Gaffney, South Carolina Demographics

Gaffney is a city located in the Upstate of South Carolina. It is the county seat of Cherokee County, SC.

History of Gaffney

Michael Gaffney, born in Granard, Ireland in 1775, emigrated to America in 1797, arriving in New York and moving to Charleston, South Carolina a few years later. Gaffney moved again in 1804 to the South Carolina Upcountry (The Upstate) and established a tavern and lodging house at what became known as "Gaffney's Cross Roads." The location was perfect for growth because of the two major roads which met here, one from the mountains of North Carolina to Charleston and the other from Charlotte into Georgia. Michael Gaffney died here on September 6, 1854.

In 1872, the area became known as "Gaffney City." Gaffney became the county seat of Cherokee County which was formed out of parts of York, Union, and Spartanburg Counties in 1897. Gaffney became a major center for the textile industry in South Carolina and was the backbone of the county's economy up until the 1980s.

Despite the small amount of population growth, businesses and companies continue to locate within the city limits, especially along the bustling Floyd Baker Boulevard and Highway 105 and many other areas within the city limits, however, most population growth occurs outside the city limits.
Uptown Gaffney began to languish after I-85 was built in the county as industries located near the new highway. Recent renovations in downtown Gaffney have prompted more businesses to locate there, but there is still a great deal that is planned for the central part of the city. Many plans have been announced for the downtown area, including a large 20-acre (81,000 m2) park that will be developed on the grounds of a recently demolished mill. A plaza has been completed beside city hall and includes a refurbished fountain and extensive landscaping. Highlights to the upgrade of the city's park system include a skatepark, two passive parks, and several children's playgrounds.

The city has recently hired an architectural firm to renovate the old Gaffney Post Office located at the intersection of Frederick and Granard Streets into a Visitor's Center and Art Gallery. There are also plans for a large cultural center to be placed in the downtown area.

A farmers' market, Gaffney Station Farmers' Market, has been established in a city parking lot directly across from the old post office downtown. The farmers' market operates on Wednesdays and Saturdays June through October. There are also plans to create a more permanent site for the farmer's market at that site. The City of Gaffney plans to build a partial replica of the old train.

Two serial killers have at different times attacked residents of Gaffney. In 1968 Lee Roy Martin, known as the Gaffney Strangler, killed four women. In 2009, a series of shootings led to five deaths.

Transportation

The Upstate region is served by Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (IATA: GSP, ICAO: KGSP), also known as GSP International Airport. GSP is South Carolina's busiest airport. Recent studies have proved that an airport is strongly needed in the county. Cherokee County is the only county in South Carolina without an airport. Requests are now being made to the federal government to support the construction of the new airport. Studies are also determining where the airport, if built, should be built. Gaffney is located on the Interstate 85 corridor, linking it to Atlanta and Charlotte, and Interstate 26, which is in nearby Spartanburg, linking Gaffney to Asheville and the Mid-Atlantic.

The Peach

The Peach Public transit is available through the Gaffney Cab Company for a relatively low fare. Travellers know Gaffney from the Peachoid Peach water tower located along Interstate 85. The Peachoid is a water tower shaped like a peach which some think as an erotic scuplture upon first view. It serves both artistic and practical functions.

Notable people from Gaffney

Notable figures who were born in, lived in, or are otherwise associated with Gaffney.

  • Robert E. Hall, Eleventh Sergeant Major of the Army Oct 21, 1997 - June 23, 2000

  • Mikki Moore, professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics.

  • W.J. Cash, author

  • Kertus Davis, NASCAR driver

  • Andie MacDowell, actress

  • Rocky McIntosh, professional football player, the Washington Redskins

  • Sidney Rice, professional football player, the Minnesota Vikings

  • Andy Strickland, professional football player, the Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Michael McCluney, Making the Band 4 winner and singer

  • Arizona Reid, plays in the Italian Legadue for the Pallacanestro Varese.

  • Dominique Stevenson, former football player for the Tennessee Volunteers and the Buffalo Bills.


Learn more about Gaffney, South Carolina