From Wikitravel

Spartanburg is a county in Upcountry South Carolina.

[edit] Understand

Life’s pretty great in Spartanburg. Melding into a community that’s both rooted in the past and excited about the future. Back in the 19th century, Spartanburg was dubbed the Hub City because it was a railroad center. Today it is the center of so much more – an arts revival, historic preservation, becoming an active lifestyle city – the list goes on.

Upon first glance, you’ll see that Spartanburg is a beautiful city with southern charm. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, our moderate climate encourages year-round tourism. History buffs enjoy Cowpens National Battlefield, which marks the site where Gen. Daniel Morgan’s troops defeated the British. Spartanburg is the home to international businesses like BMW Manufacturing Corporation, Milliken & Co., QS/I, Extended Stay America and Denny’s Corporation. Population in Spartanburg: City: 39,407 County: 265,790

[edit] Overview

Interesting Spartanburg Facts…..

• Mean Green household cleaners were invented in Spartanburg.
  

  

  BMW
• BMW manufacturing plant, the only North American plant for the German automaker, is located in Spartanburg County.
• Celia Weston, a native of Spartanburg, has starred in more than 40 productions, including movies, Broadway productions and television.
• Marshall Tucker Band is a Southern rock band from Spartanburg. The original band got its start in the early 1970s and featured Doug Gray, Tommy Caldwell, Toy Caldwell, Paul T. Riddle, George McCorkle and Jerry Eubanks. They borrowed the name Marshall Tucker from a piano tuner whose name was found on a key ring in their old rehearsal space. The band has made 27 albums and numerous hit songs.
• Gen. William Westmoreland (March 26, 1914-July 18, 2005) was a Spartanburg native. He was a U.S. Army general who commanded military operations in the Vietnam War at its peak from 1964 to 1968 and served as U.S. Army Chief of Staff from 1968 to 1972.
• Stephen Davis, a running back in the National Football League and former Spartanburg High School football star, is a native of Spartanburg.
• Lee Haney is a former American IFBB professional bodybuilder, most famous for holding the current joint world record for the most Mr. Olympia titles (eight times from 1984 to 1991). He is a native of Spartanburg County.
• David Pearson, a former NASCAR Winston Cup Champion in 1966, 1968 and 1969, is a native of Whitney, Spartanburg County.
• Ryan Sims, a defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL, is a native of Spartanburg.
• "Sleeping with the Enemy," made in 1991 and starring Julia Roberts and Patrick Bergin, was filmed in Clinton, Spartanburg and Abbeville.
• WSPA was the first TV station in SC. Spartanburg Downtown Airport was the first airport in SC. Luck Lindy (Charles Lindbergh) flew in here.

[edit] Climate

Climate	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Daily highs (°F)	54.1	58.9	66.9	75.5	81.7	87.4	91.1	89.5	84.2	75.2	65.2	56.3
Nightly lows (°F)	30.1	32.1	38.4	44.8	54.5	62.8	67.5	66.8	60.2	46.9	38.1	32.0
Precipitation (in)	4.89	4.32	5.19	3.51	4.13	4.20	3.93	3.84	3.79	3.97	3.79	4.39
SPARTANBURG 3 SSE Weather station, 3.48 miles from Spartanburg

Spartanburg, SC Weather Facts

• On average, the warmest month is July.
• The highest recorded temperature was 106°F in 1986.
• On average, the coolest month is January.
• The lowest recorded temperature was -5°F in 1985.
• The maximum average precipitation occurs in March.

Spartanburg is not as well equipped for snow and ice as more northerly cities; significant accumulations of snow (more than 2cm) or ice on the roads can disrupt activity city-wide. Usually, this includes the closing of local businesses and schools, and happens about once a year on average. Spartanburg's inland location usually protects it from being hit directly from Atlantic hurricanes, though it often receives heavy rains due to passing tropical systems.

