Discover Greenville, SC

Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and halfway between Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia, Greenville offers a relaxed lifestyle, with an award-winning downtown, mild climate and thriving arts and cultural community. Widely recognized as the economic center and retail and financial hub of Upstate South Carolina, Greenville is a metropolitan city that still understands the meaning of community.

Its newest downtown landmark, the Liberty Bridge, a 380-foot pedestrian walkway overlooking the waterfall in spectacular Falls Park on the Reedy River, is only one example of its appeal, drawing new and old residents and captivating visitors from across the country.

Quality of Life...

Greenville's moderate climate offers a full change of seasons, and with an average annual temperature of 59 degrees, residents and visitors have every opportunity to take advantage of a host of activities and events. Baseball fans can cheer on the Greenville Drive at West End Field, a state-of-the-art replica of Boston's Fenway Park, located in Greenville's historic West End; outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the more than 450 acres of park space, including the Greenville Zoo, located in the city of Greenville and a year-around series of special events ranging from weekly outdoor concerts to food and arts festivals draws thousands of people every year.

Greenville has long been the arts and entertainment epicenter for the region, with live entertainment ranging from the Greenville Ballet and Carolina Ballet Theatre to the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. Local theater companies provide intimate settings, while the Peace Center for the Performing Arts hosts major productions on three performance stages, including an outdoor Amphitheatre. The Bi-Lo Center seats 17,000 and hosts athletic events as well as major concerts and family entertainment, the Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery offers one of the most recognized collections of religious artwork in the nation and the nationally-recognized Greenville County Museum of Art offers visitors a broad range of American art collections.

In recent years, downtown Greenville has also developed into a premiere dining destination. With over 60 restaurants located on and around Main Street, Greenville's downtown offers the greatest concentration of dining options in the entire Upstate area.

Economic Climate...

Home to internationally-recognized industries, Greenville is the economic center of the Upstate. Greenville's ability to attract both small local companies and major international corporations is the result of an uncommon cooperation between city government and the private sector. Recognized as a leader in developing public/private partnerships, Greenville's entrepreneurial spirit and strong workforce create an incredible magnet for business. In addition, Greenville is located in the heart of a right-to-work state and a foreign trade zone.

With more than 250 international firms, the Upstate boasts the highest international investment per capita in the nation. Greenville is home to such international corporations as Hitachi, Fluor, and Bowater, with BMW and Michelin North America located nearby.

Greenville also serves as the retail hub of the Upstate. Retail sales in 2006 totaled more than $1 billion, with restaurant sales at over $234 million. In addition, Greenville is a financial hub, with virtually every major bank in the Southeast maintaining a presence in downtown, including a number of banks' South Carolina headquarters.

Housing...

Greenville offers housing options within traditional older neighborhoods, historic districts, suburban areas or the heart of a bustling downtown. In the past 10 years, Greenville experienced over $140 million in new single-family residential construction and an additional $134 million in renovations in the city's older neighborhoods. Downtown is experiencing a boom in new housing development as the demand increases for urban living, and new housing construction in the downtown area is now averaging more than $200 per square foot. Currently planned residential development projects offer price points ranging from $65,000 to over $500,000 for individuals and families of all income levels.