View source for Greenville County, South Carolina

{{Short description|County in South Carolina, United States}}
{{redirect-distinguish|Greenville County|Greensville County, Virginia}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Greenville County
 | state                = South Carolina
 | seal                 = Greenville County Seal.jpg
 | seat wl              = Greenville
 | largest city wl      = Greenville
 | city type            = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 795.57
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 785.93
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 9.64
 | area percentage      = 1.21
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 525,534
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 570745 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | web                  = www.greenvillecounty.org
 | ex image             = Old Greenville County Courthouse 2017.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Old [[Greenville County Courthouse]]
 | ex image size        = 250px
 | district             = 3rd
 | district2            = 4th
 | leader_title         = County Administrator
 | leader_name          = Joseph M. Kernell
 | motto                = "Unrivaled Quality Of Life"
 | founded              = 1786
 | named for            = [[Nathanael Greene]]
 | logo                 = Greenville County logo.gif }}

'''Greenville County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|r|iː|n|v|ɪ|l}} {{respell|GREEN|vil}}; locally {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|r|iː|n|v|əl}} {{respell|GREEN|vəl}}) is located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[South Carolina]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 525,534,<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> making it the [[List of counties in South Carolina|most populous county]] in the state. Its [[county seat]] is [[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county is also home to the [[Greenville County School District]], the largest school system in South Carolina. Greenville County is the most populous county in [[Upstate South Carolina]] as well as the state. It is the central county of the Greenville-[[Anderson, South Carolina|Anderson]]-[[Greer, South Carolina|Greer]], SC [[Metropolitan statistical area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]], which in turn is part of the Greenville-[[Spartanburg, South Carolina|Spartanburg]]-Anderson, SC [[combined statistical area|Combined Statistical Area]].<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>

==History==
===18th and 19th centuries===
In 1786, due to population growth in [[Ninety-Six District, South Carolina|Ninety-Six District]] and the victory of the [[American Whigs (American Revolution)|American Whigs]] over the [[British Empire|British]] and their [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|colonial Tory]] and [[Cherokee–American wars|Cherokee]] allies, the state legislature formed Greenville County (originally spelled Greeneville), named for General [[Nathanael Greene]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} VisitGreenvilleSC |url=https://www.visitgreenvillesc.com/about-greenville/all-about-greenville/history/ |access-date=June 11, 2022 |website=www.visitgreenvillesc.com}}</ref> the hero of the American southern campaign.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/greene.html |title=Historic Valley Forge: General Nathanael Greene |website=[[ushistory.org]] |year=2006 |orig-year=1954 |first=Charles William |last=Heathcote |access-date=February 7, 2022 }}</ref> Greenville County was the first county created in the overarching Ninety-Six District, but from 1791 to 1798, both neighboring [[Pendleton District, South Carolina|Pendleton County]] (the other county formed from Cherokee territory in northwestern Ninety-Six District) and it were part of the new overarching [[Washington District, South Carolina|Washington District]]. From 1798 to 1800, it was part of the short-lived overarching [[Pendleton District, South Carolina|Pendleton District]]. In 1798, all counties were reidentified as "elective districts" to be effective on January 1, 1800; thereafter, the Greenville District was no longer part of Pendleton District. In 1868, the districts were converted back to counties.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/greenville_county_sc.html |website=Carolana.com |title=Greenville County, South Carolina |first=J.D. |last=Lewis |access-date= February 7, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} Greenville, SC - Official Website |url=https://www.greenvillesc.gov/178/History |access-date=June 11, 2022 |website=www.greenvillesc.gov}}</ref> After the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] ended in the 1860s, former slaves gained freedom, the [[textile manufacturing|textile industry]] grew quickly, and cotton farming expanded in the county. Completion of the [[Southern Railway (U.S.)|Southern Railway]] in 1893 joined the local economy with the rest of the nation.<ref name="SCEgc">{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/greenville-county/ |title=Greenville County |date=August 5, 2022 |encyclopedia=South Carolina Encyclopedia |first= A. V. Jr. |last=Huff |access-date=July 12, 2023 }}</ref>