[edit] History

A treaty struck with the Cherokee Indian nation in 1753 opened SC’s frontier to settlers. The county has a proude Revolutionary war heritage, boasting more engagement sites than practically any locale in the US. After capturing Charleston in 1780, the Redcoats might have secured victory had they not so savagely violated their own terms for surrender. Subjected to slaughter, torture and humiliation, the rebel patriots fought back with a vengeance. The Spartanburg area saw six engagements in four weeks, beginning in July with the Battle of Cedar Springs. The battles of Gowen’s Fort, Earle’s Ford and Fort Prince immediately followed, leading to a second battle at Cedar Spring and the Battle of Musgrove Mill. Two critical engagements altered the course of the war. At the Battle of King’s Mountain 160 loyalists were killed and 760 taken prisoner. Three months later, the American’s led by General Daniel Morgan, trounced their British opponents in the monumental Battle of Cowpens. Following the fighting, more settlements grew up in the area nad the new district began to form its own government. A new courthouse was built in the middle of the county and the town of Spartanburg was born, named after the Spartanburg Reginment formed at the beginning of the war. The town incorporated in 1831, and the city’s industry was flourishing by the middle of the century. It became known as “Hub City” because it’s many railroads gave it a look of a wheel hub on maps. Major textile expansion began in 1877 and between 1880 and 1910, industrialists built nearly 40 textile mills in the area and, at one time, the county boasted over a half-million spindles. World War I hit and over 4,000 of the city’s natives served, nearly 2,897 of whom were drafted. Over 100,000 men from across the country trained at Camp Wadsworth, west of the city. During the second World War, over 200,000 soldiers were trained at Camp Croft, just south of the city, while 18,000 of the county’s men served in battle. The camp’s $2.5 million-payroll further strengthened Spartanburg’s economy. The end of WWII marked the slow decline of the mill village as rising wages and the auto-boom of the 1950s spread Spartanburg residents throughout the city. By the end of the decade, mill society was pretty much history. In the 1970s, a new economic boom arrived in the form of international industry taking us into the 21st century.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Spartanburg is served by two airports: The Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport (SPA) and the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP). Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is located in Upstate South Carolina, midway between the cities of Greenville and Spartanburg on I-85 (Exit 57). GSP has grown into one of the finest airports in the country, steadily meeting the Upstate’s ever-increasing needs.

[edit] By train

Downtown Spartanburg hosts an Amtrak terminal at 290 Magnolia Street.

[edit] By car

Two major Interstate Highways intersect a short distance from Spartanburg, making highway travel into the city quite easy. Interstate 85 and the Business 85 Loop run on an east-west axis along the northern edge of the city and Interstate 26 runs on a north-south axis to the west of the city. Major U.S. Highways 29 and 221 also run through the heart of the city.

[edit] By bus

A Greyhound Bus terminal is located at 100 North Liberty Street.

[edit] Get around

[edit] By car

Downtown traffic can stop-and-go, but is far more convenient than in years past due to a recently renovated Morgan Square. Downtown bypasses such as Daniel Morgan Avenue and St. John Street make the traffic flow easier as well.

[edit] By bus

Spartanburg is serviced by an efficient public transportation system called SPARTA. [1]

[edit] By bike

There are a lot of beautiful bike tours and routes. Please visit the following homepages for details and recommendations. [2], [3], [4]. Additionally, Spartanburg has a lot of bike lanes and bike-friendly roads. Please see the homepage of Partners for Active Living. This is a community-based initiative in Spartanburg. [5]. Since the spring of 2006, cyclists of all ages and abilities converge downtown every Friday at noon to take part in an easy-going, end-of-the-workweek bike ride.Meeting place: Mary Black Foundation Offices 349 E. Main Street Suite 100 Bring your bicycle and helmet Bike ride leaves at 12:15 The ride follows the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail to the Duncan Park neighborhood, where each pearson can take as many or as few laps around the 3-mile loop as they choose. Total distance is generally 8 to 12 miles, riding as the pace of the slowest rider. The group returns along the trail together and is back by 1:00 p.m.

[edit] By foot

There are a lot of walking routes in Spartanburg. Please see [6] for details.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Museums

• The Chapman Cultural Center, owned and operated by The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg, is the community's preeminent common ground where the people of Spartanburg County and its visitors come together to discover, experience, and celebrate the performing and visual arts, science and history.

