Greenville, NC Real Estate Market

Lifestyle and Attractions

Greenville, NC is the health, entertainment, and educational hub of the Tidewater and Coastal Plain region. The downtown district has seen a huge resurgence since the Recession, rebranding itself as Uptown Greenville. The area features a large number of bars and nightclubs that are active at night and on weekends, largely thanks to ECU students. In April 2019, Sup Dogs Restaurant was named the Best College Bar in America by Barstool Sports. Uptown also has a lively restaurant scene.

Myriad arts and culture events take place on the ECU campus, and many are open to the public, including musical concerts, theatrical and dance productions, travel films, and lectures. The greater city’s arts and culture scene has been growing steadily in recent years. Today, there are many opportunities to enjoy theater, sacred organ and choral music, and ballet. Patrons of the visual arts enjoy The Greenville Museum of Art, which showcases local art as well as rotating exhibitions.

Uptown Greenville also hosts events throughout the year, such as Freeboot Fridays, Sunday in the Park, The Umbrella Market, and the Uptown Art Walk. The city is widely known for its large annual Halloween street party. And because of its position as a regional hub, Greenville is also a popular shopping destination.

Outdoor enthusiasts are also flocking to Greenville’s stretch of the Tar River, which connects to the Pamlico River and Sound. Kayaking, fishing, and boating are popular pastimes on the river, while many also enjoy camping and trail access along its banks. Greenville’s greenway system currently stretches nine miles, connecting the medical and educational community with the Uptown District and Tar River. In 2020, the city purchased 163 acres of land north of the river and plans to develop an adventure park “focusing on outdoor recreational activities such as running, hiking, biking, and camping, along with lake-based and river recreation.”

The city has diverse religious representation. Though it is predominantly Protestant Christian, other communities have been growing in recent years, including Catholic, Jewish, Islamic, and Hindu residents.

Nearby Schools and Higher Education

As of 2022, there are 13 elementary schools, five middle schools, six traditional high schools, two early college high schools, and the Health Sciences Academy in Pitt County. There are also ten private schools.

Greenville, NC is home to several higher education institutions, including Miller-Motte Technical College, Pitt Community College, and a satellite campus of Shaw University. By far, the largest institution in Greenville is East Carolina University. ECU is a public research university and the fourth largest university in North Carolina with 28,000 enrolled students. The university has nine undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, and four professional schools. The ECU Pirates excel in football and are supported in part by a National Award-winning Cheerleading squad.

History

Greenville traces its founding back to 1771, when "Martinsborough" was formed in honor of Royal Governor Josiah Martin. After the Revolutionary War, the town renamed itself in honor of the war hero General Nathanael Greene.

Throughout the 19th century, Greenville built its reputation and infrastructure around cotton, before turning to tobacco in the early 20th century. The Tar River was navigable by steamship, making the city a major export hub. By the mid-1960s, East Carolina College (now ECU) exploded in enrollment, and ECU’s medical school opened to students.

Today, Greenville’s economy is built around health care, education, and manufacturing. ECU Health and East Carolina University are the city’s largest employers. Thermo Fisher Scientific also has a large presence in the community. And Greenville is home to The HammockSource, the world's largest hammock manufacturer.