===20th century===
The [[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad]]'s consolidation into the 1900s further linked the county with the national economy, and dozens of textile companies opened, with farm workers migrating to associated mill villages. [[World War I]] and creation of the [[Army National Guard]]'s Camp Sevier in [[Taylors, South Carolina|Taylors]] further increased the county's outside connections in the early 20th century.<ref name="SCEgc" /><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/camp-sevier/ |title=Camp Sevier |date=July 20, 2022 |encyclopedia=South Carolina Encyclopedia |first=Samuel K. |last=Fore |access-date=July 12, 2023 }}</ref> [[Duke's Mayonnaise]] was started in Greenville in 1917 and still has its company headquarters in the county.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/06/07/615596607/worth-the-whisk-how-the-woman-behind-dukes-mayo-became-a-tycoon |title=Worth The Whisk: How The Woman Behind Duke's Mayo Became A Tycoon |date=June 7, 2018 |work=National Public Radio |first1=Jarrett |last1=Dieterle |first2=Maria |last2=Ribas |access-date=July 13, 2023 }}</ref>

[[World War II]] brought additional contracts for the textile industry in the 1940s. After the war ended, agriculture decreased and business leaders such as [[Charles E. Daniel]] and [[Roger Milliken]] pursued other industries to replace textiles. [[Donaldson Air Force Base]] was converted into an industrial air park (now [[Donaldson Center Airport]]) in the early 1960s, and [[Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport]] opened then as well.<ref name="SCEgc" />

The 1960s brought gradual racial desegregation until the county's whole school district was integrated in January 1970. Interstate highways [[Interstate 85 in South Carolina#Route description|I-85]], [[Interstate 185 (South Carolina)|I-185]], and [[Interstate 385|I-385]] first crossed the county in the 1960s, promoting growth and better economic placement. The mid-1960s reapportionment of state legislative representation into equal-population election districts brought political change, with metropolitan counties such as Greenville gaining influence over rural counties. Greenville County politicians were elected as [[South Carolina House of Representatives|state house]] and [[South Carolina Senate|senate]] leaders and as [[Governor of South Carolina|state governors]] ([[Richard Riley]] and [[Carroll A. Campbell Jr.]]) in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.<ref name="SCEgc" />

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q502273|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Greenville County}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|795.57|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|785.93|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|9.64|sqmi}} (1.21%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_45.txt |access-date=September 10, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===State and local protected areas/sites===
{{See also|Category:Protected areas of Greenville County, South Carolina}}
* Ashmore Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands">{{Cite web |title=SCDNR Public Lands |url=https://www2.dnr.sc.gov/ManagedLands/ManagedLand/County |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=www2.dnr.sc.gov}}</ref>
* Bald Rock Heritage Preserve<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* Belvue Springs Heritage Preserve<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* Blackwell Heritage Preserve<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* Blue Wall Preserve<ref>{{cite news |url=https://greenvillejournal.com/giving-matters/giving-matters-the-nature-conservancy-of-south-carolina-protects-treasured-landscapes-from-the-mountains-to-the-sea/ |title=Giving Matters: The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina protects treasured landscapes from the mountains to the sea |date=August 15, 2019 |newspaper=Greenville Journal |first=Rebecca |last=Howerton |access-date=July 18, 2022 }}</ref>
* Bunched Arrowhead Heritage Preserve<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* Caesars Head/Jones Gap<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Caesars Head State Park]]
* [[Cedar Falls Park]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/life/2015/10/20/walk-cedar-falls-park-yields-unexpected-pleasures/74286888/ |title=A walk in Cedar Falls Park yields unexpected pleasures |date=October 20, 2015 |newspaper=[[Greenville News]] |first=Ann |last=Green |url-access=limited |access-date=July 18, 2022 }}</ref>
* Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* Clear Creek Heritage Preserve<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Conestee Nature Preserve]]
* Eva Russell Chandler Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Falls Park on the Reedy]]
* [[Greenville Zoo]]
* J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kiddingaroundgreenville.com/lake-robinson |title=Lake Robinson |date=June 12, 2017 |website=Kidding Around Greenville |first=Maria |last=Bassett |publisher=Bethany Winston |access-date=July 18, 2022 }}</ref>
* [[Jones Gap State Park]]
* [[Mills Mill]]
* Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area |url=https://www.visitgreenvillesc.com/listing/mountain-bridge-wilderness-area/1407/ |access-date=July 21, 2022 |website=www.visitgreenvillesc.com |language=en-us}}</ref>
* [[Paris Mountain State Park]]
* Pleasant Valley Park<ref>{{cite web |url=https://greenvillerec.com/parks/pleasant-ridge-park/ |title=Pleasant Ridge Park |website=Greenville County Parks, Recreation & Tourism |access-date=July 18, 2022 }}</ref>
* Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Upcountry History Museum]]
* Watson-Cooper Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>