[edit] Theater

• The Showroom, the home of Hub-Bub [7] and The Hub City Writers Project [8], is a center for progressive arts in the community. It houses a gallery, film screen, stage, and concert venue and is home to a nationally-recognized artist residency program. Hub-Bub is the creative effort responsible for the founding of The Showroom and, as a project goal, seeks to attract and retain creative talent in the community. The Hub City Writers Project began the Hub-Bub project and serves the community as a local publishing company.

[edit] Historic Attractions

• Walnut Grove Plantation, an 18th-century farmhouse, has been diligently preserved by the Spartanburg County Historical Association. It lies south of Spartanburg near the town of Roebuck and is open to the public for tours as well as during annual festivals.

• The Seay House, another 18th-century home, is a better representative of the typical pioneer home. Its single stone fireplace and simple construction were common traits associated with farmsteads from this period.

• The Price House, the third 18th-century home maintained by the Historical Association, is unique. Its sturdy Flemish-bond brick construction and three stories are less widespread for this area. By carefully examining the original inventory lists of the house, the Historical Association has been able to retrieve period pieces that approximate the original contents of the house.

• Morgan Square, the city's primary downtown hub, is the original courthouse village. It was founded adjacent to a small spring (now underground) on the western slope of a ridge. The oldest existing buildings on the square date to the 1880s. It is now a thriving center for daytime commerce as well as nightlife.

• The Magnolia Street Train Depot is one of the older buildings in the city and stands as a reminder of Spartanburg's old nickname "the Hub City", referring to the many transportation routes that connected Spartanburg with cities throughout the region. It is now the home of the Amtrak station, the Visitor’s Bureau and the Hub City Farmers Market.

• Glendale Mill is located off of Lawson's Fork Creek southeast of the city. Although gutted by fire several years ago, a few towers and smokestacks remain, providing a dramatic backdrop to the dam, shoals and waterfalls of the creek below.

• Beaumont Mill is located just north of downtown and has recently been renovated to house the Southern Conference headquarters.

• Converse Mill is located to the east of the city along the Pacolet River and has recently been purchased by a developer whose exact plans for the site have yet to be revealed. The mill was reconstructed in 1903 after a huge flood washed away the original mill.

[edit] Other Attractions

• Lawson's Fork Creek, a tributary of the Pacolet River, was once known for its plentiful wildlife and crystal clear waters. Parks and woodlands line much of its banks (which lie entirely in Spartanburg county) and rocky shoals and natural waterfalls can be found throughout its course. It stretches from the northern end of the county to the southern end, where it empties into the Pacolet.

• The Cottonwood Trail, a walking trail that runs along Lawson's Fork, remains home to much of the wildlife for which this entire area was once known. The trail includes picnic areas, a raised path over an extensive wetlands area and sporadic sandy banks. It is used frequently by cyclists, joggers and walkers and is located just east of downtown.

• Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve is located in the midst of an urban environment, but is a welcome oasis of natural beauty. The pet project of a retired social activist, Hatcher Garden has been transformed from an eroding gully into a thick woods and flower garden and serves as a haven for birds and other wildlife.

• The Spartanburg County Public Library Headquarters [9], housed in an innovative building on South Church Street is home to a voluminous collection of fiction, nonfiction, children’s literature, A/V materials and items relating to local history and genealogy. Additionally, the library hosts many meetings, concerts and presentations.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Sports

[edit] Music

[edit] Entertainment

[edit] Memorial Auditorium

The Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium dubbed the Showplace of the South when it opened in the 1950’s, has built a reputation for bringing some of the biggest names in the entertainment to Spartanburg. However, the facility has also served as headquarters to thousands of major corporate events, conventions, trade and consumer shows, banquets, and other events as a partner to the region’s business community. [10]

[edit] Market

[edit] Hub City Farmers' Market

The Markets are open air, seasonal markets. All of our markets are producer-only markets, meaning everything sold is grown or produced by the person selling it.The Saturday market is open May 9th - October 31st 8:00pm - noon at 298 Magnolia Street (Train Station) The Wednesday market is open Mid June - October at Dunbar Street, Morgan Square 3:00pm - 6:00pm

[edit] Parks

[edit] Hollywild Animal Park

The Hollywild Animal Park, 2325 Hampton Rd., Inman-864-472-2038, [11] is a 100-acre animal park that features hundreds of exotic animals, “Outback Safari” rides, feeding stations, concessions and more. Deriving its name from the fact that many of its inhabitants have appeared in movies, TV commercials or posed as cartoonists’ models, a trip to Hollywild always proves to be both interactive and educational.

