Spartanburg, South Carolina
City
City of Spartanburg
Clockwise from top: Spartanburg skyline, Daniel Morgan Monument, Chapman Cultural Center, Morgan Square, Old Main at Wofford College, Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
Nickname(s):  The Hub City; Sparkle City; The Burg
Motto:  "Always Doing."
Spartanburg's location in South Carolina
Coordinates: 34°56′48″N 81°55′39″W / 34.94667°N 81.92750°W / 34.94667; -81.92750
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Spartanburg
Founded	1831
Government
•  Mayor	Junie White
Area
•  City	19.2 sq mi (49.9 km2)
• Land	19.2 sq mi (49.6 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)  0.47%
Elevation	807 ft (246 m)
Population  ( 2013) [1]
•  City	37,647
• Density	2,066.3/sq mi (399.9/km2)
•  Urban	180,786 (US: 192nd)
•  Metro	318,999 (US: 152nd)
•  Demonym	Spartanburgers
Time zone	UTC-5 ( Eastern)
• Summer ( DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes	29301-29307
Area code	864
FIPS code	45-68290
GNIS feature ID	1250982 [2]
Website	www.cityofspartanburg.org

Spartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States, ^[3] and the twelfth largest city by population in the state. Spartanburg has a municipal population of 37,013 and an urban population of 180,786 at the 2010 census. ^[4] The Spartanburg Metropolitan Statistical Area, corresponding to Spartanburg County and Union County, had a population of 317,057 as of the 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. ^[5]

Spartanburg is the second-largest city in the greater Greenville–Spartanburg–Anderson Combined Statistical Area which had a population of 1,385,045 as of 2014. ^[6] It is part of a 10-county region of northwestern South Carolina known as " The Upstate," and is located 98 miles (158 km) northwest of Columbia, 80 miles (130 km) west of Charlotte, North Carolina, and about 190 miles (310 km) northeast of Atlanta, Georgia.

History

Spartanburg was formed in 1785 and was named after a local militia called the Spartan Regiment in the American Revolutionary War. The Spartan Regiment, commanded by Andrew Pickens, participated in the nearby Battle of Cowpens. In 1831 Spartanburg became incorporated and later became known as the "Hub City" due to the railroad lines forming wheel hub shapes in the area. Around 40 textile mills were established in the late 1800s and early 1900s. During World War I Camp Wadsworth was used to train 100,000 soldiers for the war. Camp Croft also trained soldiers during World War II and is now called Croft State Park. By the 1950s mills began to decline as wages and the automobile industry increased. BMW US Manufacturing Company, BMW's only North American manufacturing plant, was established in 1992. ^{[7] [8]}

Treatment of African American Soldiers On the heels of a summer of racial violence in America, including an uprising that involved black soldiers in Houston that killed 13, white officers, Capt. Hamilton Fish Jr. of the 15th cabled Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin Roosevelt in October, urging him to send the black recruits straight to France rather than "cause recurrence of race troubles." Indeed, trouble brewed almost immediately. Officers managed to keep the lid on sporadic incidents until a white truck driver, possibly as a joke, told a group of black soldiers that two of their friends had fought with Spartanburg police and had been hanged. As a sergeant ran to warn white unit commander Col. William Heyward, 75 black soldiers with loaded rifles marched on Spartanburg. The soldiers sent two men to police headquarters to verify the rumor. Heyward arrived and was warned that the soldiers were prepared to "shoot the police — all of them — and any other people of the town who might interfere or try to assist the police" should the rumor prove true. The army was a strictly segregated force during World War I. As a result, entertainment options for African-American soldiers stationed at Camp Wadsworth were virtually non-existent. In 1918, however, a black Soldiers Club was established in Spartanburg. ^[9]

Camp Wadsworth

Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg SC

^[10]From 1917-1919, 100,000 soldiers trained at camp Wadsworth. The U.S war department selected a trust of land 3 miles west Spartanburg for the new camp. Mayor Floyd signed over 2000 acres to the federal government. The camp was named after union Brigadier General James S. Wadsworth. Brigadier General Wadsworth was a New Yorker and led union troops until his death. The Fiske-Carter construction company received the government contract to build camp Wadsworth. There were 779 bath houses, mess shacks, and warehouses ready within the first two months. In September 1917 an socialist organization known as the industrial workers of the world (I.W.W) attempted to stop the construction of camp Wadsworth. The socialist organization claimed that the camp and city official planned to begin a " Great war on blacks". This controversy caused many blacks laborers to flee from the site. After threatening to poison spartanburg's water supply the leaders of I.W.W were sentenced to 18 months in jail, then shipped out of the state.

