Greenville, South Carolina
SperlingViews

Has been a good place to live - 1/27/2013

Have lived in this area for over 50 years. It has been a very good place to live overall. Like most any area, as the population grows, jobs come and go etc, things change. This is one of the fast growing areas in the country and so it is losing its small town feel and personality. It is home to the likes of BMW, Michelin and General Electric along with all of their support companies. If you are looking for a growing place to live, where the cost of living is below national averages, this might be your spot. The climate is mild overall, the schools are good and we have the mountains within an hours drive and the ocean within a 5 hour drive. [more...]

My take on Greenville, South Carolina, USA as of F - 2/18/2012

Climate: Some years we get snow. Some years we don't get snow. In the 6 years I have lived in Greenville, the coldest low temperatures got into the mid-teens on the Fahrenheit scale, but lows didn't stay there for longer than a two or three days per year. Crime: Crime seems mild here to me. Although, I have had a GPS navigation device stolen from the console of my car when I accidentally left it unlocked one night. Culture: For a small town, it's very happening here! I don't think I will ever see Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones or Dave Matthews play at a venue here, but between Greenville's Peace Center, and the Bi-Lo Center, a lot of current, and worthwhile events play my city. Parks: Swamp Rabbit Trail winds through 13.3 miles from Travelers Rest to south of Downtown Greenville (and as of Jan 2012 Swamp Rabbit Trail is expanding!). Paris Mountain State Park is part of the foothills of the Appalachians and has a network of hiking trails. Education: Most people here call it "Edjamacation", but still... Furman University is a beautiful campus just north of Greenville and on the Swamp Rabbit Trail making access to Downtown Greenville very easily accomplished on bike or even on foot. Many community colleges and Greenville Technical College. Politics: Downtowners are typically, but not always, liberal. Suburbanites and rural folk are typically, but not always conservative. Religion: This is a Southern town, so there are a lot of churches and a lot of church going people. (Nothing wrong with that!) However, downtown has a "live and let live" feel to it. Anyone can hold hands with anyone and take a nice, romantic stroll through the park without hassle. (Nothing wrong with that!) Overall: This is a nice, happening, safe town with beautiful parks, diverse people and a popping, regentrified Central Business District. This comment was posted by a 6 year resident of Greenville, South Carolina, USA. Date posted: 18 February 2012.[more...]

So much BS - 1/14/2012

I've read the other reviews. Talk about bitter? Wow! Now I was born and raised in the South but it sounds like these people are looking for utopia! Here is a clue it does not exist! Greenville is lovely. Low level of traffic, wonderful access to larger cities like Atlanta and Charlotte. Decent shopping. Best part is downtown which features AMAZING restaurants for this size city. Seriously GREAT!!!! Beautiful downtown with waterfalls and shops and trails............just fantastic! Downsides? Humid. Hot. VERY Religious. Most peoples lives here do revolve around their church. It doesn't mean they are crazy or evil or judgey or close minded. But yes, alot of them can be. As well as very Republican. But if you adopt a no religion no politics stance..........which is super smart. This can be a terrific town to live in! I've NEVER seen anyone shunned over their views or their college or where they come from unless they were just terribly rude or condescending about it. If you are friendly, neutral and outgoing, you can make a ton of friends here.[more...]

a wonderful downtown - 11/17/2011

We have lived here for 6 years. Coming from the east,we didn't know what to expect,except for a very lovely climate. Greenville is very nice. The downtown area is rich in culture. They put on many activities on the weekends. Shopping is awesome too. Recently they have made a great walking/biking/skating trail,the Swamp Rabbit trail, it connects Greenville to Travelers Rest thru Furman University. It's fantastic. [more...]

Singles Beware! - 11/6/2011

I relocated to Greenville one year ago for my job. It is a nice looking little city and there has been allot of work put into the downtown area. Prior to moving here, I was told that there is allot of industry and young professionals here. This may be true, however they are all married. There is no dating pool for thirties aged professionals. The married people are not interested in making new friends either. I have not found the community to be very welcoming to outsiders. The downtown area is basically a big row of over priced places to eat with not so great service. It is easy to tire of it quickly; and other than downtown there is nothing to do here. Yes, there are occasional events at the Peace Center, a few nice parks and other things. However, Greenville is a married/family town that's really hard for singles to find a place in or enjoy. On a few side notes. Greenville is a very snooty real estate community. Be prepared to spend $300,000-1,000,000 for a decent house near downtown that likely needs allot of work or updates. It is totally obscene! This is not NYC! Because I do not have children it was not mentioned to me that public education here is pretty poor, so you can imagine the issues that arise from that. If you are relocating from another state for a healthcare position, be very cautious. Higher education in healthcare here is pretty poor as well and you will likely be very frustrated and disappointed by your surroundings. I am not trying to offend anyone. I'm just offering information I wish someone would have offered me before I relocated here. I do believe this is a nice place for couples raising children or people retiring. However, a horrible place for single professionals. [more...]

