Another Award for Growing Greenville, SC

Perspective from a life long resident of the Upstate

Southern Living's The Souths Best Cities 2025

This week Greenville, SC was named #6 on the list of top cities in the South by Southern Living Magazine, adding another accolade to the already impressive list of nods received within the last few years.

Life in Greenville, SC prior to the early 2000's was different. There were no awards for being 'the best' of anything, no Falls Park on the Reedy , and even not a trace of the much loved Swamp Rabbit Trail.

Watching Greenville and the surrounding areas flourish has been a treat. I vividly remember in 2001, when Mayor Knox White and Greenville City Council announced they were removing the Camperdown Bridge and 'Freeing the Falls'. You see, the beautiful scenery you see in the photo above was once covered and completely obstructed by the four lane bridge. Suffice to say, they were visionaries of what Greenville would become.

In 2004, the Liberty Bridge was completed and officially opened to the public, quickly becoming the icon of Greenville. The feeling of pride amongst local residents was palpable. The park and bridge have been a centerpoint of memories for so many: being the perfect place to take photos before your special event (I have prom pictures in the park from 2002 with construction tape showing in the background!), being the ideal location for proposals and weddings to even being the perfect place to take your family on a picnic. Greenville's downtown masterpiece has become the centerpoint for a vibrant, bustling area. Watching this transformation has been like watching a the city 'grow up', right along side of may of us who have called the area home.

With all good growth comes growing pains, of course. The bustling manufacturing economy was the initial force behind Greenville's population growth. It didn't take long for word to get out about the amazing area we call home. You'll hear us natives complain about the traffic or all of the beautiful land that is now subdivisions. Bear with us on that though, because we knew Greenville before the world did. We (well most of us!) really are happy to share our little town with newcomers, we are just sometimes nostalgic of the old way. 

There are so many cute suburbs of Greenville, including Easley, SC where I have been a resident for 2 decades. Simpsonville, Mauldin, Travelers Rest, and Fountain Inn are a few others that are rapidly growing because of the growth of Greenville. If you are curious about any of these towns, feel free to reach out, I am happy to answer any questions you may have.

With an ideal location on the I-85 corridor directly between Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC, and such a beautiful landscape, it's easy to see why so many love it here.

I am looking forward to sharing more about Easley, Greenville, and the surrounding areas with you in the future so be sure to check back for more posts!

Bye Y'all!

Jenny

(864) 430-3462

Check out my website here!

Jenny Burton is a native of Upstate, SC. She is a top producing real estate professional with Real. Jenny focuses on Easley, SC and surrounding areas and is committed to making her clients experience as seemless and transparent as possible. As a busy wife and mom of two teenagers, she understands that moving can add a tremendous stress onto a family and seeks ways to minimize that in order to make the experience, well, magical! When she isn't selling homes and managing her kids schedules, you are likely to find Jenny on a beach or at Walt Disney World with her family.