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Spartanburg History

Independence started in our backyard.

The area became accessible to settlers following a treaty struck with the Cherokee Indian nation in 1753.

Later, the Revolutionary War began, and the Spartanburg locale witnessed an impressive number of engagements; enough of which to boast of containing more battle sites than almost any other location in the U. S.

Two of these battles changed the course of the war. 160 Loyalists were killed and 760 more were taken captive at the Battle of King’s Mountain.

Then, three months later, General Daniel Morgan led the Americans to victory at the Battle of Cowpens. In total, the area saw six engagements in the span of four weeks during 1780, beginning in July with the Battle of Cedar Springs.

Battles at Gowen’s Fort, Earle’s Ford, and Fort Prince followed, which lead to a second battle at Cedar Spring and the Battle of Musgrove Mill.

Once the war ended, settlements sprang up in and around the area, and the new district began to take shape by forming its own government. Following the construction of a new courthouse, the town was named Spartanburg after the Spartan Regiment formed at the beginning of the war.
 
In 1834 the town incorporated and a couple of decades later it became known as the “Hub City” due to the wheel hub shape the many railroads gave it as they came into the area. Between the late 19th century and early 20th century the textile industry dominated the economy in Spartanburg. Nearly 40 textile mills were built during this time period. Camp Wadsworth, located west of the city, became a second home to over 100,000 men as they trained for World War I. Then, during World War II over 200,000 men trained at Camp Croft located south of the city.
 
At the conclusion of WWII, the mill life began to decline as wages rose and the automobile industry boomed during the 1950s. At the end of the decade, the mill society faced its demise; though, a new international industry began to grow in the 1970s and has continued ever since.
 
Visit the battlefields and historical museums in the area, or go on a tour of the almost forgotten mill villages. Glendale is a historic textile town located at Lawson’s Fork, only five miles away from Spartanburg’s downtown district. You can also stop by historic houses such as the Price House or Seay House. Stop by the graves of high ranking Confederate soldiers and political leaders at the Magnolia Cemetery or visit the Old City Cemetery that serves as a memorial to the leaders of the African-American community in the early years of freedom.

If you’re looking for historic neighborhoods, then make your way to the Hampton Heights Historic District or Pacolet Historic Mill District.