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Spartanburg is a city in and the
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
of
Spartanburg County, South Carolina Spartanburg County is a county located on the northwestern border of the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 327,997, making it the fifth-most populous county in South Carolina. Its county seat is Spartan ...
, United States. The city had a population of 38,732 as of the 2020 census, making it the 11th-most populous city in the state. The
Office of Management and Budget The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). The office's most prominent function is to produce the president's budget, while it also examines agency pro ...
(OMB) groups Spartanburg and Union counties together as the Spartanburg, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. Spartanburg is the second-largest city in the greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC Combined Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 1,590,636 in 2023. It is part of a ten-county region of northwestern South Carolina known as "
The Upstate The Upstate, historically known as the Upcountry, is a region of the U.S. state of South Carolina, comprising the northwesternmost area of the state. Although loosely defined among locals, the general definition includes the 10 counties of the ...
", and is located northwest of Columbia, west of
Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...
, and about northeast of
Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
. Spartanburg is the home of
Wofford College Wofford College is a private liberal arts college in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1854, it is one of the few four-year institutions in the southeastern United States founded before the American Civil War that still ope ...
,
Converse University Converse University is a private university in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was established in 1889 by a group of Spartanburg residents and named after textile pioneer Dexter Edgar Converse. It was originally a women's college but now admits ...
,
Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg Community College (SCC) is a public community college in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The college serves the citizens of Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union counties in Upstate South Carolina. History Spartanburg Community College w ...
, and Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and the area is home to
USC Upstate The University of South Carolina Upstate (USC Upstate) is a public university in Valley Falls, South Carolina, United States. It has a Spartanburg postal address. Founded in 1967 and formerly known as University of South Carolina Spartanburg, ...
, Sherman College of Chiropractic and
Spartanburg Methodist College Spartanburg Methodist College (SMC) is a private college in Saxon, South Carolina, United States, with a Spartanburg, South Carolina, Spartanburg postal address. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and enrolled 1,128 studen ...
. It is also the site of
Denny's Denny's (also known as Denny's Diner on some locations' signage) is an American table service diner-style restaurant chain. It operates over 1,400 Restaurant, restaurants in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and several other internationa ...
corporate headquarters.


History

Spartanburg was formed in 1785, after a deal was made with the
Cherokee The Cherokee (; , or ) people are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, they were concentrated in their homelands, in towns along river valleys of what is now southwestern ...
in 1753, and was named after a local militia called the Spartan Regiment in the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...
. The Spartan Regiment, commanded by Andrew Pickens, participated in the nearby
Battle of Cowpens The Battle of Cowpens was a military engagement during the American Revolutionary War fought on January 17, 1781, near the town of Cowpens, South Carolina. American Patriot (American Revolution), Patriot forces, estimated at 2,000 militia and reg ...
. In 1831, Spartanburg was incorporated, later becoming known as the "Hub City"; railroad lines radiated from the city forming the shape of a wheel hub. It became a center of textile manufacturing in the late 19th century, with around 40
textile mill Textile manufacturing or textile engineering is a major industry. It is largely based on the conversion of fibre into yarn, then yarn into fabric. These are then dyed or printed, fabricated into cloth which is then converted into useful good ...
s being established through the early 1900s. In 1911, under the sponsorship of the ''
Spartanburg Herald The ''Spartanburg Herald-Journal'' is a daily newspaper, the primary newspaper for Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. History The origins of the paper lie with ''The Spartan'', a weekly paper reportedly first printed in about 1842 ...
'' and the
United Daughters of the Confederacy The United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) is an American neo-Confederate hereditary association for female descendants of Confederate Civil War soldiers engaging in the commemoration of these ancestors, the funding of monuments to them, a ...
, the city erected a confederate monument at the intersection of South Church and Henry Streets, overlooking downtown. It was moved in 1966 to Duncan Park. During
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
,
Camp Wadsworth Camp Wadsworth was a World War I-era training facility for the United States Army. Located near Spartanburg, South Carolina, the post was in operation from its opening in July 1917 until it was inactivated in March 1919, following the Armistice ...
was used to train 100,000 soldiers for the war. Camp Croft trained soldiers during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. The facility was transferred to the state and adapted as Croft State Park. By the 1950s, the production in these mills began to decline as wages increased. Most textile manufacturing jobs were moved offshore by the companies.


Geography

According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (0.54%) is water. The most common
soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water, and organisms that together support the life of plants and soil organisms. Some scientific definitions distinguish dirt from ''soil'' by re ...
series is Cecil. The bedrock is mostly biotite gneiss.


Climate

The city of Spartanburg has a humid subtropical climate with long, hot, and humid summers, and cool to semimild winters. The average annual temperature is . In the summer from June through September, average highs are in the 80s °F (20s °C) to low 90s °F (30s °C), while in the winter, average highs are in the mid-50s °F (10s °C). Annual rainfall is spread fairly evenly throughout the whole year. Spartanburg receives very little snowfall, with the annual average being only . Average precipitation is and the average growing season is 231 days.


Demographics


2020 census

As of the 2020 census, 38,732 people, 15,154 households, and 8,638 families resided in the city.


2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 37,013 people, 15,989 households, and 9,721 families residing in the city. The population density was . The 17,696 housing units had an average density of . The racial makeup was 49.55% African American, 47.15% White, 0.18% Native American, 1.33% Asian, 0.82% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.78% of the population. Of the 15,989 households, 28.9% had children under 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 not families. About 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33, and the average family size was 3.00. In the city, the age distribution was 25.2% under 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 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 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 (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $18,136. About 29.4% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 34.6% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.


