Spartanburg, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
thg
Spartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat
of Spartanburg County, South Carolina
, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located 98 miles (157.7 km) northwest of Columbia
, 80 miles (128.7 km) west of Charlotte
, and about 190 miles (305.8 km) northeast of Atlanta.
Spartanburg's population was 37,013 at the 2010 census. However, the urbanized area of the city is much larger: the Spartanburg Metropolitan Statistical Area, corresponding to Spartanburg County, had a population of 284,307 at the 2010 census, and the area is included in the greater Greenville
-Spartanburg-Anderson
Combined Statistical Area
(population 1,266,995 at the 2010 census).
tribes, which occupied land east and west of this area, respectively. This distant heritage can be glimpsed in some of the natural features.
Early European settlers to this area included French fur trappers, English woodsmen, and Scots-Irish farmers. Few remnants survive from these early pioneering days, but traces can be found, particularly in the more rural areas of the county.
First established in the 1780s as a courthouse village, Spartanburg is thought to have been named after the Sparta
n regiment of the South Carolina Militia. The city of Spartanburg was incorporated in 1831, at the time of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens
, a pivotal battle of the American Revolution
that took place only a few miles away. The city’s streets and architectural record reflect the changes of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Cotton mill
s have abounded in the Spartanburg area since 1816, earning Spartanburg the reputation as the "Lowell
of the South." Although there were relatively few mills in the area before the Civil War
, new technological advances that simplified the work, northern capital, and out-migration from the poor farms created a wave of postbellum mill development here and in much of the Piedmont South. Additionally, the abundant streams and rivers in the area are just beginning their descent towards the lower-lying Midlands region. In many places, these waterways descend abruptly, providing a source for plentiful waterpower. Cotton mills were built along these rivers to harness this power, and so began the region’s servitude to King Cotton
. These mills, their owners and their laborers dominated the politics and economy of the region for nearly a century. Although nearly all abandoned, many mills remain along the riverbanks, the Piedmont equivalent of Gothic ruins.
When the United States entered World War I
in 1917, one of the 16 divisional cantonments for the training of National Guard troops, Camp Wadsworth, was established near the town in the vicinity of present Westgate Mall
. Large numbers of New York National Guardsmen trained there, in addition to many southern troops. During World War II
Camp Croft south of the city trained Army recruits. This is now a South Carolina state park with the same name. Some portions of the park contain the original quonset hut
s (1/2 metal tube structures).
, the city has a total area of 19.2 square miles (49.7 km²), of which 19.1 square miles (49.5 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 0.47%, is water.
The average annual temperature is 60 °F (15.6 °C), with the average January temperature being 40 °F (4.4 °C) and the average July temperature as 78 °F (25.6 °C). There are four distinct but not extreme seasons. Average precipitation is 51.3 inches (130.3 cm) and the average growing season is 231 days.
The County Administration Building (this is the old Sears building which was vacated in the mid-1970s when Sears moved to Westgate Mall
and renovated in the late 1980s or early 1990s) is located at 366 North Church Street. It is across the street from the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
. City Hall is located at 145 West Broad Street.
, the headquarters of Advance America, and the headquarters of QS/1 Data Systems
. The world headquarters of Denny's
restaurants is also located in downtown Spartanburg. Numerous other smaller businesses such as RJ Rockers Brewing Company
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. Manufacturing began in 1996 with certain types of the 3 Series
(from the E36
platform) and with the Z3
roadster. However, a year later when the newer 3 Series (E46
) platform emerged, BMW decided not to build it at the Spartanburg plant, but instead exclusively manufacture variants of the popular Z3. The plant currently manufactures the X5
SAV and X6
SAC for the world market. As part of an expansion project announced in March 2008, the plant will add about 1200000 square feet (111,483.6 m²) of assembly space, and it will become the home of the next-generation X3
SAV.
Spartanburg is also home to the world headquarters and research facility for Milliken & Company. With over 12,000 associates located at more than 60 facilities worldwide, Milliken is one of the largest privately held textile and chemical manufacturers in the world.
Spartanburg is home to Spartanburg Christian Academy, a K-12 private school in North Spartanburg, to the Spartanburg Day School
, a K-12 private school offering the International Baccalaureate in grades K-8, and to Oakbrook Preparatory School, a K-12 private school. The city is also home to Spartanburg Charter School, a K-8 public charter school that is the only "brick and mortar" charter school in the Upstate. Opened in August 2009, the school features a Reggio Emilia approach
to their curriculum.
Spartanburg is home to the main campus of the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind. It has five Regional Outreach Centers throughout the state.
Spartanburg is home to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School which is located in downtown Spartanburg. It is affiliated with the Diocese of Charleston
and is K-8.
fairforest middle school is a armpit
is a public, not-for-profit, integrated health care delivery system based in the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, a 588-bed teaching and research hospital. SRHS provides healthcare services to a five-county area in North and South Carolina, serving an Upstate medical population of more than 300,000 people.
In 1925, Dr. Hugh Ratchford Black opened a 35-bed facility named in honor of his wife, Mary Black. The current Skylyn Drive facility opened in 1968, and today, the campus features a 353690 square feet (32,858.9 m²) modern medical facility. The medical staff consists of more than 350 physicians representing all specialties. Mary Black Physician Group has over 100 employed physicians in more than 30 locations.
Other attractions include:
Training Camp each year at Wofford College
's Gibbs Stadium.
Historic Duncan Park Stadium
was once home to the Spartanburg Stingers in the Coastal Plain League
and the Spartanburg Crickets in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League
and is the oldest minor league baseball stadium in the country. It was also once home to the Spartanburg Phillies, a minor league team of the Philadelphia Phillies
. It now is the home stadium for the baseball teams of Spartanburg High School
.
The Annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas is held each year at Wofford College's Gibbs Stadium. It is a high school football all-star game played between the top players from South Carolina and the top players from North Carolina
.
The USC Upstate Spartans, Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers, and the Wofford College Terriers offer a variety of sports for both men and women. Converse College
also offers NCAA Division II women's sports teams.
The Southern Conference
of the NCAA is headquartered in Spartanburg.
Spartanburg is located an hour away from the Clemson
Tigers and about an hour and a half away from the University of South Carolina
Gamecocks.
The Spartanburg Parks Commission hosts several travel baseball and softball tournaments each year, helping brand the city as one of the Southeast's most reputable tournament locations. Tyger River Park, a 13-field mega baseball/softball complex, opens in 2011.
Upward Unlimited, a Christian-based sports organization for kids, is headquartered in Spartanburg.
Spartanburg is part of the much greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson-Asheville DMA which is the nation's 35th largest and is served by the following major network television affiliates:
's Crescent train connects Spartanburg with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore
, Washington
, Greensboro
, Charlotte
, Atlanta, Birmingham
and New Orleans. The Amtrak station
is situated at 290 Magnolia Street.
of 2000, there were 39,673 people, 15,989 households, and 9,721 families residing within the Spartanburg city limits. The population density
was 2,066.3 people per square mile (799.9/km²). There were 17,696 housing units at an average density of 923.9 per square mile (356.8/km²). The racial makeup within the city limits was 49.55% African American, 47.15% White, 0.18% Native American, 1.33% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.76% from other races
, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.78% of the population.
