Area History in Brief...

Once the hunting grounds for the Cherokee Indians, Greenville today is in the center of the nations next “mega-growth corridor.

The first permanent settlement was founded by Richard Pearis, proprietor of a trading post and grist mill at the Reedy River Falls in the late 1760’s. In 1777, the Indians signed a treaty relinquishing their rights to the land and on March 22, 1786 Greenville County was legally founded. The City of Greenville became incorporated by the South Carolina General Assembly on Dec. 17, 1831

Serving as a resort for the low county planters in the antebellum period, it was not until reconstruction that the textile industry prospered. In 1915, Greenville hosted it’s First Textile Exposition and became known as the “Textile Center of the South”

Today, Greenville is swiftly becoming recognized as a center of Global Engineering. Innovators in engineering and construction have declared Greenville as “one of four engineering centers in the world”

This is supported by the fact that Greenville has more engineers per capita than any other county in the United States.

Greenville is also the most populous county in all the South Carolina now with over 391,334 residents and still growing. It also has the Largest and most advanced school districts in the state

And is acknowledged nationally for excellence in the Arts and Technical Schools. Clemson, Furman, and Bob Jones Universities are also located in Metro-Greenville.

Greenville enjoys moderate weather throughout the year due mostly to the mountains. A portion of the Blue Ridge mountain chain stretches into northern Greenville county. At Sassafrass Mountain, the states highest point, the altitude reaches 3,548 feet. These mountains are home to one of the nations purest municipal reservoirs. Several large man-made lakes, parks and historic sites are ensconced in the regions rolling landscape.

Also calling Greenville home are a number collegiate and professional sports teams. The Atlanta Braves AA farm team, one of the nations Top five minor league baseball is located here as well.

Culturally, Greenville is rapidly developing, spurred on by the Peace Center for the Performing Arts and the Greenville County Museum of Art, which are located in Downtown Greenville.

The Greenville Ballet, Greenville Symphony and the Governor’s School for the Arts have added to the cultural core.

National Attention focused on Greenville when it was announces the BMW was building a $600,000,000 auto assembly plant there. Other Big name companies like Michelin, Lockheed Martin and Hitachi followed suite.

 Just recently BMW and Clemson University have merged to create the latest news in Greenville with the ICAR Auto Park, (an Automobile Research and Development plant)  which will be one of the largest of its kind in the country. It broke ground Nov.2003, and expected to be in function by early or mid 2006, and will bring an estimated 20,000 new jobs to the Up-State .

In brief conclusion , Greenville continues to be a Hot Spot as one of the nations mega growth environments. Not only has Greenville been growing residentally at a rapid pace but it is quickly becoming a major hub for Small and Large businesses alike . Being located along I-85 between Atlanta and Charlotte, Greenville is confident to continue as one of the nations fastest growing areas.