Communities

Calling all history and culture lovers! Located along the “Freshwater Coast,” Abbeville and Abbeville County are settled on South Carolina’s western boundary, and known for their outdoor activities, including outstanding fishing and boating. With a charming downtown square, Abbeville is home to the artfully restored Abbeville Opera House, which first opened its doors in 1908 and today hosts world-class performances from modern plays, music concerts, comedians and classic opera. Make it a weekend and stay at the Belmont Inn.

Nicknamed “The Friendliest City in South Carolina,” Anderson hits the sweet spot between old-fashioned Southern charm and cutting-edge innovation. In fact, it’s also known as the “Electric City” for being the first city in the Southeast to use electricity in the late 19^th century. Anderson is home to seven designated historic districts, as well as more than 230 manufacturers, including 22 international companies. Families, young professionals and retirees enjoy Anderson’s suburban feel, lower cost of living and abundance of parks. Anderson is also home to Lake Hartwell, the host to world-class fishing, including a variety of championship tournaments like the Bassmaster Classic, and Palmetto Moonshine, an award-winning micro-distillery that produces moonshine and craft whiskey.

Best-known for the prestigious Clemson University, Clemson and Pickens County is an area rich in history, natural beauty and Tiger pride. The area offers a small-town atmosphere with all of the assets of a college town, including the best of college sports and performance arts. With access to the lakes and mountains, Pickens is perfect for lovers of the great outdoors. Catch a Tigers game or a play at Clemson’s Brooks Theater for Performing Arts, visit the South Carolina Botanical Garden or take a hike to one of more than 20 waterfalls in the area.

Originally founded as a railroad town in 1852, Clinton is a town of about 8,000 that’s home to historic and natural attractions including its charming downtown — comprised of 19^th-century buildings and classified as a national historic place — and the Musgrove Mill State Historic Site Park. Clinton’s signature festival, Rhythm On The Rails, includes retail and craft vendors, games, rides and lots of great music and barbeque. Presbyterian College provides a variety of lectures, plays, films, art shows and concerts from September through April, many of which are available at no charge to the community.

Easley is an affordable, diverse place to live where parks and family-friendly events abound. Easley’s downtown district features specialty shops, antique dealers and wonderful restaurants, along with a water-feature park and outdoor amphitheater. The Foothills Playhouse is a destination for live theater entertainment, and every September, Easley welcomes thousands of visitors for the Upper South Carolina State Fair at the Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Historically the host of the Big League World Series, Easley now hosts the Senior League World Series.

Featuring a unique and vibrant downtown, Fountain Inn is a great place to plant seeds as young professionals, establish roots as a growing family, or branch out as active adults. While Greenville County experiences explosive growth and potential, Fountain Inn retains its small-town charm in a close-knit community.

Gaffney is the seat of Cherokee County located in the northeastern portion of Upstate South Carolina, just an hour from Charlotte along the I-85 corridor. One of its most famous landmarks is the Peachoid, a 135-foot-tall water tower that resembles a peach, which honors Gaffney’s rich peach farming history. The area is also home to the Cherokee Speedway, Gaffney Outlet Marketplace, Gaffney Station Farmers Market and the South Carolina Peach Festival. There are three nearby national parks which commemorate Cherokee County’s role in the Revolutionary War. The area has lovely, affordable homes, including some constructed between 1890 and 1930 in Gaffney’s Historic Residential District. The Town of Blacksburg, located about 10 miles north of Gaffney, offers more options for housing and retail in a smaller rural community.

We’re not exaggerating when we say that Greenville is one of the most charming cities you’ll ever come across. In fact, it’s been recognized as one of the top 10 best downtowns in the county, is the #4 Best Place to Live in the U.S. as ranked by U.S. News in 2024, and continues to top national food destination lists. It’s also been called the hottest craft beer scene in South Carolina — and did we mention there’s a waterfall in the middle of downtown? Catch a Broadway show at the Peace Center, wander the arts district in the Village of West Greenville, or enjoy an outdoor concert or festival along Main Street.

Greenwood is a true gem in the crown of Upstate South Carolina. The county seat of Greenwood County, Greenwood is home to the beautiful Lake Greenwood and the charming Uptown Greenwood, which includes a bustling arts and cultural district. This burgeoning cultural hub is bordered by the renovated Arts Center at the 100-year-old Federal Building, the Greenwood Community Theater and the Greenwood Museum.  Piedmont Technical College and Lander University make the Greenwood County region a hub for technical training and education, which fuels businesses like Teijin Carbon America’s whose North American headquarters in Greenwood hosts the world’s largest carbon fiber line.