There were 15,989 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples
living together, 23.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 79.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,735, and the median income for a family was $36,108. Males had a median income of $30,587 versus $23,256 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,136. About 19.4% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.6% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
Spartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Spartanburg County, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located 98 miles (157.7 km) northwest of Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, 80 miles (128.7 km) west of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, and about 190 miles (305.8 km) northeast of Atlanta.
Spartanburg's population was 37,013 at the 2010 census. However, the urbanized area of the city is much larger: the Spartanburg Metropolitan Statistical Area, corresponding to Spartanburg County, had a population of 284,307 at the 2010 census, and the area is included in the greater Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
-Spartanburg-Anderson
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
Combined Statistical Area
Combined Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas consist of one or more counties...
(population 1,266,995 at the 2010 census).
History
This region of the Carolina Piedmont was for centuries a cherished hunting ground of the Catawba and CherokeeCherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
tribes, which occupied land east and west of this area, respectively. This distant heritage can be glimpsed in some of the natural features.
- Lawson’s Fork Creek, a tributary of the Pacolet RiverPacolet RiverThe Pacolet River is a tributary of the Broad River, about 50 miles long, in northwestern South Carolina in the United States . One of its principal headwaters tributaries also drains a small portion of western North Carolina. Via the Broad and Congaree Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the...
, was once known for its plentiful wildlife and crystal clear waters. Parks and woodlands line much of its banks (which lie entirely within Spartanburg County), and rocky shoals and natural waterfalls can be found throughout its course. It stretches from the northern end of the county to the eastern end, where it empties into the Pacolet. - The Cottonwood Trail is a walking trail that runs along part of Lawson’s Fork located on the Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve. The trail includes picnic areas, a raised path over an extensive wetlands area and access to sporadic sandbars. It is used frequently by cyclists, joggers and walkers and is located just east of downtown. Since the Lawson's Fork floodplain is not suitable for development, it has remained home to much of the wildlife for which this entire area was once known. Larger animals that can be found here include white-tailed deerWhite-tailed DeerThe white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, raccoonRaccoonProcyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
s, wild turkeyWild TurkeyThe Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
s, pileated woodpeckerPileated WoodpeckerThe Pileated Woodpecker is a very large North American woodpecker, almost crow-sized, inhabiting deciduous forests in eastern North America, the Great Lakes, the boreal forests of Canada, and parts of the Pacific coast. It is also the largest woodpecker in America.Adults are long, and weigh...
s and snapping turtles. - Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve is located in the midst of an urban environment, but is a welcome oasis of natural beauty. The pet project of a retired social activist, Hatcher Garden has been transformed from an eroding gully into a thick woods and flower garden and serves as a haven for birds and other wildlife.
Early European settlers to this area included French fur trappers, English woodsmen, and Scots-Irish farmers. Few remnants survive from these early pioneering days, but traces can be found, particularly in the more rural areas of the county.
- Walnut Grove PlantationWalnut Grove PlantationWalnut Grove Plantation, the home of Charles and Mary Moore, was built in 1765 on a land grant given by King George III. The property is located in Roebuck in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Charles Moore was a school teacher and used the plantation as a farm...
, an 18th-century farmhouse, has been diligently preserved by the Spartanburg County Historical Association. The site of a locally famous skirmish during the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, it was the home of the Moore family. The plantation lies south of Spartanburg near the town of RoebuckRoebuck, South CarolinaRoebuck is a census-designated place in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,200 at the 2010 census.-History:Roebuck is home to the Walnut Grove Plantation, a preserved 18th-century farmhouse and tourist attraction...
and is open to the public for tours and during annual festivals. - The Seay House, another 18th-century home, is a better representative of the typical pioneer home. Its single stone fireplace and simple construction were common traits associated with farmsteads from this period.
- The Price House, the third 18th-century home maintained by the Historical Association, is unique. Its sturdy Flemish-bond brick construction and three stories are less widespread for this area. By carefully examining the original inventory lists of the house, the Historical Association has been able to retrieve period pieces that approximate the original contents of the house.
First established in the 1780s as a courthouse village, Spartanburg is thought to have been named after the Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
n regiment of the South Carolina Militia. The city of Spartanburg was incorporated in 1831, at the time of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens
Battle of Cowpens
The Battle of Cowpens was a decisive victory by Patriot Revolutionary forces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War...
, a pivotal battle of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
that took place only a few miles away. The city’s streets and architectural record reflect the changes of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- Morgan Square, the city’s primary downtown hub, is the original courthouse village. It was founded adjacent to a small spring (now underground) on the western slope of a ridge, which forms the border of the Tyger and Pacolet River watersheds. The square's name derives from Daniel MorganDaniel MorganDaniel Morgan was an American pioneer, soldier, and United States Representative from Virginia. One of the most gifted battlefield tacticians of the American Revolutionary War, he later commanded troops during the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion.-Early years:Most authorities believe that...
, the general who commanded the American forces at the Battle of CowpensBattle of CowpensThe Battle of Cowpens was a decisive victory by Patriot Revolutionary forces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War...
. A statue of Morgan was placed in the square in 1881. 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 AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
station, the Hub City Railroad Museum, and the Hub City Farmers' Market. - Hampton Heights Historic DistrictHampton HeightsHampton Heights is a neighborhood and historic district located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Although the oldest existing home of the neighborhood dates to 1885, the majority of the homes in the neighborhood are from the 1900s to the 1930s. It is the oldest residential neighborhood in the city...
is the city's oldest intact downtown neighborhood, located a couple of blocks south of Morgan Square. Architectural styles in this neighborhood range from large Queen AnneQueen Anne Style architectureThe Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
and NeoclassicalNeoclassical architectureNeoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
homes to cozy early-twentieth century bungalows.
Cotton mill
Cotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
s have abounded in the Spartanburg area since 1816, earning Spartanburg the reputation as the "Lowell
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
of the South." Although there were relatively few mills in the area before the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, new technological advances that simplified the work, northern capital, and out-migration from the poor farms created a wave of postbellum mill development here and in much of the Piedmont South. Additionally, the abundant streams and rivers in the area are just beginning their descent towards the lower-lying Midlands region. In many places, these waterways descend abruptly, providing a source for plentiful waterpower. Cotton mills were built along these rivers to harness this power, and so began the region’s servitude to King Cotton
King Cotton
King Cotton was a slogan used by southerners to support secession from the United States by arguing cotton exports would make an independent Confederacy economically prosperous, and—more important—would force Great Britain and France to support the Confederacy because their industrial economy...
. These mills, their owners and their laborers dominated the politics and economy of the region for nearly a century. Although nearly all abandoned, many mills remain along the riverbanks, the Piedmont equivalent of Gothic ruins.
- Glendale Mill is located off of Lawson’s Fork Creek southeast of the city. Although gutted by fire several years ago, a few towers and smokestacks remain, providing a dramatic backdrop to the dam, shoals and waterfalls of the creek below. The former company store now serves as the home of the Wofford CollegeWofford CollegeEstablished in 1854 and related to the United Methodist Church, Wofford College is an independent, Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college of 1,525 students located in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. The historic campus is recognized as a national arboretum and features “The...
Environmental Studies Center. - Beaumont Mill is located just north of downtown and has recently been renovated to house the NCAA Southern ConferenceSouthern ConferenceThe Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
headquarters. The adjacent mill village is awaiting designation as a local historic district. - Converse Mill is located to the east of the city along the Pacolet RiverPacolet RiverThe Pacolet River is a tributary of the Broad River, about 50 miles long, in northwestern South Carolina in the United States . One of its principal headwaters tributaries also drains a small portion of western North Carolina. Via the Broad and Congaree Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the...
and has recently been purchased by a developer whose exact plans for the site have yet to be revealed. The mill was reconstructed in 1903 after a huge flood washed away the original mill.
