine Upstate Fueled by ScanSource|work=imagineupstate.org|access-date=January 29, 2015|archive-date=October 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012174452/http://www.imagineupstate.org/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The festival promotes learning as fun, through various hands-on activities, interactive shows, and experiences.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/news/imagine-upstate-festival-returns-to-downtown-greenville-this-weekend/article_5bff6118-5554-11e9-88e1-8f31a0b98914.html |title=iMAGINE Upstate festival returns to downtown Greenville this weekend |date=April 2, 2019 |publisher=Fox Carolina News |first=Dal |last=Kalsi |access-date=December 9, 2019 }}</ref>
* Indie Craft Parade, festival of handmade art held each September.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiecraftparade.com|title=Indie Craft Parade – Home|work=indiecraftparade.com|access-date=January 29, 2015}}</ref> 2019 hosted the 10th annual event, which has over 100 artists, local food, and a free photo booth.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://greenvillejournal.com/arts-culture/need-to-know-rundown-of-greenvilles-2019-indie-craft-paradeneed-to-know-indie-craft-parade/ |title=10th Annual Indie Craft Parade |newspaper=Greenville Journal |date=September 4, 2019 |first=Melody |last=Cuenca |access-date=December 9, 2019 }}</ref>
* New South Comedy Festival, a ten-day comedy festival featuring improvisational, stand-up, sketch, and musical comedy from around the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsouthcomedy.com/festival-information/|title=New South Comedy Festival – About|work=New South Comedy Festival|access-date=January 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108212312/http://newsouthcomedy.com/festival-information/|archive-date=November 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2018's 5th annual festival featured over 300 comedians.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://greenvillejournal.com/arts-culture/new-south-comedy-festival-serves-up-laughs-from-across-the-country/ |title=New South Comedy Festival serves up laughs from across the country |newspaper=Greenville Journal |date=October 25, 2018 |first=Sara |last=Pearce |access-date=December 9, 2019 }}</ref>
* SC Comicon, a two-day comic book convention held annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scomicon.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807052729/http://www.scomicon.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 7, 2019|title=SC Comicon – South Carolina|work=sccomicon.com|access-date=January 29, 2015}}</ref> The event draws thousands of attendees, many of whom dress in [[cosplay]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2018/03/25/sc-comicon-draws-thousands-fans/457094002/ |title=SC Comicon draws thousands of fans |newspaper=Greenville News |date=March 25, 2018 |first=Liv |last=Osby |access-date=December 9, 2019 |url-access=limited }}</ref>
* Upstate Shakespeare Festival, hosts performances of [[Shakespeare's plays|Shakespeare]] and other classic plays each summer in Falls Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warehousetheatre.com/upstate-shakespeare-festival|title=Upstate Shakespeare Festival|work=Warehouse Theatre|access-date=January 29, 2015}}</ref> The 25th festival was held in 2019 and featured ''[[The Tempest]]'', performed by The Warehouse Theatre.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/picture-gallery/news/2019/07/12/upstate-shakespeare-festival-greenville-sc-the-tempest-premieres-falls-park/1711267001/ |title=Shakespeare takes the stage in downtown Greenville: 'The Tempest' premieres in Falls Park |date=July 12, 2019 |newspaper=Greenville News |first=Sabrina |last=Schaeffer |access-date=December 9, 2019 |url-access=limited }}</ref>

===Visual art===
[[File:Greenville County Museum of Art building.jpg|thumb|[[Greenville County Museum of Art]]]]
A number of local artists operate studios and galleries in the city, especially the Village of West Greenville near downtown. The Metropolitan Arts Council provides a number of public events that focus on the visual arts, including the First Fridays Gallery Crawl and Greenville Open Studios.<ref>{{Cite web|title=First Fridays|url=https://www.visitgreenvillesc.com/event/first-fridays/29389/|website=www.visitgreenvillesc.com|language=en-us|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=First Fridays|url=https://www.facebook.com/firstfridaysGVL/|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=First Fridays Gallery Crawl|url=https://www.greenvillearts.com/first-fridays/|website=Metropolitan Arts Council|date=June 25, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref> Greenville has some notable fine arts museums:
* [[Bob Jones University Museum & Gallery]], contains a diverse collection of European masterworks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home – M&G |url=http://www.bjumg.org/ |access-date=July 8, 2016 |work=bjumg.org}}</ref>
* [[Greenville County Museum of Art]], home of the [[Andrew Wyeth|Andrew Wyeth Collection]], was founded with a significant contribution from local industrialist, Arthur Magill.<ref>{{Cite web |title=For Wyeths, Says Arthur Magill, Nothing Is Finer Than Carolina : People.com |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20075653,00.html |website=www.people.com |access-date = October 24, 2015 }}</ref> It contains pieces by [[Jackson Pollock]], Jonathan Greene, [[Georgia O'Keeffe]], [[Jasper Johns]], and [[William Johnson (artist)|William H. Johnson]].

===Music===
Greenville's music scene is home to local, regional, and national bands performing music in the various genres. The city is home to the [[Greenville Symphony Orchestra]], Greenville County Youth Orchestra, Carolina Youth Symphony, the Carolina Pops Orchestra, and the Greenville Concert Band.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/entertainment/2017/12/04/dan-turner-new-greenville-concert-band-director-looks-raise-bands-profile/858286001/ |title=Dan Turner, new Greenville Concert Band director, looks to raise band's profile |date=December 4, 2017 |newspaper=Greenville News |first=Donna Isbel |last=Walker |access-date=June 20, 2020 }}</ref> [[Greenville Light Opera Works|Greenville Light Opera Works (GLOW Lyric Theatre)]] is a professional lyric theatre in Greenville that produces Musical Theatre, Operetta and Opera.

