Like many Southern towns, Greenville has a long and rich history.  Greenville began in 1770 as a plantation established around what is now downtown Greenville - specifically East Court & South Main.  By 1786, other settlers had come to Greenville and Greenville County was established.

Interestingly enough. one of the reasons Greenville thrived initially was its long distance from Charleston.  Charleston was one of the most important cities in young America and was home to some of the most wealthy men in America.  While Charleston was a great place to live and work, disease was ripe thanks to the hot and humind summer climate on the coast.  As such, many low country planters made the Upstate (and Greenville) a home away from home.   Because of the alure of the Blue Ridge Mountains and more importantly the lack of malaria, Charleston's elite came to appreciate the pleasant atmosphere and climate of living in the foothills. 

In 1831 the Village of Greenville became known as the Town of Greenville.  A town cemetery was founded, later called Springwood Cemetery and a Sexton was appointed to care for it.  Additionally, a Clerk, High Constable, Town Surveyor, and Bell Ringer were appointed.  The town's council was known for a strong advocacy of tree planting throughout downtown.  Citizens who tied their horses to a tree would have been fined by the city.

There are four houses built prior to 1850 that remain in Greenville County.  All are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

 In the 1850s, Furman University came to Greenville along with the first railroad.  Thanks to Alexander McBee, the town got running water from the nearby mountain lakes.  These same lakes provide the majority of Greenville's award-winning water supply even today.

20th Century Greenville was like many modern American cities.  The city had electric street cars, and the Ottaray Hotel was built to serve the growing number of industrialists from out of town who were to be visiting Greenville.

Greenville developed during the 20th century primarily thanks to heavy textile production in the area.  The area's fast-moving waters originally powered many of the textile mills and later were used to cool the machinery in the textile mills.  Virtually every town in the Upstate has some relation to the bygone textile industry era.

"Mill towns" were common near every body of water and even in cases where there was no water nearby.  Many of the older homes from the early part of the 20th century were once mill homes.

Greenville's cultural revival began in the 1970s with the development of a cultural complex that included a library, museum, theatre, and the Greenville Symphony.  By 1979, the Hyatt Regency decided to come to Greenville and build a hotel.  The city has been on a roll ever since.

Today, Greenville is reclaiming its identity as a home of industry.  Thanks to tremendous coordination between state and local government, and with the help of Clemson University, Greenville is becoming a new center for the automotive industry with an emphasis on research and development.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about the City of Greenville and its history!