Economy

Within the past decade, developers and community leaders have spearheaded an effort to revitalize Spartanburg's downtown commercial 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. These new developments include a nine-floor, 240-room Marriott hotel. Spartanburg is home to many large companies, including
Denny's Denny's (also known as Denny's Diner on some locations' signage) is an American table service diner-style restaurant chain. It operates over 1,400 Restaurant, restaurants in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and several other internationa ...
,
KYMCO Kymco (an acronym for Kwang Yang Motor Co, Ltd ()) (stylized as ''KYMCO'') is a Taiwanese motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. With approximately 3000 employees, Kymco produces over 570,000 vehicles annually at its factor ...
, Smith Drug Company,
Advance America Cash Advance Grupo Elektra is a Mexican financial and retail corporation founded in 1950 by Hugo Salinas Price. The company currently operates over seven thousand points of contact across Mexico, United States, and Central America, through two business divis ...
,
Southern Conference The Southern Conference (SoCon) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I. Southern Conference College football, football teams c ...
, ''
Spartanburg Herald-Journal The ''Spartanburg Herald-Journal'' is a daily newspaper, the primary newspaper for Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. History The origins of the paper lie with ''The Spartan'', a weekly paper reportedly first printed in about 1842 ...
'', RJ Rockers Brewing Company, American Credit Acceptance, and Upward Sports. The economy of Spartanburg benefits from the
BMW Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, trading as BMW Group (commonly abbreviated to BMW (), sometimes anglicised as Bavarian Motor Works), is a German multinational manufacturer of vehicles and motorcycles headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. Th ...
manufacturing facility located in the city of
Greer, South Carolina Greer is a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, Greenville and Spartanburg County, South Carolina, Spartanburg counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 35,308, making ...
, which is in Spartanburg County. As of February 2017, the plant employed around 8,800 people with an average daily output of about 1,400 vehicles. Spartanburg is also home to the world headquarters and research facility for
Milliken & Company Milliken & Company is an American industrial manufacturer that has been in business since 1865. With corporate headquarters located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the company is active across a breadth of disciplines including specialty chemica ...
, a textile and chemical manufacturer.


Top employers

According to Spartanburg's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the principal employers in the city are:


Arts and culture

Cultural events and institutions in the city include: * 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 Architects of
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
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 arts and cultural agencies in Spartanburg County. *
Converse University Converse University is a private university in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was established in 1889 by a group of Spartanburg residents and named after textile pioneer Dexter Edgar Converse. It was originally a women's college but now admits ...
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. Twichell Auditorium is located on the campus of Converse University. Home of the Greater Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Twichell Auditorium has served as hosts to other groups such as the Spartanburg All-County High School Band and Boston Brass. Twichell Auditorium was built in 1899 and renovated for the school's centennial celebration in 1989. The 1500-seat auditorium is home to a 57-rank Casavant 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 university has had major concerts in recent years with such artists as
Caedmon's Call Caedmon's Call was a contemporary Christian band that fused traditional folk with world music and alternative rock. They were composed of Cliff Young (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Derek Webb (lead vocals, guitar), Danielle Young (vocals), G ...
,
Jason Mraz Jason Thomas Mraz ( ; born June 23, 1977) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He rose to prominence with the release of his debut studio album, ''Waiting for My Rocket to Come'' (2002), which spawned the single "The Remedy (I Won't Wo ...
, Corey Smith, and
Colbie Caillat Colbie Marie Caillat ( ; born May 28, 1985) is an American singer-songwriter. She rose to fame on the social networking website Myspace in 2005. She signed with Universal Republic Records to release her debut studio album, '' Coco'' (2007), w ...
. * Hub City Writers Project, serves the community as a local publishing company and independent bookstore. * 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 County Librarian is Todd Stephens. * Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium is located on N. Church Street, across from the municipal building in the northwest end of the city of Spartanburg. The "SMA" has hosted acts such as
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...
,
Crosby Stills and Nash Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) was a folk rock supergroup comprising the American singer-songwriters David Crosby and Stephen Stills and the English-American singer-songwriter Graham Nash. When joined by the Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young ...
,
B.B. King Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, sh ...
,
Billy Joel William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Piano Man" after his Signature song, signature 1973 song Piano Man (song), of the same name, Joel has ha ...
,
David Copperfield ''David Copperfield''Dickens invented over 14 variations of the title for this work; see is a novel by English author Charles Dickens, narrated by the eponymous David Copperfield, detailing his adventures in his journey from infancy to matur ...
,
Lewis Grizzard Lewis McDonald Grizzard Jr. (October 20, 1946 – March 20, 1994) was an American writer and humorist, known for his Southern demeanor and commentary on the American South. Although he spent his early career as a newspaper sports writer and edi ...
,
Harry Connick, Jr. Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Jr. (born September 11, 1967) is an American singer, pianist, composer, actor, and former television host. As of 2019, he has sold over 30 million records worldwide. Connick is ranked among the top60 best-selling ma ...
,
Gerald Levert Gerald Edward Levert (July 13, 1966 – November 10, 2006) was an Americans, American singer-songwriter and Music Producer, producer. Levert performed with his brother, Sean Levert, and friend Marc Gordon with the R&B vocal group, LeVert. Le ...
,
Dave Chappelle David Khari Webber Chappelle ( ; born August 24, 1973) is an American stand-up comedy, stand-up comedian and actor. He starred in and co-created the satirical comedy sketch series ''Chappelle's Show'' (2003–2006) before quitting in the middle ...
,
Jerry Seinfeld Jerome Allen Seinfeld ( ; born April 29, 1954) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. As a stand-up comedian, Seinfeld specializes in observational comedy. Seinfeld gained stardom playing a semi-fictionalized version ...
,
Phish Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band consists of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, drummer Jon Fishman, and keyboardist Page McConnell, all of whom perform vocals, with Anastasio being the ...
, ''
A Prairie Home Companion ''A Prairie Home Companion'' was a weekly radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor that aired live from 1974 to 2016. In 2016, musician Chris Thile took over as host, and the successor show was eventually renamed ''Live from He ...
'', and many others. Originally built in an
Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...
style and was renovated including a new facade and backstage with loading area. * Wofford College, liberal arts college. Not traditionally known for its arts and cultural strength, Wofford has made notable strides to develop arts programs in recent years. Poet and environmental writer John E. Lane, theater artist Mark Ferguson, and visual artist Kris Neely are all graduates of Wofford. Each returned to their alma mater to develop curricular and co-curricular opportunities in the Arts, including a Creative Writing program, a Theatre Major, and a minor in Studio Art. John Lane was also a critical visionary in the creation of the Goodall Environmental Studies Center in Glendale.