Local [[a cappella]] singing groups include the women's Vocal Matrix Chorus (formerly Greenville in Harmony)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/entertainment/2014/07/19/female-barbershop-group-sing-supper/12898601/ |title=All-female barbershop group to sing for a supper |date=July 19, 2014 |newspaper=Greenville News |first=Paul |last=Hyde |access-date=June 20, 2020 }}</ref> and the men's Palmetto Statesmen chorus.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/greer/2014/11/25/barbershop-sings-blues/70093430/ |title=Barbershop sings no blues |date=November 25, 2014 |newspaper=Greenville News |first=Michael |last=Burns |access-date=June 20, 2020 }}</ref> Additional choral groups include the Greenville Chorale<ref>{{cite news |url=https://greenvillejournal.com/arts-culture/greenville-chorale-looks-toward-its-60th-year-with-gems-from-the-past/ |title=Greenville Chorale looks toward its 60th year with gems from the past |date=May 7, 2020 |newspaper=Greenville Journal |first=Paul |last=Hyde |access-date=June 20, 2020 }}</ref> and the Greenville Gay Men's Chorus.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://greenvillejournal.com/arts-culture/gay-mens-chorus-concert-is-a-homecoming-says-director/ |title=Gay Men's Chorus concert is a homecoming, says director |date=March 9, 2020 |work=Greenville Journal |first=Paul |last=Hyde |access-date=June 20, 2020 }}</ref>

Greenville is also home to the [[Sigal Music Museum]], formerly known as the Carolina Music Museum. In the 1930s the building was a Coca-Cola bottling company.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sigal Music Museum |url=https://www.visitgreenvillesc.com/listing/sigal-music-museum/7333/ |website=VisitGreenville |publisher=Yeah, That Greenville |access-date=June 27, 2023}}</ref>

===Dance and theater===
[[File:Greenville Little Theatre 2017a.jpg|thumb|Greenville Little Theatre]]
The Carolina Ballet Theatre is a professional dance company that regularly presents programs at the Peace Center and elsewhere. CBT presents four performances annually as the resident professional dance company of the Peace Center with their largest as the holiday classic, "The Nutcracker, Once Upon A Time in Greenville."  This production is modelled after the major companies that have set their holiday class in their hometown. Centre Stage, Greenville Theatre, South Carolina Children's Theater and the Warehouse Theatre are the major playhouses in the area. The theaters offer a variety of performances including well-known works, such as Death of a Salesman and Grease, and plays written by local playwrights. During spring and summer, the local Shakespearean company performs Shakespeare in the Park at the Falls Park Amphitheater.

===Literary arts===
Two literary non-profit groups are located in Greenville: The Emrys Foundation, founded in 1983<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Emrys Foundation {{!}} Academy of American Poets|url=https://poets.org/listing/emrys-foundation|last=Poets|first=Academy of American|website=poets.org|access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref> and Wits End Poetry, founded in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|title=witsendpoetry|url=http://www.witsendpoetry.com/|website=www.witsendpoetry.com|access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Wits End Poetry {{!}} Academy of American Poets|url=https://poets.org/listing/wits-end-poetry|last=Poets|first=Academy of American|website=poets.org|access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[File:GreenvilleDrive.jpg|thumb|Spectators at a Greenville Drive game]]
The [[National Christian College Athletic Association]] (NCCAA) sports conference is headquartered in Greenville, as are various minor league and university sports teams.

Minor League sports teams:
* [[Greenville Drive]], [[High-A]] affiliate of the [[Boston Red Sox]] in the [[South Atlantic League]]. The Drive played their first season at Greenville Municipal Stadium, former home of the Atlanta Braves AA affiliate.  The Drive started their second season in their new downtown ballpark on April 6, 2006, which, prior to the start of the 2008 season, was renamed [[Fluor Field at the West End]]. For the first year after their founding, they were called the Greenville Bombers, having moved from Columbia, South Carolina. Before that, Greenville hosted various other minor league baseball teams, beginning with the [[Greenville Spinners]] in 1907.
* [[Greenville Liberty SC]], soccer team in [[USL W League]].  In June 2021, the USL announced a women's team, associated with [[Greenville Triumph SC]], would begin play in 2022 as part of a new W league.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wyff4.com/article/greenville-triumph-announces-womens-team-as-part-of-new-usl-league/36654785 |title=Greenville Triumph announces women's team as part of new USL League |date=June 8, 2021 |work=WYFF |first=Marc |last=Whiteman |access-date=June 8, 2021 |url-access=limited }}</ref>  In their inaugural season, the Liberty were the regular season champions of the South Atlantic Division.  For the 2023 season, the team plays at [[Paladin Stadium]] on the campus of [[Furman University]].
* [[Greenville Swamp Rabbits]], minor league hockey team in the [[ECHL]], began play in the 2010–11 hockey season as the Greenville Road Warriors and were renamed in 2015.
* Greenville Gaels, hurling team in the Southeast Division of the US [[Gaelic Athletic Association]].
* [[Greenville Triumph SC]], soccer team in [[USL League One]].  In their first four seasons, the Triumph qualified for the league finals three times and won the league championship once (2020).  For the 2023 season, the team plays at [[Paladin Stadium]] on the campus of [[Furman University]].

[[Bob Jones University]]
* Bob Jones University competes at the [[NCCAA]] Division II level. The BJU Bruins began intercollegiate athletics in the 2012–2013 school year. The school began with men and women's soccer and basketball, with hopes of eventually adding other sports.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bju.edu/athletics/ |title=Bob Jones University Athletics |publisher=Bju.edu |access-date=July 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811011910/http://www.bju.edu/athletics/ |archive-date=August 11, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In June 2020, the Bruins were accepted to the [[NCAA]], competing at the Division III level.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wyff4.com/article/ncaa-approves-division-iii-membership-for-bob-jones-university/32963699 |title=NCAA approves Division III membership for Bob Jones University |date=June 24, 2020 |work=WYFF |first=Marc |last=Whiteman |access-date=April 4, 2023 }}</ref> As of 2023, the university supports 12 varsity sports programs.

Furman University
* The [[Furman Paladins]] compete at the NCAA Division I level. (Note: [[Furman Paladins football|Furman football]] is a member of the [[Division I FCS|NCAA Football Championship Subdivision]].)  Furman athletic teams compete on-campus in various venues, including Paladin Stadium, Timmons Arena, and the Eugene Stone Soccer Stadium. Furman is a member of the [[Southern Conference]].

[[North Greenville University]]
* North Greenville University competes at the NCAA Division II level. Their mascot is the Trailblazer.