[edit] Hatcher Garden

Hatcher Garden, 820 John B. White Sr. Blvd., Spartanburg-864-574-7724-, [12] is a 10-acre public botanical garden and woodland preserve open 365 days a year during daylight hours with no admission fee. The Garden features a series of ponds, walking trails, plantings of annuals, perennials and shrubs, a native woodland of mixed hardwoods, and a diverse population of wildlife. The Garden’s tree collection consists of over 1,200 specimens representing over 100 species. Our mission is to provide a place where the public can come for inspiration, enjoyment, and education through the study of nature. Activities include a self-guided tour of the garden, plant identification and wildlife observation with facilities for picnics and nature studies.

[edit] The Visual and Performing Arts

[edit] Chapman Cultural Center

The Chapman Cultural Center, owned and operated by The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg, is the community's preeminent common ground where the people of Spartanburg County and its visitors come together to discover, experience, and celebrate the performing and visual arts, science and history.

[edit] HUB-BUB

The HUB-BUB offers more than 100 nights of art, culture and entertainment a year in the Showroom Gallery and Performance Hall. There are concerts, progressive art exhibits, film, experimental theatre, workshops, community forums and a lot more. HUB-BUB also hosts one of the nation's most innovative Artist-in-Residence programs. Emerging young artists come to HUB-BUB from all over the country to live upstairs, make their art, and interact with Spartanburg in inventive ways. HUB-BUB is a program of HubCulture, a non-profit organization building community through dynamic art and ideas. [13]

• Converse College [14] is a nationally known four-year liberal arts institution recognized for its strong music and visual art programs. It hosts events open to the community throughout the year.

• Wofford College [15] is a similarly prestigious liberal arts college with particularly strong theatre and creative writing departments.

[edit] Annual Events

[edit] Festivals

[edit] Spring Fling

Spring Fling, one of the Upstate’s largest outdoor street festivals, is always the first weekend in May. Thousands of people converge on Downtown Spartanburg for a weekend of fun.[16]

[edit] Spartanburg International Festival

The Spartanburg International Festival is held each fall in beautiful Barnet Park. More than 8,000 people attend to celebrate and explore the world through food, music, dance, folk art and more.

Since 2007 a country has been selected by International Cultures of Spartanburg to be the host country for the International Festival. The culture of the host country is represented in various ways throughout the festival and on this website. Past recipients include Germany (2007) and China (2008).[17]

[edit] Others

[edit] Martin Luther King Unity Celebration

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Celebration started over a decade ago with just a group of people gathering around the flagpole outside of City Hall to reflect on the words and purpose of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. To date this "Celebration" has grown to over 3000 strong with an annual gathering at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. People from more than 60 countries reside in Spartanburg, South Carolina and more than 100 international businesses make Spartanburg their home. In 1985 the City of Spartanburg hosted its first International Festival to celebrate Spartanburg's diverse community, today the International Festival has expanded its International connection to reach a more global audience attendance.

[edit] Panther Training Camp

The Carolina Panthers Training Camp [18] is held at Wofford College each July-August, enabling fans to enjoy NFL football up close and personal. The Panthers roar into Spartanburg every summer with all practice sessions free and open to the public. Special events are planned each year in conjunction with the training camp.

[edit] Bike Month Celebration

In 2005, Mayor William Barnet, III declared May as Spartanburg's official "Bike Month." Since then, the City of Spartanburg has celebrated Bike Month each year with special community events and programs.

