The history of South Carolina's thriving upstate Since the Cherokee Nation hunted the verdant hills in what is now known as Greenville County, South Carolina, the search for economic prosperity has defined the history of this thriving Upstate region and its expanding urban center. In a sweeping chronicle of the city and county, A. V. Huff traces Greenville's business tradition as well as its political, religious, and cultural evolution. Huff describes the area's Revolutionary War skirmishes, early settlement, and mix of diversified agriculture, small manufacturing operations, and summer resorts. Calling Greenville atypical of much of the antebellum South, the author tells of the strong Unionist sentiment, relative unimportance of slavery, and lack of staple agriculture in the region. He recounts Greenville's years of Reconstruction, textile leadership, depression, and postwar industrial diversification. In addition fo tracing Greenville's economic growth, Huff identifies the region's other hallmarks, including the fierce independence of its residents. He assesses Greenville's peaceful end to segregation, strong evangelical Protestant tradition, conservative arts programs, and influential role in South Carolina politics.

Cradled at the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and once known as the "Textile Center of the South," Greenville has evolved into a prosperous hub for corporate development and global commerce. Greenville County's African American community, proud and resourceful, has strong roots dating back to 1770, when blacks helped to carve the county out of an upstate wilderness. The experiences of the black community and its long relationship with whites up to the civil rights movement helped to create the climate for the kaleidoscope of races and cultures in Greenville today.

This book is well-illustrated with photographs of old and new Greenville. Many color photographs are included. The first 87 pages cover the history of Greenville from frontier times through the present. The remainder of the book has overviews of businesses and organizations that have contributed to the development of Greenville and Greenville County.

Historically, Greenville County owes much to its natural advantages of scenery, location and abundant water, but it has also benefited from its colorful characters, such as Richard Pearis, Vardry McBee, Richard Furman and the Earle family. Hidden History of Greenville County details the personalities, places and events that have given Greenville its progressive, diverse environment. Join archivist and history professor Alexia Helsley as she explores some of these individuals and their contributions, as well as little-known events in the area and the ever-fascinating "Dark Corner." From mansions to murders, learn things about Greenville County history that you've never encountered before.

For more than two hundred years, lawyers and judges, many of them colorful and powerful personalities, have practiced law and maintained order in Greenville County. In the nineteenth century, Judges Richard Gantt and Waddy Thompson began the tradition of Upstate justice. At the time of the Civil War, Benjamin Perry and his colleagues argued fiercely about secession. Recently, local attorneys and judges, both black and white, have struggled with integration and civil rights issues. History is dotted with legal dynasties; individual practioners like Miss Jim Perry and John Bolt Culbertson; and judges, including J. Robert Martin and Frank Eppes, who have played significant roles in Upstate law. Author Judith Bainbridge details the impact and personalities of law and lawyers in Greenville County.