When the United States entered World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1917, one of the 16 divisional cantonments for the training of National Guard troops, Camp Wadsworth, was established near the town in the vicinity of present Westgate Mall
Westgate Mall (Spartanburg)
WestGate Mall is a shopping mall in Spartanburg, South Carolina, off of Interstate 26 and US Highway 29 on West Blackstock Road in Spartanburg, South Carolina in the city's primary shopping market...
. Large numbers of New York National Guardsmen trained there, in addition to many southern troops. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Camp Croft south of the city trained Army recruits. This is now a South Carolina state park with the same name. Some portions of the park contain the original quonset hut
Quonset hut
A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel having a semicircular cross section. The design was based on the Nissen hut developed by the British during World War I...
s (1/2 metal tube structures).
Geography and climate
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 19.2 square miles (49.7 km²), of which 19.1 square miles (49.5 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), or 0.47%, is water.
The average annual temperature is 60 °F (15.6 °C), with the average January temperature being 40 °F (4.4 °C) and the average July temperature as 78 °F (25.6 °C). There are four distinct but not extreme seasons. Average precipitation is 51.3 inches (130.3 cm) and the average growing season is 231 days.
Government
The current mayor is Junie White, elected in 2009. The city operates under a Council-Manager form of government in which the mayor and six city council members have equal votes. Council members represent districts within the city and the mayor is elected at large. Council appoints a city manager, who is responsible for the administration of city government.The County Administration Building (this is the old Sears building which was vacated in the mid-1970s when Sears moved to Westgate Mall
Westgate Mall (Spartanburg)
WestGate Mall is a shopping mall in Spartanburg, South Carolina, off of Interstate 26 and US Highway 29 on West Blackstock Road in Spartanburg, South Carolina in the city's primary shopping market...
and renovated in the late 1980s or early 1990s) is located at 366 North Church Street. It is across the street from the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium is a large-events venue in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA. It was built in 1951 and consists of a 3,217-seat theater with an 83'9"-by-86' stage and a 2,500-seat arena with 13,638 square feet of exhibit space.The auditorium, with 2,017 seats on the lower level and...
. City Hall is located at 145 West Broad Street.
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 HotelsExtended Stay Hotels
Extended Stay Hotels is a privately owned hotel brand that operates in the extended stay hotel market. The company is headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina....
, the headquarters of Advance America, and the headquarters of QS/1 Data Systems
QS/1 Data Systems
QS/1 is a division of the J M Smith Corporation, a company founded in 1944 with revenue of over $US 2 billion and based in Spartanburg, South Carolina....
. The world headquarters of Denny's
Denny's
Denny's is a full-service coffee shop/family restaurant chain. It operates over 1,500 restaurants in the United States , Canada, Curaçao, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan , Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Denny's is known for always being...
restaurants is also located in downtown Spartanburg. Numerous other smaller businesses such as RJ Rockers Brewing Company
RJ Rockers Brewing Company
RJ Rockers Brewing Company is a beer brewing company based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, founded in 1997 by current owner/brewer, Mark R. Johnsen...
have also moved downtown as a result of this community-wide effort.
The economy of Spartanburg also benefits from the BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
manufacturing facility
BMW Manufacturing Co. Spartanburg
The BMW US Manufacturing Company in Greer, South Carolina is BMW's only US production facility. It was built to serve the demand of BMW automobiles directly in the US...
located in the western end of Spartanburg County. Manufacturing began in 1996 with certain types of the 3 Series
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. Successor to the BMW New Class, it has been produced in five different generations and in no less than five different body styles. It is BMW's best-selling model, accounting for around 30% of the...
(from the E36
BMW E36
The BMW E36 is the third generation of the 3 Series compact executive cars produced by BMW. It was introduced in late 1990 for Europe and in late 1991 for US and Canada. It was the successor to the E30 3 Series and was eventually replaced by the E90 3 Series in 2005, though E36 coupes were still...
platform) and with the Z3
BMW Z3
The BMW Z3 was the first modern mass-market roadster produced by BMW, as well as the first new BMW model assembled in the United States. The Z3 was introduced as a 1996 model year vehicle, shortly after being featured in the James Bond movie,...
roadster. However, a year later when the newer 3 Series (E46
BMW E46
The BMW E46 is the fourth generation of the 3 Series compact executive cars produced by BMW, produced from 1998 when it succeeded the BMW E36 until it was replaced by the BMW E90 in 2005....
) platform emerged, BMW decided not to build it at the Spartanburg plant, but instead exclusively manufacture variants of the popular Z3. The plant currently manufactures the X5
BMW X5
The BMW X5 is a luxury crossover SUV introduced in 1999 as the first generation E53. It was BMW's first SUV also known as "Four-by-Four" in the UK. It features all-wheel drive which is branded as the "X" drive system and is available with either manual or automatic transmission...
SAV and X6
BMW X6
The BMW X6 is a mid-size luxury crossover released for sale in the second quarter of 2008 by German automaker BMW. The X6 was marketed as a Sports Activity Coupé by BMW...
SAC for the world market. As part of an expansion project announced in March 2008, the plant will add about 1200000 square feet (111,483.6 m²) of assembly space, and it will become the home of the next-generation X3
BMW X3
The BMW X3 is a compact crossover SUV marketed by the German automaker BMW, based on the BMW 3-Series automobile platform, and now in its second generation. BMW designed the X3 in conjunction with Magna Steyr of Graz, Austria — who manufactured all X3s under contract to BMW for the first...
SAV.
Spartanburg is also home to the world headquarters and research facility for Milliken & Company. With over 12,000 associates located at more than 60 facilities worldwide, Milliken is one of the largest privately held textile and chemical manufacturers in the world.
Top employers
According to Spartanburg's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spartanburg Regional Spartanburg Regional Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System is one of South Carolina’s largest healthcare systems with 588 beds. It serves Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties in South Carolina, and Polk and Rutherford counties in North Carolina.... |
5,544 |
| 2 | County of Spartanburg | 1,400 |
| 3 | Spartanburg County School District 7 Spartanburg County School District 7 Spartanburg County School District No. 7 is a public school district in Spartanburg County, South Carolina .Led by Superintendent Dr. Russell Booker, SCSD7 serves 7,493 students and employs 1,268 full-time faculty and staff in twelve schools... |
1,259 |
| 4 | Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000... |
754 |
| 5 | City of Spartanburg | 506 |
| 6 | Denny's Denny's Denny's is a full-service coffee shop/family restaurant chain. It operates over 1,500 restaurants in the United States , Canada, Curaçao, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan , Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Denny's is known for always being... |
400 |
| 7 | Wofford College Wofford College Established in 1854 and related to the United Methodist Church, Wofford College is an independent, Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college of 1,525 students located in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. The historic campus is recognized as a national arboretum and features “The... |
396 |
| 8 | Advance America | 325 |
| 9 | QS/1 Data Systems QS/1 Data Systems QS/1 is a division of the J M Smith Corporation, a company founded in 1944 with revenue of over $US 2 billion and based in Spartanburg, South Carolina.... |
300 |
| 10 | Converse College Converse College Converse College is a liberal arts women's college in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA. It was established by a group of Spartanburg citizens and named after Dexter Edgar Converse.-History:... |
205 |
Colleges
Spartanburg is a college town, with six institutions of higher learning:- The University of South Carolina UpstateUniversity of South Carolina UpstateThe University of South Carolina Upstate is a public university located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. Formerly known as the University of South Carolina Spartanburg, the school changed its name in the summer of 2004...