Points of interest

* Cottonwood Trail, walking trail located in the Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve that runs along part of Lawson's Fork Creek. The trail includes picnic areas, a raised path over an extensive wetlands area and access to sporadic sandbars. Located just east of downtown, it is used frequently by cyclists, joggers and walkers. Since the Lawson's Fork floodplain is not suitable for development, wildlife populate the area. Larger animals that can be found here include
white-tailed deer The white-tailed deer (''Odocoileus virginianus''), also known Common name, commonly as the whitetail and the Virginia deer, is a medium-sized species of deer native to North America, North, Central America, Central and South America. It is the ...
,
raccoon The raccoon ( or , ''Procyon lotor''), sometimes called the North American, northern or common raccoon (also spelled racoon) to distinguish it from Procyonina, other species of raccoon, is a mammal native to North America. It is the largest ...
s,
wild turkey The wild turkey (''Meleagris gallopavo'') is an upland game bird native to North America, one of two extant species of Turkey (bird), turkey and the heaviest member of the order Galliformes. It is the ancestor to the domestic turkey (''M. g. dom ...
s,
pileated woodpecker The pileated woodpecker ( ; ''Dryocopus pileatus'') is a large, crow-sized woodpecker with a prominent red crest, white neck stripe, and a mostly black body. These woodpeckers are native to North America, where it is the largest confirmed extant ...
s,
mallard ducks The mallard () or wild duck (''Anas platyrhynchos'') is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. It has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argen ...
,
Canada geese The Canada goose (''Branta canadensis''), sometimes called Canadian goose, is a large species of goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. It is native to the arctic and temperate regions of North ...
and
snapping turtle The Chelydridae is a family of turtles that has seven extinct and two extant genera. The extant genera are the snapping turtles, ''Chelydra'' and ''Macrochelys''. Both are endemic to the Western Hemisphere. The extinct genera are '' Acherontemys' ...
s. * Hampton Heights Historic District, 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 Anne and Neoclassical homes to cozy early 20th-century bungalows. * Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, preserve located in the midst of an urban environment. Retired social activist Harold Hatcher and his wife Josephine transformed an eroding gully into a thick woods and flower garden which now provides 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 in the more rural areas of the county. * Lawson's Fork Creek, tributary of the
Pacolet River The Pacolet River is a tributary of the Broad River, about 50 miles (80 km) long, in northwestern South Carolina in the United States.Jammie Seay House, another 18th-century home, is a more typical representative of a pioneer home. Its single stone fireplace and simple construction were common traits of farmsteads from this period. First established in the 1780s as a courthouse village, Spartanburg may have been named for the Spartan regiment of the South Carolina militia. The city was incorporated in 1831, at the time of the 50th anniversary of the
Battle of Cowpens The Battle of Cowpens was a military engagement during the American Revolutionary War fought on January 17, 1781, near the town of Cowpens, South Carolina. American Patriot (American Revolution), Patriot forces, estimated at 2,000 militia and reg ...
, a pivotal fight of the
American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...
that took place only a few miles away. The city's streets and architectural record reflect the changes of the 19th and 20th centuries. * Magnolia Street Train Depot, one of the older buildings in Spartanburg and stands as a reminder of Spartanburg's old nickname "the Hub City," referring to the many transportation routes that connected Spartanburg with cities throughout the region. It is now the home of the
Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
station, the Hub City Railroad Museum, and the Hub City Farmers' Market. * 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 The Pacolet River is a tributary of the Broad River, about 50 miles (80 km) long, in northwestern South Carolina in the United States.Daniel Morgan Daniel Morgan (c. 1736 – July 6, 1802) was an American pioneer, soldier, and politician from Virginia. One of the most respected battlefield tacticians of the American Revolutionary War of 1775–1783, he later commanded troops during the sup ...
, the general who commanded the American forces at Cowpens. A statue of Morgan was placed in the square in 1881. The oldest existing buildings on Morgan Square date to the 1880s. * 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 common in 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. * Walnut Grove Plantation, an 18th-century farmhouse, has been preserved by The Spartanburg County Historical Association. The site of a locally famous skirmish during the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...
, it was the home of the Moore family. The plantation lies south of Spartanburg near the town of Roebuck, and is open to the public for tours and during annual festivals.
Cotton mill A cotton mill is a building that houses spinning or weaving machinery for the production of yarn or cloth from cotton, an important product during the Industrial Revolution in the development of the factory system. Although some were driven ...
s have abounded in the Spartanburg area since 1816, earning Spartanburg the reputation as the " Lowell of the South." Although there were few mills in the area before the
Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
, technological advances, northern capital, and out-migration from the poor farms that made white labor available, created a wave of postbellum mill development here and in much of the Piedmont
South South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþa ...
. Additionally, the abundant streams and rivers in the area are just beginning their descent towards the lower-lying
Midlands The Midlands is the central region of England, to the south of Northern England, to the north of southern England, to the east of Wales, and to the west of the North Sea. The Midlands comprises the ceremonial counties of Derbyshire, Herefor ...
region. In many places, these waterways descend abruptly, providing a source for plentiful
waterpower Hydropower (from Ancient Greek -, "water"), also known as water power or water energy, is the use of falling or fast-running water to produce electricity or to power machines. This is achieved by converting the gravitational potential or kin ...
. Cotton mills were built along these rivers to harness this power, and so began the region's servitude to
King Cotton "King Cotton" is a slogan that summarized the strategy used before the American Civil War (of 1861–1865) by secessionists in the southern states (the future Confederate States of America) to claim the feasibility of secession and to prove ther ...
. These mills, their owners and their slaves 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. * Beaumont Mill, north of the downtown, has recently been purchased by Spartanburg Regional Healthcare who moved their billing, human resources, and medical records to the mill. The adjacent mill village has been designated as a local historic district. * Converse Mill, located east of the city along the Pacolet River. It has recently been purchased by a developer. The mill was reconstructed in 1903 after a huge flood washed away the original mill. The dam is still in use by Converse Energy Inc as a hydroelectric plant. * Glendale Mill, located off Lawson's Fork Creek, southeast of the city. Although gutted by fire in 2004, 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 College Wofford College is a private liberal arts college in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1854, it is one of the few four-year institutions in the southeastern United States founded before the American Civil War that still ope ...
Environmental Studies Center. The Glendale Shoals bridge will be getting a $600,000 makeover, and will ultimately connect to the state's
Palmetto Trail The Palmetto Trail is a planned foot and mountain bike trail in South Carolina for recreational hiking and biking. Several of the sections are also equestrian trails. It will extend from the Oconee County, South Carolina, Oconee County mountains ...
. When the United States entered
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
in 1917, one of the sixteen divisional cantonments for the training of National Guard troops was Camp Wadsworth, which is located in the vicinity of Westgate Mall. Large numbers of New York National Guardsmen trained there in addition to many southern troops. During
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, 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 A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel with a semi-circular cross-section. The design was developed in the United States based on the Nissen hut introduced by the British during World War I. Hund ...
s.


