Greenville County, South Carolina

{{Short description|County in South Carolina, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Greenville County

| state = South Carolina

| seal = Greenville County Seal.jpg

| seat wl = Greenville

| largest city wl = Greenville

| city type = community

| area_total_sq_mi = 795.57

| area_land_sq_mi = 785.93

| area_water_sq_mi = 9.64

| area percentage = 1.21

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 525,534

| pop_est_as_of = 2024

| population_est = 570745 {{increase}}

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| coordinates = {{coord|34.89|-82.37|type:adm2nd_region:US-SC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}

| time zone = Eastern

| web = www.greenvillecounty.org

| ex image = Old Greenville County Courthouse 2017.jpg

| ex image cap = Old Greenville County Courthouse

| ex image size = 250px

| district = 3rd

| district2 = 4th

| leader_title = County Administrator

| leader_name = Joseph M. Kernell

| motto = "Unrivaled Quality Of Life"

| founded = 1786

| named for = Nathanael Greene

| logo = Greenville County logo.gif }}

Greenville County ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|r|iː|n|v|ɪ|l}} {{respell|GREEN|vil}}; locally {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|r|iː|n|v|əl}} {{respell|GREEN|vəl}}) is located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 525,534, making it the most populous county in the state. Its county seat is Greenville.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }} The county is also home to the Greenville County School District, the largest school system in South Carolina. Greenville County is the most populous county in Upstate South Carolina as well as the state. It is the central county of the Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is part of the Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC Combined Statistical Area.{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2023 |title=OMB Bulletin No. 23-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OMB-Bulletin-23-01.pdf |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=United States Office of Management and Budget}}

History

=18th and 19th centuries=

In 1786, due to population growth in Ninety-Six District and the victory of the American Whigs over the British and their colonial Tory and Cherokee allies, the state legislature formed Greenville County (originally spelled Greeneville), named for General Nathanael Greene,{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} VisitGreenvilleSC |url=https://www.visitgreenvillesc.com/about-greenville/all-about-greenville/history/ |access-date=June 11, 2022 |website=www.visitgreenvillesc.com}} the hero of the American southern campaign.{{cite web |url=https://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/greene.html |title=Historic Valley Forge: General Nathanael Greene |website=ushistory.org |year=2006 |orig-year=1954 |first=Charles William |last=Heathcote |access-date=February 7, 2022 }} Greenville County was the first county created in the overarching Ninety-Six District, but from 1791 to 1798, both neighboring Pendleton County (the other county formed from Cherokee territory in northwestern Ninety-Six District) and it were part of the new overarching Washington District. From 1798 to 1800, it was part of the short-lived overarching Pendleton District. In 1798, all counties were reidentified as "elective districts" to be effective on January 1, 1800; thereafter, the Greenville District was no longer part of Pendleton District. In 1868, the districts were converted back to counties.{{cite web |url=https://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/greenville_county_sc.html |website=Carolana.com |title=Greenville County, South Carolina |first=J.D. |last=Lewis |access-date= February 7, 2022}}{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} Greenville, SC - Official Website |url=https://www.greenvillesc.gov/178/History |access-date=June 11, 2022 |website=www.greenvillesc.gov}} After the Civil War ended in the 1860s, former slaves gained freedom, the textile industry grew quickly, and cotton farming expanded in the county. Completion of the Southern Railway in 1893 joined the local economy with the rest of the nation.{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/greenville-county/ |title=Greenville County |date=August 5, 2022 |encyclopedia=South Carolina Encyclopedia |first= A. V. Jr. |last=Huff |access-date=July 12, 2023 }}