=== Greenville-Pickens Speedway ===
{{Main|Greenville-Pickens Speedway}}

Greenville‑Pickens Speedway is a historic half‑mile (0.5 mi/0.805 km) paved oval [[Oval track racing#Short track|short track]] located in [[Easley, South Carolina]], just off Calhoun Memorial Highway. Originally constructed in 1940 as a [[Dirt track racing|dirt track]] and briefly closed during [[World War II]], it reopened on July 4, 1946, hosting both [[Stock car racing|stock car]] and [[Horse racing|horse races]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-12 |title=A look back on Greenville-Pickens Speedway's history |url=https://gvltoday.6amcity.com/greenville-pickens-speedways-history |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=6AM - GVLtoday |language=en}}</ref> The venue was purchased by Tom and Pete Blackwell in 1955, who converted it to asphalt in 1970 and guided the speedway’s golden era, which included [[NASCAR]] Grand National (now [[NASCAR Cup Series|Cup Series]]) events from 1955–1956 and 1958–1971.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Race to Save Greenville-Pickens Speedway |url=https://www.racingamerica.com/news/late-models/greenville-pickens-speedway-fundraising-efforts-2023-season |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=Racing America}}</ref> It earned a place in [[motorsport]] history by hosting NASCAR's first televised flag‑to‑flag race—the 1971 Greenville 200 aired live on ABC’s [[Wide World of Sports (American TV program)|Wide World of Sports]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cary |first=Nathaniel |date=2023-04-09 |title=Historic SC racetrack faces deadline, destruction: 'It's now or never' |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/business/historic-sc-racetrack-faces-deadline-destruction-its-now-or-never/article_e742f7aa-d4a1-11ed-a008-b781775d1817.html |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}}</ref> Despite its heritage, racing last ran in 2022 before the property was listed for sale, with plans announced in 2024 to redevelop surrounding acreage into a 600‑acre industrial park named "Speedway Business & Technology Park".

==Government==
[[File:Greenvillecityhalldowntown.jpg|thumb|Greenville City Hall]]
{{See also|List of mayors of Greenville, South Carolina}}

The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website  }}</ref> The Greenville City Council consists of the mayor and six council members. The mayor and two council members are elected at-large while the remaining council members are chosen from single-member districts. Greenville Municipal Court handles criminal misdemeanor violations, traffic violations, and city ordinance violations.<ref>{{cite web| title=City Council| url=http://www.greenvillesc.gov/283/City-Council| website=greenvillesc.gov| publisher=City of Greenville| access-date=July 9, 2016}}</ref> As of 2024, the city's mayor is [[Knox H. White]], who has been in that position since December 1995.<ref>{{Cite web| url = https://www.greenvillesc.gov/1147/Mayors-Corner | title = Mayor's Corner | date = | access-date = March 29, 2021| website = City of Greenville}}</ref>

Greenville's City Hall has had multiple locations since the first in 1879, including the [[Old Greenville City Hall]], which served in that capacity from 1938 to 1973.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/life/2021/07/17/greenville-sc-city-hall-history-south-carolina-judy-bainbridge/7892481002/ |title=When it comes to city halls, Greenville's long had a 50-year itch |date=July 17, 2021 |newspaper=The Greenville News |first=Judy |last=Bainbridge |access-date=March 27, 2023 }}</ref><ref name="glimpses">{{cite news |url=https://greenvillejournal.com/history/glimpses-of-greenville-sc-the-old-old-city-hall/ |title=Glimpses of Greenville: The old, old city hall |date=September 28, 2022 |work=Greenville Journal |first=John |last=Nolan |access-date=March 29, 2023 }}</ref> In March 2023, the city announced plans to sell its current building and move City Hall to the Bowater Building along the [[Reedy River]] in [[Reedy River Falls Historic Park and Greenway|Falls Park]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/greenville/downtown/2023/03/13/greenville-sc-city-hall-relocating-to-bowater-building-near-falls-park-downtown/70004908007/ |title=Greenville officias to sel City Hall, relocate to Bowater Building in Falls Park |date=March 13, 2023 |newspaper=The Greenville News |first=Macon |last=Atkinson |access-date=March 27, 2023 |url-access=limited }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://greenvillejournal.com/community/update-greenville-sc-city-hall-to-move-to-bowater-building/ |title=Update: City Hall to move to Bowater building |date=March 13, 2023 |work=Greenville Journal |first=Megan |last=Fitzgerald |access-date=March 29, 2023 }}</ref>

The Greenville Police Force was established in 1845. By 1876 it became the Greenville Police Department. In 1976 the department moved into the Greenville County Law Enforcement Center with the Greenville County Sheriff's Department. The Greenville Police Department serves Greenville with around 241 employees with 199 sworn officers.<ref>{{cite web| title=History| url=http://www.greenvillesc.gov/493/History| website=Greenvillesc.gov| publisher=City of Greenville| access-date=July 9, 2016}}</ref>

Districts 22–25 of the [[South Carolina House of Representatives]] cover portions of Greenville, as do [[South Carolina Senate|state senate]] districts 6–8. The city is within [[South Carolina's 4th congressional district]], represented by [[William Timmons (politician)|William Timmons]] since 2019.

==Education==
[[File:Hughes Main Library Greenville 2017b.jpg|thumb|Greenville County Hughes Main Library]]

===Primary and secondary===
The [[Greenville County School District]] includes all of the Greenville city limits.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45045_greenville/DC20SD_C45045.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45045_greenville/DC20SD_C45045.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Greenville County, SC|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2024-10-25}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45045_greenville/DC20SD_C45045_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> The district is the largest school district in the state of South Carolina and is ranked as the 44th largest district in the United States, with 19 high schools, 24 middle schools, and 52 elementary schools.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://greenville.k12.sc.us/Schools/main.asp?titleid=schoolshome |title=Schools Home Page |website=Greenville County Schools |access-date=December 13, 2022 }}</ref> The district's 2018–2023 strategic plan noted it had 10,000 employees, including 6,000 teachers with an average of 12.8 years of experience.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://indd.adobe.com/view/21204ce9-0740-4058-9dfd-c1f6e5bd250e |title=2018–2023 Strategic Plan |website=Greenville County Schools |year=2018 |page=18 |access-date=December 13, 2022 }}</ref> In addition to traditional public schools, Greenville's downtown area is home to the [[South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities]], a boarding school for young artists.