Attractions

* Dickens of a Christmas, Victorian holiday event held annually in downtown Spartanburg on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. * The Greek Festival, major street festival that is held in September by the local Greek community at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The festival offers Greek food and cultural activities, and is the sister festival to the Greek Festival held every spring in Greenville. * Festifall, an historical celebration held on the grounds of the 18th-century Walnut Grove Plantation in October, featuring demonstrations and reenactments. * The Hotspot Skatepark * The Hub City Farmers Market, outdoor market held Saturday mornings from 8:00am – 12:00pm from April to December at Harvest Park in the Northside neighborhood, showcasing local (often organic) produce and goods. * The Hub City Hog Fest, annual barbecue festival and competition that benefits Mobile Meals. It is held in the heart of downtown Spartanburg with food trucks, over 40 BBQ teams, and two days of live music. * Hub City Railroad Museum * The International Festival, event showcasing culture and cuisine from countries around the globe held at Barnet Park on the first Saturday in October. * Music on Main, street concert event held every Thursday (April through August) in downtown Spartanburg. * Spartanburg Music Trail, trail with a series of signs throughout downtown recognizing local musicians. * Red, White and Boom,
Fourth of July Independence Day, known colloquially as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States which commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing th ...
event held at Barnet Park featuring patriotic music and a fireworks display. * Taste of the Backcountry, historical celebration held on the grounds of the 18th-century Price House in April, featuring food samples and demonstrations