=20th century=

The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad's consolidation into the 1900s further linked the county with the national economy, and dozens of textile companies opened, with farm workers migrating to associated mill villages. World War I and creation of the Army National Guard's Camp Sevier in Taylors further increased the county's outside connections in the early 20th century.{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/camp-sevier/ |title=Camp Sevier |date=July 20, 2022 |encyclopedia=South Carolina Encyclopedia |first=Samuel K. |last=Fore |access-date=July 12, 2023 }} Duke's Mayonnaise was started in Greenville in 1917 and still has its company headquarters in the county.{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/06/07/615596607/worth-the-whisk-how-the-woman-behind-dukes-mayo-became-a-tycoon |title=Worth The Whisk: How The Woman Behind Duke's Mayo Became A Tycoon |date=June 7, 2018 |work=National Public Radio |first1=Jarrett |last1=Dieterle |first2=Maria |last2=Ribas |access-date=July 13, 2023 }}

World War II brought additional contracts for the textile industry in the 1940s. After the war ended, agriculture decreased and business leaders such as Charles E. Daniel and Roger Milliken pursued other industries to replace textiles. Donaldson Air Force Base was converted into an industrial air park (now Donaldson Center Airport) in the early 1960s, and Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport opened then as well.

The 1960s brought gradual racial desegregation until the county's whole school district was integrated in January 1970. Interstate highways I-85, I-185, and I-385 first crossed the county in the 1960s, promoting growth and better economic placement. The mid-1960s reapportionment of state legislative representation into equal-population election districts brought political change, with metropolitan counties such as Greenville gaining influence over rural counties. Greenville County politicians were elected as state house and senate leaders and as state governors (Richard Riley and Carroll A. Campbell Jr.) in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

Geography

{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q502273|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Greenville County}}

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|795.57|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|785.93|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|9.64|sqmi}} (1.21%) is water.{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_45.txt |access-date=September 10, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

=State and local protected areas/sites=

{{See also|Category:Protected areas of Greenville County, South Carolina}}

  • Ashmore Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area{{Cite web |title=SCDNR Public Lands |url=https://www2.dnr.sc.gov/ManagedLands/ManagedLand/County |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=www2.dnr.sc.gov}}
  • Bald Rock Heritage Preserve
  • Belvue Springs Heritage Preserve
  • Blackwell Heritage Preserve
  • Blue Wall Preserve{{cite news |url=https://greenvillejournal.com/giving-matters/giving-matters-the-nature-conservancy-of-south-carolina-protects-treasured-landscapes-from-the-mountains-to-the-sea/ |title=Giving Matters: The Nature Conservancy of South Carolina protects treasured landscapes from the mountains to the sea |date=August 15, 2019 |newspaper=Greenville Journal |first=Rebecca |last=Howerton |access-date=July 18, 2022 }}
  • Bunched Arrowhead Heritage Preserve
  • Caesars Head/Jones Gap
  • Caesars Head State Park
  • Cedar Falls Park{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/life/2015/10/20/walk-cedar-falls-park-yields-unexpected-pleasures/74286888/ |title=A walk in Cedar Falls Park yields unexpected pleasures |date=October 20, 2015 |newspaper=Greenville News |first=Ann |last=Green |url-access=limited |access-date=July 18, 2022 }}
  • Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area
  • Clear Creek Heritage Preserve
  • Conestee Nature Preserve
  • Eva Russell Chandler Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area
  • Falls Park on the Reedy
  • Greenville Zoo
  • J. Verne Smith Park (Lake Robinson){{cite web |url=https://kiddingaroundgreenville.com/lake-robinson |title=Lake Robinson |date=June 12, 2017 |website=Kidding Around Greenville |first=Maria |last=Bassett |publisher=Bethany Winston |access-date=July 18, 2022 }}
  • Jones Gap State Park
  • Mills Mill
  • Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area{{Cite web |title=Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area |url=https://www.visitgreenvillesc.com/listing/mountain-bridge-wilderness-area/1407/ |access-date=July 21, 2022 |website=www.visitgreenvillesc.com |language=en-us}}
  • Paris Mountain State Park
  • Pleasant Valley Park{{cite web |url=https://greenvillerec.com/parks/pleasant-ridge-park/ |title=Pleasant Ridge Park |website=Greenville County Parks, Recreation & Tourism |access-date=July 18, 2022 }}
  • Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve
  • Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area
  • Upcountry History Museum
  • Watson-Cooper Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area