In addition to public schools, Greenville County has a number of private and religious schools, including St Mary's Catholic School (founded in 1900), Camperdown Academy (for students with learning disabilities),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.camperdown.org/|title=Camperdown Academy &#124; Reaching Maximum Academic Potential &#124; Greenville, SC 29615|website=www.camperdown.org}}</ref> [[Hidden Treasure Christian School]] (a school for students with physical and/or mental disabilities), [[Christ Church Episcopal School]] (a college-preparatory Episcopalian school with an American school outside of Germany certified by the {{ill|State Ministry of Education and Culture (Bavaria)|lt=Bavarian Ministry of Education|de|Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Unterricht und Kultus}}),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cces.org/page|title=Christ Church Episcopal School &#124; Private School in Greenville SC|website=www.cces.org}}</ref> Shannon Forest Christian School (an evangelical Christian school),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shannonforest.com/|title=Quality Education With a Biblical Perspective – Shannon Forest Christian School|website=www.shannonforest.com}}</ref> [[St. Joseph's Catholic School (Greenville, South Carolina)|Saint Joseph's Catholic School]], Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School, St. Anthony's Catholic School, [[Southside Christian School]] (established in 1967 by Southside Baptist Church), Hampton Park Christian School,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hpcsonline.org/|title=Hampton Park Christian School – Greenville, SC South Carolina|work=hpcsonline.org|access-date=July 8, 2016}}</ref> Bob Jones Academy and Elementary School, [[Carolina Film Institute]] (a film school founded in 2008), Green Charter (originally one of the [[Gülen movement schools]]), and Greenville Classical Academy (a classical Christian school established in 2004).<ref>{{cite web|title=Greenville Classical Academy|url=https://www.greenvilleclassical.com|access-date=December 9, 2019}}</ref>

Greenville has numerous public charter schools that are free to state residents.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sccharter.org/schools/ |title=Schools |website=South Carolina Public Charter School District |access-date=October 2, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://erskinecharters.org/our-schools/ |title=Our Schools |website=Charter Institute at Erskine |access-date=October 2, 2022 }}</ref>

===Colleges and universities===
[[File:Furman library.jpg|thumb|James B. Duke Library at [[Furman University]]]]

Greenville has several colleges and universities located within the city limits: [[Bob Jones University]], [[Greenville Technical College]], and an [[ECPI University]] campus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greenville, SC {{!}} ECPI University |url=https://www.ecpi.edu/locations/greenville-sc |access-date=August 16, 2023 |website=www.ecpi.edu}}</ref> Additionally [[Furman University]] and [[North Greenville University]] are located in the greater Greenville area. Furman began as Furman Academy and Theological Institution in 1825 named after [[Richard Furman]]. The theological school of Furman broke away in 1858 and became [[Southern Baptist Theological Seminary]] now in [[Louisville, Kentucky]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Our History| url=http://www.furman.edu/About/About/OurHistory/Pages/default.aspx| website=furman.edu| publisher=Furman| access-date=October 30, 2015}}</ref> [[North Greenville University]] was established in 1893 and is affiliated with the [[South Carolina Baptist Convention]].<ref>{{cite web| title=The History of NGU| url=https://ngu.edu/about/facts-figures/historyuniversity/| website=ngu.edu| publisher=North Greenville University| access-date=October 30, 2015}}</ref> [[Bob Jones University]] was established in 1927 by [[Bob Jones Sr.]] as a private non-denominational [[Protestant]] university.<ref>{{cite web| title=History of BJU| url=http://www.bju.edu/about/history.php| website=bju.edu| publisher=Bob Jones University| access-date=October 30, 2015}}</ref> [[Greenville Technical College]] was established in 1962 as a [[technical college]]. The Evangelical Institute was founded in 1967 just north of the city at [[Paris Mountain State Park|Paris Mountain]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} EI School of Biblical Training |url=https://www.eibibleschool.org/about_us/history |access-date=September 2, 2022 |website=www.eibibleschool.org}}</ref>

[[Clemson University]]'s Main campus is located {{convert|30|mi}} away, however, the university has several programs physically located in Downtown Greenville, as well as a specialty campus in Greenville called [[Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research]] that focuses on automotive research.<ref>{{cite web| title=Quick Facts| url=http://cuicar.com/about/quick-facts/| website=cuicar.com| publisher=CU-ICAR| access-date=October 30, 2015}}</ref>

The [[University of South Carolina]] School of Medicine Greenville is a four-year medical school operating on a [[Prisma Health]] campus.<ref>{{cite web| title=School of Medicine Greenville: A New School of Thought| url=https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/medicine_greenville/index.php| publisher=University of South Carolina| access-date=October 30, 2015}}</ref>

The University Center of Greenville, located in the former shopping mall [[McAlister Square]], offers over 70 undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs from 9 South Carolina universities. The schools that offer degrees in the center are: [[Anderson University (South Carolina)|Anderson University]], [[Bob Jones University]], [[Clemson University]], [[Converse University|Converse College]], [[Furman University]], [[Greenville Technical College]], [[Lander University]], [[South Carolina State University|South Carolina State]], and [[University of South Carolina]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Why UCG? |url=https://greenville.org/why-ucg/ |website=University Center Greenville |publisher=City of Greenville, SC |access-date=June 21, 2023}}</ref>

==Media==
{{see also|List of newspapers in South Carolina|List of radio stations in South Carolina|List of television stations in South Carolina}}
[[File:GreenvilleNewsbuilding.jpg|thumb|The former ''[[Greenville News]]'' building]]

* ''Greenville Business Magazine'', monthly magazine that contains business information for and about the Greenville area
* ''[[The Greenville News]]'', the city's daily newspaper and also the Upstate's largest daily newspaper in circulation and readership
* ''Greenville Journal'', weekly newspaper dealing with business, economic development, local events, and current issues relevant to Greenville.  It was originally the ''Greenville Civic and Commercial Journal''<ref>{{cite web|title=Greenville Civic and Commercial Journal|url=http://scmemory.org/content/greenville-civic-and-commercial-journal|website=Greenville County Library System|access-date=September 7, 2014}}</ref>
* ''GSA Business'', published every two weeks, it covers business news from across the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area
* ''GVLtoday'', hyper-local news site operated by Greenville-based media company 6 AM City<ref>{{Cite web |title=6AM City |url=https://greenvillejournal.com/btc_2019/6-am/ |access-date=January 6, 2023 |website=Greenville Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''The Post and Courier Greenville'', local edition of the ''Post and Courier'' daily newspaper based in Charleston, which features "Greenville news reported, written and edited by Greenville journalists for readers in the Upstate"<ref>{{Cite news |title=Greenville SC News & Spartanburg News |language=en |newspaper=The Post and Courier |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/ |access-date=December 27, 2022}}</ref>
* ''Upstate Business Journal'', weekly business newspaper reaching 100,000 business leaders in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson counties
* ''Upstate Link magazine'', was a weekly publication that began in January 2004 as part of ''The Greenville News'' and remained in print until 2008. It is now defunct.
* ''ShareGVL'' (Share Greenville), similar to ''[[Humans of New York]]'', it is a nonprofit digital community that [[Humanism|humanizes]] residents of Greenville

===Radio===
Greenville is part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson Arbitron Metro which is the nation's 59th largest radio market with a person 12+ population of 813,700. The box below lists the local radio stations:

{{Greenville-Spartanburg Radio}}

===Television===
Greenville is part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson-Asheville [[Designated Market Area|DMA]], which is the nation's 36th largest television market. See the box below for the local television stations:

{{GSA TV}}

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
[[File:KGSP Greenville Spartanburg 001.jpg|thumb|[[Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport]]]]

Greenville is located on the [[Interstate 85 in South Carolina|I-85]] corridor, approximately halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte. I-85 runs along the city's southeast edge and is connected to downtown Greenville by two spur routes: [[Interstate 185 (South Carolina)|I-185]], which also forms a southern beltway; and [[Interstate 385|I-385]], which continues southeast to a junction with [[Interstate 26 in South Carolina|I-26]]. Other major highways include [[U.S. Route 123|US 123]], [[U.S. Route 25 in South Carolina|US 25]], [[U.S. Route 29 in South Carolina|US 29]] and [[U.S. Route 276|US 276]].

