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About Greenville, SC
Greenville, South Carolina, is the county seat in Greenville County. It has a population of about 60,000 within the city borders, but the greater area has a population of over 400,000. The city has continuously grown over the past few decades, and was listed as one of the “Top ten Fastest Growing Cities in the U.S.” in 2010 by CNN Money. Other accolades won by the city include the 13th Best City for Young Professionals, and the 3rd Strongest Job Market, also awards won in 2010
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Furman University
Furman University
Furman University appeals to many students from the southern United States and beyond; it has a well-respected liberal arts program that features relatively small class sizes and a feeling of closeness at university. Furman University allows students the opportunities of a large university, without treating undergrads as one big crowd.
Greenville is central to the cities of Charlotte and Atlanta, so it is not just Furman U or Greenville activities that you can look forward to. Downtown renewal in Greenville has beautified the city's inner region, after a long period of decay while shoppers moved out to the suburbs for newly built malls. As well as hiking and outdoor activities, Greenville is home to several art museums, the Greenville Zoo, and the US Road Race Cycling Championships!
You'll need to be very fit if you want to walk your way around the Furman University neighborhood - it ranks only 20 out of 100 for walkability. Nearly all essential services (barring a Chik-Fil-A close by), are over a mile away. Most amenities, including coffee shops, bars, drug stores, clothing and music stores are over 2 miles away.
Apartments in Greenville - Small City, Big Value
Look for neighborhood names like Traveler's Rest, Sans Souci, Paris, Minter and Berea if you want to find apartments close to school. Check with the Greenville Transit Authority about public transit services located in these areas.
Greenville apartments are very reasonably priced, with rentals starting from as little as $355 per week for one bedroom places. There are almost no studio apartments available in the Furman University area of Greenville, so sizing is good - however, you will have to travel from 5 to 10 miles from school to get the greatest diversity in housing rentals.
Going Out in Greenville
Outdoor activities and early nights are not the only options for getting away from schoolwork in Greenville. The city has a surprising number of festivals and tours, including circuses, winery weekends and festivals, state fairs, arts and crafts festivals and triathlons. There are more Carolina-specific activities, too. Check out the Apple Festival, Oktoberfest, the Mountain Song Festival and the Bluegrass Festival for more specialized local culture. Don't forget to check out event listings in Atlanta and Charlotte, also!
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Greenville Tech
Greenville Tech
Greenville Tech is one of the nation's 'greenest' universities - established in the 1960s, the student population has just grown to over 14,000. Freshness and innovation are some of the school's strong points, with flexible class schedules and convenient locations. Greenville Tech also has the only University Transfer Honors program at a two-year college in South Carolina.
A Fun and Sprawling City
Greenville, S.C. has a relatively small population in the metropolitan area, but just over 600,000 souls live in the greater Greenville area. It is known as a family friendly city, but that doesn't mean that it is boring! There are plenty of annual festivals and outdoor spaces to enjoy ... as well as a zoo and a mouse hunt!
Big Spaces Need Big Legs - Or Big Wheels
Greenville is a fairly spread out city, and to get into the metro neighborhoods from the area around Greenville Tech's main campus you'll need a car. The walk score for the area is 66 out of 100, with some scattered choices for grocery stores, restaruatns, coffee shops and bars within half a mile.
Green Transit
Greenville, South Carolina actually has quite a few public transport options, with a downtown trolley bus operating in the inner city neighborhoods. There are pedicabs and regular Yellow cabs in Greenville also.
Apartment Location and Pricing in Greenville
Greenville has quite a good range of student accommodation options, and apartments and houses for rent have quite reasonable price tags attached. If your budget stretches up to $700 per month, you'll find a good range of apartment choices with some quite close to the Greenville Tech main campus.
Many housing options are crowded just to the east of the city center, so if you'd rather have a break from school when you aren't there, check out these neighborhoods.
Grooving in Greenville - Nightlife and Dining Out
For a smaller city, Greenville actually has quite a diverse array of cuisines to sample, and restaurants to enjoy. Lieu's Chinese Bistro is one of the best loved restaurants in the city, along with Pita House, Devereaux's, The Lazy Goat and Saskatoon Steaks Fish Wild Game. Lieu's is quite close to Greenville Tech, and Bojangles Famous Chicken and Biscuits is a walking-distance gem.
Nightlife in Greenville is clustered around the same area that most residences are, just to the east of the city. You'll find places with big reputations but great atmosphere and service, like The Cazbah and Aladdin's as some of the best nightlife in town. Riley's Sports Bar is close to school, and great for a quick beer at lunch time.