===Major water bodies===
* [[Enoree River]]
* North Saluda Reservoir<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 8, 2023 |title=North Saluda Reservoir Near Tigerville, SC - 021623961 |url=https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/021623961/ |access-date=July 16, 2023 |website=waterdata.usgs.gov |language=en}}</ref>
* [[North Saluda River]]
* [[Reedy River]]
* [[Saluda River]]
* [[South Pacolet River]]
* [[South Saluda River]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Henderson County, North Carolina]] – north
* [[Polk County, North Carolina]] – northeast
* [[Spartanburg County, South Carolina|Spartanburg County]] – east
* [[Laurens County, South Carolina|Laurens County]] – southeast
* [[Abbeville County, South Carolina|Abbeville County]] – south
* [[Anderson County, South Carolina|Anderson County]] – southwest
* [[Pickens County, South Carolina|Pickens County]] – west
* [[Transylvania County, North Carolina]] – northwest
{{div col end}}

===Major highways===
{{columns-list|
* {{Jct|state=SC|I|85}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|I|185|I-Toll|185|nolink2=yes}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|I|385}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|BS|385}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US|25}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US-Conn|25|dab1=Travelers Rest}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US|29}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US-Conn|29|dab1=Greenville}} (Greenville)
* {{Jct|state=SC|US-Conn|29|dab1=Wade Hampton}} (Wade Hampton)
* {{Jct|state=SC|US|123}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US|276}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US-Conn|276|dab1=Travelers Rest}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|11}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|14}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC-Truck|14|dab1=Greer}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|20}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|86}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|101}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC-Truck|101|dab1=Greer}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|124}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|146}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|183}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|253}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|288}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|290}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC-Truck|290|dab1=Greer}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|291}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|417}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|418}}|colwidth=20em}}

===Major infrastructure===
* [[Donaldson Center Airport]]
* [[Greenville Downtown Airport]]
* [[Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport]] (mostly in Spartanburg County)
* [[Greenville station (South Carolina)|Greenville Station]] (Amtrak)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790 = 6503
|1800 = 11504
|1810 = 13133
|1820 = 14530
|1830 = 16476
|1840 = 17839
|1850 = 20156
|1860 = 21892
|1870 = 22262
|1880 = 37496
|1890 = 44310
|1900 = 53490
|1910 = 68377
|1920 = 88498
|1930 = 117009
|1940 = 136580
|1950 = 168152
|1960 = 209776
|1970 = 240546
|1980 = 287913
|1990 = 320167
|2000 = 379616
|2010 = 451225
|2020 = 525534
|estyear=2024
|estimate=570745
|estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 17, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=March 17, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/sc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=March 17, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=March 17, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=USCensus>{{cite web|title=Greenville County, South Carolina|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45045.html|website=US Census|access-date=April 15, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606130113/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45045.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/greenvillecountysouthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Greenville County, South Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 8, 2024}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Greenville County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US45045&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 14, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|343,897
|65.44%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|87,124
|16.58%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|893
|0.17%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|12,875
|2.45%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|398
|0.08%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/mixed]]
|22,322
|4.25%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|58,025
|11.04%
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], 525,534 people, 199,551 households, and 130,296 families were residing in the county.

===2010 census===
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], 451,225&nbsp;people, 176,531&nbsp;households, and 119,362&nbsp;families were residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US45045|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data|access-date=March 9, 2016|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213021327/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US45045|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45045.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606130113/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45045.html |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |access-date=March 17, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|574.7|PD/sqmi}}. The 195,462 housing units had an average density of {{convert|249.0|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US45045|access-date=March 9, 2016|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191311/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US45045|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 73.8% White, 18.1% African American, 2.0% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.1% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 13.0% were [[Americans|American]], 11.6% were [[Germans|German]], 10.9% were [[English people|English]], and 10.7% were [[Irish people|Irish]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US45045|title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=March 9, 2016|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010753/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US45045|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Of the 176,531&nbsp;households, 33.7% had children under 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.4% were not families, and 27.0% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.49, and the average family size was 3.03. The median age was 37.2 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $46,830 and for a family was $59,043. Males had a median income of $45,752 versus $33,429 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,931. About 10.8% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US45045|title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=March 9, 2016|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020651/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US45045|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Race and ethnicity===
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"
|+ '''Greenville County Racial Breakdown of Population'''<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
|-
! Racial composition  !! 2010 !! 2019
|-
| [[White American|White]] || 73.8% || 76.3%
|-
| [[African American|Black]] || 18.1% || 18.4%
|-
| [[Asian American|Asian]] || 2.0% || 2.7%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] || 0.3% || 0.5%
|-
| [[Native Hawaiian]] and<br />[[Pacific Islander|other Pacific Islander]] || 0.1% || 0.1%
|-
| [[Multiracial American|Two or more races]] || 1.9% || 2.0%
|-
| [[Race in the United States|Other]] || 3.8% || 0.0%
|}