=Major water bodies=

=Adjacent counties=

{{div col}}

{{div col end}}

=Major highways=

{{columns-list|

  • {{Jct|state=SC|I|85}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|I|185|I-Toll|185|nolink2=yes}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|I|385}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|BS|385}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|US|25}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|US-Conn|25|dab1=Travelers Rest}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|US|29}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|US-Conn|29|dab1=Greenville}} (Greenville)
  • {{Jct|state=SC|US-Conn|29|dab1=Wade Hampton}} (Wade Hampton)
  • {{Jct|state=SC|US|123}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|US|276}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|US-Conn|276|dab1=Travelers Rest}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC|11}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC|14}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC-Truck|14|dab1=Greer}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC|20}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC|86}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC|101}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC-Truck|101|dab1=Greer}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC|124}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC|146}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC|183}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC|253}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC|288}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC|290}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC-Truck|290|dab1=Greer}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC|291}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC|417}}
  • {{Jct|state=SC|SC|418}}|colwidth=20em}}

=Major infrastructure=

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1790 = 6503

|1800 = 11504

|1810 = 13133

|1820 = 14530

|1830 = 16476

|1840 = 17839

|1850 = 20156

|1860 = 21892

|1870 = 22262

|1880 = 37496

|1890 = 44310

|1900 = 53490

|1910 = 68377

|1920 = 88498

|1930 = 117009

|1940 = 136580

|1950 = 168152

|1960 = 209776

|1970 = 240546

|1980 = 287913

|1990 = 320167

|2000 = 379616

|2010 = 451225

|2020 = 525534

|estyear=2024

|estimate=570745

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 17, 2015}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=March 17, 2015}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/sc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=March 17, 2015}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=March 17, 2015}} 2010{{cite web|title=Greenville County, South Carolina|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45045.html|website=US Census|access-date=April 15, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606130113/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45045.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}} 2020{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/greenvillecountysouthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Greenville County, South Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 8, 2024}}

}}

=2020 census=

class="wikitable"

|+Greenville County racial composition{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US45045&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 14, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

White (non-Hispanic)

|343,897

|65.44%

Black or African American (non-Hispanic)

|87,124

|16.58%

Native American

|893

|0.17%

Asian

|12,875

|2.45%

Pacific Islander

|398

|0.08%

Other/mixed

|22,322

|4.25%

Hispanic or Latino

|58,025

|11.04%

As of the 2020 census, 525,534 people, 199,551 households, and 130,296 families were residing in the county.

=2010 census=

At the 2000 census, 451,225 people, 176,531 households, and 119,362 families were residing in the county.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US45045|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data|access-date=March 9, 2016|publisher=United States Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213021327/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US45045|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45045.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606130113/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45045.html |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |access-date=March 17, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} The population density was {{convert|574.7|PD/sqmi}}. The 195,462 housing units had an average density of {{convert|249.0|/sqmi}}.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US45045|access-date=March 9, 2016|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County|publisher=United States Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191311/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US45045|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}} The racial makeup of the county was 73.8% White, 18.1% African American, 2.0% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 13.0% were American, 11.6% were German, 10.9% were English, and 10.7% were Irish.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US45045|title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=March 9, 2016|publisher=United States Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010753/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US45045|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}

Of the 176,531 households, 33.7% had children under 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.4% were not families, and 27.0% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.49, and the average family size was 3.03. The median age was 37.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,830 and for a family was $59,043. Males had a median income of $45,752 versus $33,429 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,931. About 10.8% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US45045|title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=March 9, 2016|publisher=United States Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020651/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US45045|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}

=Race and ethnicity=

class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"

|+ Greenville County Racial Breakdown of Population

Racial composition20102019
White73.8%76.3%
Black18.1%18.4%
Asian2.0%2.7%
Native American0.3%0.5%
Native Hawaiian and
other Pacific Islander
0.1%0.1%
Two or more races1.9%2.0%
Other3.8%0.0%