Sports

Spartanburg formerly hosted the NFL's
Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...
training camp each year on the campus of
Wofford College Wofford College is a private liberal arts college in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1854, it is one of the few four-year institutions in the southeastern United States founded before the American Civil War that still ope ...
from 1995–2023. The Panthers moved their training camp to Charlotte in 2024. Duncan Park Stadium is one of the oldest baseball stadiums in the country. It was once home to the Spartanburg Stingers in the
Coastal Plain League The Coastal Plain League (CPL) is a wood-bat collegiate summer baseball league, featuring college players recruited from throughout the nation. The league takes its name from the Class D level Coastal Plain League which operated in the area f ...
(CPL) and the Spartanburg Crickets in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League. It was also once home to the Spartanburg Peaches, a minor league affiliate of the
Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
and the
Spartanburg Phillies Spartanburg is a city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city had a population of 38,732 as of the 2020 census, making it the 11th-most populous city in the state. The Office of Management and Budg ...
, a minor league team of the
Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...
. It now is the home stadium for the baseball teams of Spartanburg High School. In 2021, it was the home field for the Spartanburgers in the CPL. The Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas is held each year at Wofford'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 ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...
. The
USC Upstate Spartans The USC Upstate Spartans are the athletic teams that represent the University of South Carolina Upstate, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in intercollegiate sports at the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (N ...
, Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers, Wofford College Terriers, and
Converse University Converse University is a private university in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was established in 1889 by a group of Spartanburg residents and named after textile pioneer Dexter Edgar Converse. It was originally a women's college but now admits ...
Valkyries offer a variety of sports for both men and women. The
Southern Conference The Southern Conference (SoCon) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I. Southern Conference College football, football teams c ...
is also headquartered in Spartanburg. The city hosts the Spartanburg Criterium. The
criterium A criterium, or crit, is a bike race consisting of several laps around a closed circuit, the length of each lap or circuit ranging from about 400 m to 10,000 m. Overview Race length can be determined by a number of laps or total time, ...
is a yearly event and is usually one of the events associated with
Speed Week Bonneville Speedway (also known as the Bonneville Salt Flats Race Track) is an area of the Bonneville Salt Flats northeast of Wendover, Utah, that is marked out for motor sports. It is particularly noted as the venue for numerous land speed reco ...
which is part of the USA Crits bicycle racing series. The event is billed as the “fastest night in Spartanburg”. Upward Sports, a Christian-based sports organization for kids, is headquartered in Spartanburg. The
Down East Wood Ducks The Down East Wood Ducks were a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. They were located in Kinston, North Carolina, and are named for the wood duck, a colorful local waterfowl. Establi ...
baseball team of the
Carolina League The Carolina League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States since 1945. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 unti ...
moved to the newly built Fifth Third Park in downtown Spartanburg in April 2025. The team was renamed the
Hub City Spartanburgers The Hub City Spartanburgers are a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. They are located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. They started playing their home games on April 15, 2 ...
and currently play as the High A affiliate of the Texas Rangers in the
South Atlantic League The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its h ...
Boiling Springs FC, a semiprofessional soccer team of the
United Premier Soccer League The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) is an American for-profit soccer league that was founded in Santa Ana in Southern California, with teams in regionalized conferences throughout the United States, and recently Canada and Mexico. The leagu ...
, began play in 2024.


Government

The current mayor, Jerome Rice, was elected in 2021. Spartanburg operates under a
city manager A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city in the council–manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are referred to as the chief executive officer (CEO) or chief administ ...
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. The council appoints a city manager, who is responsible for the daily administration of city governmental affairs. City Hall was located at 145 West Broad Street, however that building was demolished and the city offices are currently located at 187 W Broad Street while a joint joint government complex for the city and county offices is under construction. City council meets on the second and fourth Monday of the month at the Spartanburg County Administration Building. The Spartanburg County Administration Building (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.


Education


Colleges and universities

Spartanburg is a college town, with four institutions of higher learning in the city limits: *
Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg Community College (SCC) is a public community college in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The college serves the citizens of Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union counties in Upstate South Carolina. History Spartanburg Community College w ...
Downtown Campus *
Converse University Converse University is a private university in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was established in 1889 by a group of Spartanburg residents and named after textile pioneer Dexter Edgar Converse. It was originally a women's college but now admits ...
, founded in 1889, Converse University is a comprehensive doctoral institution * Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) – Carolinas Campus, first classes began in fall 2011 *
Wofford College Wofford College is a private liberal arts college in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1854, it is one of the few four-year institutions in the southeastern United States founded before the American Civil War that still ope ...
, founded in 1854, Wofford College is a
Phi Beta Kappa The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States. It was founded in 1776 at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, ...
liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 1,500 students. In the area: * The
University of South Carolina Upstate The University of South Carolina Upstate (USC Upstate) is a public university in Valley Falls, South Carolina, United States. It has a Spartanburg postal address. Founded in 1967 and formerly known as University of South Carolina Spartanburg, ...
(formerly known as University of South Carolina Spartanburg, or USCS), in Valley Falls * Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg (Giles) Campus (main campus), in Southern Shops *
Spartanburg Methodist College Spartanburg Methodist College (SMC) is a private college in Saxon, South Carolina, United States, with a Spartanburg, South Carolina, Spartanburg postal address. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and enrolled 1,128 studen ...
(formerly known as the Textile Industrial Institute from 1911 to 1942 and then Spartanburg Junior College until 1974), originally the only 2-year residential college in SC, it now offers several 4-year programs; it is located in
Saxon The Saxons, sometimes called the Old Saxons or Continental Saxons, were a Germanic people of early medieval "Old" Saxony () which became a Carolingian " stem duchy" in 804, in what is now northern Germany. Many of their neighbours were, like th ...
. * Sherman College of Chiropractic, South Carolina's only chiropractic college