A group of African American Soldiers that were trained at Camp Wadsworth were The Harlem Hellfighters. They were the 1st all black infantry also known 369th Infantry regiment. Nicknames that were given to 369th infantry other than the Harlem Hellfighters were the Black Rattlers, and The Men of Bronze. They were giving the nickname Harlem Hellfighters from the German, from there toughness and ferocious fighting. ^[11]

Camp Croft

Camp Croft was one of the four military camps intended for the instruction of Infantry replacements. It was officially activated on January 10, 1941. Camp Croft was named after a South Carolinian by the name of Edward Croft (1874-1938). He served in the military as an officer and eventually became a general. Young men that came to Spartanburg and Camp Croft were usually from New York, Pennsylvania and New England. ^[12]The Soldiers came in groups of 16,000 and were taught military discipline. Camp Croft became the housing of 20,000 trainees and support personnel. African American soldiers were the ones shipped to Camp Croft and placed in non- combat positions and were still segregated on both training and living conditions. Although their living conditions were segregated the camp trained to fight in chemical environments, and they ran obstacle courses. Most of the soldiers at Camp Croft were "selectees," which means they were drafted into the military. ^[13] While the men learned the basic skills of the infantry they were also taught speciality training. It prepared each soldiers to be a member of Rifle, Heavy Weapons, Cannon, Antitank, Headquarters, and or Service Company. Camp Croft consisted of several firing ranges. It consisted of pistol, rifle, machine guns, mortar, antitank and antiaircraft ranges. The camp also consisted of two gas chambers and a obstacle course that focused on an environment dealing with gas. The camp also served as a major separation point for soldiers who were discharged from the military. ^[14]

The C.C. Woodson Recreation Center was opened in 2009 and honorably named after Camp Croft community activist and leader Camillus C. Woodson. This community center was seen to have given a new life to the south side of the city of Spartanburg. The center offers children a year-round learning center and athletic programs, meeting and conference rooms for public use, and a senior lounge and seminars for the elderly community members. ^[15]

On July 6, 1917, the city of Spartanburg rented the U.S. government about 2,000 sections of land west of the city for an Army preparing camp. It was Spartanburg's turning out gathering. Men from everywhere throughout the nation. On the heels of a late spring of racial violence in America, including a savagery in America, including a mob involving black troopers in Houston that slaughtered 13. White officers were stressed. Commander Hamilton Fish Jr. of the 15th cabled partner secretary of the Navy Franklin Roosevelt on October 1, encouraging him to send the black recruits straight to France as opposed to cause a repeat of race inconveniences. Surely, trouble brewed very quickly. Officers figured out how to keep the top on sporadic incidents until a white truck driver, conceivably a joke, told a group of black soldiers that two of their companions had battled with Spartanburg police and had been hanged. As a sergeant rushed to caution white unit administrator. The soldiers sent two men to police headquarters to check the talk. Heyward arrived and was cautioned that the troopers were set up to shoot the police. Everyone of them, and some other individuals of the town who may meddle to attempt to help the police. Heyward rushed to the police headquarters, where officers permitted him and the two troopers to look the correctional facilities and view the police blotter. The entire scene had been a lie. ^[16]

Geography and climate

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.2 square miles (50 km²), of which 19.1 square miles (49 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²), or 0.47%, is water.

