Simpsonville, SC

Simpsonville dates back to the Colonial era, with local stories claiming a blacksmith founded the town. In the 19th century, the town began to gain prominence as a railroad depot, which then brought textile industries into the area. Diverse industries still thrive in Simpsonville, allowing it to prosper as a residential community.

The Simpsonville Museum of Revolutionary War History presents artifacts and histories highlighting the area's Colonial heritage. The museum hosts many special events throughout the year, from lecture series to historical reenactments and the annual Colonial Christmas.

The Simpsonville Arts Foundation promotes local artists by hosting concerts and art shows.

Simpsonville houses many distinctive restaurants and banquet halls, most conveniently located along Main Street. Pete's of Simpsonville features a unique menu of American and Greek foods. Customers rave about Pete's barbecue, gyros and grilled chicken. Located in a charming building on Main Street, Pete's provides a consistently high-quality option in casual dining.

Family owned and operated since 1985, Anita's Mexican Restaurant crafts authentic Mexican foods unlike any other area restaurant. Customers seek out the restaurant for dishes such as Tamarindo chicken and pulled pork. Using fresh vegetable and minimal cooking oils, Anita's creates a healthy option for Mexican dining. A beautifully decorated dining room and friendly service complete the dining experience.

Elegant Gourmet Café serves upscale Southern homestyle meals out of a historic Victorian home. Open for lunch Tuesday through Friday and for Sunday brunch, the café offers seating inside the newly renovated house or on the spacious wraparound front porch. Beautiful plating and creative side dishes elevate classic dishes, such as ham-and-cheese sandwiches, into gourmet dining experiences. The catering service specializes in weddings and all related events, including bridal showers, rehearsal dinners and even picnic lunches for guests.

GG'z Food & Spirits opens every day at noon with daily lunch specials. In the evening, the restaurant transforms into a friendly neighborhood bar. Every night brings new drink specials and occasional plates of complimentary snacks. A variable schedule of live bands and karaoke make GG'z a fine spot to go for evening entertainment.

Pedestrians find navigating Simpsonville difficult, with its noncentralized areas of housing and commerce and limited sidewalks. Many miles of bike trails run through Simpsonville parks and greenways, but no bike lanes exist on city streets, making commuting by bike implausible. Residents require cars, but fortunately, they find free parking available everywhere. Simpsonville lies within a mile of I-385, which provides an easy 15-minute commute into Greenville.

Greenlink Transit operates one bus route from Greenville to Mauldin, stopping in Simpsonville on Monday through Saturday. Uber and Lyft both operate in the area, as do many taxi services, though riders must call ahead rather than expect to be able to hail a cab.

Simpsonville's Heritage Park features something for every visitor. Athletes appreciate the park's numerous baseball and softball fields. Kids can play at the playground or ride a replica of the steam engines that once ran through town for $2 a ticket. Nature enthusiasts love the park's extensive trails and wildlife preserve.

The Parks & Recreation Department hosts many community events throughout the year. The parks celebrate the holidays with events including the Valentine's Daddy Daughter Dance and the Easter Great EGGventure. Summertime brings an outdoor movie series and Camp Kid Venture, featuring activities such as skating, bowling and trips to the water park.

The cost of living in Simpsonville runs 6 percent lower than the Greenville average. The lower cost of buying a house in Simpsonville accounts for this discrepancy. A typical one-bedroom apartment rents for $765 per month.

Riding into Greenville on a Greenlink Transit bus costs $1.50 each way, or commuters can purchase a 20-day ride pass for $27, discounted to $13.50 for seniors over 65. Commuters traveling by car find gas prices run 13 percent lower than the national average.

Local pubs regularly sell bottled and draft beers for $2 to $3.

Simpsonsville's primary commercial district lies in the center of town, near the intersection of Main Street and Curtis Street. The district houses many boutique shops as well as service providers, including photographers and cobblers.

Emily Elizabeth Paper Boutique sells elegant stationery and gifts. Specializing in wedding invitations, the boutique creates custom stationery to fit the theme of any wedding. The shop's journals and pens make wonderful gift items for any writer, and a selection of gift wraps ensure unique wrapping.

Mountain Candle Works hand pours every candle in its store. Using a production process designed to evenly distribute scent throughout the wax, Mountain Candle Works guarantees each candle smells just as good the first and last time you light it. Selling a range of pillar and jar candles along with gift baskets and aromatherapy candles, Mountain Candle Works creates the perfect candles for every taste and décor.

Gary's Guitar Garage serves guitar players of all levels. Selling only used and consignment instruments, the shop inspects, repairs and sets up every guitar that comes into the store to ensure it plays better than new guitars found at other stores.

Publix, BI-LO and Food Lion serve as the town's primary grocers. Neighboring town Fountain Town hosts the nearest farmers market. Open every Saturday morning from June to September, the market sells fresh local produce, baked goods, and arts and crafts.