Public and private schools

Most of the City of Spartanburg's public schools are run by Spartanburg County School District 7, one of seven loosely affiliated districts located in Spartanburg County. District 7 students are zoned to Spartanburg High School. However, the westernmost part of the city is served by Spartanburg County School District 6, which has two elementary schools within city limits. District 6 students are zoned to Paul M. Dorman High School in Roebuck. The Spartanburg area is home to the main campus of the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, which is outside of the city limits in an
unincorporated area An unincorporated area is a parcel of land that is not governed by a local general-purpose municipal corporation. (At p. 178.) They may be governed or serviced by an encompassing unit (such as a county) or another branch of the state (such as th ...
. It has five Regional Outreach Centers throughout the state. The city is also home to Spartanburg Preparatory School, a K–8 public charter school that is the only "brick and mortar" charter school in the Upstate. Spartanburg is also home to Spartanburg Christian Academy, a K–12 private school in North Spartanburg, the Spartanburg Day School, a K–12 private school offering the International Baccalaureate in grades K–4, and to Oakbrook Preparatory and Westgate Christian schools, both K–12 private schools. Located in Hampton Heights, the Montessori Academy of Spartanburg is a PreK-8 private school providing a
Montessori The Montessori method of education is a type of educational method that involves children's natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing ...
educational approach. The Meeting Street Academy in downtown Spartanburg is a branch of a Charleston-based private school and currently offers PreK and Kindergarten. St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School is located in downtown Spartanburg. It is affiliated with the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston The Diocese of Charleston () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church for the state of South Carolina in the United States. Currently, the diocese consists of 96 parishes and 21 missions, with Charleston a ...
and is K–8.


Media

* ''The Greer Citizen'', publishes online and weekly in print, however, it will close and stop publishing at the end of July 2024 * ''
The Post and Courier ''The Post and Courier'' is the main daily newspaper in Charleston, South Carolina. It traces its ancestry to three newspapers, the ''Charleston Courier'', founded in 1803, the ''Charleston Daily News'', founded 1865, and ''The Evening Post'', f ...
'' of Charleston, operates a bureau in Spartanburg and publishes a Spartanburg e-edition and Spartanburg news online. There is also a free joint print edition from both the Greenville and Spartanburg bureaus published monthly, usually on the fourth Thursday of the month. * The ''Spartan Weekly News'', 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. * ''
Spartanburg Herald-Journal The ''Spartanburg Herald-Journal'' is a daily newspaper, the primary newspaper for Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. History The origins of the paper lie with ''The Spartan'', a weekly paper reportedly first printed in about 1842 ...
'', owned by
Gannett Gannett Co., Inc. ( ) is an American mass media holding company headquartered in New York City. It is the largest U.S. newspaper publisher as measured by total daily circulation. It owns the national newspaper ''USA Today'', as well as several ...
, is Spartanburg's primary newspaper. ''The Herald-Journal'' also publishes ''Spartanburg'' magazine four times per year. * ''The Woodruff Times'', publishes online Spartanburg is part of the much greater Greenville-Spartanburg- Anderson-
Asheville Asheville ( ) is a city in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the county seat of Buncombe County. It is the most populous city in Western North Carolina a ...
DMA which is the nation's 37th largest in the country and is served by the following major television affiliates: *
WYFF WYFF (channel 4) is a television station in Greenville, South Carolina, United States, serving Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina as an affiliate of NBC. Owned by Hearst Television, the station maintains studios on Rutherford Stre ...
4 (
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
), broadcasting from Greenville * WSPA 7 (
CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...
), broadcasting from Spartanburg *
WLOS WLOS (channel 13) is a television station licensed to Asheville, North Carolina, United States, broadcasting ABC and MyNetworkTV programming to Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group in an e ...
13 (
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...
), broadcasting from
Asheville Asheville ( ) is a city in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the county seat of Buncombe County. It is the most populous city in Western North Carolina a ...
but also from Anderson on WMYA DT-2 (a digital subchannel) * WGGS 16
independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...
/ Christian Television Station *
WHNS WHNS (channel 21), branded Fox Carolina, is a television station licensed to Greenville, South Carolina, United States, serving as the Fox affiliate for Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina. It is owned by Gray Media alongside He ...
21 (
Fox Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species ...
), broadcasting from Greenville * WMYA 40 (
My Network TV MyNetworkTV (stylized as mynetworkTV; unofficially abbreviated MNT or MNTV) is an American commercial broadcast television syndication service and former television network owned by Fox Corporation, operated by its Fox Television Stations divi ...
), transmitting from Anderson but also on WLOS DT-2 a digital subchannel of Channel 13 out of
Asheville Asheville ( ) is a city in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the county seat of Buncombe County. It is the most populous city in Western North Carolina a ...
*
WYCW WYCW (channel 62) is a television station licensed to Asheville, North Carolina, United States, serving as the CW outlet for Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. It is owned and operated by network majority owner Nexstar Media Gro ...
62 ( The CW Network), licensed to
Asheville Asheville ( ) is a city in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the county seat of Buncombe County. It is the most populous city in Western North Carolina a ...
but broadcasting and transmitting from Spartanburg


Media mentions

* Spartanburg was mentioned in the
Hank Williams, Jr. Randall Hank Williams (born May 26, 1949), known professionally as Hank Williams Jr. or Bocephus, is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His musical style has been described as a blend of rock, blues, and country. He is the son of countr ...
1981 song " Dixie on My Mind".


Infrastructure


Transportation


Major highways

* * * * * * * * * * * * *


Public transit

Spartanburg is served by the
Spartanburg Area Regional Transit Agency Spartanburg Area Regional Transit Agency, commonly known as SPARTA, is the provider of mass transportation in Spartanburg County, South Carolina Spartanburg County is a county located on the northwestern border of the U.S. state of South Ca ...
(SPARTA), covering the city of Spartanburg and the surrounding urbanized area with 8 routes leading to a wide variety of destinations. All SPARTA buses are equipped with bicycle racks. Two hybrid-electric buses were added to the fleet in 2012. The SPARTA Passenger Center is located at 100 North Liberty Street and also serves
Greyhound The English Greyhound, or simply the Greyhound, is a dog breed, breed of dog, a sighthound which has been bred for coursing, greyhound racing and hunting. Some are kept as show dogs or pets. Greyhounds are defined as a tall, muscular, smooth-c ...
buses. Mass Transit is provided to all citizens of Spartanburg County through Spartanburg County Dial-A-Ride. It is a door to door service that operates six days a week.


