Greenville tourist information

Greenville is the county seat of and largest city in Greenville County South Carolina, United States. Greenville, with its historic homes and modern office towers, has been described as where "Old South" meets "New South". Greenville's Combined Statistical Area (CSA) population is 1,185,534 according to 2005 estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau. Greenville County is the most populous in the state at 407,383, but because its city limits enclose less than 30 square miles, the population of the city proper is 56,002 (2000 U.S. Census). The city of Greenville is one of the most densely populated cities in the state, while Greenville County has the highest population density of any county in South Carolina. Greenville is the primary city of "The Upstate" of South Carolina, an area that includes the six counties of northwestern South Carolina along the borders of North Carolina and Georgia.

Greenville is on Interstate Highway I-85 between Atlanta and Charlotte, with I-385 and I-185 servicing other areas of the metro. I-26 is just to the northeast in Spartanburg.

Due to the strict annexation laws of South Carolina, Greenville proper is relatively small in population and size. However, its metropolitan area compares well with most medium-sized US cities. Greenville is in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains and is, therefore, graced with many hills and knolls. The highest point in South Carolina, Sassafras Mountain, is nearby in the northern part of Pickens County, which adjoins Greenville County on the west. Paris Mountain, the second most prominent ridge in the area, is also home to many of the area's television and radio stations' towers.

Things to do As the largest city in the Upstate, Greenville offers many activities and attractions. Greenville's theatres and event venues regularly host major concerts and touring theatre companies. Four independent theatres present several plays a year.

Event Venues

• Palmetto Expo Center, the largest convention center between Atlanta, GA and Washington, DC, has more than 315,000 square feet of exhibition space and 88,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. Many trade shows, conventions, and other events are held here each year.
• Bi-Lo Center, a 16,000-seat arena in downtown Greenville which hosts major concerts and sporting events each year.
• Peace Center, a performing arts center that hosts touring Broadway shows, symphonies, concerts, and civic events. Known internationally for its excellent acoustics, the Peace Center is also home to the Carolina Ballet Theatre, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, and Greenville Chorale.
• The Warehouse Theatre, a black box theater operating for over 32 years, is located in the Historic West End.
• The South Carolina Governor's School For The Arts & Humanities, a state-funded residential high school for the Fine Arts and hosts many performances and exhibits put together by its student population.
• Falls Park on the Reedy, a large regional park with beautiful gardens and home of the Liberty Bridge, a pedestrian suspension bridge. It is located on the Reedy River just south of downtown Greenville in the West End historic district.
• Greenville County Museum of Art is home to the highly acclaimed Southern Collection of art that features art of the South dating back to the 1700's.
• Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery is located on the campus of Bob Jones University, and is widely acclaimed as the finest collection of religious art in the Western Hemisphere. It features Italian, Spanish, French, English, Flemish, Dutch, and German sacred art from the 14th through the 19th centuries, from artists such as Rubens, van Dyck, Reni, Tintoretto, Le Brun, Cranach, Ribera, and Murillo, as well as period furniture, sculpture, tapestries, and porcelains.
• Greenville Zoo, in Cleveland Park, is home to many examples of the world's wildlife.
• Roper Mountain Science Center is a resource for area students, and is home to the largest planetarium in South Carolina.
• Furman University Japanese Garden features a small teahouse.

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