The city of Spartanburg has a humid subtropical climate with long hot and humid summers, and modestly cool to semi mild winters. The average annual temperature is 61.6 °F (16.4 °C). In the summer season from June through September average highs are in the 80's to low 90's F, while in the winter months average highs are in the mid 50's F. Annual rainfall is spread fairly evenly throughout the whole year. Spartanburg sees very little snowfall, with the annual average being only 1.4 inches. Average precipitation is 51.3 inches (130 cm) and the average growing season is 231 days.

Points of interest

• Lawson’s Fork Creek, a tributary of the Pacolet River, 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, wildlife populate the area. Larger animals that can be found here include white-tailed deer, raccoons, wild turkeys, pileated woodpeckers, mallard ducks, Canadian geese and snapping turtles. ^[17]
• Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve, located in the midst of an urban environment, is a welcome oasis of natural beauty. The project of a retired social activist, Hatcher Garden has transformed an eroding gully into a thick woods and flower garden and 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.

• 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, 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.
• The 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 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 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, a pivotal fight of the American Revolution that took place only a few miles away. The city’s streets and architectural record reflect the changes of the 19th and 20th 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 Morgan, 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 Magnolia Street Train Depot is 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. ^[18] It is now the home of the Amtrak station, the Hub City Railroad Museum, and the Hub City Farmers' Market.
• Hampton Heights Historic District 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 Anne and Neoclassical homes to cozy early 20th-century bungalows.

Cotton mills 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, 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. 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.

• Glendale Mill is located off Lawson’s Fork Creek southeast of the city. Although gutted by fire in 2004, ^[19] 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 Environmental Studies Center. The Glendale Shoals bridge will be getting a $600,00 makeover, and will ultimately connect to the state's Palmetto Trail. ^[20]
• 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 180,000 square foot mill. ^[21] The adjacent mill village has been designated as a local historic district. ^[22]
• Converse Mill is 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.

When the United States entered World War I 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, 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 huts (1/2 metal tube structures).

Government

The current mayor, Junie White, was elected in 2009. Spartanburg operates under a city 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. The council appoints a city manager, who is responsible for the daily administration of city governmental affairs. ^[23] City Hall is located at 145 West Broad Street.

The Spartanburg 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.

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. Some of these new developments include a nine-floor, 240-room Marriott, 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 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 1,200,000 square feet (110,000 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, a textile and chemical manufacturer.

Top employers

According to Spartanburg's 2015 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, ^[24] the principal employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	Spartanburg Regional	6,400
2	Spartanburg County	1,437
3	Spartanburg County School District 7	1,243
4	Walmart	925
5	American Credit Acceptance	582
6	QS/1 Headquarters	520
7	Wofford College	450
8	City of Spartanburg	438
9	Advance America	411
10	Denny's Corporation	285

Education

Colleges

Spartanburg is a college town, with eight institutions of higher learning:

• The University of South Carolina Upstate (formerly known as University of South Carolina Spartanburg, or USCS).
• Converse College – 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 Chiropractic – South Carolina's only chiropractic college
• Spartanburg Community College
• Spartanburg Methodist College – The only 2-year, private, residential college in the state.
• Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) – Carolinas Campus. First classes began in Fall 2011.
• Virginia College – Private career college opened in January 2011 ^[25]
• Wofford College – Founded in 1854, Wofford is a Phi Beta Kappa liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 1,500 students.

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. However, the westernmost part of the city is served by Spartanburg County School District 6, which has two elementary schools within city limits. 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. ^[26] 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. ^[27]

Spartanburg is also home to Spartanburg Christian Academy, a K-12 private school in North Spartanburg, ^[28] 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. ^[29] Located in Hampton Heights, the Montessori Academy of Spartanburg is a PreK-8 private school providing a Montessori educational approach. ^[30] The Meeting Street Academy in downtown Spartanburg is a branch of a Charleston-based private school and currently offers PreK and Kindergarten. ^[31]