From its roots as a mill town, Greer has grown to become an international manufacturing hub and a thriving, innovative city. Notably, Greer is home to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), ranked the best small airport in America, which offers more than 100 non-stop daily departures to more than 20 major cities across the U.S. Greer is also home to the only BMW manufacturing facility in the United States. Beyond visiting the plant itself, residents and visitors can tour the Zentrum Museum or get behind the wheel of the Ultimate Driving Machine® at the BMW Performance Driving School.

Greer’s lifestyle assets include beautiful scenery, a downtown with 12 blocks of retail, dining and entertainment, and popular events like Greer Goes Global: International Festival and Freedom Blast.

Laurens and Laurens County are located between Columbia and Greenville and offer the perfect lifestyle for those who want to be near the activity of the city, while seeking the peace of natural scenery. Historic charm, pastoral landscapes — with top-notch outdoor recreation — and cultural diversity abound in Laurens. The Old 96 District, which spans four counties including Laurens, offers hiking and biking trails, boating, fishing, golfing, camping and other family-friendly activities, while the West Main Street District features beautiful historical houses and shops.

Mauldin is a vibrant, growing city that boasts top-rated schools, diverse cultural experiences and family-friendly fun — all conveniently located just minutes from downtown Greenville. Consistently ranked among the safest and most affordable cities in South Carolina, Mauldin is home to a variety of recreational activities, community events and festivals, and exciting attractions like BridgeWay Station, so it’s no surprise the city was recognized as one of the 25 Best Places to Live for Families by Fortune Magazine in 2022. Stop by and see what all the buzz is about!

Located in the northwestern corner of Upstate SC, Seneca sits at the heart of Oconee County. Home to gorgeous rivers, lakes and forests, it’s known as one of South Carolina’s most scenic areas. Seneca ranks on Thrillist’s list of America’s 23 Greatest Summertime Lake Towns thanks to Lake Keowee, a sprawling man-made reservoir that encompasses nearly 29 square miles and 350 miles of shoreline, plus neighboring Lake Jocassee and Lake Hartwell. The Seneca and Oconee County area is also known for its history, particularly Ram Cat Alley, which is lined with gorgeous, traditional buildings from the late 1800s, and excellent hiking thanks to its location in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Family is the cornerstone of Simpsonville, a community of 28,000 that calls itself “Simply Home” to residents and visitors alike. As the economic hub of eastern Greenville County, Simpsonville is ranked in the 10 Best Places to Live in South Carolina by HomeSnacks. The City of Simpsonville offers opportunities for recreation and entertainment, cultivates economic development, and boasts impressive schools all in less than 9 square miles.

Simpsonville also serves as the stage of the Upstate as home to the CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park, which attracts both world-renowned artists and smaller concerts with local food trucks. If you’re feeling a bit more active, splash around at Discovery Island Waterpark or toss your Frisbee at the new-and-improved City Park upon its grand opening in fall 2024.

In Simpsonville, the vibrant tempo of the Upstate certainly intersects with the rhythm of a small town.

There’s only one Spartanburg. In fact, it’s the only city of its name in the country and it lives up to its unique reputation. Downtown Spartanburg is home to a thriving cultural arts district, an up-and-coming food scene, and a handful of colleges and universities. Beyond the City, Spartanburg offers abundant outdoor amenities (check out Croft State Park and the Daniel Morgan Trail System) and a collection of charming towns, like Landrum and Woodruff, each with their own unique character.

On top of that, Spartanburg County has one of the highest rates of foreign investment in the country, which has created a large international business community.

Union is a city of about 8,000 people offering excellent outdoor recreation opportunities, historic sites and sports facilities. Historic downtown Union is filled with specialty shops and beautiful architecture, and is surrounded by historic sites from the Carnegie Library to the Rose Hill Plantation to the Union County Courthouse, designed by notable architect Robert Mills.

For the outdoor enthusiast, Union offers considerable resources for hunting, boating, fishing, camping, and more. Nearly 62,000 acres of Union County have been reserved as part of the Sumter National Forest. Sports fans will revel in Union’s multiple motorsports facilities and state-of-the-art sports complex, complete with seven ball fields.