About Our Towns
Welcome to Our Towns- located in the lovely Upper Piedmont (NW) area of Upstate South Carolina
1. Greenwood - The Main Town
2. Abbeville – Pretty, historical town ctr (west of Greenwood)
3. Chappells – Lake Greenwood area, rural, (lower east side)
4. Cross Hill – Lake Greenwood area, rural, (upper east side)
5. Hodges - Lake Greenwood area, rural
6. Laurens – Laurens County Seat, lovely small town w/ twn ctr
7. McCormick – Rural, country
8. Newberry - Newberry’s County Seat, lovely small town
8. Ninety Six – Lake Greenwood area (lower west side)
9. Ware Shoals – Saluda River area (west side)
10. Waterloo – Rural, Lakefront (east side)
GREENWOOD
Greenwood is the “main town” around here, a "micro-metro" with good shopping amenities, quality education, a major hospital, and great neighborhoods for every budget—from affordable starter homes to high-end golf and lake communities, First settled by Irishmen John Blake and Thomas Weir in 1802, Greenwood didn’t get its name until 1824, when Judge John McGeehee brought his bride here from the nearby town of Ninety Six and named his plantation Greenwood for its lovely rolling hills and tall green forests. Today, it is known as the Emerald City with unique attractions that include Park Seed Gardens and 11,400-acre LAKE GREENWOOD. This small city of less than 30,000 residents boasts one the widest Main Streets in the US and is dedicated to establishing its downtown ("Uptown") Emerald Triangle area as a major cultural center, with a newly renovated 300-seat historic state theatre and 25,000 sq ft. Arts Center now open, and a new Visitors & Tourism Bureau now in action. The Emerald Triangle project also includes streetscape improvements, pedestrian cross walks, and restoration of more than 2 dozen building facades to encourage retail and restaurants. Greenwood Museum renovations begin in 2007 as does work on the new $10 million, 60,000 sq. ft. library, anticipated to open in 2008.
Greenwood offers 3 fully accredited school districts, 2 private schools, and the beautiful campuses of Piedmont Technical College and Lander University. Self Regional Healthcare is a major referral and medical center providing advanced healthcare services to a population of more than a quarter of a million people in the Lakelands region of Upstate South Carolina, with it's own impressive plans for expansion of facilities and services.
Greenwood is conveniently located only about an hour or so from the bigger cities of Anderson, Greenville and Columbia, about 3 hours to Atlanta, 3 hours to the beach, and about 2 hours to the mountains. Greenwood has all the restaurants, shopping and services you need with the larger city of Greenville less than an hour away offering additional options. There is a small regional airport in Greenwood and the closest major airport is Greenville-Spartanburg—a very nice, easy access facility only an hour’s drive away. Greenwood County: Average temperature here is 68. Average annual rain is 43 inches. Average snowfall is 1.4 inches (if at all). Elevation above sea level is 620 ft. Prevailing winds are from the southeast and average growing season is 229 days. There is one daily newspaper, several weekly papers, and 3 area radio stations. There are approx. 20 bank branches and 140+ places of worship. Live in town or out in the country, either way, Greenwood is a nice area to live, work and play.
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www.greenwoodscchamber.org. www.visitgreenwood.com www.parkseed.com |
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www.co.greenwood.sc.us www.GwdToday.com Schools: www.gwd50.k12.sc.us |
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EVENTS |
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April- SCGA Trescott-SCGA/SCPGA Pro-Am - www.scgolf.org. |
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May- Spring Festival on the Square - www.abbevillecitysc.com. |
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June- www.scfestivalofflowers.org. |
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Dec – Christmas Parade |
ABBEVILLE
Historic Abbeville is a charming small town famed for being the Birthplace & Deathbed of the Confederacy. In 1860, one of the first mass-organized secession meetings was held in Abbeville on Secession Hill and an ordinance of secession was sent down to the Capitol giving birth to the Confederacy. In 1865, Jefferson Davis held his last war council meeting in Abbeville at the Burt-Stark Mansion (now open for tours) and formally disbanded the armies. Today, the historic section of town is considered to offer one of the best collections of late Victorian architecture in South Carolina and the tree-lined town square offers delightful shopping, dining, and a restored opera house that is the hub of live theater activity. Abbeville real estate runs the gamut from brand new homes to beautiful historic residences. It has a population of about 13,000 and is approximately 20 min. from Greenwood.
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BUSINESS/RELOCATION/TOURISM INFO LINKS |
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EVENTS |
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March- Annual Oyster Roast & Low Country Boil/Music www.abbevillescchamber.com. |
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May- Spring Festival on the Square - www.abbevillecitysc.com. |
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Nov- Dickens Weekend - www.abbevillescchamber.com. |
CHAPPELS
This peaceful and rural lakeside area is pure residential with a population of about 700 people, Located on the southeast side of the lake in Newberry County, Chappells waterfront offers fabulous views looking north up Lake Greenwood. The south side of the lake is the deepest end and nearest the dam. This is country living, but beautiful if you don’t mind a bit of a drive for shopping. It’s about 15-20 miles to Greenwood, and 20-25 to the charming town of Newberry.