[edit] Learn

[edit] Schools

[edit] South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind

The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind (SCSDB) is a specialized instructional and resource center. It provides services statewide for individuals who are deaf, blind or sensory multidisabled (children and adults), their families and the professionals who work with them. SCSDB offers programs for preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, sensory multidisabled, and vocational educational students, as well as a variety of outreach and support services. The main campus is in Spartanburg, and regional centers are located throughout the state.[19]

[edit] Colleges

[edit] Converse College

[edit] Spartanburg Community College

Spartanburg Community College is a public, suburban, two-year comprehensive, open-admission institution of higher education serving the citizens of the upstate counties of Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union in South Carolina. The College advances economic development of the region through programs, services and partnerships that address emerging and continuing employment needs in a rapidly changing global environment. Through excellence in teaching and learning, the College promotes lifelong learning and helps students reach their personal and professional goals.[20]

[edit] Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic

[edit] Spartanburg Methodist College

[edit] Univerity of South Carolina Upstate

[edit] Wofford College

[edit][add listing] Eat

Spartanburg has a wide range of dining options, from soul food to Asian fusion. Most of the innovative options are located in and around downtown, although some of the best eateries are located in odd corners of the county.

• Venus Pie Pizza, 400 E Main St, Spartanburg, SC. Delicious, low cost, non-chain pizzaria serves oversized thin-crust slices, calzones, cheese bread, and more. The inside is a little run-down, but it's clean and has a certain integrity to it. not to mention for a classic slice, it's much better and cheaper then the mellow mushroom 2 doors over (but doesn't have as many specialty pizzas).  edit
• The Beacon Drive-In, “world famous” for its greasy a-plenty platters and very sweet tea, this restaurant is more of an institution than a greasy spoon. It is said to be the world’s largest seller of iced tea. Be prepared in advance so that J.C. doesn’t have to wait to call your order. “Walk and talk!”
• Wade’s Restaurant started off as a roadside barbeque joint but has evolved into a country-cooking mecca. No one can beat their yeast rolls and for “greasy greens” they are the best place this side of momma’s kitchen. Avoid on holidays and Wednesday nights unless you want to wait outside.
• Wasabi Sushi is on the complete other end of the spectrum. Fresh, tasty and reasonably priced, Wasabi has a wide variety of genuinely tasty Japanese dishes. Don’t skip the appetizers, they’re really good and they help make the sushi worth the wait.
• Monsoon Noodle House and Lime Leaf, both located on Morgan Square, are both home to some wonderful Asian fusion dishes. Lime Leaf has a Thai focus but doesn’t stop there and Monsoon is all over the spectrum. Stay late for drinks at Lime Leaf.
• Papa’s Breakfast Nook is Spartanburg’s very own 24-hour “breakfast and more” diner. Although the “more” can sometimes hit the spot, the breakfast side of the menu takes the pancake. Make sure to at least consider the Pecan Pancakes and the Trashcan Omelet, but really it’s all good. The home fries are delicious!

[edit][add listing] Drink

Spartanburg has a number of great watering holes that can suit any taste.

• Z Place is unique in Spartanburg for its selection of delicious teas. Located on Morgan Square, make sure to wander into the back for the tea bar (the front is a boutique). Look into the bubble teas and don’t be afraid to try the exotic hot teas. Keep an eye out for vegetarian dishes too.
• Interlude is another downtown coffee house and offers a wide variety of coffees and desserts.
• The Nu-Way Lounge is a mainstay for a certain crowd of Spartans, who go there for the cheap beer, fried food and eclectic music. As the oldest bar in Spartanburg, it has a following and a certain down-home cheep-wood-veneer flair.
• Delaney’s Irish Pub has some of the best local brews around and serves a good sandwich to boot. It’s located on Morgan Square
• Wild Wing Café, another Morgan Square restaurant and bar, frequently has bands playing into the wee hours of the morning and good drink specials.
• Carriage House Wines offers an alternative to the bar scene by offering a fine selection of great wines. Go there for some samples and some wonderful recommendations from the staff.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Although Spartanburg certainly has plenty of inexpensive hotel and motel options, it’s always nice to find somewhere with a little more character, assuming your budget allows.

• The Inn on Main is a fantastic bed and breakfast located downtown in a beautiful turn-of-the-century mansion. Each room is uniquely decorated with local themes (textiles, railroads, agriculture, etc) and a full breakfast is included.
• Spartanburg Marriot at Renaissance Park is downtown’s high-rise hotel, featuring ballrooms, suites and other plush accommodations. It is located on North Church Street in downtown Spartanburg.

[edit] Get out

An hour and fifteen minute drive north on Interstate 26 will take you to and the city of Asheville in the scenic Appalachian mountains.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!