Contact Info:
Rick Mulkey,
Director of MFA in Creative Writing,
Department of English,
Converse College,
580 East Main St.,
Spartanburg, SC 29302
(864) 596-9111

About Spartanburg, SC

Located in one of the academic centers of South Carolina, Spartanburg is a college town boasting six institutions of higher learning, an award-winning independent press, a new cultural arts center, and an active arts scene. Recently rated as the “best city to live in South Carolina,” it is also the first and only city in the state of South Carolina to receive the designation as a Bicycle-Friendly Community by the Washington-based League of American Bicyclists.

Downtown Spartanburg is within easy walking distance of the college and features coffee shops, live music, pubs, a wine bar, a cigar bar, a variety of restaurants, including traditional diners, burger joints, barbecue, continental, and international cuisine. Several art museums, arts organizations and venues are also nearby, including The Chapman Cultural Center, Spartanburg's cultural anchor for history, art, theatre, dance, music, and science, located in a three building complex less than a mile from campus, and The Showroom, the home of Hub-Bub, a new center for progressive arts in the community which houses a gallery, film screen, stage, and concert venue and is home to a nationally-recognized artist residency program, and to The Hub City Writers Project, an award-winning independent literary press.

Spartanburg’s proximity to the North Carolina mountains and the South Carolina coast make it an attractive location for biking, kayaking, horseback riding, fishing and climbing.

Spartanburg Quick Facts:

Greater Metropolitan Population: approximately 250,000
City of Spartanburg Population: 44,500
Avg. Age: 33 years old
Climate:

Average annual temperature: 66 degrees F.
Average July maximum temperature: 97 degrees F.
Average January minimum temperature: 35 degrees F.

Click here for more profile information on Spartanburg, SC.

Additional Things to Do:

Shopping: Enjoy a full range of shopping in and around Spartanburg. Westgate Mall is among the largest in the state and Spartanburg’s downtown shopping district, just minutes from Converse, offers a blend of specialty shops and full-service department stores.

Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium: See a full range of concerts, entertainers, Broadway shows, business and trade shows, indoor sports, and other events. Recent performers include Bob Dylan, Harry Connick, Jr., Tori Amos, and touring presentations of recent Broadway shows.

Recreation: Enjoy tennis, walking, running, soccer, golfing, and camping through 33 city and county parks.

For more information about Spartanburg, visit the Spartanburg Visitors Bureau, Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce Web, the City of Spartanburg’s official site, the College Town Consortium website, or the Spartanburg, SC MySpace page.