(formerly known as University of South Carolina Spartanburg, or USCS). - Converse CollegeConverse CollegeConverse College is a liberal arts women's college in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA. It was established by a group of Spartanburg citizens and named after Dexter Edgar Converse.-History:...
– Founded in 1889, Converse is a comprehensive masters institution with a co-ed graduate school and an undergraduate women's liberal arts college. - Sherman College of Straight ChiropracticSherman College of Straight ChiropracticSherman College of Chiropractic is a private college founded in 1973, offering the doctor of chiropractic degree, that was named after Lyle Sherman. The college is home to approximately 200 students representing 26 states and 15 countries and has more than 3,000 alumni around the world...
– South Carolina's only chiropractic college - Spartanburg Community CollegeSpartanburg Community CollegeSpartanburg Community College , is a public, suburban, two-year comprehensive, open-admission institution of higher education serving the citizens of Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union counties in Upstate South Carolina...
- Spartanburg Methodist CollegeSpartanburg Methodist CollegeSpartanburg Methodist College is a private, two-year institution of higher learning, or junior college, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It is the only independent, regionally-accredited, residential two-year college in South Carolina....
– The only 2-year, private, residential college in the state. - Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)Virginia College of Osteopathic MedicineThe Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine , formally named the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, is a private, non-profit osteopathic medical school with two campuses: the Virginia Campus located in Blacksburg, Virginia and the Carolinas Campus located in Spartanburg,...
– Carolinas Campus. First class begins in Fall 2011. - Virginia CollegeVirginia CollegeVirginia College is a non Regionally Accredited chain of private for-profit post-secondary institutions located primarily in the Southeastern United States. It is a Proprietary college which, in comparison to traditional colleges or universities, offers classes related to specific professions...
– Private career college opened in January 2011 - Wofford CollegeWofford CollegeEstablished in 1854 and related to the United Methodist Church, Wofford College is an independent, Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college of 1,525 students located in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. The historic campus is recognized as a national arboretum and features “The...
– Founded in 1854, Wofford is a Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 1,450 students.
Public and private schools
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 and partially in District 6. The McCarthy Teszler School is a school for special needs that serves the whole county and is physically located in District Seven.- School District One includes Campobello-Gramling, Chapman High, Holly Springs-Motlow Elementary, Inman Elementary, Inman Intermediate, Landrum High, Landrum Middle, Mabry Middle, New Prospect Elementary, and O.P. Earle Elementary.
- School District Two includes Boiling Springs Elementary, Cooley Springs-Fingerville Elementary, Chesnee Elementary, Hendrix Elementary, Carlisle-Foster's Grove Elementary, Mayo Elemntary, Oakland Elementary, Boiling Springs Intermediate, Boling Springs Junior High, Rainbow Lake Middle School, Chesnee Middle School, Boiling Springs High 9th grade, Boiling Springs High, and Chesnee High.
- School District Three includes Cannons Elementary, Clifdale Elementary, Cowpens Elementary School, Pacolet Elementary School, Cowpens Middle School, Middle School of Pacolet, and Broome High School. District Three students can attend the Daniel Morgan Technology Center.
- School District Four has four schools: Woodruff Primary, Woodruff Elementary, Woodruff Middle and Woodruff High School. High school students also can attend R.D. Anderson Applied Technology Center to learn vocational skills.
- School District Five consists of Abner Creek Elementary, Duncan Elementary, Lyman Elementary, Reidville Elementary, River Ridge Elementary, Wellford Elementary, Beech Springs Intermediate, Berry Shoals Intermediate, D. R. Hill Middle, Florence Chapel Middle, James F. Byrnes Freshman Academy, and James F. Byrnes High School. Vocational school students can attend R. D. Anderson Applied Technology Center.
- School District Six comprises Anderson Mill Elementary, Arcadia Elementary, Jesse S. Bobo Elementary, Fairforest Elementary, Lone Oak Elementary, Pauline-Glenn Springs Elementary, Roebuck Elementary, West View Elementary, Woodland Elementary, Fairforest Middle, R. P. Dawkins Middle, L. E. Gable Middle, Dorman Freshman Campus, and Dorman High School. District Six students can attend R. D. Anderson Applied Technology Center.
- School District Seven consists of Jesse Boyd Elementary, Chapman Elementary, Cleveland Elementary, Houston Elementary, Park Hills Elementary, Pine Street Elementary, E.P. Todd Elementary, Mary H. Wright Elementary, Carver Junior High, Joseph G. McCracken Junior High, and Spartanburg High School. The Daniel Morgan Technology Center, ZL Madden Learning Center, and Whitlock Flexible also serve District Seven.
Spartanburg is home to Spartanburg Christian Academy, a K-12 private school in North Spartanburg, to the Spartanburg Day School
Spartanburg Day School
Spartanburg Day School is a private K–12 school, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It consists of a lower school for 4K-4th graders, a middle school for 5th–8th graders, and an upper school for 9th–12th graders. A pre-school program was added in 1967 for five-year olds, and a readiness...
, a K-12 private school offering the International Baccalaureate in grades K-8, and to Oakbrook Preparatory School, a K-12 private school. The city is also home to Spartanburg Charter School, a K-8 public charter school that is the only "brick and mortar" charter school in the Upstate. Opened in August 2009, the school features a Reggio Emilia approach
Reggio Emilia approach
The Reggio Emilia Approach is an educational philosophy focused on preschool and primary education. It was started by Loris Malaguzzi and the parents of the villages around Reggio Emilia in Italy after World War II. The destruction from the war, parents believed, necessitated a new, quick approach...
to their curriculum.
Spartanburg is home to the main campus of the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind. It has five Regional Outreach Centers throughout the state.
Spartanburg is home to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School which is located in downtown Spartanburg. It is affiliated with the Diocese of Charleston
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States and comprises the entire state of South Carolina, with Charleston as its see city. Currently, the diocese consists of 92 parishes and 24 missions...
and is K-8.
fairforest middle school is a armpit
Healthcare
Spartanburg County’s healthcare is mainly provided by the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. Spartanburg RegionalSpartanburg Regional
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System is one of South Carolina’s largest healthcare systems with 588 beds. It serves Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties in South Carolina, and Polk and Rutherford counties in North Carolina....
is a public, not-for-profit, integrated health care delivery system based in the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, a 588-bed teaching and research hospital. SRHS provides healthcare services to a five-county area in North and South Carolina, serving an Upstate medical population of more than 300,000 people.
In 1925, Dr. Hugh Ratchford Black opened a 35-bed facility named in honor of his wife, Mary Black. The current Skylyn Drive facility opened in 1968, and today, the campus features a 353690 square feet (32,858.9 m²) modern medical facility. The medical staff consists of more than 350 physicians representing all specialties. Mary Black Physician Group has over 100 employed physicians in more than 30 locations.
Attractions
Spartanburg is home to many events throughout the year:- The Hub City Farmers' Market, an outdoor market held Saturday mornings from 6:00am – 12:00pm during the summer and fall on the grounds of the historic Magnolia Street Train Station, showcasing local (often organic) produce and goods.
