department of economic development
Facts and Figures
Located on one of the busiest interstates in America, in one of the most rapidly growing areas of the country and the fastest in the state, Greenville stands out as a leader in today’s economy. Home to internationally recognized industries and a strong workforce, it is a city poised to become
even more of a leader in the 21st century economy.
- Upstate South Carolina Alliance
Location
Greenville is located in the northwestern corner of the state of South Carolina. Greenville and the surrounding areas, situated at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, are commonly referred to as the Upstate.
- Easily accessible from Interstate highways 85, 185, and 385, and U.S. highways 25, 123, 29, 276.
- Centrally located between Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC, and between Miami, FL and New York, NY.
Economic Profile
Business Climate
- South Carolina is an “employment at will” state, with less than 1% of Greenville county residents members of a union.
- Several sites in the Upstate are designated foreign trade zone areas, and Greenville boasts
the highest level of foreign capital investment per capita in the nation, and is home
to more than 250 international firms from 26 nations, including BMW and Michelin.
- Greenville maintains a Standard and Poor's AA+ bond rating, (AAA for the county), and has imposed no city millage increase since 1993 or no tax anticipation note since 1996 to meet short-term cash needs.
- Major Businesses: Perrigo Company of South Carolina,
Greenville Hospital System,
Fluor, Liberty Corporation, Greenville News Piedmont, Bank of America, TD Bank, BB&T and Windstream.
2010 Figures
- Over $178 million in average annual private construction investment for the last three years.
View building permit data
- Over $4.9 billion in gross sales from resident businesses.
- 88% office occupancy rate in the Central Business District,
as of first quarter 2011.
- Over $5.9 billion in total taxable property value.
Demographics
Source: 2010 ERSI Business Analyst
Population: 58,595
View a report of City statistics
Median Age: 36.6 years
Number of Households: 25,923
Median Household Annual Income: $40,402
Per Capita Annual Income: $26,216
Median Home Value: $137,795
Quality of Life
Average annual temperature: 60 F
Average rainfall: 49 inches
Average annual snowfall: <6 inches
Average monthly maximum temperature: 71 F
Average monthly minimum temperature: 50 F
Greenville’s public school system is the largest in the state, and includes 11 magnet academies for special study at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Over ten colleges and universities are located in and within close proximity of Greenville.
Greenville is the cultural and entertainment center for the Upstate,
including an award winning downtown, a major performing arts center, a 17,000 seat arena,
a 340,000-square-foot convention and exhibition center, nationally recognized museum collections, and 39 parks, playgrounds and recreation centers.