=Ancestry=

As of 2016, the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Greenville County were:{{Cite web |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/16_5YR/DP02/0500000US45045 |title=American FactFinder - Results |access-date=June 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213035859/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/16_5YR/DP02/0500000US45045 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}

class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"
AncestryPercent
(2016)
English {{flagicon|England}}12.9%
German {{flagicon|Germany}}11.0%
Irish {{flagicon|Ireland}}10.2%
American {{flagicon|United States}}9.9%
Scotch-Irish {{flagicon|Ulster}}3.1%
Italian {{flagicon|Italy}}3.1%
Scottish {{flagicon|Scotland}}2.9%
French {{flagicon|France}}2.2%
Polish {{flagicon|Poland}}1.5%
Dutch {{flagicon|Netherlands}}1.2%
Welsh {{flagicon|Wales}}0.7%
Swedish {{flagicon|Sweden}}0.7%
Norwegian {{flagicon|Norway}}0.6%

Government and politics

Greenville County is governed by a 12-member county council. The current county administrator is Joseph Kernell, whom the council appointed in January 2004 after voting in late 2003 to hire him. Kernell was previously the county administrator for St. Charles County, Missouri. Other staff hired by the council include a clerk and an attorney.{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/money/2019/01/30/greenville-county-ems-crisis-council-members-demand-transparency/2703803002/ |title=Greenville County Council wants to review county administrator's $280K annual contract |date=January 30, 2019 |newspaper=The Greenville News |first=Anna B. |last=Mitchell |access-date=June 3, 2019 |url-access=limited }}{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/Administrator/ |title=County Administrator |website=Greenville County, South Carolina |access-date=June 3, 2013 }}

Council members are elected by voters in each of the 12 state legislative districts (17–28) within the county and serve staggered four-year terms.{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/Council/ |title=County Council |website=Greenville County, South Carolina |access-date=June 3, 2021 }}

class="wikitable sortable" style="display: inline-table; margin: 2em;"