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School is located in downtown Spartanburg. It is affiliated with the Diocese of Charleston and is K-8. ^[32] Alexander Elementary School was the first school for African Americans in Spartanburg, it was established at Silver Hill Methodist Church. The school was a parochial school meaning a private school supported by a particular church or parish. Mrs Walter Lewis was the teacher, The Spartanburg School District was established in 1883 by an act of the General Assembly. Reverend C.C. Scott, pastor of Silver Hill Methodist Church was also the first principal of the school. For a very long time this was the only school in the city for blacks. The next principal was Professor R.M. Alexander, he would go on to be the principal for thirty plus years. In 1939 the school was remolded and renamed in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander. The school then enrolled 155 students and provides instruction for the first and fourth grades. The time was around the Civil Rights movement. ^[33]

Carver High School (present day Carver Junior High School) was built and opened in 1938 in placement of Cumming Street Public School. Camillus C. Woodson, a well known leader in social affairs and civic activist of the Camp Croft community was elected principal of Cumming Street Public School in 1932 and remained principle of the newly developed Carver High School in 1938. During Mr. Woodson's term as principal, Carver High School had overwhelming success despite their low wage budgets and outdated textbooks. The graduating class of 1942-1943 was the first African American graduating class to receive actual diplomas. In addition to this, the graduating class of 1945-1946 set the first record of college enrollment of Carver High School by having 57 of their 65 graduates enroll in college. ^[34]

Public Schools Under Segregation Mary H. Wright Elementary was opened in 1951 and is located in Spartanburg, South Carolina on 457 S Church St. It is apart of the Spartanburg County School District #7. Mary was a well-known teacher and educator in the Spartanburg community. In 1904, Mary H. Wright started Carrier Street School for the children who could not walk to the nearest school or afford to go to school. After Mary H.Wright died, Carrier Street School was renamed to Mary H. Wright Elementary in honor of her. On August 3, 2007 the school was named to the National Register of Historic Places. ^[35]

During segregation there were several schools opened for the white people as well as the black people. Schools opened for whites were Oakland Avenue School, West End School, and Magnolia Street School all were located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Schools opened for blacks were Alexander Elementary School, Cumming Street School, Carver High School, and Highland Elementary all which were located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. ^[36]

Healthcare

Spartanburg County’s healthcare is mainly provided by the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. Spartanburg Regional 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.

Nina Littlejohn and her family built the first black hospital in 1913. The operated this hospital and served the black people of the community until 1932 when it was then changed to the Negro Wing and became apart of the Spartanburg General Hospital. Later on the building was bought by Mr. M.S. Callaham and he ran a it as a funeral out the building, which became known as a historical landmark but sadly the building was destroyed by a fire in August of 2007. Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

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 353,690-square-foot (32,859 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.

In 1913, The John-Nina hospital was created and operated in the city of Spartanburg, South Carolina it was being run out of the Hercules smith house. The hospital was the only licensed black hospital in the Hercules Smith building. The hospital was next to Nina and Worth Littlejohn's house, it had enough beds to hold 36 patients and ran successfully for 19 years, until it merged with the Spartanburg general hospital in 1932. And was later purchased by Mr. M.S Callaham in 1933 and turned into a funeral home. Mr. M.S Callaham was actually the funeral director of Worth Littlejohn when he passed away in 1948 and Nina Littlejohn when she died a couple years later in 1963.

In 1913, Nina Littlejohn and her husband, Worth Littlejohn, established the first African American ran hospital, the John-Nina Hospital, in determination to help the community. The hospital was located next to the Littlejohns' home and provided a comfortable surrounding for 36 patients. Each patient was fed from a vegetable garden located behind the hospital. There were also unlicensed hospitals for blacks during this time, the Peeple's Hospital (1915) and the Providence Hospital (1923), established by Carrie B. Perry on the site of what is currently the J.W. Woodward Funeral Home. Both hospitals collapsed due to the Depression but the John-Nina Hospital remained open. The hospital operated solo for 19 years before merging with Spartanburg General, and was then sold to Mr. M.S. Callaham and turned into a funeral home in 1933. ^[37]

Attractions

• 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.
• Retrofest, the Southeast's largest disco festival held at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium on the first Saturday in February.
• 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 – held in Spartanburg in 2010 and 2011.
• Red, White and Boom, a Fourth of July event held at Barnet Park featuring patriotic music and a fireworks display.
• 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.
• 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 Greenville.
• 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, a historical celebration held on the grounds of the 18th-century Price House in April, featuring food samples and demonstrations.
• The Hub City Hog Fest is an 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.

