Greenwood (and Greenwood County)

Greenwood has everything from modern pizza places like Mill House Pizza — which also doubles as a brewpub called Good Times Brewing — to Cuban restaurants like Buenavista and local deli spots like Howard’s on Main. Beyond its restaurant scene, Uptown Greenwood hosts the Uptown Market farmers market to support local farmers and their freshly grown products and produce. Vendors at the open-air brick pavilion produce and sell items including coffee, pork chops, vegetables, fruits, dairy and more. In addition, Uptown Greenwood hosts food-centric festivals, like Uptown Spring Sizzle, featuring a steak cookoff, and South Carolina Festival of Discovery’s “Blues Cruise,” celebrating the unique musical sound of the blues and the flavors of Carolina and Kansas City barbeque.

Greenwood’s arts and culture scene stays true to its reputation as “Emerald City” with sparkling attractions from music festivals to art exhibits. The city’s charming uptown and vibrant culture make the area a sought-after destination for visitors looking for an artistic experience. Spanning nine acres at the heart of Greenwood’s downtown business district, the Emerald Triangle is the area’s most popular arts and cultural district. Bordering the Emerald Triangle is the renovated Arts Center at the 100-year-old federal building, which hosts a number of local and regional art exhibits throughout the year, playing a key role in supporting the growth of new artists and groups. Uptown Greenwood events, like the annual Festival of Discovery, which celebrates the history, culture, food, arts & crafts, music, and people that make South Carolina and Greenwood County an incredible place to live and visit. Other cultural attractions and events include:

• Greenwood Community Theatre
• The Museum & Railroad Historical Center
• South Carolina Festival of Flowers
• Uptown Live

Greenwood’s outdoor activities are largely focused around the beautiful Lake Greenwood and Lake Greenwood State Park. Spanning over 212 miles of shoreline and 11,000 acres of water, Lake Greenwood borders Greenwood, Laurens and Newberry Counties. With a total of 125 paved campsites and 914 acres of parkland, the lake’s open area is perfect for fishing, boating, camping, nature walks and more. Lake Greenwood State Park is also host to the South Carolina Festival of Flowers Triathlon every June, bringing in competitive athletes to the scenic area.

Greenwood County’s seven golf courses are popular for sportsmen and those looking to enjoy the outdoors. Each of the courses offers a combination of quality land, beautiful terrain and southern hospitality. Greenwood also boasts a handful of parks and trails that are perfect for families such as the Ninety Six Historic Star Fort Battle Site.

Greenwood is a major player in supporting Upstate South Carolina’s manufacturing industry. With the help of Piedmont Technical College and Lander University, Greenwood cultivates the highly-specialized workforce needed to support the area’s major employers. In fact, 26% of Greenwood’s workforce is dedicated to manufacturing. Fujifilm, for example, benefits from the area’s talented workforce. The company known for its innovation in healthcare, graphic arts and optical devices has its North American Manufacturing and R&D Headquarters in Greenwood.

As the home of Lonza and the Greenwood Genetic Center, Greenwood is quickly attracting leading life sciences companies and cutting-edge research developments. The Clemson University Center for Human Genetics on The Greenwood Genetic Center Partnership Campus will enable Clemson’s growing genetics program to collaborate closely with the long tradition of clinical and research excellence at the Greenwood Genetic Center, combining basic science and clinical care.

In addition, approximately 42% of the U.S. population is within a day’s drive of Greenwood, a testament to the area’s accessibility for businesses needing to reach major markets. Greenwood County’s major employers include:

• Ascend Performance Materials
• Cardinal Health
• Carolina Pride Foods
• Colgate-Palmolive
• Eaton Corporation
• Fujifilm
• Greenwood Mills Inc.
• Lonza
• Mayville Engineering Company
• Park Seed Company
• Self Regional Healthcare
• VELUX, Inc.
• Wesley Commons

The city of Greenwood and the larger county provide accessible, diverse education opportunities. Greenwood County has three accredited public-school districts: Greenwood School District 50, Ware Shoals School District 51 and Greenwood School District 52. Greenwood District 50, the largest district, offers school choice. There are also three private schools in Greenwood offering K-12 education: Cambridge Academy, Greenwood Christian School and Palmetto Christian Academy.

Among the unique programs offered in Greenwood County is The Greenwood Edge, a partnership between Piedmont Technical College; Greenwood County School Districts 50, 51, and 52; Greenwood County private schools; the Greenwood Partnership Alliance; the Greenwood Promise and local employers to provide training to high school students in high-demand occupations. The Greenwood Promise is a scholarship program offering a tuition-free path for high school graduates in Greenwood County to attend Piedmont Technical College to obtain a certificate, diploma, or associates degree. This dual enrollment program — implemented for high school juniors and seniors in Fall 2018 — allows students to obtain a Manufacturing Certificate with the skills to work in production immediately or to continue with studies at PTC in Mechatronics.

On the higher education front, Piedmont Technical College and Lander University are both located in Greenwood and draw students from neighboring communities and states. Piedmont Technical College is a comprehensive two-year college which offers hands-on career training in addition to traditional classroom learning. Lander University is a four-year institution that ranks No. 6 among South Carolina’s best public colleges, according to Niche. Offering a traditional liberal arts education and opportunities for professional studies, Lander University prepares its students for life after graduation.