|+County Council members

DistrictName / party{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/VoterRegistration/pdf/2020Candidatefile.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.greenvillecounty.org/VoterRegistration/pdf/2020Candidatefile.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=Candidate filing for November 2020 |date=June 25, 2020 |website=Greenville County, South Carolina |access-date=June 3, 2021 }}{{cite news |url=http://greertoday.com/greer-sc/record-absentee-votes-recorded-as-polls-open-today/2018/11/06/ |title=Record absentee votes recorded as polls open today |date=November 6, 2018 |work=Greer Today |access-date=June 3, 2021 }}Home{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/Council/ContactInfo.aspx |title=County Council Member Information |website=Greenville County, South Carolina |access-date=June 3, 2021 }}Elected
style="text-align: center;"|17{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Joey|Russo|nolink=1}}Travelers Rest2022{{cite news |url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/2022/11/10/greenvilles-countys-new-council-leaders-ready-change/ |title=Greenville County's new council leaders, ready for change |date=November 9, 2022 |work=Fox Carolina |first=Kennedi |last=Harris |access-date=January 16, 2023 }}
style="text-align: center;"|18{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Kelly|Long|nolink=1}}Greer2024{{cite news |url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/2024/06/13/newly-elected-greenville-county-councilors-speak-after-3-incumbents-lose-re-election-bid/ |title=Newly elected Greenville County councilors speak, after 3 incumbents lose re-election bid |date=June 12, 2024 |website=Fox Carolina |first=Kennedi |last=Harris |access-date=January 27, 2025}}
style="text-align: center;"|19{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Benton|Blount|nolink=1}}Greenville2022
style="text-align: center;"|20{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Steve|Shaw|nolink=1}}Travelers Rest2020{{cite news |url=https://www.wspa.com/news/local-news/willis-meadows-elected-chair-of-greenville-county-council/ |title=Willis Meadows elected chair of Greenville County Council |date=January 5, 2021 |work=WSPA-TV |first=Anne |last=Maxwell |access-date=June 4, 2021 }}
style="text-align: center;"|21{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Curt|McGahhey|nolink=1}}Simpsonville2024
style="text-align: center;"|22{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Frank|Farmer|nolink=1}}Greenville2024{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/06/results-for-greenville-county-council-district-22-24-seats/75820934007/ |title=Results for Greenville County Council District 22, 24 seats; Farmer, Seman win |date=November 6, 2024 |newspaper=Greenville News |first=Terry II |last=Benjamin |access-date=January 27, 2025}}
style="text-align: center;"|23{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{sortname|Alan|Mitchell|nolink=1}}Greenville2022
style="text-align: center;"|24{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Liz|Seman|nolink=1}} (vice chair)Greenville2008{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/Council/CouncilMember.aspx?m=LizSeman |title=Liz Seman, District 24 |website=Greenville County, South Carolina |access-date=June 5, 2021 |quote=first elected in 2008 to represent District 24 }}
style="text-align: center;"|25{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{sortname|Ennis M.|Fant Jr.|nolink=1}}Greenville2016{{cite news |url=https://www.fitsnews.com/2019/05/17/greenville-county-sc-councilman-in-hot-water-over-taxes/ |title=Greenville County SC Councilman In Hot Water Over Taxes |date=May 17, 2019 |work=FITSNews |access-date=June 5, 2021 |quote=since returning to public life in 2016 }} (1984){{cite news |url=https://eu.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/05/29/three-greenville-county-council-districts-headed-primary-elections/84985406/ |title=Three Greenville County Council districts headed to primary elections |date=May 29, 2016 |newspaper=The Greenville News |first=Amanda |last=Coyne |access-date=June 5, 2021 |url-access=limited |quote=Fant served on Greenville County Council from 1984 to 1988 }}
style="text-align: center;"|26{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Rick|Bradley|nolink=1}}Pelzer2022
style="text-align: center;"|27{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Garey|Collins|nolink=1}}Simpsonville2024
style="text-align: center;"|28{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{sortname|Dan|Tripp|nolink=1}} (chair)Mauldin2018{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/Council/CouncilMember.aspx?m=DanTripp |title=Dan Tripp, District 28 |work=Greenville County, South Carolina |access-date=June 5, 2021 |quote=Tripp was elected in November of 2018 }}

{{Sticky header}}

{{PresHead|place=Greenville County, South Carolina|whig=no|source1={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 13, 2018}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|158,541|100,074|4,701|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|150,021|103,030|5,104|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|127,832|74,483|12,850|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|121,685|68,070|3,434|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|116,363|70,886|3,408|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|111,481|55,347|2,005|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|92,714|43,810|3,769|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|71,210|41,605|7,605|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|65,066|34,651|14,190|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|67,371|27,188|567|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|66,766|24,137|466|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|46,168|32,135|2,112|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|39,099|35,943|939|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|46,360|10,143|1,726|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|31,652|12,928|15,241|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1964|Republican|29,358|17,275|0|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|22,657|13,976|0|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|10,752|11,819|4,622|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|17,743|14,863|0|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|789|2,745|5,940|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|711|7,107|276|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|514|8,118|0|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|92|8,310|0|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|126|7,930|2|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|546|4,116|2|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|59|3,728|42|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|144|4,409|0|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|81|3,384|36|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|0|3,140|55|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|176|2,774|35|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|66|2,489|0|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|47|1,777|0|South Carolina}}

{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|288|2,718|35|South Carolina}}

{{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|600|3,026|60|South Carolina}}

From the latter half of the 20th century onward, Greenville County has voted overwhelmingly Republican in presidential elections. It has gone Republican in every presidential election since 1960, and in all but one election since 1952. Jimmy Carter of neighboring Georgia failed to win the county in 1976 despite winning the state. Carter's 1976 run is the last time a Democrat received 40% or more of the county's vote, and one of only two official Democratic candidates to do so since 1948. In 2020, Joe Biden became the first Democrat to obtain over 100,000 votes in the county, and Donald Trump's 18.2% margin of victory was the lowest for any Republican since 1980. Biden came within 320 votes of being only the second Democrat in 72 years to win 40% of the county's vote.