===Ancestry===
As of 2016, the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Greenville County were:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/16_5YR/DP02/0500000US45045 |title=American FactFinder - Results |access-date=June 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213035859/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/16_5YR/DP02/0500000US45045 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
! Ancestry !! Percent<br/><small>(2016)</small>
|-
| [[English Americans|English]] {{flagicon|England}} || 12.9%
|-
| [[German Americans|German]] {{flagicon|Germany}} || 11.0%
|-
| [[Irish Americans|Irish]] {{flagicon|Ireland}} || 10.2%
|-
| [[American ancestry|American]] {{flagicon|United States}} || 9.9%
|-
| [[Scotch-Irish Americans|Scotch-Irish]] {{flagicon|Ulster}} || 3.1%
|-
| [[Italian Americans|Italian]] {{flagicon|Italy}} || 3.1%
|-
| [[Scottish Americans|Scottish]] {{flagicon|Scotland}} || 2.9%
|-
| [[French Americans|French]] {{flagicon|France}} || 2.2%
|-
| [[Polish Americans|Polish]] {{flagicon|Poland}} || 1.5%
|-
| [[Dutch Americans|Dutch]] {{flagicon|Netherlands}} || 1.2%
|-
| [[Welsh Americans|Welsh]] {{flagicon|Wales}} || 0.7%
|-
| [[Swedish Americans|Swedish]] {{flagicon|Sweden}} || 0.7% 
|-
| [[Norwegian American|Norwegian]] {{flagicon|Norway}} || 0.6%
|}

==Government and politics==
Greenville County is governed by a 12-member county council. The current county administrator is Joseph Kernell, whom the council appointed in January 2004 after voting in late 2003 to hire him. Kernell was previously the county administrator for [[St. Charles County, Missouri]]. Other staff hired by the council include a clerk and an attorney.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/money/2019/01/30/greenville-county-ems-crisis-council-members-demand-transparency/2703803002/ |title=Greenville County Council wants to review county administrator's $280K annual contract |date=January 30, 2019 |newspaper=The Greenville News |first=Anna B. |last=Mitchell |access-date=June 3, 2019 |url-access=limited }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/Administrator/ |title=County Administrator |website=Greenville County, South Carolina |access-date=June 3, 2013 }}</ref>