Greenville Sc - 10/23/2011

10/10[more...]

Greenville Sc - 10/23/2011

10/10[more...]

Greenville SC - 1/15/2011

Is Greensville S.C. kid friendly[more...]

Greenville South Carolina - 11/18/2010

An outstanding place to live where family, friends and community are paramount to the culture. The city hosts weekly downtown festivals spring thorugh fall where they closes off the streets of downtown. Greenville as a temperate climate with a spectacular fall and spring season, winters are cold but mild with precipitation with possibly one or two snow or ice storms per season. Summers are hot and humid with July and August in the 90's but as in the South East it is the humidity which is the uncomfortable part. Cost of living in Greenville is relatively cheap when compared to the rest of the United States running below the national average in all areas. Traffic or lack of traffic is a great plus. I-85 runs through 3 miles south of the city with easy access to Charlotte 90 miles North or Atlanta 145 miles South but can easily be avoided by the locals due to the abundance of back roads and lack of traffic. Greenville has an abundance of hotel rooms, atracts companies to the area and subsequently jobs are available. Greenville is home to BMW North America, Michelin North America, Flour Corporation, Hubbell Lighting, Sealed Air, General Electric Turbine Plant, Mistsubishi Polymers and the list goes on and on. Growth is a hallmark of the Upstate of South Carolina but it is contolled growth with planning which maintains the quality of life. [more...]

Greenville, SC - 7/19/2010

Greenville is a nice place to live but after 32 years of living and never living some where else it is time to move and explore other things.[more...]

Unhappy in Greenville, SC - 6/14/2010

Dear Brooklyn, The whole upstate of South Carolina is a horrible place to live. I have been here 36 years and all of the new folks moving in are ruining it for the rest of us. Go back to wherever you came from and leave us alone in our backwards and ignorant ways. We don't like you and don't want you here. The grass is never greener on the other side of the fence. It is hot and humid and miserable with huge mosquitoes that can carry off a large dog or small child. People here have no sense of humor and have no idea of what sarcasm is even if it bit them on the butt. If you are looking for a miserable time come between March and June or September through November and prepare to be totally unimpressed. Or worse yet come between December and March and not only be unable to find any snow to shovel, but be prepared to do it in a long sleeve shirt and no coat. Do not expect to see any hawks, falcons, bald eagles, owls, vultures, canadian geese, blue buntings, yellow finches, robins, mockingbirds, wrens, titmouses, sparrows, grackles, raccoons, squirrels, opossums, voles, foxes, badgers, bobcats, white tail deer, wild turkeys (not bottled), chipmunks, large mouth bass, catfish, carp, trout, crappies, sunfish, hybrid stripped bass, alligator gar, sturgeon, bowfin, alligators, cotton mouth's, copperheads, canebreak rattlers, coral snakes, venus fly traps, pitcher plants, sabal palms, live oaks, spanish moss, and various and sundry irritating plants and animals. You are better off staying far, far away from this festering cesspool and stick with the "civilized" Brooklyn society. Keep telling everyone what a terrible time you had when you were here like you promised (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). --Happy Former Native of NY [more...]

Convenient to Everything Fun - 10/21/2009

The beach is only three hours away. The Mountain Ski Slopes are only 45 minutes away. The majestic Blue Ridge Mountains are less than an hour for biking, hiking, backpacking, or horse back ridding. You have all the conveniences of a big city and you have the peace and serenity of the rural areas at your back door.[more...]

An overview of Greenville, SC - 6/29/2009

The upstate area of South Carolina is a wonderful place to raise a family. The people are friendly and the amenities are bountiful. The weather is mild with only a few weeks of extreme heat or cold possible. You will be within three hours of Myrtle Beach on the Atlantic Ocean and within two hours of the Great Smoky Mountains.[more...]