Active transportation

Spartanburg is home to the Daniel Morgan Trail System, or "the Dan" for short, a collaboration between Spartanburg County Parks, the City of Spartanburg, non-profit PAL, and other community partners. The system consists of paved and unpaved pathways, along with expanded sidewalks and protected bicycle travel lanes. The Hub City Hopper, a fully protected bicycle lane going through the city's dowtown that is described as a first of its kind in South Carolina, was named as the sixth best new U.S. bike lane in 2023 by PeopleForBikes. The system is likely to grow in the coming years.


Airports

The
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport The Upstate, historically known as the Upcountry, is a region of the U.S. state of South Carolina, comprising the northwesternmost area of the state. Although loosely defined among locals, the general definition includes the 10 counties of the ...
(GSP) lies mostly in suburban Greer, and it serves Greenville as well as Spartanburg. It has become one of the busiest airports in South Carolina. The Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport (SPA) is a general aviation/small craft airport owned and operated by the City, which lies southwest of town.


Railroad station

Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
's ''Crescent'' train connects Spartanburg with the cities of New York,
Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
,
Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...
,
Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...
,
Greensboro Greensboro (; ) is a city in Guilford County, North Carolina, United States, and its county seat. At the 2020 census, its population was 299,035; it was estimated to be 307,381 in 2024. It is the third-most populous city in North Carolina, af ...
, Charlotte,
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
,
Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands, within the wider West Midlands (region), West Midlands region, in England. It is the Lis ...
and
New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
. The Spartanburg station, Amtrak station is situated at 290 Magnolia Street.


Healthcare

Spartanburg County's healthcare is mainly provided by Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. Spartanburg Regional is a public, not-for-profit, integrated health care delivery system with several facilities in Spartanburg, including: * Spartanburg Medical Center (SMC), a research and teaching hospital with two locations: Spartanburg Medical Center campus on East Wood Street and Spartanburg Medical Center — Mary Black Campus on Skylyn Drive. Together, these campuses share a history that stretches back to the 1920s. Spartanburg Medical Center includes a total of 747 beds, and services that include emergency, surgical, maternity, cancer, a Heart Center and inpatient rehabilitation. * Spartanburg Hospital for Restorative Care (SHRC), a 97-bed long-term, acute-care hospital with a 25-bed skilled nursing facility. * Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute, providing an inpatient oncology unit and outpatient care, along with access to clinical trials and the latest cancer technology. * Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health, a state-of-the-art imaging center for digital mammography, ultrasound, stereotactic breast biopsy and bone densitometry. * Medical Group of the Carolinas, a physician group with offices located throughout Spartanburg and Upstate S.C.