Council members are elected by voters in each of the 12 state legislative districts (17–28) within the county and serve staggered four-year terms.<ref name=council>{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/Council/ |title=County Council |website=Greenville County, South Carolina |access-date=June 3, 2021 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"  style="display: inline-table; margin: 2em;"
|+County Council members<ref name="council" />
|-
!District!!Name / party<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/VoterRegistration/pdf/2020Candidatefile.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.greenvillecounty.org/VoterRegistration/pdf/2020Candidatefile.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=Candidate filing for November 2020 |date=June 25, 2020 |website=Greenville County, South Carolina |access-date=June 3, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://greertoday.com/greer-sc/record-absentee-votes-recorded-as-polls-open-today/2018/11/06/ |title=Record absentee votes recorded as polls open today |date=November 6, 2018 |work=Greer Today |access-date=June 3, 2021 }}</ref>!!Home<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/Council/ContactInfo.aspx |title=County Council Member Information |website=Greenville County, South Carolina |access-date=June 3, 2021 }}</ref>!!Elected
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|17||{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Joey|Russo|nolink=1}}||[[Travelers Rest, South Carolina|Travelers Rest]]||2022<ref name="new2022">{{cite news |url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/2022/11/10/greenvilles-countys-new-council-leaders-ready-change/ |title=Greenville County's new council leaders, ready for change |date=November 9, 2022 |work=[[WHNS|Fox Carolina]] |first=Kennedi |last=Harris |access-date=January 16, 2023 }}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|18||{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Kelly|Long|nolink=1}}||[[Greer, South Carolina|Greer]]||2024<ref name="fox2024">{{cite news |url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/2024/06/13/newly-elected-greenville-county-councilors-speak-after-3-incumbents-lose-re-election-bid/ |title=Newly elected Greenville County councilors speak, after 3 incumbents lose re-election bid |date=June 12, 2024 |website=[[WHNS|Fox Carolina]] |first=Kennedi |last=Harris |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|19||{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Benton|Blount|nolink=1}} (chair)||[[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]]||2022<ref name="new2022" />
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|20||{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Steve|Shaw|nolink=1}}||[[Travelers Rest, South Carolina|Travelers Rest]]||2020<ref name=wspa>{{cite news |url=https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/willis-meadows-elected-chair-of-greenville-county-council/ |title=Willis Meadows elected chair of Greenville County Council |date=January 5, 2021 |work=[[WSPA-TV]] |first=Anne |last=Maxwell |access-date=June 4, 2021 }}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|21||{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Curt|McGahhey|nolink=1}}||[[Simpsonville, South Carolina|Simpsonville]]||2024<ref name="fox2024" />
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|22||{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Frank|Farmer|nolink=1}}||[[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]]||2024<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/06/results-for-greenville-county-council-district-22-24-seats/75820934007/ |title=Results for Greenville County Council District 22, 24 seats; Farmer, Seman win |date=November 6, 2024 |newspaper=Greenville News |first=Terry II |last=Benjamin |access-date=January 27, 2025}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|23||{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{sortname|Alan|Mitchell|nolink=1}}||[[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]]||2022<ref name="new2022" />
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|24||{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Liz|Seman|nolink=1}}||[[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]]||2008<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/Council/CouncilMember.aspx?m=LizSeman |title=Liz Seman, District 24 |website=Greenville County, South Carolina |access-date=June 5, 2021 |quote=first elected in 2008 to represent District 24 }}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|25||{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{sortname|Ennis M.|Fant Jr.|nolink=1}}||[[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]]||2016<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fitsnews.com/2019/05/17/greenville-county-sc-councilman-in-hot-water-over-taxes/ |title=Greenville County SC Councilman In Hot Water Over Taxes |date=May 17, 2019 |work=[[FITSNews]] |access-date=June 5, 2021 |quote=since returning to public life in 2016 }}</ref> (1984)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://eu.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/05/29/three-greenville-county-council-districts-headed-primary-elections/84985406/ |title=Three Greenville County Council districts headed to primary elections |date=May 29, 2016 |newspaper=The Greenville News |first=Amanda |last=Coyne |access-date=June 5, 2021 |url-access=limited |quote=Fant served on Greenville County Council from 1984 to 1988 }}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|26||{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Rick|Bradley|nolink=1}} (vice chair)||[[Pelzer, South Carolina|Pelzer]]||2022<ref name="new2022" />
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|27||{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Garey|Collins|nolink=1}}||[[Simpsonville, South Carolina|Simpsonville]]||2024<ref name="fox2024" />
|-
|style="text-align: center;"|28||{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Dan|Tripp|nolink=1}}||[[Mauldin, South Carolina|Mauldin]]||2018<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/Council/CouncilMember.aspx?m=DanTripp |title=Dan Tripp, District 28 |work=Greenville County, South Carolina |access-date=June 5, 2021 |quote=Tripp was elected in November of 2018 }}</ref>
|}

{{Sticky header}}
{{PresHead|place=Greenville County, South Carolina|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 13, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|600|3,026|60|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|288|2,718|35|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|47|1,777|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|66|2,489|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|176|2,774|35|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|0|3,140|55|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|81|3,384|36|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|144|4,409|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|59|3,728|42|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|546|4,116|2|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|126|7,930|2|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|92|8,310|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|514|8,118|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|711|7,107|276|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|789|2,745|5,940|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|17,743|14,863|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|10,752|11,819|4,622|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|22,657|13,976|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|29,358|17,275|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|31,652|12,928|15,241|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|46,360|10,143|1,726|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|39,099|35,943|939|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|46,168|32,135|2,112|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|66,766|24,137|466|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|67,371|27,188|567|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|65,066|34,651|14,190|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|71,210|41,605|7,605|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|92,714|43,810|3,769|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|111,481|55,347|2,005|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|116,363|70,886|3,408|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|121,685|68,070|3,434|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|127,832|74,483|12,850|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|150,021|103,030|5,104|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|158,541|100,074|4,701|South Carolina}}
{{PresFoot}}
From the latter half of the 20th century onward, Greenville County has voted overwhelmingly Republican in presidential elections. It has gone Republican in every presidential election since 1960, and in all but one election since 1952. [[Jimmy Carter]] of neighboring Georgia failed to win the county in 1976 despite winning the state. Carter's 1976 run is the last time a Democrat received 40% or more of the county's vote, and one of only two official Democratic candidates to do so since 1948. In 2020, [[Joe Biden]] became the first Democrat to obtain over 100,000 votes in the county, and [[Donald Trump]]'s 18.2% margin of victory was the lowest for any Republican since 1980. Biden came within 320 votes of being only the second Democrat in 72 years to win 40% of the county's vote.