Investigate the reasons cost of living is so reaso - 6/22/2009

Greenville South Carolina is a beautiful city sitting in the middle of Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA. The city has made a lot of progress in the past 10 years at least that is what I have heard many times from the natives. However I am a transplant and moved to Greenville 2 years ago from New York City so I was not living in Greenville at the time when the progress begin. Like every other city there are good things in Greenville and some bad things. The cost of living is great here, can purcahse a nice home for under $250k in a nice neighborhood. On the down side if you find yourself laid off and looking for new well paying jobs they are very limited here. In general I would say that Greenville is a city that has not diversified it's job force. As a result most of the jobs here are factory or labor related with well paying office jobs being very limited for those locating here with let's say a business degree. In addition to that during those rare times when office jobs become available you can bet that those working there make sure that their friends and family members take those jobs. Does not leave a newcomer who has relocated from another city any opportunities!![more...]

How is the housing for a retiree? - 6/15/2009

Hi Greenville folks. What neighborhoods around Greenville offer affordable communities for under $300,000...with a great view and about an acre of land. We are hoping to retire to either the Asheville or Greenville areas and I heard Greenville is far less expensive...is that true?[more...]

Limited outdoor spaces.... - 3/22/2009

Fabulous eateries, upscale shopping, outstanding concerts and plays, renowned cultural events, beautiful condos and apartments and so much more. Greenville, South Carolina is on the fast track to becoming a "big city". Large corporations such as Michelin and BMW have headquarters in this part of the South. Opportunities abound for highly trained and well educated work force. From my point of view, something is missing...I am an outdoor lover. To spend the day doing an 10 mile hike up the side of a mountain is my kind of life. Trekking through the forest for hours...I love nature, trees, outside... Greenville is missing the elements of nature... There are parks to visit, but they are filled with people searching for nature as well!! Greenville, SC is a great City...but not for the true nature lover... [more...]

Greenville - 10/4/2008

Greenville is a small city that has grown a lot in the past few decades. There is a revitalized downtown area that sits on the Reedy River. Falls Park spreads throughout the downtown area and includes a dog park and a zoo. Several businesses, restauraunts, bars, and retail stores are also located in the growing downtown area. The county and surrounding areas include several parks, a large mall, retail stores, high-end grocery stores, multi-cultural restaurants and grocery stores along with organic grocery stores. There are golf courses, driving ranges, shooting ranges, amusement parks, large and small music venues available for entertainment, and much more. The housing market continues to grow as the rest of the country's market seems to be falling into the negative. The people are very friendly. Greenville is a "foothills" town which offers beautiful views of the Appalachian Mountains, which are also a 30 min. drive away. South Carolina's beautiful coastline cities are also 3-4 hours away. Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, and the like make for great weekend getaways. There is a lake in Greenville and several large lakes within 45 miles that are suitable for fishing, boating, skiing, etc. Greenville is conveniently located near ski resorts in North Carolina that are 30 min. - 2 hour drives away. Greenville is also located almost exactly in the middle of Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA...if you're looking for a quick stop to a bigger city. Overall Greenville has enough entertainment and food to keep you busy if you want to hang around town, but is extremely close to easy weekend and day getaways if the urge strikes you. Oh, and don't forget about all of the beautiful trees that you'll find throughout the city. It's very attractice, affordable, and friendly.[more...]

Air Quality - 8/19/2008

I checked the air quality rating on a site specifically for health, air, water... and the rating was a lot higher. I was just wondering why the low air quality rating on this site? Why the difference? I have asthma and would like to hear about this matter from someone that lives here. What would the low rating be from... pollen, polution...? Thanks.[more...]

Bible thumpers run the town - 7/13/2008

If you don't go to Church 3 times a week, you won't fit in here. People are very nice and friendly, but not well rounded on culture, dinning, and education. If you want Mayberry it works here, but if you want style, education look elsewhere[more...]

How are the schools? - 6/29/2008

Is the schools system in Greenville any good. I hear good and not so good things about it. Any parents, teachers, or recent grads out there? We are looking to relocate from Florida (Ocala, Marion County). High school kids here do not even get homework. Maybe things have just change fro when I was in school...I am only 30. I just want to live somewhere that is safe and I do not have to pay thousand for private school. Thanks[more...]