General Overview
Located in the northwestern portion of South Carolina, Greenville lies at
the foot of the Piedmont section of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
Greenville County is South Carolina’s most populous county and is the
central location of a market area that serves a population of over one
million. The Greenville- Spartanburg-Anderson metropolitan statistical area
(MSA), referred to locally as “the Upstate,” is comprised of Anderson,
Cherokee, Greenville, Pickens and Spartanburg counties and encompasses 3,211
square miles. The city of Greenville lies in Greenville County,
approximately 100 miles southwest of Charlotte
and 145 miles northeast of Atlanta.
Upstate
of South Carolina
The
Upstate of South Carolina is often called the “economic engine of South
Carolina” and is the largest MSA in the state. Emerging over the past thirty
years as a leading business center, the Upstate evolved from the textile
capital of the world to an international and national corporate office,
manufacturing, and warehousing / distribution operations hub. According to
Harvard Business Review, there is
more international investment capital per capita in the Greenville
metropolitan area than anywhere else in the United States. The region has
successfully recruited significant operations and the U.S. headquarters of
several notable companies. Michelin, BMW,
Lockheed, General Electric, and Hitachi represent some of the more notable
corporate citizens.
Population
Throughout the Greenville MSA, there has been steady population growth over
the past decade. The 2005 population within the MSA was estimated to be
1,009,064, reflecting an increase of 17.69% from 1990. The population is
projected to grow to 1,058,670 by 2010, an increase of 9.5% from the 2000
Census. Greenville County is home to approximately 40% of the MSA’s
population and is growing at a slightly higher rate than the remainder of
the area. The 2005 population of Greenville County was estimated at 402,310
an increase of 20.5% over 1990. The population of the county is projected to
increase to 426,602 by 2010, a net change of 11.0% since the 2000 Census.
Households
In 2005, there were an estimated 397,432 households in the Greenville MSA.
That number is projected to grow to 420,173 by 2010, an increase of 5.72%.
In 2005, there were an estimated 159,990 households in Greenville County.
That number is expected to grow to 170,695 by 2010, an increase of 6.69%.
Greenville offers a diverse choice of neighborhoods and lifestyles.
Available housing options range from gated, golf communities to multi-family
residences in the suburbs and upscale condominium complexes Downtown. Over
the past few years, Downtown Greenville’s residential market has exploded
with heightened demand and new housing projects. The steady resurgence of
the Downtown economy over the past decade coupled with the overall appeal of
the area has fostered a lively trend of people moving Downtown. The Wachovia
Place apartments, The Bookends, and RiverPlace Phase II, now under
construction, each represent attractive residential complexes new to
Downtown. This trend is likely to continue well into the future as Downtown
Greenville continues to emerge as a leading city in the region.
Economic
Overview
The
Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson MSA offers a broad economic mix, a
transformation over the latter part of the past half century from textiles
to a business, manufacturing and warehousing center. Greenville County in
particular, boasts a strong business and high-technology manufacturing
sector, particularly with a major engineering presence in the area. US Fluor
Daniel (engineering and construction) employs approximately 1,700 people in
the Greenville area.
The Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson MSA is home to the U.S. headquarters of
companies including Michelin, BMW, Umbro Apparel and Bowater Paper. Recent
corporate relocations and the marketing efforts of local authorities have
resulted in a substantial flow of capital into the area. Products
manufactured in the area include automotive equipment, textiles, chemicals,
industrial machinery, forestry and agricultural goods.
