Legendary Locals of Greer

Greer, an 1876 railroad town, was founded by people who moved from farms,  the mountain region of the Dark Corner, and other small communities  to the area around Greer's Depot with high expectations of prosperity  promised by railroad commerce and, later, the cotton mills. Like a colorful  quilt with its individual patches, the early population of Greer included  farmers, store keepers, laborers skilled and unskilled, and their wives and  families. As the town grew, investors funded three local cotton mills; mill  hands and supervisors arrived to operate them. The bankers, attorneys,  physicians, teachers, and ministers followed. Eager to succeed, they all  labored long and hard, some heroically like Officer William Foster and  volunteer fireman Carl Miller, who died in the line of duty. Greer folk  reared families, provided education, and imbued their children with strong  moral and religious values. Their descendents continue to populate the city  today with a strong sense of community pride.