Greenville County, South Carolina’s most populous county, lies in the Upstate. Two popular opinions exist on the origin of the name of Greenville County and its county seat: Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene or area local Isaac Green.
Cherokee Indians lived in the area first, but they eventually gave up control of the land to South Carolina in a 1777 treaty. After the signing of this treaty, a fair number of Scotch-Irish and English settlers came to the region. Soon after, in 1786, Greenville District was founded. However, this district existed within the Washington District from 1791 to 1800.
Although historically a vacation area for coastal South Carolina planters, the county’s rivers powered the majority of the county’s early economy. The river gave rise to iron works, cotton mills, and Greenville’s textile industry. From the Reconstruction Era until the late 20th century, the textile industry defined Greenville County’s economy, at one point so much so that the county earned the title of “Textile Capital of the World.”
Modern Greenville County’s economy has transitioned away from textiles. Over the last few decades the county has been the answer for many corporations wondering where to relocate. Greenville County’s economy now centers around technology, manufacturing, engineering, and business.
History of Greenville County. Accessed June 03, 2016.
http://www.greenvillecounty.org/
South Carolina Counties by Population. Accessed June 08, 2016.
ttp://www.southcarolina-demographics.com/counties_by_population
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An unidentified boy rides a motorcycle delivery vehicle for Scurry Nixon in Greenville, 1932. Photo by Elrod. Courtesy of the Greenville County Historical Society.
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Main Street in Greenville in the 1920s was busy with street car traffic as well as automobiles. Courtesy of the Greenville County Historical Society.
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This aerial photograph of downtown Greenville shows the C&WC Railroad building and tracks. Courtesy of the Greenville County Historical Society.
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The Southern Railway yard in Greenville County, around 1911. Courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library.
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Mailmen depended on horse and buggy for efficient delivery of the mail. Here, the Greenville mail buggies line up in front of Marchant's Pharmacy around 1918. Courtesy of the Greenville County...
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Mrs. D.W. Jones advertised her photographic studio in Greenville on this small card that she distributed in 1868. Courtesy of the Greenville County Historical Society.
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Falling water remained an important source of power for the growing textile industry in South Carolina in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here the Saluda River Dam in Greenville harnesses the...
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The Fairfield Cotton Mill, built in 1898, expanded its operation with the construction of this new building in 1918. The original owners sold the plant to Hampton Cotton Mills of Greenville in 1912...
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The Woodside Cotton Mill in Greenville boasted in this 1913 postcard view that it was the largest complete cotton mill under one roof in America. The trolley brought mill operatives directly to the...