There are several airports servicing the Greenville area. The largest is [[Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport]], which is the third-busiest airport in South Carolina, after [[Charleston International Airport]], and [[Myrtle Beach International Airport]] with over 2.56 million passengers in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gspairport.com/statistics|title=2023 Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport Passenger Statistics|website=gspairport.com|accessdate= April 10, 2024}}</ref>

SCTAC (formerly Donaldson Air Base) has undergone significant modernization and is the site of multiple industries, as well as the International Transportation and Innovation Center, and the South Carolina Army National Guard Aviation Support Facility. Greenville serves as a freight hub for [[FedEx Express]]. The [[Greenville Downtown Airport]], is the busiest general aviation airport in South Carolina with nearly 80,000 take-offs and landings annually and more than 198 based aircraft in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2022 |title=Airport Master Record |url=https://www.gcr1.com/5010ReportRouter/GMU.pdf |access-date=November 22, 2022 |website=U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Aviation Administration |archive-date=November 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122203625/https://www.gcr1.com/5010ReportRouter/GMU.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Public transit in Greenville is handled by the Greenville Transit Authority, which contracted out operations to the City Of Greenville in 2008 under a tri-party agreement with Greenville County. The city rebranded the service with the name Greenlink. Greenlink runs a bus system that serves the Greenville area, much of Greenville County including Mauldin and Simpsonville, and a portion of Pickens County via a connector to Clemson. Greenlink has a 10-year transit plan that aims to cover the entire county with 15 new buses and double the frequency of routes by 2030.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cary |first1=Nathaniel |title=Study: Expanded public transit could add $2B to Greenville economy |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/politics/study-expanded-public-transit-could-add-2b-to-greenville-economy/article_8680cf98-bee7-11ed-afe2-2b6e74c2807e.html |website=The Post and Courier Greenville |date=March 10, 2023 |publisher=The Post and Courier, Inc. |access-date=June 21, 2023}}</ref>

[[Greenville (Amtrak station)|Greenville's train station]] is served by [[Amtrak]]'s [[Crescent (Amtrak)|''Crescent'']] train, connecting Greenville with the cities of New York; [[Philadelphia]]; [[Baltimore]]; [[Washington, D.C.]]; [[Raleigh]]; [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]]; [[Atlanta]]; [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]; and [[New Orleans]]. Additionally, Greenville is included in the [[Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor]], which is proposed to run from Washington, D.C. to [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Southeast Corridor Commission|url=https://www.southeastcorridor-commission.org/|access-date=September 3, 2021}}</ref> Freight railroad service is provided by [[CSX Transportation]], [[Norfolk Southern Railway]], and the [[Carolina Piedmont Railroad]]. The abandoned former [[Greenville and Northern Railway|Greenville & Northern Railway]] line to [[Travelers Rest, South Carolina|Travelers Rest]] has been converted into a hiking and biking trail called the [[Swamp Rabbit Trail]].

===Health systems===
[[File:GreenvilleMemorialH.JPG|thumb|[[Greenville Memorial Hospital]], now operated by [[Prisma Health]]]]

Greenville has two main health systems, [[Bon Secours (Virginia & South Carolina)|Bon Secours]] and [[Prisma Health]].

Bon Secours St. Francis Health System includes St. Francis Downtown; St. Francis Eastside; and St. Francis Outpatient Center and Upstate Surgery Center.

Prisma Health is a not-for-profit health organization that includes seven campuses in the Upstate area: [[Greenville Memorial Hospital|Greenville Memorial Medical Center]], North Greenville Long Term Acute Care Hospital and ER, Hillcrest Hospital, Patewood Memorial Hospital, Greer Memorial Hospital, Laurens County Memorial Hospital, and Oconee Memorial Hospital. It is one of the largest employers in the region.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wyff4.com/article/ghs-palmetto-health-unite-to-form-prisma-health/23455352 |publisher=[[WYFF]] |date=September 25, 2018 |title=GHS, Palmetto Health unite to form Prisma Health |access-date=December 12, 2019 }}</ref> It hosts the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, a full four-year branch of the medical school in [[Columbia, South Carolina]].

The Greenville Memorial Hospital was formerly operated by the municipal government, with Greenville Health System being the operating authority.<ref name=GreenvilleHA>{{cite web|url=https://www.greenvillehealthauthority.org/|title=Home|publisher=Greenville Health Authority|access-date=November 20, 2021}}</ref> In 2016, [[Prisma Health]] began leasing the hospital and directly operating it.<ref>{{cite web|last=Navarro|first=Marcus|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/health/2021/04/21/greenville-lawmakers-more-proactive-health-authority-prisma-health/7059719002/|title=Greenville lawmakers want a more "proactive" Health Authority|newspaper=[[Greenville News]]|date=April 21, 2021|access-date=October 7, 2021}}</ref> The GHA is the portion of the Greenville Health System that still existed after the hospital transitioned into being operated by Prisma.<ref name=GreenvilleHA/> The Greenville Health Authority (GHA) is the owner of the hospital facilities operated by Prisma. Members of the [[South Carolina Legislature]] select a majority of the seats of the board of directors of the GHA.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mitchell|first=Anna B.|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/business/greenville-health-authority-removes-prisma-linked-president-as-hospital-lease-review-nears/article_7c66fe7a-72e4-11eb-917a-ef2dab28c315.html|title=Greenville Health Authority removes Prisma-linked president as hospital lease review nears|newspaper=[[Post and Courier]]|date=February 21, 2021|access-date=November 20, 2021|quote=The changes are significant in that the GHA board owns the facilities from which Prisma runs healthcare in the Upstate.}}</ref>

Greenville's [[Shriners Hospital for Children]] treats pediatric orthopedic patients exclusively, free of charge.