Notable people

* Ted Alexander (1912–1999), baseball pitcher in Negro league baseball, Negro leagues * Pink Anderson (1900–1974), blues musician; inspiration for the "Pink" in Pink Floyd * Rudolf Anderson (1927–1962), United States Air Force pilot, first recipient of the Air Force Cross (United States), Air Force Cross * Norman C. Armitage (1907, as Norman Cudworth Cohn–1972), Olympic medalist saber fencer who lived in Spartanburg, S. C., and in honor of whom the Milliken company plant in Spartanburg County was named. * David Ball (country musician), David Ball (born 1953), country musician * Joe Bennett & the Sparkletones, Joe Bennett, lead singer and guitarist from the 1950s rock 'n roll band "Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones" * Ted Bogan (1909–1990), country blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. * Red Borom (1915–2011), Major League Baseball infielder for Detroit Tigers * Emma L. Bowen, healthcare and media activist * Earl Bramblett (1942−2003), mass murderer * Mike Bullman, bandleader, lead singer and guitarist with Jesters III * James Francis Byrnes (1882–1972), lawyer, congressman, senator, Supreme Court Justice, advisor to FDR, Secretary of State to Truman, Governor of South Carolina * Wilson Casey (born 1954), syndicated newspaper columnist, speaking entertainer, and Guinness World Record holder * Mark Cerney (born 1967), founder of the Next of Kin Registry (NOKR) * Marshall Chapman (born 1949), singer-songwriter * Jeremy Clements (born 1985), racing driver * Landon Cohen (born 1986), football player, community-builder * Fieldin Culbreth (born 1963), Major League Baseball umpire, Olympian * David Daniels (countertenor), David Daniels (born 1966), counter-tenor * Stephen Davis (American football), Stephen Davis (born 1974), American football, football running back * Steven Duggar (born 1993), baseball player for the San Francisco Giants * Raymond C. Eubanks Jr. (1933–2022), politician representing Spartanburg County in the South Carolina House of Representatives * M. K. Fort, Jr., Marion Kirkland Fort (1921–1964), mathematician * Art Fowler (1922–2007), pitcher and pitching coach in Major League Baseball * Grace Beacham Freeman (1916–2002), poet, columnist, short story writer; South Carolina Poet Laureate 1985–86 * Cody Garrett, former police officer and YouTuber known as "Donut Operator" * Hank Garland (1930–2004), legendary Nashville guitarist who accompanied Patsy Cline and Elvis, among others * One Man Gang, George Gray (aka One Man Gang) (born 1960), Pro wrestler * Fred Griffith (actor), Fred Griffith (born 1964), American actor and film producer * Mark Hammond (American politician), Mark Hammond (born 1963), South Carolina Secretary of State * Lee Haney (born 1951), eight-time Mr. Olympia record holder * Dennis Hayes (businessman), Dennis Hayes (born 1950), inventor of the Hayes modem * Heath Hembree (born 1989), baseball player * Adam Humphries (born 1993), NFL wide receiver * Walter Hyatt (1950–1996), country musician and songwriter * Joseph T. Johnson (1858–1919), United States Representative from South Carolina * Todd Kohlhepp (born 1971), serial killer * Marcus Lattimore, football player * Donald Lawrence (born 1961), Gospel artist * Leigh Magar, milliner and business owner * The Marshall Tucker Band, Southern rock band featuring George McCorkle, Doug Gray, Jerry Eubanks, Toy Caldwell, Tommy Caldwell (musician), Tommy Caldwell, and Paul Riddle * Marcus McBeth (born 1980), baseball player * Roger Milliken (1915–2010), billionaire owner of the largest privately held textile manufacturing firm in the world (
Milliken & Company Milliken & Company is an American industrial manufacturer that has been in business since 1865. With corporate headquarters located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the company is active across a breadth of disciplines including specialty chemica ...
) * Bud Moore (NASCAR owner), Bud Moore (1925–2017), NASCAR team owner/crew chief * D. J. Moore (cornerback), D. J. Moore (born 1987), football player * Kris Neely (born 1978), artist and educator * Samuel J. Nicholls (1885–1937), United States Representative from South Carolina * Angela Nikodinov (born 1980), U.S. figure skater * Cotton Owens (1924–2012), NASCAR team owner/crew chief * David Pearson (NASCAR driver), David Pearson (1934–2018), NASCAR champion * Kitty Black Perkins (born 1948), Chief Designer of Fashions for Barbie, designer of the "First Black Barbie" * Carson Pickett (born 1993), soccer player * Arthur Prysock (1929–1997), jazz singer * Betsy Rawls (born 1928), pro golfer, member of World Golf Hall of Fame, born in Spartanburg * Mike Reid (defensive back), Mike Reid (born 1970), NFL player * Gianna Rolandi (1952–2021), operatic soprano * Al Rosen, Al "Flip" Rosen (1924–2015), MLB 4-time All-Star third baseman and first baseman, MVP, 2-time home run champion, 2-time RBI leader * Donald S. Russell (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 Rutledge (1883–1973), South Carolina poet laureate, resided in Spartanburg for about 20 years * Jack Smith (American racing driver, born 1924), Jack Smith (1924–2001), NASCAR driver * Carey Wentworth Styles, founder of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta Constitution * Gina Tolleson, Miss South Carolina USA 1990, First runner-up Miss USA 1990, Miss World 1990 * Wayne Tolleson (born 1955), baseball player * Sandra L. Townes (1944–2018), United States District Court judge * Buck Trent (born 1938), country music instrumentalist who accompanied Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton, among others * Ira Tucker (1925–2008), lead singer of the influential gospel group the Dixie Hummingbirds * William Walker (composer), William "Singing Billy" Walker (1809–1875), compiler of shape note tunebooks, including ''Southern Harmony, The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion''. * Celia Weston (born 1951), actress * Zion Williamson (born 2000), men's basketball player currently playing for New Orleans Pelicans, and formerly for Duke men's basketball, Duke


Gallery

File:Clock tower in Spartanburg, SC IMG 4815.JPG, Clock tower File:Spartanburg, SC, City Hall IMG 4837.JPG, City Hall File:Fountain at Morgan Square, Spartanburg, SC IMG 4821.JPG, Closeup of Morgan Square fountain File:Section of downtown Spartanburg, SC IMG 4823.JPG, Part of downtown Spartanburg File:Citizens and Southern National Bank, Spartanburg, SC IMG 4826.JPG, Citizens and Southern National Bank File:First Baptist Church in Spartanburg (lower view) IMG 4827.JPG, First Baptist Church File:Steeple of First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, SC IMG 4830.JPG, High steeple of First Baptist Church File:First Presbyterian, Spartanburg, SC IMG 4828.JPG, First Presbyterian Church File:St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Spartanburg, SC IMG 4832.JPG, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church


See also

* List of municipalities in South Carolina


References


Further reading

* Cooper, Peter (1997). ''Hub City Music Makers''. Spartanburg, S.C.: Holocene Publishing. . * Landrum, J.B.O. (1900). ''History of Spartanburg County''. * Racine, Philip N. (1999). ''Seeing Spartanburg''. Spartanburg, S.C.: Hub City Writers Project. . * Racine, Philip N. ''Living a Big War in a Small Place: Spartanburg, South Carolina, during the Confederacy'' (Univ of South Carolina Press, 2013). * Teter, Betsy Wakefield (Ed.) (2002). ''Textile Town: Spartanburg, South Carolina''. Spartanburg, S.C.: Hub City Writers Project. . 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''.


External links

* *
Spartanburg Tourism Commission
{{Authority control Spartanburg, South Carolina, Cities in South Carolina Cities in Spartanburg County, South Carolina County seats in South Carolina Populated places established in 1831 1831 establishments in South Carolina