Other attractions include:

• The Spartanburg Museum of Art ^[38]
• The Spartanburg Regional Museum of History ^[39]
• The Spartanburg Science Center ^[40]
• Ballet Spartanburg ^[41] which has hosted over 22 national and international ballet companies.
• Hub City Railroad Museum ^[42]
• Spartanburg Music Trail ^[43] which is a series of signs throughout downtown recognizing famous local musicians.
• Several golf courses, including two private 18-hole courses at the Country Club of Spartanburg and the Carolina Country Club.
• Cowpens National Battlefield
• The Hotspot Skatepark
• Ground Zero historic live music venue.
• The Beacon Drive-In (Since 1946).

Sports

Spartanburg is host to the NFL's Carolina Panthers training camp each year on the campus of Wofford College.

Historic Duncan Park Stadium was once home to the Spartanburg Stingers ^[44] in the Coastal Plain League ^[45] and the Spartanburg Crickets ^[46] in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League ^[47] 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 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.

The BMW Charity Pro-Am is a golf tournament on the Nationwide Tour held each year in May at three courses in the Upstate, including the Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg.

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. ^[48]

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, opened in 2012.

Upward Sports, a Christian-based sports organization for kids, is headquartered in Spartanburg. ^[49]

Arts and culture

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, ^[50] 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. 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 ^[51] 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.
• The Showroom, the home of Hub-Bub, ^[52] 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 Project ^[53] 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. The Showroom also housed the first TEDx Spartanburg event on September 10, 2011. ^[54]
• Converse College ^[55] 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 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 college has had major concerts in recent years with such artists as Caedmon's Call, Jason Mraz, Corey Smith, and Colbie Caillat.
• Wofford College ^[56] is a prestigious 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, SC.
• The Spartanburg County Public Library headquarters, ^[57] 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 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 various famous acts such as Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills and Nash, B.B. King, Billy Joel, David Copperfield, Lewis Grizzard, Harry Connick, Jr., Gerald Levert, Dave Chappelle, Jerry Seinfeld, Phish, A Prairie Home Companion, and many others. Originally built in an Art Deco style and was renovated c. 2002 including a new facade and backstage with loading area.
• Families Advocating for Campus Equality, an organization that fights accusations of sexual misconduct on college campuses ^[58] is based in Spartanburg. http://www.facecampusequality.org/contact.html

C.C. Woodson center opened in 2009 in Spartanburg, SC representing the largest quality of life investment that the city of Spartanburg has made. The center offers programs year around for Football, Basketball, Baseball, and etc. for all ages. It's a great place for recreational sports, which also includes an Exercise room, Pool, and Teen center. The center offers meetings, and conference rooms for the public to use at any times. The C.C. Woodson center re-opened in 2010 after a $7 million renovation project. <"Home." City of Spartanburg, South Carolina. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.ref>The Neighborhood Services Department of the C.C. Woodson Recreational Center mission statement is to improve neglected neighborhoods and redevelop areas in need. These efforts are done by remodeling in-need neighborhoods, making investments and investing in housing stocks. They also work to reduce negative conditions that can harm the community. They also help with financial assistance. They help with down payments, existing and new housing developments, and Emergency Repair programs. <"Neighborhood Services." City of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Unknown, 1 Dec. 2016. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.>

Media

• Spartanburg's primary newspaper is the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, a member of the Halifax Media Group. ^[59]
• The Spartanburg Journal is a weekly newspaper that is part of a Community Journal group that also has editions in Greenville and Anderson.
• 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. All of these papers, save "The Greer Citizen" ceased publication at the end of 2012. ^[60]
• Upstate Link magazine ^[61] 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 Metromix.

