South Carolina

Greenville

525,534
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Greenville

Greenville, South Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 6,503. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 525,534.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Cherokee Expedition South Carolina 1760, and 99 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020525,534
2010451,225
2000379,616
1990320,167
1980287,913
1970240,546
1960209,776
1950168,152
1940136,580
1930117,009
192088,498
191068,377
190053,490
189044,310
188037,496
187022,262
186021,892
185020,156
184017,839
183016,476
182014,530
181013,133
180011,504
17906,503
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Greenville

Military engagements that took place in Greenville, South Carolina.

Cherokee Expedition South Carolina 1760
1760

Historic places in Greenville

National Register of Historic Places listings in Greenville, South Carolina.

Chamber of Commerce Building
Greenville
Poinsett Bridge
Tigerville
Turner, R. Perry, House
Greer
Paris Mountain State Park Historic District
Greenville
Lanneau-Norwood House
Greenville
Christ Church (Episcopal) and Churchyard
Greenville
James, Louie, House
Greer
Hampton-Pinckney Historic District
Greenville
First National Bank
Greenville
Fulmer, James A., House
Fountain Inn
Old Pilgrim Baptist Church Cemetery and Kilgore Family Cemetery
Simpsonville
West End Commercial Historic District
Greenville
Quillen, Robert, Office and Library
Fountain Inn
Tullyton
Fountain Inn
Poinsett Hotel
Greenville
Reedy River Falls Historic Park and Greenway
Greenville
Brushy Creek
Greenville
Springwood Cemetery
Greenville
U.S. Post Office and Courthouse
Greenville
Kilgore, Josiah, House
Greenville
Burdette Building
Simpsonville
Aiken, Hugh, House
Greenville
Fountain Inn High School
Fountain Inn
Isaqueena
Greenville
Browse all South Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more South Carolina counties.

McCormickNewberryOconeeOrangeburgPendletonPickensRichlandSaludaSpartanburgSumterUnionWilliamsburgYorkAbbevilleAikenAllendaleAndersonBambergBarnwellBeaufort
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Everything a full report reveals about Greenville County, South Carolina

This page charts the census history of Greenville County, South Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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South Carolinahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from South Carolina›

Frequently asked about Greenville

When does Greenville first appear in the US census?
Greenville, South Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 6,503.
What is the population of Greenville?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Greenville had a recorded population of 525,534.
Were any battles fought in Greenville?
1 documented military engagement took place in Greenville, including Cherokee Expedition South Carolina 1760.
How many historic places are in Greenville?
99 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Greenville, South Carolina.
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