The county also rejects Democrats at the state level; it was one of the first areas of the state where Republicans were able to break the long Democratic monopoly on state and local offices.

= Law enforcement =

When Greenville County was formed in 1786, it was served by the sheriff of the Ninety Six District. A Washington District, including Greenville and Pendleton Counties, existed from 1791 to 1799. (Pendleton was split in 1826 into Pickens and Anderson Counties.) One of the district's first sheriffs, Revolutionary War hero Robert Maxwell, served from 1795 to 1797, when he was killed in an ambush.{{cite web |url=http://www.gcso.org/history.php |title=History |website=Greenville County Sheriff's Office |access-date=May 28, 2021 |archive-date=January 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118180626/http://www.gcso.org/history.php |url-status=dead }}

Sheriffs in South Carolina were originally elected by the state legislature. In 1808, a law was enacted to provide for the election of the sheriff directly by the citizens of the county, rather than by politicians. This method of election was placed into the South Carolina State Constitution in 1868 and the Office of Sheriff in Greenville County began.

In 2017, Sheriff Will Lewis was suspended by Governor Henry McMaster for misconduct, perjury, and obstruction of justice. These charges came out of a sexual assault lawsuit filed by Lewis' female assistant. Although the sheriff said the relationship was consensual, he settled the claim for an undisclosed sum.{{cite news |last1=LaFleur |first1=Elizabeth |title=Grand jury indicts suspended Greenville Sheriff Will Lewis on 2 new criminal charges |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/02/19/greenville-sheriff-will-lewis/2917597002/ |access-date=March 18, 2019 |publisher=Greenville News |date=February 19, 2019}} Lewis was found guilty in 2019 and sentenced to a year of prison, although he did not begin his sentence until October 2021.{{Cite web|last=Gross|first=Daniel J.|title=Former Greenville sheriff fears prison violence after SC court denies rehearing|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2021/10/13/former-greenville-sheriff-lewis-heads-prison-court-ruling-appeal/8436221002/|access-date=November 9, 2021|website=The Greenville News|language=en-US}}

{{As of|2021}}, the sheriff of Greenville County is Hobart Lewis. The sheriff's office includes five divisions: Administrative Services, Community Services, Uniform Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and Judicial Services.{{Cite web|title=Greenville County Sheriff's Office {{!}} Greenville County SC|url=http://www.gcso.org/|access-date=November 9, 2021|website=www.gcso.org}}

As of 2025, 17 officers of the Greenville County Sheriff's Office have been killed in the line of duty.{{Cite web |title=Greenville County Sheriff's Office, South Carolina, Fallen Officers |url=https://www.odmp.org/agency/1509-greenville-county-sheriffs-office-south-carolina |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)}}

Economy

CommunityWorks Federal Credit Union was chartered in 2014 to serve the residents of Greenville County. It is sponsored by CommunityWorks, Inc., a nonprofit community-development financial institution, and receives assistance from the United Way of Greenville County and the Hollingsworth Fund.{{cite news|last=Birch|first=Ray|title=CommunityWorks FCU Is First New CU Charter Of The Year|url=http://www.cujournal.com/news/communityworks-fcu-is-first-new-cu-charter-of-the-year-1022397-1.html?ET=cujournal%3Ae95261%3Aa%3A&st=email|access-date=April 3, 2014|newspaper=Credit Union Journal|date=April 3, 2014}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 2022, the GDP of Greenville County was $40.6 billion (approx. $72,712 per capita).{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |date=2001-01-01 |title=Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Greenville County, SC |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDPALL45045 |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}} In chained 2017 dollars, it had a real GDP of $34.3 billion (approx. $61,507 per capita).{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |date=2001-01-01 |title=Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Greenville County, SC |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/REALGDPALL45045 |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}} From 2022 through 2024, the unemployment rate has fluctuated between 2.1-3.3% within the county.{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |date=1990-01-01 |title=Unemployment Rate in Greenville County, SC |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SCGREE5URN |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}