CROSS HILL
Cross Hill is a pretty area on the east side of lake with a population of less than 2000. It has a great little post office, a handy general/hardware store and a couple good places to stop and eat, like smoke-free Kings Restaurant. Cross Hill is in Laurens County. The area was a north-south Indian path, across the fish dams on the Broad River, and leading to the fish dams on the Savannah River. Many years ago, someone crossed the first path on a hill and gave Cross Hill its name.
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HODGES
Nice rural area on the northwest side of Lake Greenwood, with a population of less than 5000. Be sure to stop in at Godfrey’s General Store for breakfast or lunch and have a good look around at the gift shop next door.
LAURENS
Laurens is the County Seat for Laurens County government. Nice-sized town with a population of about 20,000, Laurens offers lots of shopping amenities, beautiful historical homes, a traditional Town Center Square that hosts community events, a renovated theater hall hosting special events and several character restaurants/lounges including the Main Street Bistro & the Deck, Rivertracks, the Village Cup and others. Lovely surrounding countryside and nearby smaller towns.
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BUSINESS/RELOCATION/TOURISM INFO LINKS |
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EVENTS |
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Oct- Squealin’ on the Square BBQ & Festival |
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Dec- Laurens Lights & the Annual Reindeer Run |
McCORMICK
Lovely, rural McCormick offers a blend of old and new. Literally built on history, beneath the town lie almost five miles of tunnels from the gold mines of previous centuries. Entrances to the tunnels are within walking distance of the town's central business district. Three of the State Parks also call McCormick home: Hickory Knob, Baker Creek and Hamilton Branch. Population is less than 8000.
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EVENTS |
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Sept. – Gold Rush Festival - www.mccormickcountysc.com. |
NEWBERRY
Newberry is the County Seat for Newberry County, founded in 1785. Its population of about 11,000 enjoys a small town atmosphere with a charming and convenient downtown area. Newberry College, a Lutheran-supported liberal arts school was founded in 1856. In 1996, Newberry was listed in Crampton’s The 100 Best Small Towns in America and, in 2001, Newberry was recognized by Sweitzer & Fields as one of the The 50 Best Small Southern Towns. The newly renovated Newberry Opera House is a cultural center for the region. Newberry County includes a section on southeast Lake Greenwood.
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www.newberrycounty.net |
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EVENTS |
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Dec. – Christmas Home Tour |
NINETY SIX
It may have an unusual name, but Ninety-Six is a nice little town with some downright beautiful waterfront communities and quick access to Lake Greenwood’s 1000-acre State Park. Named with history in mind, Ninety-Six is the location of the first land battle of the Revolution in the South which took place November 19-21, 1775, when Major Andrew Williamson's force of Patriots was besieged by Loyalists commanded by Major Joseph Robinson. In 1780, Ninety-Six fell into the hands of the British, who fortified the town extensively and made it one of their major outposts. From May 22 to June 19, 1781, the Loyalist garrison under Lt. Col. John Harris Cruger held out against Gen. Nathanael Greene's entire force of Continentals, until Lord Rawdon marched with 2,000 British troops to the relief of the post. Ninety-Six is one of the best preserved battle sites of the Revolution. Today, the National Park Service maintains a museum and extensive self-guiding trails throughout the official historical site. Ninety Six is in Greenwood County and is favored for its desirable school system.
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EVENTS |
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April- Lifeways of the Cherokee Indians and Colonial Settlers www.nps.gov/nisi. |
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Summer- Living History Saturdays- Held the 3rd Saturday of each month May through August. |
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October- Half Ironman Triathlon- http://www.set-upinc.com/rp5/schalf/schalf.shtml. |
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October- Autumn Candlelight Tour www.nps.gov/nisi. |
WARE SHOALS
Ware Shoals is named for its beautiful rambling water and rocky shoals that course the Saluda River through town. Enjoy the shoalside park! Ware Shoals is home to about 5000 residents and is also home to a nine-hole golf course. Ware Shoals is in Greenwood County.
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EVENTS |
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Late May - www.catfishfeastival.com. |
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Dec. – Annual Christmas Parade! |
WATERLOO
On the east/northeast side of the lake, Waterloo has rural residential areas with beautiful waterfront on Lake Greenwood and the Lake’s not-so-secret “Hidden Lake” branch. Waterloo also has the Rolling “S” Golf Course - a traditional 18-hole golf course considered a good challenge for the average golfer. Population is about 5000 and it’s 12 miles or so into Laurens, a 15-20 minute drive into Greenwood, and closer for groceries/gas. Waterloo was incorporated on December 4, 1885, and is part of Laurens County.
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