==Notable people==
<!-- New links in alphabetical order please -->
[[File:Jaimie Alexander, London, 2013 (tone).jpg|thumb|80px|Jaimie Alexander in 2013]]
[[File:Bo hopkins (cropped).jpg|thumb|80px|Bo Hopkins in 2009]]
[[File:Jesse Jackson 2013.jpg|thumb|80px|Jesse Jackson in 2013]]
[[File:Charles Townes.jpg|thumb|80px|Charles H. Townes in 1983]]
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Jaimie Alexander]], actress<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jaimie-alexander/241662/ |website=[[TV Guide]] |title=Jaimie Alexander |access-date=May 19, 2020 }}</ref>
* [[Dorothy Allison]], writer<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/free-times/arts/deckle-edge-keynote-speaker-dorothy-allison-reflects-on-her-relationship/article_e5d8cab7-198e-506a-8bc9-1e25b6cbfce1.html |title=Deckle Edge Keynote Speaker Dorothy Allison Reflects on Her Relationship to the South |date=March 20, 2019 |newspaper=Free Times |publisher=Evening Post Industries |first=Vincent |last=Harris |access-date=May 19, 2020 }}</ref>
* [[Cat Anderson]], jazz trumpeter (1916–1981)<ref>L. Feather & I. Gitler, Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999)</ref>
* [[Rudolf Anderson]] Jr., the only person killed by enemy fire during the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.history.com/news/the-cuban-missile-crisis-pilot-whose-death-may-have-saved-millions |title=How the Death of a U.S. Air Force Pilot Prevented a Nuclear War |date=October 26, 2012 |website=History |first=Christopher |last=Klein |access-date=May 19, 2020 }}</ref>
* [[Daniel Bard]], MLB player ([[Boston Red Sox]] 2009–2013 , [[Colorado Rockies]] 2020–2023)<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.charlottemagazine.com/how-charlottes-daniel-bard-regained-his-place-on-the-mound/ |title=How Charlotte's Daniel Bard Regained His Place on the Mound |date=April 1, 2021 |magazine=Charlotte Magazine |first=Anna Katharine |last=Clemmons |access-date=November 17, 2024 |quote=Daniel and Adair bought a house in Greenville}}</ref>
* [[Zinn Beck]], former [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] player; managed the [[Greenville Spinners]] from 1923 to 1925<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7375938/zinn-beck-5-oct-1922-greenville-news/ |title=Contract Signed by Zinn Beck to Manage the Spinners During 1923 |date=October 5, 1922 |newspaper=[[The Greenville News]] |page=9 |access-date=June 11, 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7375968/zinn-beck-bat-co-11-feb-1923-greenville/ |title=Virtually Complete; Beck Announces List of Players |date=February 11, 1923 |newspaper=The Greenville News |page=11 |access-date=June 11, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com }}</ref>
* [[Josh Boone (soccer)|Josh Boone]], soccer player<ref>{{cite web |title=Josh Boone |url=https://uncwsports.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/josh-boone/3524 |website=[[UNC Wilmington Seahawks men's soccer|UNC Wilmington Seahawks]] |access-date=February 6, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Danielle Brooks]], actress, grew up in [[Simpsonville, South Carolina|Simpsonville]] and attended [[South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities|SCGSAH]] in Greenville<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/careers/2017/11/15/how-became-actress-and-advocate-danielle-brooks/856459001/ |title=How I became an actress and advocate: Danielle Brooks |newspaper=USA Today |date=November 15, 2017 |first=Susannah |last=Hutcheson |access-date=June 9, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/11/danielle-brooks-taystee-on-orange-is-the-new-black-is-the-breakout-star-of-the-year.html|title=Danielle Brooks, Taystee on 'Orange Is the New Black,' Is the Breakout Star of the Year|date=December 11, 2013|first=Kevin|last=Fallon|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215161659/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/11/danielle-brooks-taystee-on-orange-is-the-new-black-is-the-breakout-star-of-the-year.html |archive-date=December 15, 2013 }}</ref>
* [[Peabo Bryson]], singer-songwriter<ref>{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|year=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=196}}</ref>
* [[Carroll A. Campbell, Jr.]], 112th [[governor of South Carolina]], 1987–1995<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/greenville-roots/2017/12/07/carroll-campbell-south-carolina/864367001/ |title=Carroll Campbell was a 'strong leader' for South Carolina |date=December 7, 2017 |first=Judith |last=Bainbridge |newspaper=Greenville News |publisher=USA Today Network |access-date=June 9, 2020 }}</ref>
* [[Judith Chapman]], actress<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/entertainment/2014/08/16/judith-chapman-captivating-dark-hued-vivien/14164929/ |title=Judith Chapman captivating in dark-hued 'Vivien' |date=August 16, 2014 |newspaper=Greenville News |first=Paul |last=Hyde |access-date=June 11, 2020 |quote=performance by Chapman, a Greenville native }}</ref>
* [[Dextor Clinkscale]], safety in the National Football League<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-apr-10-sp-38067-story.html |title=Arizona's Bibby Decides Time Is Now for the NBA |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=April 10, 1998 |access-date=June 11, 2020 |quote=Dextor Clinkscale ... turned himself in to authorities in Greenville, S.C. }}</ref>
* [[William Wilson Cooke]] (1871–1949), architect<ref name="AAA">{{cite book |title=African American Architects, 1865–1945 |publisher=Routledge |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-1359-5629-5 |editor-last=Wilson |editor-first=Derek Spurlock |location=New York |pages=148–151 |chapter=William Wilson Cooke |quote=His father, Wilson Cooke (1819–1897), was the slave son of Vardry McBee |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0OaSAgAAQBAJ}}</ref>
* [[Wilson Cooke]] (1819 –1887), American politician and merchant; born in Greenville<ref name="AAA" />
* [[Santia Deck]], athlete<ref>{{Cite news|title=From Owning a Shoe Company to Football Fame, Santia Deck is Busy Making History|url=https://www.si.com/enfuego/news/santia-deck-is-busy-making-history|access-date=November 17, 2020|newspaper=En Fuego|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Jim DeMint]], former U.S. senator, president of [[the Heritage Foundation]]<ref>{{cite news |title=10 things you didn't know about Jim DeMint| author=Jessica Rettig |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/06/22/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-jim-demint |work=U.S. News & World Report |date=June 22, 2010 | access-date=June 15, 2020}}</ref>
* [[Austin Ernst]], professional golfer<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/golf/article230786359.html |title= She knows golf. Now former USC player takes swing at US Women's Open analyst gig |date=May 25, 2019 |work=[[The State (newspaper)|The State]] |first=Bob |last=Gillespie |access-date=September 5, 2021 |quote='Austin Ernst' — an LPGA regular from Greenville }}</ref>
