About Spartanburg SC
Culture & Lifestyle
Spartanburg has an abundance of recreational and cultural amenities. These offerings below and the fact that the community is incredibly affordable make Spartanburg a desirable place to love where you live.
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Spartanburg is pulsing with an active cultural and creative scene, seen everywhere from the public art displays in downtown to the Chapman Cultural Center, a three-building complex that houses the Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg, Ballet Spartanburg, Carolina Foothills Artisan Center, The Music Foundation of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg County Historical Association, Spartanburg Little Theatre and Spartanburg Youth Theatre, The Spartanburg Repertory Company and the Spartanburg Science Center.
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Hub-Bub, also downtown, is a gathering place for young artists, musicians, writers and actors.
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The Hub City Writers project, founded in 1995, which has helped publish books by nearly 250 writers and offers writing workshops and a downtown bookstore adjacent to The Coffee Bar.
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A new $20 million project by AC Marriott to develop a hotel with a rooftop bar and restaurant was announced last year, and is currently undergoing construction.
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Spartanburg is home to Camp Croft State Park, which boasts of 7,000 acres, 12 miles of hiking and horse trails, two lakes and an equestrian center.
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More than 300 places of worship are located in Spartanburg County representing more than 30 religions.
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Spartanburg’s downtown is thriving with 58 new businesses in the last two years, including new clothing and gift boutiques, multiple restaurants, two craft beer breweries, a gourmet ice cream and toffee shop, and more.
Health & Wellness
Spartanburg’s health and wellness initiatives, and the community’s recent accomplishments have made regional, state and national headlines.
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In 2015, Spartanburg was one of eight communities nationwide to receive the Robert Wood Johnson “Culture of Health” prize for its award winning wellness and healthcare initiatives.
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Spartanburg Medical Center has been named the “#1 Hospital in South Carolina” by U.S. News and World Report.
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The Hub City Co-Op, South Carolina’s first Co-Op grocery store, opens in 2016.
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One of only 60 communities nationwide, Spartanburg has six bike sharing stations.
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In August of 2014, Spartanburg was one of five communities nationwide selected to participate in the “Way to Wellville” challenge. Spartanburg is meeting the challenge to improve access to health care, reduce obesity, improve kindergarten readiness, and promote community pride.
Economic Development
Spartanburg is a leader in the field of economic development and has established a global brand by the many companies that call it home: BMW, Milliken, Denny’s, Michelin, Toray, AFL, Kobelco, American Credit Acceptance, Draexlmaier, Trelleborg, Advance America, adidas Group, and Indorama all reside in Spartanburg.
Education
The seven school districts of Spartanburg County have an established and documented reputation for being among the best school districts in South Carolina and the Southeast United States.
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All SC school districts were recently ranked, and three of Spartanburg’s seven school districts were listed in the top ten. Neighboring counties Greenville and Union were ranked 13th and 55th respectively.
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All seven school districts have adopted the “Profile of a SC Graduate” which emphasizes the mastery of world class knowledge, world class skills and the ever important life and career characteristics.
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Of South Carolina’s 87 school districts, a recent web based research firm found all of Spartanburg’s seven school districts to be in the top 28. Three of the seven districts were in the top ten. Neighboring district, Greenville County was ranked 13 while Union County came in at 55.
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In 2014, the South Carolina State Department of Education deemed all of the Spartanburg school districts “excellent” in its annual release of the state’s education report card.
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Seven institutions of higher learning call Spartanburg home – the University of South Carolina – Upstate, Spartanburg Community College, Converse College, Spartanburg Methodist College, Wofford College, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and Sherman College of Chiropractic. This higher education presence is one of the many reasons why Spartanburg has a young, energetic vibe and has been deemed “College Town."
