Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Southeast region of the United States, Greer, South Carolina, is a vibrant city with a rich history and a bright future. One of the fastest-growing cities in the state, Greer is halfway between the major metropolitan areas of Atlanta, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina. While it has “big city” amenities, Greer exudes Southern charm and a welcoming feeling of home.

Intentional planning, collaboration, and vision drive Greer’s downtown development. Greer's Central Business District, also known as Greer Station, has become a destination with approximately 12 square blocks of retail, dining, entertainment, and professional service organizations. A National Historic District revitalized by a shared vision of the future, brick-paved streets and a canopy of lights welcome visitors to Greer’s award-winning downtown lined with chic boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Greer’s pro-business climate, location, and logistics assets make it fertile ground for companies seeking access to global markets. Innovators from around the world have planted roots here. At least 35 foreign-owned companies are currently doing business in Greer. Germany-based BMW Manufacturing recently invested about $125 million to build a vehicle accessory center and a cutting-edge logistics facility inside the city.

With a projected growth of 5% annually, recent estimates put the population of Greer at 55,000. The most recent Census recorded data was in 2020, showing 35,797 people living in Greer.

The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is located just outside the city borders making it easy to get to Greer from anywhere in the world. GSP offers more than 50 non-stop flights a day and was dubbed the Best Small Airport in North America by Airports Council International in 2022.

Greer is also minutes away from I-85 and is conveniently located near other major thoroughfares including Highway 29, Highway 101, and Highway 14.

Long before there was a Greer, South Carolina, the Cherokee Indians hunted and early settlers began to farm along the abundant rivers and creeks of the area. When the Indian Boundary Line was drawn in 1761 from the blockhouse in Tryon, North Carolina, south toward Greer, the Spartanburg County side of the line was deeded to the South Carolina Province. The closest blockhouse to Greer was Thompson’s Fort, which offered safety and trading. In 1777 the Cherokees made treaties to cede the rest of the land to South Carolina. Today, Line Street commemorates this early history and serves as a county line.

The site of Greer was called the old Blakely Place, a 200-acre farm owned by James Manning Greer. The Blakely farmhouse was the first known house in the history of Greer and sat behind the Greer Drug Company in the vicinity of Victoria Street. According to tradition, Greer traded a few acres to the railroad in exchange for a wagon and a team of mules. He then sold the rest of his land to W.T. Shumate, who began selling lots when he realized the potential for a town around the train station. A lot in the planned business district sold for anywhere between $25 and $75 per acre. 

Since the first post office was in the station, the postmark read “Greer’s Depot.” On March 25, 1876, with 15 votes the town was incorporated as “Greers.” William C. Bailey was elected mayor, and the first councilmen were Dr. H.V. Westmoreland, W.A. Hill, David Cannon, and A.J. Morgan. The “s” disappeared sometime in the early part of the century. Thus, Greer owed its creation to the Southern Railroad, which was finished in 1873. The first shipment was fertilizer from Greenville.

A second railroad, the Piedmont and Northern (P and N), laid tracks through Greer in 1914. With two active train lines, Greer became an attractive site of commerce. Textile mills, such as Victor, Apalache, Franklin, and Greer Mill, were important in the town’s development. Agricultural products, especially peaches, were grown and shipped out of state. When the Jones Brothers began to can peaches and tomatoes, the Greer label appeared on grocery shelves across the nation.

In the 1950s, Homelite was one of the early companies to bring a new industry to Greer. A new hospital and high school were built, and Greer began to grow. Downtown Greer thrived with people driving from Greenville and Spartanburg to shop at Miss Elise Fleming’s and Miss Alta Cunningham’s fine ladies’ clothing stores and Smith and James men’s shop.

Just as the railroads brought progress to Greer, the Greenville Spartanburg Airport and I-85 have been important to modern development. BMW brought more jobs to the city and an active program of annexation has doubled its size. Greer prides itself on its friendly, small-town atmosphere and its big-city expectations for growth and progress into the 21st century.

Please note that there may be a time lapse between a change in a city ordinance and when the changes are reflected on this site. Please contact the Municipal Clerk at (864) 801-2027 for the most recent ordinance or to verify that the ordinance listed on this site has been updated.

To purchase a copy of this Code by phone, call the Municipal Code Corporation at 1-800-262-2633 or purchase a copy online.

***UPDATE LINKS/PDFS***

***UPDATE LINKS/PDFS***

Annual Safety Statement 2023

Banner Policy (Vertical Light Pole)

Blood Borne Pathogen Standards 2023

City of Greer Policy and Procedure Manual

Comprehensive Plan

Financial Policies and Procedures 2023

Hazard Mitigation Plan

Mark Style and Usage Guide

Safety Manual 2023

Sidewalk Dining Policy and Procedures

Special Events Policy and Procedures

Strategic Plan

Traffic Calming Policy (Speed Humps, Bumps, Cushions)

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Greer is a very walkable city and convenient public parking makes it simple to explore. Whether you're in town for a meeting or just want to experience exceptional shopping and dining in Greer Station, you'll find plentiful on-street parking or a parking lot/parking deck nearby.

The City of Greer’s Neighborhood Services program helps to form a partnership between neighborhood residents, the business community and local government to continue to make Greer a great place to live, work and play.

Through programs, training and support, these partnerships encourage responsible home ownership, provide a means of revitalizing neighborhoods, support community pride and develop personal empowerment.