- Spring Fling, a weekend festival typically held the first Saturday of May, has many live artists, rides, and other assorted attractions.
- The SouthEast LinuxFest – annual, well attended Linux and open source software conference for the southeast.
- The Annual Sidewalk Arts Show, an open, juried art exhibition held concurrently with The International Festival on the first Saturday in October.
- The International Festival, an event showcasing culture and cuisine from countries around the globe held at Barnet Park on the first Saturday in October.
- Music on Main, a street concert event held every Thursday (April through August) downtown.
- Jamboread Reading Festival
- The Greek Festival, a major street festival that is held in September by the local Greek community at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. It offers Greek food and cultural activities, and is the sister festival to the Greek Festival held every spring in GreenvilleGreenville, South Carolina-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
. - Dickens of a Christmas, a Victorian holiday event held annually in downtown Spartanburg on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
- Festifall, an historical celebration held on the grounds of the 18th-century Walnut Grove Plantation in October, featuring demonstrations and reenactments.
- Taste of the Backcountry, an historical celebration held on the grounds of the 18th-century Price House in April, featuring food samples and demonstrations.
- Spartanburg Bands Together, a music festival at Barnet Park to raise money for good causes.
Other attractions include:
- The Spartanburg Museum of Art
- The Spartanburg Regional Museum of History
- The Spartanburg Science Center
- Ballet Spartanburg which has hosted over 22 national and international ballet companies.
- Several golf courses, including two private 18-hole courses at the Country Club of Spartanburg and the Carolina Country Club.
- The annual Miss South Carolina Pageant
- Cowpens National BattlefieldCowpens National BattlefieldCowpens National Battlefield or Cowpens National Battlefield Park is a unit of the National Park Service just east of Chesnee, South Carolina, not far from the North Carolina state line....
Sports
Spartanburg is host to the NFL's Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
Training Camp each year at Wofford College
Wofford College
Established in 1854 and related to the United Methodist Church, Wofford College is an independent, Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college of 1,525 students located in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. The historic campus is recognized as a national arboretum and features “The...
's Gibbs Stadium.
Historic Duncan Park Stadium
Duncan Park
Duncan Park is a stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was primarily used for baseball and was most recently the home of the Spartanburg Spinners. The ballpark has a capacity of 3,000 people and opened in 1926....
was once home to the Spartanburg Stingers in the Coastal Plain League
Coastal Plain League
The Coastal Plain League is a wood-bat collegiate summer league, featuring college players from throughout the nation. The league takes its name from a Class D minor league baseball league which operated in the same area from 1937 to 1952. The modern league was formed with six teams in 1997...
and the Spartanburg Crickets in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League
Southern Collegiate Baseball League
Established in 1999, Southern Collegiate Baseball League is a non-profit, wooden bat collegiate summer league with eight teams throughout the Carolinas. College players from four-year institutions as well as junior and community colleges are eligible to play...
and is the oldest minor league baseball stadium in the country. It was also once home to the Spartanburg Phillies, a minor league team of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. It now is the home stadium for the baseball teams of Spartanburg High School
Spartanburg High School
Spartanburg High School is part of Spartanburg County School District No. 7. The current principal is Jeff Stevens, a former assistant principal at the school.-Layout:...
.
The Annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas is held each year at Wofford College's Gibbs Stadium. It is a high school football all-star game played between the top players from South Carolina and the top players from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
The USC Upstate Spartans, Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers, and the Wofford College Terriers offer a variety of sports for both men and women. Converse College
Converse College
Converse College is a liberal arts women's college in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA. It was established by a group of Spartanburg citizens and named after Dexter Edgar Converse.-History:...
also offers NCAA Division II women's sports teams.
The Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
of the NCAA is headquartered in Spartanburg.
Spartanburg is located an hour away from the Clemson
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
Tigers and about an hour and a half away from the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
Gamecocks.
The Spartanburg Parks Commission hosts several travel baseball and softball tournaments each year, helping brand the city as one of the Southeast's most reputable tournament locations. Tyger River Park, a 13-field mega baseball/softball complex, opens in 2011.
Upward Unlimited, a Christian-based sports organization for kids, is headquartered in Spartanburg.
Arts and 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, Spartanburg's cultural anchor for history, art, theatre, dance, music, and science, is located in a three-building complex on the northern edge of downtown. Opened in October 2007, the Center was designed by David M. Schwarz/Architectural Services of Washington, D.C. It houses the Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg County Regional History Museum, Science Center, Little Theatre, Ballet, Music Foundation, and other groups that were formerly located in The Arts Center on South Spring Street. It is owned and operated by The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting srts and cultural agencies in Spartanburg County.
- The Showroom, the home of Hub-Bub, 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 ProjectHub City Writers ProjectThe Hub City Writers Project is a nonprofit organization in Spartanburg, South Carolina, dedicated to cultivating readers and nurturing writers through its independent small press, community bookstore, and diverse literary programming. The independent press publishes books of literature and culture...
with assistance from private donors and the city of Spartanburg. The Hub City Writers Project, located a block away, serves the community as a local publishing company and independent bookstore. - Converse CollegeConverse CollegeConverse College is a liberal arts women's college in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA. It was established by a group of Spartanburg citizens and named after Dexter Edgar Converse.-History:...
is a nationally known four-year liberal arts institution recognized for its strong music and visual art programs. It hosts events open to the community throughout the year. Twitchell Auditorium is located on the campus of Converse College. Home of the Greater Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Twitchell Auditorium has served as hosts to other groups such as the Spartanburg All-County High School Band and Boston Brass. Twitchell Auditorium was built in 1899 and renovated for the school's centennial celebration in 1989. Famous for its acoustics, the 1500-seat auditorium is home to a 57-rank CasavantCasavant FrèresCasavant Frères is a prominent Canadian company in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, which has been building fine pipe organs since 1879. As of 2008, they have produced over 3800 organs.- Company history :...
organ with 2,600+ pipes. Theatre Converse puts on several plays a year, and Converse puts on an opera annually, as well as opera scenes. The college has had major concerts in recent years with such artists as Caedmon's CallCaedmon's CallCaedmon's Call is a Contemporary Christian band which fuses traditional folk with world music and alternative rock. They are composed of Cliff Young , Danielle Young , Derek Webb , Andrew Osenga , Garett Buell , Jeff Miller , Todd Bragg , and...
, Jason MrazJason MrazJason Thomas Mraz , also known as Mr. AZ and Mr. Raz, is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy ", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, "Mr. A-Z", in 2005, that Mraz achieved...
, Corey SmithCorey SmithCorey Dominique Smith was an American football defensive end. He was originally signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
, and Colbie CaillatColbie CaillatColbie Marie Caillat is an American pop singer-songwriter and guitarist from Malibu, California. She debuted in 2007 with Coco, which included hit singles "Bubbly", "Realize", and "The Little Things". In 2008, she recorded a duet with Jason Mraz, "Lucky", which won a Grammy. Caillat released her...
. - Wofford College is a prestigious liberal arts college with particularly strong art history and philosophy departments.
- The Spartanburg County Public Library headquarters, housed in an innovative building on South Church Street, is home to a voluminous collection of fiction, nonfiction, children’s literature, A/V materials and items relating to local history and genealogy. The library hosts many meetings, concerts and presentations.