The county also rejects Democrats at the state level; it was one of the first areas of the state where Republicans were able to break the long Democratic monopoly on state and local offices.

=== Law enforcement ===
When Greenville County was formed in 1786, it was served by the sheriff of the Ninety Six District. A Washington District, including Greenville and Pendleton Counties, existed from 1791 to 1799. (Pendleton was split in 1826 into [[Pickens County, South Carolina|Pickens]] and [[Anderson County, South Carolina|Anderson Counties]].) One of the district's first sheriffs, [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] hero Robert Maxwell, served from 1795 to 1797, when he was killed in an ambush.<ref name=history>{{cite web |url=http://www.gcso.org/history.php |title=History |website=Greenville County Sheriff's Office |access-date=May 28, 2021 |archive-date=January 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118180626/http://www.gcso.org/history.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Sheriffs in South Carolina were originally elected by the state legislature. In 1808, a law was enacted to provide for the election of the sheriff directly by the citizens of the county, rather than by politicians. This method of election was placed into the [[South Carolina State Constitution]] in 1868 and the Office of Sheriff in Greenville County began.<ref name="history" />

In 2017, Sheriff Will Lewis was suspended by Governor [[Henry McMaster]] for misconduct, perjury, and obstruction of justice. These charges came out of a sexual assault lawsuit filed by Lewis' female assistant. Although the sheriff said the relationship was consensual, he settled the claim for an undisclosed sum.<ref>{{cite news |last1=LaFleur |first1=Elizabeth |title=Grand jury indicts suspended Greenville Sheriff Will Lewis on 2 new criminal charges |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/02/19/greenville-sheriff-will-lewis/2917597002/ |access-date=March 18, 2019 |publisher=Greenville News |date=February 19, 2019}}</ref> Lewis was found guilty in 2019 and sentenced to a year of prison, although he did not begin his sentence until October 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gross|first=Daniel J.|title=Former Greenville sheriff fears prison violence after SC court denies rehearing|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2021/10/13/former-greenville-sheriff-lewis-heads-prison-court-ruling-appeal/8436221002/|access-date=November 9, 2021|website=The Greenville News|language=en-US}}</ref>

{{As of|2021}}, the sheriff of Greenville County is Hobart Lewis. The sheriff's office includes five divisions: Administrative Services, Community Services, Uniform Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and Judicial Services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greenville County Sheriff's Office {{!}} Greenville County SC|url=http://www.gcso.org/|access-date=November 9, 2021|website=www.gcso.org}}</ref>

As of 2025, 17 officers of the Greenville County Sheriff's Office have been killed in the line of duty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greenville County Sheriff's Office, South Carolina, Fallen Officers |url=https://www.odmp.org/agency/1509-greenville-county-sheriffs-office-south-carolina |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)}}</ref>

==Economy==
CommunityWorks Federal Credit Union was chartered in 2014 to serve the residents of Greenville County. It is sponsored by CommunityWorks, Inc., a nonprofit community-development financial institution, and receives assistance from the United Way of Greenville County and the Hollingsworth Fund.<ref>{{cite news|last=Birch|first=Ray|title=CommunityWorks FCU Is First New CU Charter Of The Year|url=http://www.cujournal.com/news/communityworks-fcu-is-first-new-cu-charter-of-the-year-1022397-1.html?ET=cujournal%3Ae95261%3Aa%3A&st=email|access-date=April 3, 2014|newspaper=[[Credit Union Journal]]|date=April 3, 2014}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 2022, the [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] of Greenville County was $40.6 billion (approx. $72,712 per capita).<ref>{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |date=2001-01-01 |title=Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Greenville County, SC |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDPALL45045 |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}</ref> In [[Chained dollars|chained 2017 dollars]], it had a [[Real gross domestic product|real GDP]] of $34.3 billion (approx. $61,507 per capita).<ref>{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |date=2001-01-01 |title=Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Greenville County, SC |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/REALGDPALL45045 |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}</ref> From 2022 through 2024, the unemployment rate has fluctuated between 2.1-3.3% within the county.<ref>{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |date=1990-01-01 |title=Unemployment Rate in Greenville County, SC |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SCGREE5URN |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}</ref>