Some of the largest employers in the county include Bon Secours, Charter Communications, GE Vernova, Lockheed Martin, Michelin, Prisma Health, Publix, TD Bank, the United States Postal Service, and Walmart.{{Cite journal |date=April 19, 2024 |title=Greenville County |url=https://lmi.dew.sc.gov/lmi%20site/Documents/CommunityProfiles/04000045.pdf |journal=Community Profiles |publisher=S.C. Department of Employment & Workforce - Business Intelligence Department |publication-place=Columbia, SC |issue=4000045}}

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Greenville County, South Carolina

! style="text-align:left;" | Industry

! style="text-align:right;" | Employment Counts

! style="text-align:right;" | Employment Percentage (%)

! style="text-align:right;" | Average Annual Wage ($)

style="text-align:left;" | Accommodation and Food Servicesstyle="text-align:right;" | 27,980style="text-align:right;" | 9.6style="text-align:right;" | 23,920
style="text-align:left;" | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Servicesstyle="text-align:right;" | 28,877style="text-align:right;" | 9.9style="text-align:right;" | 42,848
style="text-align:left;" | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Huntingstyle="text-align:right;" | 210style="text-align:right;" | 0.1style="text-align:right;" | 37,960
style="text-align:left;" | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreationstyle="text-align:right;" | 5,632style="text-align:right;" | 1.9style="text-align:right;" | 22,516
style="text-align:left;" | Constructionstyle="text-align:right;" | 15,291style="text-align:right;" | 5.2style="text-align:right;" | 77,896
style="text-align:left;" | Educational Servicesstyle="text-align:right;" | 18,844style="text-align:right;" | 6.4style="text-align:right;" | 51,168
style="text-align:left;" | Finance and Insurancestyle="text-align:right;" | 12,361style="text-align:right;" | 4.2style="text-align:right;" | 80,756
style="text-align:left;" | Health Care and Social Assistancestyle="text-align:right;" | 43,180style="text-align:right;" | 14.8style="text-align:right;" | 67,756
style="text-align:left;" | Informationstyle="text-align:right;" | 4,850style="text-align:right;" | 1.7style="text-align:right;" | 73,684
style="text-align:left;" | Management of Companies and Enterprisesstyle="text-align:right;" | 6,100style="text-align:right;" | 2.1style="text-align:right;" | 93,548
style="text-align:left;" | Manufacturingstyle="text-align:right;" | 31,693style="text-align:right;" | 10.8style="text-align:right;" | 71,708
style="text-align:left;" | Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extractionstyle="text-align:right;" | 81style="text-align:right;" | 0.0style="text-align:right;" | 87,256
style="text-align:left;" | Other Services (except Public Administration)style="text-align:right;" | 7,077style="text-align:right;" | 2.4style="text-align:right;" | 46,540
style="text-align:left;" | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Servicesstyle="text-align:right;" | 21,485style="text-align:right;" | 7.3style="text-align:right;" | 87,308
style="text-align:left;" | Public Administrationstyle="text-align:right;" | 7,535style="text-align:right;" | 2.6style="text-align:right;" | 57,616
style="text-align:left;" | Real Estate and Rental and Leasingstyle="text-align:right;" | 4,143style="text-align:right;" | 1.4style="text-align:right;" | 58,500
style="text-align:left;" | Retail Tradestyle="text-align:right;" | 30,485style="text-align:right;" | 10.4style="text-align:right;" | 38,584
style="text-align:left;" | Transportation and Warehousingstyle="text-align:right;" | 11,422style="text-align:right;" | 3.9style="text-align:right;" | 59,436
style="text-align:left;" | Utilitiesstyle="text-align:right;" | 890style="text-align:right;" | 0.3style="text-align:right;" | 71,760
style="text-align:left;" | Wholesale Tradestyle="text-align:right;" | 14,230style="text-align:right;" | 4.9style="text-align:right;" | 83,096
style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" | Totalstyle="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | 292,366style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | 100.0%style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | 59,212