* [[Esquerita]], musician<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.geocities.com/eskew_reeder/ |website=[[Esquerita]] |title=Esquerita |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026232026/http://www.geocities.com/eskew_reeder/ |access-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-date=October 26, 2009 }}</ref>
* [[Jawun Evans]], player in the National Basketball Association<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cooper|first1=Mark|title=Former OSU guard Jawun Evans selected by 76ers in second round of NBA draft|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/osusportsextra/former-osu-guard-jawun-evans-selected-by-ers-in-second/article_6b2ab933-25a8-50e3-a610-87b8b03f9f34.html|website=Tulsa World|access-date=June 15, 2020|date=June 22, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Tyler Florence]], chef and television host<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/restaurants/article/Sunday-Profile-Tolan-and-Tyler-Florence-2803058.php |title=Sunday Profile: Tolan and Tyler Florence |date=January 29, 2012 |first=Janny |last=Hu |website=SFGATE |access-date=June 15, 2020 }}</ref>
* [[Kevin Garnett]], player in the National Basketball Association, 15-time All-Star, 2004 league MVP, and 2008 champion<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gq.com/story/kevin-garnett-autobiography-excerpt-air-jordans |title=What Shoe Is So Bad That It's Causing a Killing? |date=February 24, 2021 |magazine=[[GQ]] |first1=Kevin |last1=Garnett |first2=David |last2=Ritz |author-link2=David Ritz |access-date=February 24, 2021 |quote=Growing up in Greenville, South Carolina }}</ref>
* [[André Goodman]], 10-year NFL career as cornerback with [[Detroit Lions]], [[Miami Dolphins]] and [[Denver Broncos]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/bio/_/id/3596/andre-goodman |title=Andre' Goodman |website=ESPN |access-date=March 11, 2021 }}</ref>
* [[Trey Gowdy]], United States congressman<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2017-03-31/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-harold-watson-trey-gowdy-iii |title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Trey Gowdy |date=March 31, 2017 |magazine=U.S. News & World Report |first=Anzish |last=Mirza |access-date=March 23, 2021 }}</ref>
* [[Chad Green (pitcher)|Chad Green]], Major League Baseball pitcher<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/33325/chad-green |title=Chad Green |website=ESPN |access-date=March 23, 2021 }}</ref>
* [[Clement Haynsworth]], United States Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit; Supreme Court nominee<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/23/obituaries/clement-haynsworth-dies-at-77-lost-struggle-for-high-court-seat.html |title=Clement Haynsworth Dies at 77; Lost Struggle for High Court Seat |date=November 23, 1989 |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Alfonso A. |last=Narvaex |page=D21 |access-date=March 23, 2021 }}</ref>
* [[James M. Henderson]], advertising executive and Republican candidate for [[Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina]] in 1970; father-in-law of Jim DeMint<ref name=":knowitall">{{Cite web |year=1999 |title=James M. Henderson {{!}} Legacy of Leadership Profile |url=https://www.knowitall.org/video/james-m-henderson-legacy-leadership-profile |access-date=January 23, 2021 |website=knowitall.org}}</ref>
* [[George Hincapie]], road bicycle racer<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/edge/2014/04/29/george-hincapie-opens-cyclists-hotel |title=Welcome to the Hotel Hincapie: A Cyclist's Dream Destination |date=April 29, 2014 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |first=Austin |last=Murphy |access-date=April 5, 2021 |quote=I know you live in Greenville and train on the roads around there. }}</ref>
* [[John D. Hollingsworth]], textile machinery executive and philanthropist<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.philanthropy.com/article/a-hometown-gift/ |title=A Hometown Gift |date=February 11, 2020 |magazine=The Chronicle of Philanthropy |first=Jim |last=Rendon |access-date=April 5, 2021 |quote=he lived in a modular home behind his factory in Greenville, S.C. }}</ref>
* [[Bo Hopkins]], television and film actor<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indexjournal.com/lifestyles/accent/bo-hopkins-teams-up-with-ron-howard-again-for-new-film-to-be-aired-on/article_5b3eddd7-616d-5dce-8980-279cace15fed.html |title=Bo Hopkins teams up with Ron Howard again for new film to be aired on Netflix |date=July 14, 2019 |newspaper=The Index-Journal |location=Greenville, South Carolina |first=St. Claire |last=Donaghy |access-date=April 5, 2021 |quote=Bo Hopkins, who was born in Greenville }}</ref>
* [[John P. Howard III]], Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
* [[Jesse Hughes (musician)|Jesse Hughes]], rock musician<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article44820222.html |title=Dispatches from Paris: Greenville native, upstate students OK |date=November 13, 2015 |work=The State |first=Anna |last=Lee |access-date=May 27, 2021 |quote=Hughes, a Greenville native and guitarist for the rock band }}</ref>
* [[Jay Jackson (baseball)|Jay Jackson]], Major League Baseball pitcher<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/30705 |title=Jay Jackson |website=ESPN |access-date=December 13, 2021 }}</ref>
* [[Jesse Jackson]], civil rights activist and Baptist minister<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/29/magazine/jesse-jackson-aims-for-the-mainstream.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=Jesse Jackson Aims for the Mainstream |date=November 29, 1987 |magazine=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |first1=Joyce |last1=Purnick |first2=Michael |last2=Oreskes |access-date=May 27, 2021 |quote=Jackson's ... birth in Greenville, S.C. }}</ref>
* [[Shoeless Joe Jackson]], [[Major League Baseball]] player<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/at-the-shoeless-joe-jackson-museum-in-greenville-sc-it-aint-so/2012/01/23/gIQA6TZumQ_story.html |title=At the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum in Greenville, S.C., it ain't so |date=February 3, 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Marc |last=Fisher |access-date=May 27, 2021 |quote=he came from Greenville }}</ref>
* [[Bob Jones Sr.]], evangelist, founder of [[Bob Jones University]]<ref>{{cite thesis |url=https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3180 |title=Making the South New, Keeping the South 'Southern': Bob Jones, Fundamentalism, and the New South |date=May 2015 |type=MA |publisher=Clemson University |first=Anderson R. |last=Rouse }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* [[Bob Jones Jr.]], second president of Bob Jones University<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/13/us/bob-jones-jr-86-leader-of-fundamentalist-college-dies.html |title=Bob Jones Jr., 86, Leader of Fundamentalist College, Dies |date=November 13, 1997 |newspaper=The New York Times |first=William H. |last=Honan |access-date=May 27, 2021 |quote=at his home in Greenville }}</ref>