- The Spartanburg Memorial AuditoriumSpartanburg Memorial AuditoriumSpartanburg Memorial Auditorium is a large-events venue in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA. It was built in 1951 and consists of a 3,217-seat theater with an 83'9"-by-86' stage and a 2,500-seat arena with 13,638 square feet of exhibit space.The auditorium, with 2,017 seats on the lower level and...
is located on N. Church Street, across from the municipal building in the northwest end of the city of Spartanburg. The "SMA" has hosted various famous acts such as Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, Crosby Stills and Nash, B.B. King, Billy JoelBilly JoelWilliam Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
, David CopperfieldDavid Copperfield (illusionist)David Copperfield is an Emmy Award-winning American illusionist, and was described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history. Copperfield's network specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards and won a total of 21 Emmys...
, Lewis GrizzardLewis GrizzardLewis McDonald Grizzard, Jr. was an American writer and humorist, known for his Southern demeanor and commentary on the American South...
, Harry Connick, Jr.Harry Connick, Jr.Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. is an American singer, big-band leader/conductor, pianist, actor, and composer. He has sold over 25 million albums worldwide. Connick is ranked among the top 60 best-selling male artists in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America, with...
, Gerald LevertGerald LevertGerald Levert was an American R&B singer. Gerald Levert sang with his brother, Sean Levert, and friend Marc Gordon in the R&B trio LeVert. He was also a part of LSG, an R&B supergroup comprising Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, and Levert...
, Dave ChappelleDave ChappelleDavid Khari Webber "Dave" Chappelle is an American comedian, screenwriter, television/film producer, actor, and artist. Chappelle began his film career in the film Robin Hood: Men in Tights in 1993 and continued to star in minor roles in the films The Nutty Professor, Con Air, and Blue Streak. His...
, Jerry SeinfeldJerry SeinfeldJerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
, PhishPhishPhish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
, A Prairie Home CompanionA Prairie Home CompanionA Prairie Home Companion is a live radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor. The show runs on Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Central Time, and usually originates from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, although it is frequently taken on the road...
, and many others. Originally built in an Art DecoArt DecoArt deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style and was renovated ca. 2002 including a new facade and backstage with loading area.
Media
- Spartanburg's primary newspaper is the Spartanburg Herald-JournalSpartanburg Herald-JournalThe Spartanburg Herald-Journal is a daily newspaper, and the primary newspaper for Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States.It is part of the New York Times Regional Media Group.- History :...
, a member of The New York Times CompanyThe New York Times CompanyThe New York Times Company is an American media company best known as the publisher of its namesake, The New York Times. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. has served as Chairman of the Board since 1997. It is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City....
Regional Media Group. - The Spartanburg Journal is a weekly newspaper that is part of a Community Journal group that also has editions in GreenvilleGreenville, South Carolina-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
and AndersonAnderson, South CarolinaAnderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
. - The Spartan Weekly News is a weekly newspaper with offices located in downtown Spartanburg. The paper covers all of Spartanburg County with an emphasis on the city of Spartanburg, and its coverage focuses on items of community interest and well as news from around the upstate of South Carolina.
- The award-winning Hometown News Group has several newspapers throughout the county and upstate region: The Boiling Springs Sentry, The Blacksburg Times, The Inman Times, Spartanburg County News, The Chesnee Tribune, The Middle Tyger Times, The Whitmire News, The Woodruff News, and The Greer Citizen. Aside from local news and sports coverage, the newspapers offer free wedding and social announcements.
- Upstate Link magazine is a young reader (20s–30s) newsweekly in the Upstate of South Carolina, which includes Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson. The weekly publication began in January 2004. Link continues to be a print publication, but its website ceased operation in 2008. Its new website is run by Chicago-based MetromixMetromixMetromix is a network of local entertainment websites backed by a joint venture between media companies Gannett and Tribune Co. A guide to local restaurants, bars and clubs, events, concerts and movies, Metromix is currently available in over 60 markets. In late 2009, the company launched 27 new...
. - Root is a non-profit quarterly newspaper written, edited, designed, and published entirely by volunteers. The focus is on stories that convey an "uncommon kindness." Topics generally include animal and eco-advocacy, social justice, spirituality, and compassionate use of creative arts.
Spartanburg is part of the much greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson-Asheville DMA which is the nation's 35th largest and is served by the following major network television affiliates:
- WYFF 4 (NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
) - WSPAWSPA-TVWSPA-TV channel 7 is the CBS-affiliated television station for western North Carolina and South Carolina. It is licensed to Spartanburg, South Carolina with its transmitter is located on Hogback Mountain southwest of Tryon, North Carolina. Owned by Media General, the station is sister to CW...
7 (CBS)- broadcasting from Spartanburg - WLOS 13 (ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
) - WHNS 21 (FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
) - WMYAWMYA-TVWMYA-TV is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina licensed to Anderson, South Carolina. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 14 from a transmitter in Fountain Inn, South Carolina. The station can also be seen on...
40 (My Network TVMyNetworkTVMyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
) - WYCW 62 (The CW NetworkThe CW Television NetworkThe CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
)- broadcasting from Spartanburg
Major highways
-
.svg.png)
Interstate 85Interstate 85 in South CarolinaIn the U.S. state of South Carolina, Interstate 85 runs northeast-southwest through Greenville and Spartanburg. It follows the general corridor of U.S. Route 29... -
Business Loop 85Interstate 85 Business (Spartanburg, South Carolina)Interstate 85 Business is a Business Loop of the Interstate Highway System and a freeway, running along the old route of Interstate 85 through Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States... -
.svg.png)
Interstate 26Interstate 26Interstate 26 is a nominally east–west main route of the Interstate Highway System in the Southeastern United States. I-26 runs from the junction of U.S. Route 11W and U.S. Route 23 in Kingsport, Tennessee, generally southeastward to U.S. Route 17 in Charleston, South Carolina... -
.svg.png)
Interstate 585Interstate 585Interstate 585 stretches from Interstate 85 to Spartanburg, South Carolina. I-585 is co-signed the entire length with U.S. Highway 176 and it uses US 176's exit number system instead of its own. Between exits 23 and 25B the road is a freeway but has substandard or no shoulders. To the south of... -
U.S. Route 176U.S. Route 176U.S. Route 176 is a spur of U.S. Route 76. It currently runs for 229 miles from Goose Creek, South Carolina at U.S. Route 52 to Hendersonville, North Carolina at U.S. Route 25. It passes through the states of South Carolina and North Carolina. It goes through the cities of Spartanburg, South... -
U.S. Route 29U.S. Route 29U.S. Route 29 is a north–south United States highway that runs for from the western suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, to Pensacola, Florida. This highway's northern terminus is at Maryland Route 99 in Ellicott City, Maryland... -
U.S. Route 221U.S. Route 221U.S. Route 221 is a spur of U.S. Route 21. It runs for 734 miles from Perry, Florida at US Routes 19/98/ALT 27 to Lynchburg, Virginia at U.S. Route 29 . It passes through the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia... -
South Carolina 9 -
South Carolina 295 -
South Carolina 56 -
South Carolina 296South Carolina Highway 296South Carolina Highway 296 is an east-west route coursing through central Greenville and Spartanburg counties.-Route description:The west terminus of SC 296 is at a junction with SC 14 in west-central Greenville County and proceeds in a generally east-northeast direction... -
South Carolina 215 -
South Carolina 129
Regional transit
Spartanburg is served by the Spartanburg Area Regional Transit Agency (SPARTA), covering the city of Spartanburg and the surrounding urbanized area with 8 routes leading to a wide variety of destinations. The new SPARTA Passenger Center is located at 100 North Liberty Street.Airports
- The Greenville-Spartanburg International AirportGreenville-Spartanburg International AirportGreenville-Spartanburg International Airport , also known as GSP International Airport or Roger Milliken Field, is a public airport located in unincorporated Greenville and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina, United States, 3 miles south of central Greer; the airport serves Greenville and...
