Facts First Spartanburg is a community-centered initiative to provide clear, accessible information that helps residents understand how growth is happening, how decisions are made and what it means for you. The initiative is 100% privately supported by local businesses and citizens.
Our goal:
Provide straightforward facts, local context and real examples so you can understand how Spartanburg is changing and why.
Over the past decade, Spartanburg has moved from steady growth to noticeable progress, with stronger job creation, rising incomes and more investment throughout the community. This progress isn’t just about new buildings or businesses. This progress is measurable across several key areas:
MYTH: Most of the good-paying job opportunities are in Greenville.
FACT: Employment in Spartanburg County increased by approximately 30% over the past decade, rising from roughly 129,000 workers in 2015 to more than 168,000 workers in 2026. This outpaced the national average of approximately 10%.
MYTH: Spartanburg County only recruits low-wage jobs.
FACT: According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Spartanburg County’s per capita personal income reached a record high of $55,886 in 2024, with average weekly wages reaching $1,163 in 2025. American Community Survey data also shows median household income increased approximately 7% between 2010 and 2023.
MYTH: There’s nothing to do in Spartanburg.
FACT: From expanded trail systems to new community amenities like the ballpark and planetarium, investments across Spartanburg County are creating more opportunities for recreation, entertainment and community connection than ever before.
MYTH: We’d be better off if we could go back to the time before all this growth happened.
FACT: Spartanburg County attracted $3.5 billion in announced capital investment across 20 economic development projects in 2025, resulting in more than 1,000 new jobs. In 2024, Spartanburg County attracted 23 projects totaling $745 million in investment and 1,220 new jobs.
MYTH: Growth only benefits large companies.
FACT: Since 2023, Power Up Spartanburg has supported more than 2,835 entrepreneurs and small business owners, helping launch 56 new businesses and create 264 jobs.
MYTH: Homeownership is out of reach for most people in Spartanburg County.
FACT: Spartanburg County’s homeownership rate reached 73% in 2024, higher than the national average of 65.2%. The median property value in Spartanburg County reached $233,300 in 2024, still well below the national average of $332,700.
Data shows that industrial and commercial investment generates more revenue than it costs to serve, while residential properties often require more in services than they contribute in taxes.
As a result, business investment helps offset costs and reduce the tax burden on residents.
Spartanburg County voters approved a six-year penny sales tax in 2023 that will generate an estimated $478 million to fund 577 road, bridge, and infrastructure projects.
Many of these projects are already underway, with additional improvements scheduled through 2026 and beyond. Importantly, between 34% and 39% of this funding will come from people who don’t live here, helping reduce the burden on local taxpayers.
In addition to infrastructure investments, voters across Spartanburg County have approved more than $1.3 billion in school improvements, supporting modern facilities, expanded capacity, and long-term community growth, often without increasing taxes.
Together, these investments focus on:
Together, these investments focus on:
$1.37
BILLION
Approved by Spartanburg County voters for school improvements since 2016.
Decisions about growth and development follow defined processes that include multiple layers of review, public input, and local approval. These processes are already in use today to evaluate projects across the county, and include:
Economic impact analysis, including jobs, tax base and infrastructure needs.
Review and approval by local and county leadership.
Coordination across infrastructure, schools and public services.
Public meetings and opportunities for community input.
Understanding growth starts with access to clear, reliable information.
This initiative will continue to share updates, explain key topics, and highlight real examples from across Spartanburg County.