Some of the largest employers in the county include [[Bon Secours (Virginia & South Carolina)|Bon Secours]], [[Charter Communications]], [[GE Vernova]], [[Lockheed Martin]], [[Michelin]], [[Prisma Health]], [[Publix]], [[TD Bank (United States)|TD Bank]], the [[United States Postal Service]], and [[Walmart]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |date=April 19, 2024 |title=Greenville County |url=https://lmi.dew.sc.gov/lmi%20site/Documents/CommunityProfiles/04000045.pdf |journal=Community Profiles |publisher=S.C. Department of Employment & Workforce - Business Intelligence Department |publication-place=Columbia, SC |issue=4000045}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Greenville County, South Carolina<ref name=":0" />
! style="text-align:left;" | Industry
! style="text-align:right;" | Employment Counts
! style="text-align:right;" | Employment Percentage (%)
! style="text-align:right;" | Average Annual Wage ($)
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Accommodation and Food Services || style="text-align:right;" | 27,980 || style="text-align:right;" | 9.6 || style="text-align:right;" | 23,920
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services || style="text-align:right;" | 28,877 || style="text-align:right;" | 9.9 || style="text-align:right;" | 42,848
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting || style="text-align:right;" | 210 || style="text-align:right;" | 0.1 || style="text-align:right;" | 37,960
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation || style="text-align:right;" | 5,632 || style="text-align:right;" | 1.9 || style="text-align:right;" | 22,516
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Construction || style="text-align:right;" | 15,291 || style="text-align:right;" | 5.2 || style="text-align:right;" | 77,896
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Educational Services || style="text-align:right;" | 18,844 || style="text-align:right;" | 6.4 || style="text-align:right;" | 51,168
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Finance and Insurance || style="text-align:right;" | 12,361 || style="text-align:right;" | 4.2 || style="text-align:right;" | 80,756
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Health Care and Social Assistance || style="text-align:right;" | 43,180 || style="text-align:right;" | 14.8 || style="text-align:right;" | 67,756
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Information || style="text-align:right;" | 4,850 || style="text-align:right;" | 1.7 || style="text-align:right;" | 73,684
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Management of Companies and Enterprises || style="text-align:right;" | 6,100 || style="text-align:right;" | 2.1 || style="text-align:right;" | 93,548
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Manufacturing || style="text-align:right;" | 31,693 || style="text-align:right;" | 10.8 || style="text-align:right;" | 71,708
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction || style="text-align:right;" | 81 || style="text-align:right;" | 0.0 || style="text-align:right;" | 87,256
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Other Services (except Public Administration) || style="text-align:right;" | 7,077 || style="text-align:right;" | 2.4 || style="text-align:right;" | 46,540
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services || style="text-align:right;" | 21,485 || style="text-align:right;" | 7.3 || style="text-align:right;" | 87,308
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Public Administration || style="text-align:right;" | 7,535 || style="text-align:right;" | 2.6 || style="text-align:right;" | 57,616
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing || style="text-align:right;" | 4,143 || style="text-align:right;" | 1.4 || style="text-align:right;" | 58,500
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Retail Trade || style="text-align:right;" | 30,485 || style="text-align:right;" | 10.4 || style="text-align:right;" | 38,584
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Transportation and Warehousing || style="text-align:right;" | 11,422 || style="text-align:right;" | 3.9 || style="text-align:right;" | 59,436
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Utilities || style="text-align:right;" | 890 || style="text-align:right;" | 0.3 || style="text-align:right;" | 71,760
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Wholesale Trade || style="text-align:right;" | 14,230 || style="text-align:right;" | 4.9 || style="text-align:right;" | 83,096
|-
| style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" | '''Total''' || style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | '''292,366''' || style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | '''100.0%''' || style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | '''59,212'''
|}

==Education==
School districts serving the county include:<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=August 1, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45045_greenville/DC20SD_C45045_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Anderson School District 2]]
* [[Greenville County School District]]
* [[Spartanburg County School District 1]]

Additionally, Greenville County 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>