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 television affiliates:

C.C. Woodson Recreational Center

• The Neighborhood Services Department of the C.C. Woodson Recreational Center mission statement is to improve neglected neighborhoods and redevelop areas in need. These efforts are done by remodeling in-need neighborhoods, making investments and investing in housing stocks. They also work to reduce negative conditions that can harm the community. They also help with financial assistance. They help with down payments, existing and new housing developments, and Emergency Repair programs. ^[62]

Transportation

Major highways

Public 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. All SPARTA buses are equipped with bicycle racks. Two hybrid-electric buses were added to the fleet in 2012. ^[63] The SPARTA Passenger Center is located at 100 North Liberty Street and also serves Greyhound 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.

Airports

• The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) lies mostly in Spartanburg County 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 airport owned and operated by the City, which lies southwest of town. ^[64]

Railroad station

Amtrak'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.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	1,176		—
1860	1,216		3.4%
1870	1,080		−11.2%
1880	3,253		201.2%
1890	5,544		70.4%
1900	11,395		105.5%
1910	17,517		53.7%
1920	22,638		29.2%
1930	28,723		26.9%
1940	32,249		12.3%
1950	36,795		14.1%
1960	44,352		20.5%
1970	44,546		0.4%
1980	43,826		−1.6%
1990	43,467		−0.8%
2000	39,673		−8.7%
2010	37,013		−6.7%
2015 (est.)	37,867	[65]	2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [66] 2013 Estimate [67]

As of the census of 2000, there were 39,673 people, 15,989 households, and 9,721 families residing in the city. 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 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.

List of neighborhoods

The neighborhood Converse Heights was prominent for African Americans for more than a century. There were not only homes but also successful black-owned businesses as well. During the 1970's Converse Heights was completely wiped out because of urban renewal projects. ^[68]

Urban Renewal

This was the first urban renewal project in the city of Spartanburg. This community was beyond the worst neighborhoods in 1959. This received its particular name from the gaseous aroma. The company burning coal for electricity for the city was one of the main reasons of this smell. It took five years for the project to be completed. "162 sustained houses were demolished, and 148 rebuilding of houses and relocating families took place. The cost renewal cost about $900,000. The people in the community were astonished by the urban renewal. After this project was completed The Federal Home and Housing Administration went on to rebuild other black communities in this area. This project required low income tax credit. There should be more grants funding this year which can be a start of redevelopment. ^[69] Retrieved on December 1, 2016

Notable people

• Mary H. Wright (1862-1946), Educator for 65 years in Spartanburg, founder of African American home school [ Carrier Street School] in 1904.
• Camillus C. Woodson (died 1973) Principle of Cumming Street Public School (combined high school and elementary school). Later became long-term principle of Carver High School and had the C.C. Woodson Recreation Center named after him as a result of his leadership in the Camp Croft community. ^[76]
• Camillus C. Woodson (died 1973), Principle of Carver High School and community builder. C.C Woodson community Center was named after him. Dr. Camillus C. Woodson (C.C. Woodson), was born in Spartanburg, SC and attended Carrier Street and Dean Elementary Schools, two of the first black schools in Spartanburg. He received his M.A. in Secondary Administrations and Supervision at the University of Michigan. In 1932 he was appointed principal of the Cummings Street High School and elementary school and remained there until the fall of 1938 when he assumed the position of principal of Carver High School. In 1953, Woodson, as part of a committee from the Palmetto Teachers Association(Negro) successfully lobbied the State Board of Education for the equalization of teacher salaries. ^[77]
• Nina Littlejohn (1877-1963), established the first African American ran hospital, the John-Nina Hospital. Littlejohn was also head of the Spartanburg Department and vice president of the Piedmont District of the Federation of Colored Women's Club. ^[37]

• 
  Clocktower
• 
  City Hall
• 
  Closeup of Morgan Square fountain
• 
  Part of downtown Spartanburg
• 
  Citizens and Southern National Bank
• 
  First Baptist Church
• 
  High steeple of First Baptist Church
• 
  First Presbyterian Church
• 
  St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church

References

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.

External links

• Official website
• Spartanburg Tourism Commission

Category:Cities in South Carolina Category:Cities in Spartanburg County, South Carolina Category:County seats in South Carolina Category:Populated places established in 1831 Category:1831 establishments in South Carolina