About Us

The Greer Downtown Historic District is significant for its high concentration of early twentieth-century architecture.

 “Greers Station” was established in 1873 along the Atlanta Charlotte Air Line Railroad. The town was officially incorporated as Greers in 1876, but it later became known simply as Greer. From the late 1870s through the 1890s, downtown Greer prospered in the cotton trade. General stores, physicians’ offices, and other essential services lined the streets. Many early businesses were grouped in wood frame buildings around the Public Square and along Trade Street which stretched out from the rail depot. By about 1901, Southern Railways and Piedmont and Northern constructed competing rail lines through Greer. Commercial activity eventually focused between the two tracks as businesses sought to have easy access to transportation for their products.

Thomas Keating, an upcountry contractor and builder, made a significant mark on downtown Greer. Keating designed the R.L. Merchant Building (200 Trade Street), the Reese Building (217 Trade Street), and the Belk-Kirkpatrick Building (104-106 Trade Street) as well as several homes (including his own at 213 North Main).

In the early twentieth century, the economic character of Greer changed. The textile industry, which took hold in the early nineteenth century, began to expand rapidly. By 1930, there were more than 400 mills within 100 miles of the Greenville County seat.

Several mills began operating just outside Greer between 1896 and 1908, including Apalache Mill, Victor Cotton Mill, Franklin Mill, and Greer Mill. Their presence had a significant effect on the economy and appearance of downtown Greer.

New industry and commerce focused on supporting textile companies sprung up downtown.  Many businesses replaced older wood frame buildings with brick commercial structures — some two or three stories tall. Greer’s downtown commercial architecture reflects the prosperity of the early 1900s when textiles and related industries flourished.