* [[Monique Jones]], [[International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness|IFBB]] professional bodybuilder<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hgh.com/Blogger/post/2014-ifbb-tampa-pro-bodybuilding-top-5-contest-results |title=2014 IFBB Tampa Pro Bodybuilding Top 5 Contest Results |date=August 12, 2014 |website=HgH.com |access-date=June 7, 2021 |archive-date=June 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607195503/https://www.hgh.com/blogger/post/2014-ifbb-tampa-pro-bodybuilding-top-5-contest-results |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Jo Jorgensen]], Libertarian nominee in the [[2020 United States presidential election]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2020/06/02/meet-greenville-sc-resident-clemson-lecturer-running-president-jo-jorgensen/5277308002/ |title=Meet the Greenville resident and Clemson lecturer running for president |date=June 2, 2020 |newspaper=Greenville News |first=Zoe |last=Nicholson |access-date=March 25, 2023 |url-access=limited }}</ref>
* [[Marcus King]], blues musician, founder of [[The Marcus King Band]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/19-year-old-marcus-king-talks-family-friends-and-the-future-of-his-music-interview/ |title=19-Year-Old Marcus King Talks Family, Friends And The Future Of His Music |date=February 2, 2016 |website=Live for Live Music |first=Shane |last=McFarland |access-date=March 26, 2021 |quote=Hailing from Greenville, SC, 19-year old Marcus King... }}</ref>
* [[Nikki Lane]], country music singer<ref name=songwriter>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2011/09/nikki-lane-walking-the-line/ |title=Nikki Lane: Walking The Line |magazine=[[American Songwriter]] |date=September 1, 2011 |access-date=September 14, 2022 |last=Maloney |first=Sean L. |quote=the Greenville, South Carolina native}}</ref>
* [[Hovie Lister]], gospel musician<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.timesexaminer.com/southern-gospel-music/1339-hovie-lister-a-native-of-greenville-sc |title=Hovie Lister, A Native of Greenville, SC |date=January 9, 2013 |newspaper=The Times Examiner |publication-place=Greenville |access-date=March 30, 2022 }}</ref>
* [[Michael Mercado]], Major League Baseball pitcher<ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Mercado Stats, Age, Position... |url=https://www.milb.com/app-firstpitch/player/michael-mercado-675650 |website=[[Minor League Baseball]] |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Joel Roberts Poinsett]], physician, diplomat, and slave owner for whom the [[poinsettia]] plant is named<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20086886 |jstor=20086886 |last1=Chandler |first1=Charles Lyon |last2=Smith |first2=R. |title=The Life of Joel Roberts Poinsett |journal=The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography |year=1935 |volume=59 |issue=1 |pages=1–31 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/poinsett-joel-roberts/ |title=Poinsett, Joel Roberts |date=June 20, 2016 |website=South Carolina Encyclopedia |first=James T. |last=Hammond |access-date=June 2, 2022 |quote=Poinsett died... while traveling... to his Greenville home.}}</ref>
* [[Virginia Postrel]], political and cultural author<ref>{{cite web |title=The Future and Its Enemies |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?118999-1/the-future-enemies |date=January 19, 1999 |website=C-SPAN |access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Charles V. Pyle Jr.]], judge and politician<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/greenville-sc/charles-pyle-7433111|title=Charles Victor Pyle, Jr.|work=Dignity Memorial|access-date=January 15, 2023}}</ref>
* [[John E. Sloan]], US Army major general<ref>{{cite news |date=21 May 1942 |title=Sloan Is Given Major General Rank By Chief |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news-rank/171001710/ |work=[[The Greenville News]] |location=Greenville, South Carolina |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
* [[William Timmons]], [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] for South Carolina<ref>{{cite web |title=TIMMONS, William R., IV |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/T000480 |website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=September 26, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Charles H. Townes]], co-recipient of 1964 Nobel Prize in Physics<ref>{{cite web |title=The Nobel Prize in Physics 1964 |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1964/townes/biographical/ |access-date=December 3, 2022}}</ref>
* [[Eli White]], professional baseball player for the [[Atlanta Braves]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nytimes.stats.com/mlb/playerstats.asp?id=11402 |title=Eli White stats |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 25, 2021 |quote=Birthplace: Greenville |via=[[Stats Perform]] }}</ref>
* [[Josh White]] (1914–1969) American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor and civil rights activist<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/05/16/greenville-sc-black-singer-guitarist-josh-white-revolutionary-force-american-music-mccarthyism/3678298002/ |title=The extraordinary life of Josh White, a forgotten singer, guitar virtuoso from Greenville |date=May 16, 2019 |newspaper=Greenville News |first=Judith |last=Bainbridge |access-date=September 17, 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Sister cities==
Greenville is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Sister Cities|url=https://greenvillesistercities.org/our-sister-cities/|website=greenvillesistercities.org|publisher=Greenville Sister Cities International|access-date=May 7, 2021}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Bergamo]], Italy since 1984
* {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Kortrijk]], Belgium since 1991
* {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Tianjin Free-Trade Zone]], China since 2002<ref>{{cite web |url=https://greenvillesistercities.org/our-sister-cities/china/ |title=Tianjin, FTZ, PRC |website=Greenville Sister Cities |access-date=June 27, 2023 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|IND}} [[Vadodara]], India<ref>{{cite web |url=https://greenvillesistercities.org/our-sister-cities/india/ |title=Vadodara, India |website=Greenville Sister Cities |access-date=June 27, 2023 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of municipalities in South Carolina]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage |Greenville (South Carolina)}}
{{EB1911 poster|wstitle=Greenville (South Carolina)|Greenville, South Carolina}}
{{NSRW Poster|Greenville, S. C.|Greenville, South Carolina}}
* {{OSM relation|193989}}
* {{Official website|https://www.greenvillesc.gov}}
* [http://www.greenvillechamber.org/ Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce]

{{Greenville, South Carolina}}
{{Grnscneighborhoods}}
{{Greenville County, South Carolina}}
{{South Carolina}}
{{South Carolina county seats}}
{{Portal bar|Geography|North America|United States}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Greenville, South Carolina| ]]
[[Category:Cities in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Cities in Greenville County, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1797]]
[[Category:County seats in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Upstate South Carolina]]
[[Category:1797 establishments in the United States]]