The Greenville County Library System includes 11 libraries that provide meeting spaces, programs, books and other educational resources for county residents.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/AnswerBook/Library.aspx |title=The Greenville County Library System |website=Greenville County |access-date=November 21, 2023 }}</ref> The library system is managed by a board of trustees whose 11 members serve 4-year terms after appointment by the county council. Terms expire at the end of November in odd-numbered years, with half expiring every two years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/countycouncilboard/BoardDetails.aspx?id=67 |title=Library Board of Trustees |website=Greenville County |access-date=November 21, 2023 }}</ref> In October 2023, after some prior controversy, the library board voted to remove all themed displays from its facilities except those pertaining to paid holidays.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/greenville/2023/10/23/greenville-county-library-board-votes-to-remove-displays-amid-controversy-sc-pride-lgbtq-rights/71294644007/ |title=Greenville County Library Board votes 6-4 to remove displays unless concerning 'paid holidays' |date=October 24, 2023 |newspaper=Greenville News |first= Savannah |last=Moss |access-date=November 21, 2023 }}</ref>

==Healthcare==
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.<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>

==Communities==
In the past, Greenville County was partitioned into [[Civil township|townships]].<ref>[https://sites.rootsweb.com/~sccgpss/townships.html Rootsweb: South Carolina Townships – Greenville County.] Accessed February 8, 2022.</ref> Their former names and boundaries were used for United States census counting purposes and census documentation through 1960, after which census counting divisions were used. The 2010 Census lists six cities and 16 census designated places that are fully or partially within Greenville County.<ref name="2010 Census">See http://factfinder.census.gov {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212221153/http://factfinder.census.gov/main.html|date=February 12, 2020}} [https://www.census.gov] [https://www.census.gov]  for population numbers and for municipality and CDP lists in the 2010 Census.</ref>

===Cities===
* [[Fountain Inn, South Carolina|Fountain Inn]] (partly in Laurens County)
* [[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]] (county seat and largest community)
* [[Greer, South Carolina|Greer]] (partly in Spartanburg County)
* [[Mauldin, South Carolina|Mauldin]]
* [[Simpsonville, South Carolina|Simpsonville]]
* [[Travelers Rest, South Carolina|Travelers Rest]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Berea, South Carolina|Berea]]
* [[Caesars Head, South Carolina|Caesars Head]]
* [[City View, South Carolina|City View]]
* [[Conestee, South Carolina|Conestee]]
* [[Dunean, South Carolina|Dunean]]
* [[Five Forks, South Carolina|Five Forks]]
* [[Gantt, South Carolina|Gantt]]
* [[Golden Grove, South Carolina|Golden Grove]]
* [[Judson, South Carolina|Judson]]
* [[Parker, South Carolina|Parker]]
* [[Piedmont, South Carolina|Piedmont]] (partly in Anderson County)
* [[Sans Souci, South Carolina|Sans Souci]]
* [[Slater-Marietta, South Carolina|Slater-Marietta]]
* [[Taylors, South Carolina|Taylors]]
* [[The Cliffs Valley, South Carolina|The Cliffs Valley]]
* [[Tigerville, South Carolina|Tigerville]]
* [[Wade Hampton, South Carolina|Wade Hampton]]
* [[Ware Place, South Carolina|Ware Place]]
* [[Welcome, South Carolina|Welcome]]
{{div col end}}

===Other unincorporated communities===
* [[Altamont, South Carolina|Altamont]]
* [[Batesville, South Carolina|Batesville]]
* [[Cleveland, South Carolina|Cleveland]]
* [[Gowensville, South Carolina|Gowensville]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gowensville SC |url=https://www.gowensville.org/ |access-date=September 28, 2022 |website=www.gowensville.org}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of counties in South Carolina]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Greenville County, South Carolina]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{OSM relation|1357004}}
* {{Official website|https://www.greenvillecounty.org/}}
* [https://www.rootsandrecall.com/greenville/ Greenville County history and images]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Greenville County, South Carolina
|North     = [[Henderson County, North Carolina]]
|Northeast = [[Polk County, North Carolina]]
|East      = [[Spartanburg County, South Carolina|Spartanburg County]]
|Southeast = [[Laurens County, South Carolina|Laurens County]]
|South     = [[Abbeville County, South Carolina|Abbeville County]]
|Southwest = [[Anderson County, South Carolina|Anderson County]]
|West      = [[Pickens County, South Carolina|Pickens County]]
|Northwest = [[Transylvania County, North Carolina]]
}}
{{Greenville, South Carolina}}
{{Greenville County, South Carolina}}
{{South Carolina}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Greenville County, South Carolina| ]]
[[Category:1786 establishments in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1786]]
[[Category:Upstate South Carolina]]