Greenwood is a delightful town to walk around in. It’s full of interesting shops and restaurants, and as you walk, you will notice that it is a town that cares about the quality of life for its residents. The town’s history helps explain its personality today.
Originally a community known as Woodville, the town was renamed Greenwood and incorporated in 1857. Serving as the county seat, Greenwood acquired its first railroad in 1852 and soon a thriving Greenwood business district built up around the train depots, bringing a hustle and bustle to the city. The tracks of the Greenville & Columbia Railroad ran through what is now Uptown Greenwood. (Be sure to check out the train mural by local artist Skip Shelton!)
The Oregon Hotel, a large first-class hotel, was constructed in 1898 and served as a hub for business and Greenwood’s social life until it burned down in 1963. At the time the hotel was built, 27 trains passed through the city on a daily basis. Since the rise of the New South, much of the area’s economy has been based on the textile industry, and today Greenwood continues to experience diversified industrial growth with several major corporations making the area home.
Greenwood is a charming town, offering a look into its past while featuring a dynamic downtown and two great festivals: the SC Festival of Flowers and the SC Festival of Discovery. Make sure to visit Lake Greenwood State Park, host of the annual Festival of Flowers Triathlon.