(GSP) lies mostly in Spartanburg County in suburban GreerGreer, South CarolinaGreer is a city in Greenville and Spartanburg counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina, between the cities of Greenville and Spartanburg. The population was 25,515 at the 2010 census. It is projected to hit 30,000 within 4 years. Each day, more than three times that number of people pass...
, and it serves GreenvilleGreenville, South Carolina-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
as well as Spartanburg. - The Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport (SPA) is owned and operated by the City, and lies south of town. The airport once had an annual display of a B-17 Flying Fortress and a B-24 Liberator at the airport. It is unknown if the airport still does this display.
Train station
AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Crescent train connects Spartanburg with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
, Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, Atlanta, Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
and New Orleans. The Amtrak station
Spartanburg (Amtrak station)
The Spartanburg Amtrak Station, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, is served by the Crescent passenger train. The street address is 290 Magnolia Street. The station is within walking distance of Wofford College, the Spartanburg County government administration building, and the Donald S....
is situated at 290 Magnolia Street.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 39,673 people, 15,989 households, and 9,721 families residing within the Spartanburg city limits. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,066.3 people per square mile (799.9/km²). There were 17,696 housing units at an average density of 923.9 per square mile (356.8/km²). The racial makeup within the city limits was 49.55% African American, 47.15% White, 0.18% Native American, 1.33% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.76% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.78% of the population.
There were 15,989 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 23.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 79.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,735, and the median income for a family was $36,108. Males had a median income of $30,587 versus $23,256 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $18,136. About 19.4% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.6% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
List of neighborhoods
- Andrews Farm
- Arcadia
- Arkright
- Beaumont Mills
- Ben Avon
- Beverly Woods
- Blackstock Trace
- Boiling SpringsBoiling Springs, South CarolinaBoiling Springs is a census-designated place in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 8,219 at the 2010 census.-Namesake:...
- Bradford Crossing
- Bradford Place
- Bradford West
- Brentwood Hills (now considered a part of Converse Heights)
- Camelot
- Camp Croft
- Canaan
- Cannons Campground
- Carolina Country Club
- Cedar Springs
- Central Pacolet
- Chesnee
- Clevedale
- Cleveland Heights
- Cleveland Park
- Clifton
- Converse
- Converse Heights
- Cowpens
- Cypress Creek
- Drayton
- Duncan
- Duncan Park
- Fairforest
- Fernwood
- Fernwood-Glendale Rd.
- Forest Hills
- Glendale
- Glenn-Springs
- Greenpond
- Hampton HeightsHampton HeightsHampton Heights is a neighborhood and historic district located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Although the oldest existing home of the neighborhood dates to 1885, the majority of the homes in the neighborhood are from the 1900s to the 1930s. It is the oldest residential neighborhood in the city...
(National Register of Historic Places district) - Hawk Creek
- Hillbrook
- Hillcrest
- Hilltop
- Inman
- Landrum
- Londonderry
- Lyman
- Mayfair
- Mistybrook
- Moore
- North Spartanburg
- Oak Creek Plantation
- Oak Forest
- Pacolet Mills
- Park Hills
- Pauline
- Pierce Acres
- Pine Grove
- Poplar Springs
- Reidville
- Roebuck
- Rocksprings
- Saxon
- Shadow Lakes
- Sherwood Acres
- Shoresbrook
- Shoreswood
- South Side
- Southern Shops
- Springdale
- Summerhill
- Swan Estates
- Switzer
- Thornhill
- Una
- Union Street
- Valley Falls
- Wellford
- Westgate
- Westview
- Whitestone
- Whitney
- Willowbrook
- Windsor Forest
- Woodburn Hills
- Woodland Heights
- Woodridge
- Woodruff
- Woodwind
Notable natives and residents
- Pink AndersonPink Anderson"Pink" Anderson was a blues singer and guitarist, born in Laurens, South Carolina.-Life and career:After being raised in Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina, he joined Dr...
(1900–1974), blues musician; inspiration for the "Pink" in Pink FloydPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially... - One Man Gang, Pro Wrestler
- David BallDavid Ball (country musician)David Ball is an American country music artist. Active since 1988, he has recorded a total of seven studio albums on several different labels, including his platinum certified debut Thinkin' Problem. Fourteen of Ball's singles have entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts...
(1953–), country musician - Joe Bennett, lead singer and guitarist from the 1950s rock 'n roll band "Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones"
- James Francis Byrnes (1882–1972), lawyer, congressman, senator, Supreme Court Justice (only person to step down off the bench for another federal post—head the wartime Office of Economic Stabilization), advisor to FDR, Secretary of State to Truman, Governor of South Carolina
- Wilson CaseyWilson CaseyWilson Casey is an American columnist, book author, political humorist, entertainer, speaker, and record holder. He earned two Guinness World Records for a thirty-hour live, continuous broadcast on radio station WKDY-AM on January 9–10, 1999 in Spartanburg, South Carolina...
, syndicated newspaper columnist, speaking entertainer, and Guinness World Record holder - Marshall ChapmanMarshall ChapmanMarshall Chapman is an American singer-songwriter and author.Chapman, the daughter of a cotton mill owner, was taken to an Elvis Presley concert in 1957 and says the experience changed her from a southern debutante to a nascent rock and roller...
, singer-songwriter - David Daniels (1966–), counter-tenor
- Stephen DavisStephen Davis (American football)Stephen Lamont Davis is a former American football running back in the National Football League. Davis will be the Carolina Panthers' minority coaching intern for the 2010-11 season.-College career:...
, American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... - Marion Kirkland FortM. K. Fort, Jr.Marion Kirkland ‘Kirk’ Fort, Jr. was an American mathematician, specializing in general topology. The topological spaces called Fort space and Arens–Fort space are named after him....
(1921–1964), mathematician - Art FowlerArt FowlerJohn Arthur Fowler was an American pitcher and pitching coach in Major League Baseball. The 5'11", 180 lb. right-hander was signed by the New York Giants as an amateur free agent before the 1944 season...
(1922–2007), pitcher and pitching coach in Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League... - Fred Griffith (actor)Fred Griffith (actor)Fred Griffith is an Americanactor and producer.-Filmography:*2010 Renovation - Justin*2009 Shadowheart - Marshall*2009 The Book of Ruth: Journey of Faith - Mahlon...
- American actor and film producer - Mark HammondMark Hammond (politician)Mark Hammond , is an American Republican politician from South Carolina. He is currently South Carolina Secretary of State.-Early life and career:...
(1963–), South Carolina Secretary of State - Lee HaneyLee HaneyLee Haney , is a former American IFBB professional bodybuilder most famous for being the current joint record holder, along with Ronnie Coleman, for winning the most Mr...
(1951–), eight-time Mr. Olympia record holder - Dennis HayesDennis HayesDennis Hayes was the founder of Hayes Microcomputer Products, a maker of modems mostly known for introducing the Hayes command set which has subsequently been used in most modems produced to this day....