Education

School districts serving the county include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45045_greenville/DC20SD_C45045.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45045_greenville/DC20SD_C45045.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 Census – School District Reference Map: Greenville County, SC|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=August 1, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45045_greenville/DC20SD_C45045_SD2MS.txt Text list]

Additionally, Greenville County has numerous public charter schools that are free to state residents.{{cite web |url=https://sccharter.org/schools/ |title=Schools |website=South Carolina Public Charter School District |access-date=October 2, 2022 }}{{cite web |url=https://erskinecharters.org/our-schools/ |title=Our Schools |website=Charter Institute at Erskine |access-date=October 2, 2022 }}

The Greenville County Library System includes 11 libraries that provide meeting spaces, programs, books and other educational resources for county residents.{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/AnswerBook/Library.aspx |title=The Greenville County Library System |website=Greenville County |access-date=November 21, 2023 }} The library system is managed by a board of trustees whose 11 members serve 4-year terms after appointment by the county council. Terms expire at the end of November in odd-numbered years, with half expiring every two years.{{cite web |url=https://www.greenvillecounty.org/apps/countycouncilboard/BoardDetails.aspx?id=67 |title=Library Board of Trustees |website=Greenville County |access-date=November 21, 2023 }} In October 2023, after some prior controversy, the library board voted to remove all themed displays from its facilities except those pertaining to paid holidays.{{cite news |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/greenville/2023/10/23/greenville-county-library-board-votes-to-remove-displays-amid-controversy-sc-pride-lgbtq-rights/71294644007/ |title=Greenville County Library Board votes 6-4 to remove displays unless concerning 'paid holidays' |date=October 24, 2023 |newspaper=Greenville News |first= Savannah |last=Moss |access-date=November 21, 2023 }}

Healthcare

The Greenville Memorial Hospital was formerly operated by the municipal government, with Greenville Health System being the operating authority.{{cite web|url=https://www.greenvillehealthauthority.org/|title=Home|publisher=Greenville Health Authority|access-date=November 20, 2021}} In 2016, Prisma Health began leasing the hospital and directly operating.{{cite web|last=Navarro|first=Marcus|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/health/2021/04/21/greenville-lawmakers-more-proactive-health-authority-prisma-health/7059719002/|title=Greenville lawmakers want a more "proactive" Health Authority|newspaper=Greenville News|date=April 21, 2021|access-date=October 7, 2021}} The GHA is the portion of the Greenville Health System that still existed after the hospital transitioned into being operated by Prisma. The Greenville Health Authority (GHA) is the owner of the hospital facilities operated by Prisma. Members of the South Carolina Legislature select a majority of the seats of the board of directors of the GHA.{{cite web|last=Mitchell|first=Anna B.|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/business/greenville-health-authority-removes-prisma-linked-president-as-hospital-lease-review-nears/article_7c66fe7a-72e4-11eb-917a-ef2dab28c315.html|title=Greenville Health Authority removes Prisma-linked president as hospital lease review nears|newspaper=Post and Courier|date=February 21, 2021|access-date=November 20, 2021|quote=The changes are significant in that the GHA board owns the facilities from which Prisma runs healthcare in the Upstate.}}

Communities

In the past, Greenville County was partitioned into townships.[https://sites.rootsweb.com/~sccgpss/townships.html Rootsweb: South Carolina Townships – Greenville County.] Accessed February 8, 2022. Their former names and boundaries were used for United States census counting purposes and census documentation through 1960, after which census counting divisions were used. The 2010 Census lists six cities and 16 census designated places that are fully or partially within Greenville County.See http://factfinder.census.gov {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212221153/http://factfinder.census.gov/main.html|date=February 12, 2020}} [https://www.census.gov] [https://www.census.gov] for population numbers and for municipality and CDP lists in the 2010 Census.

=Cities=

=Census-designated places=

=Other unincorporated communities=

See also

References

{{reflist|30em}}