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Spartanburg, South Carolina
Population: 39,673
Located in Spartanburg County
Located in the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Spartanburg is the jewel of the upstate. The mild climate, with its four distinct seasons, provides fine weather for outdoor activities year-round. Spartanburg is conveniently situated at the junction of I-26 and I-85. Spartanburg is full of exciting attractions, beautiful scenery, historically significant sites, and friendly people.
The amenities and opportunities Spartanburg county offers are wide –ranging—housing, education, healthcare, shopping, recreation and culture are all of the ingredients they go into making this community a wonderful place to live. The quality of life here is unbeatable. Recreational and cultural opportunities abound -- symphony performances, festivals, football, baseball, soccer, theater, golfing, swimming, tennis, parks, historical sites and much, much more.
Economy
Within the past decade, developers and community leaders have spearheaded an effort to revitalize Spartanburg's downtown district. This has resulted in a remodeling of Morgan Square, the restoration of a number of historic structures and the relocation of several businesses and company headquarters to the downtown vicinity. Some of these new developments include a nine-floor, 240-room Marriott, the world headquarters of Extended Stay Hotels, the headquarters of Advance America, and the regional headquarters of QS/1 Data Systems. The world headquarters of Denny's restaurants is also located in downtown Spartanburg. Numerous other smaller businesses have also moved downtown as a result of this community-wide effort.
The economy of Spartanburg also benefits from the BMW manufacturing facility located in the western end of Spartanburg County. The plant currently manufactures its Z4 roadster, its BMW Z4 coupe, BMW Z4 M roadster, BMW Z4 M coupe and X5 SAV.
Spartanburg is also home to the world headquarters and research facility for Milliken & Company, one of the largest privately held textile and chemical manufacturers in the world. Milliken has also been recognized as one of the top employers in the U.S.; it was in FORTUNE Magazine’s 2004, 2006 and 2007 lists of the “100 Best Companies to Work For”.
Spartanburg is serviced by two airports: Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport, a small, mostly private airport, and the larger Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) that services most major airlines.
Education
Spartanburg is served by the Spartanburg County School System, which is divided into seven individual districts. Some of the districts share a vocational school. The city of Spartanburg is located in primarily in District 7 of and partially in District 6.
Spartanburg also holds the Spartanburg Day School, a K-12 private school with multiple recent state championships in several sports. Its headmaster is Chris Dorrance. Spartanburg is home to Oakbrook Preparatory School, a K-12 private school that is known for its dedication to excellence in both sports and education. It is under the leadership of Mr. Steve Smith. Spartanburg is home to the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind.
Spartanburg is a "College Town", and it has six institutions of higher learning: The University of South Carolina Upstate (formerly the University of South Carolina - Spartanburg), Converse College, Spartanburg Methodist College, Spartanburg Community College, Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic and Wofford College.
SPARTA
Spartanburg is served by the Spartanburg Area Regional Transit Agency (SPARTA), 8 routes lead to a wide variety of destinations. Amtrak's Crescent train connects Spartanburg with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans.
Community
Morgan Square, the city’s primary downtown hub, is the original courthouse village. The oldest existing buildings on the square date to the 1880s. It is now a thriving center for daytime commerce as well as nightlife. The Magnolia Street Train Depot is one of the older buildings in the city and stands as a reminder of Spartanburg’s old nickname “the Hub City,” referring to the many transportation routes that connected Spartanburg with cities throughout the region. It is now the home of the Amtrak station, the Visitor’s Bureau and the Hub City Farmers' Market.
Hampton Heights Historic District is the city's oldest downtown neighborhood, located a couple of blocks south of Morgan Square. Architectural styles in this neighborhood range from large Queen Anne and Neo-classical homes to cozy early-twentieth century bungalows. Although neglected for many years, this neighborhood is undergoing a renaissance thanks to active residents and the Preservation Trust of Spartanburg, a non-profit organization that is slowly restoring the neighborhood.
Art & Culture
Despite its size as a small city, Spartanburg has, throughout its history, been a fruitful home to a creative community. Cultural events and institutions abound in the city and county and consistently draw large crowds.
The Chapman Cultural Center, opening in the fall of 2007, promises to be an unparalleled hub of cultural activity. It will house the Museum of Art, Regional Museum of History, Science Center, Little Theatre, Ballet, Music Foundation and other groups that are currently based out of The Arts Center on South Spring Street.
The Showroom, the home of Hub-Bub and The Hub City Writers’ Project, is a new center for progressive arts in the community. It houses a gallery, film screen, stage, and concert venue and is home to a nationally-recognized artist residency program. Hub-Bub is the creative effort responsible for the founding of The Showroom and, as a project goal, seeks to attract and retain creative talent in the community. It was launched in March 2005 by the Hub City Writers Project with assistance from private donors and the city of Spartanburg. The Hub City Writers’ Project has been active since 1995 and serves the community as a local publishing company.
Converse College is a nationally known four-year liberal arts institution recognized for its strong music and visual art p
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