(1950–), inventor of the Hayes modem - Walter HyattWalter HyattWalter Hyatt American singer and songwriter. His band, known as Uncle Walt's Band, was involved in the alternative music scene in Austin, Texas, from its inception and is credited by many with being the Godfather of Americana Music or the Original Americana Artist, never easily pegged into any one...
(1950–1996), country musician and songwriter - Mark R. JohnsenMark R. JohnsenMark R. Johnsen is a US Army veteran and American brewer from Spartanburg, South Carolina. Johnsen is the founder of Spartanburg's first microbrewery, RJ Rockers Brewing Company.-References:...
(1962–), founder and owner of Spartanburg's first and only brewery, RJ Rockers Brewing CompanyRJ Rockers Brewing CompanyRJ Rockers Brewing Company is a beer brewing company based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, founded in 1997 by current owner/brewer, Mark R. Johnsen... - Joseph T. JohnsonJoseph T. JohnsonJoseph Travis Johnson was a United States Representative and federal judge from South Carolina. He was born in Brewerton, South Carolina. He attended the common schools and was graduated from Erskine College, Due West, South Carolina in 1879. He received an LL.B. from Vanderbilt University in...
(1858–1919), United States Representative from South Carolina - Kenneth LawKenneth LawKenneth Law is Associate Professor of violoncello at the Carroll McDaniel Petrie School of Music of Converse College, a liberal arts residential women's college in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA. Kenneth has received undergraduate and graduate degrees in performance from the Eastman School of...
, cellist - Donald LawrenceDonald LawrenceDonald Lawrence is an American gospel music songwriter, record producer and artist.-Early years:Donald Lawrence was born on May 4, 1961. He studied at Cincinnati Conservatory, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in music. While in Cincinnati, he was also the Minister of Music at the...
, Gospel artist - Marshall Tucker BandMarshall Tucker BandThe Marshall Tucker Band is an American Southern rock band originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina. The band's blend of rock, rhythm and blues, jazz, country, and gospel helped establish the Southern rock genre in the early 1970s...
, Southern rock band featuring George McCorkleGeorge McCorkleGeorge McCorkle was a founding member and guitarist for the Marshall Tucker Band. He wrote "Fire on the Mountain", the band's first top 40 hit, though had hoped that Charlie Daniels would record the song. He left the band in 1984 and later worked as a songwriter. He released a solo album, American...
, Doug Grey, Jerry Eubanks, Toy CaldwellToy CaldwellToy Talmadge Caldwell Jr. was the lead guitar player and a founding member of the 1970s Southern Rock group The Marshall Tucker Band. He was a member of the band from 1973 to 1983.-Early life:...
, Tommy Caldwell, et al. - Marcus McBethMarcus McBethMarcus Andre McBeth is a right-handed professional baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent...
, baseball player - Roger MillikenRoger MillikenRoger Milliken was a U.S. textile heir and businessman. He served as President and then CEO of his family's company, Milliken & Company, from 1947 until 2005...
(1915–2010), billionaire owner of the largest privately held textile manufacturing firm in the world (Milliken & Company) - Bud MooreBud Moore (NASCAR owner)Walter M. "Bud" Moore is a retired NASCAR car owner. He was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. A decorated veteran of World War II, he described himself as "an old country mechanic who loved to make 'em run fast". His cars were number 15 and usually painted red and white and sponsored by...
, NASCAR team owner/crew chief - Samuel J. NichollsSamuel J. NichollsSamuel Jones Nicholls was a United States Representative from South Carolina. He was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He attended Bingham Military Institute in Asheville, North Carolina; Wofford College, in Spartanburg, South Carolina; Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia;...
(1885–1937), United States Representative from South Carolina - Angela NikodinovAngela NikodinovAngela Nikodinov , is an American figure skater. She is the 2000 Four Continents Champion.-Biography:Nikodinov is the daughter of Bulgarian immigrants and speaks Bulgarian fluently...
, US figure skater - Cotton OwensCotton OwensEverett "Cotton" Owens "the King of the Modifieds" was a NASCAR driver. For five straight years , Owens captured at least one Grand National series win.-Modified driving career:...
, NASCAR team owner/crew chief - David Pearson (1940–), race car driver
- Gianna RolandiGianna RolandiGianna Rolandi is an American soprano. Following a highly successful 20-year national and international operatic career, Rolandi retired from performing in 1994, and is currently director of and principal instructor at the Lyric Opera of Chicago's Patrick G. and Shirley W...
, operatic soprano - Al "Flip" RosenAl RosenAlbert Leonard Rosen , nicknamed "Al", "Flip", and the "Hebrew Hammer", is a former American professional baseball player who was a third baseman and right-handed slugger in the Major Leagues for ten seasons in tthe 1940s and 1950s.He played his entire 10-year career with the Cleveland Indians in...
(1924–), MLB 4-time All-Star third baseman and first baseman, MVP, 2-time home run champion, 2-time RBI leader - Donald S. RussellDonald S. RussellDonald Stuart Russell was a Democratic Senator from South Carolina. He served from 1965 to 1966. He also served as the 107th Governor of South Carolina, 1963-1965. Russell was a protege of former Secretary of State James F. Byrnes and served as Assistant Secretary of State for Administration...
(1906–1998), former South Carolina governor, president of the University of South Carolina, US Senator, and member of the US 4th Circuit Court of Appeals - Archibald RutledgeArchibald RutledgeArchibald Hamilton Rutledge was an American poet and educator, the first South Carolina poet laureate from 1934 to 1973. He wrote over 50 books and many poems, usually about his hunting and life experiences in South Carolina.-Biography:...
(1883–1973), South Carolina poet laureate, resided in Spartanburg for about 20 years - Jack Smith, NASCAR driver
- Buck TrentBuck TrentCharles Wilburn "Buck" Trent is an American country music instrumentalist. He invented the electric Banjo and also plays the five-string Banjo, Dobro, Steel Guitar, Mandolin, Electric Bass and Guitar.-Biography:...
, country music instrumentalist who accompanied Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton, among others - Ira TuckerIra TuckerIra Tucker Sr. was the lead singer with the American gospel group The Dixie Hummingbirds. He was with The Dixie Hummingbirds for 70 years, from 1938, when he joined at age 13, until his death from cardiovascular disease on June 24, 2008. Ira is the father of Sundray Tucker, Ira Tucker Jr., and...
(1925–2008), lead singer of the influential gospel group the Dixie Hummingbirds - Celia WestonCelia WestonCelia Weston is an American actress of stage, film and television, and a character actress. Professionally, she may be best known for her role as Jolene Hunnicutt on Alice.-Life and career:...
– actress, "Junebug", "In the Bedroom."
Further reading
- Cooper, Peter (1997). Hub City Music Makers. Spartanburg, S.C.: Holocene Publishing. ISBN 0-9638731-9-9.
- Landrum, J.B.O. (1900). History of Spartanburg County.
- Racine, Philip N. (1999). Seeing Spartanburg. Spartanburg, S.C.: Hub City Writers Project. ISBN 1-891885-10-3.
- Teter, Betsy Wakefield (Ed.) (2002). Textile Town: Spartanburg, South Carolina. Spartanburg, S.C.: Hub City Writers Project. ISBN 1-891885-28-6. Pp. 346. 40 authors provide a detailed community study, using oral histories, letters, and 200 illustrations and photographs. Central themes include labor strikes, family life in the mill villages, Depression-era hardships, race and desegregation, the boom of WW2 production, and late-twentieth-century deindustrialization.
- WPA (1939). History of Spartanburg County.