SOUTH CAROLINA 4 : Northwest - Greenville; Spartanburg

Located in northwestern South Carolina, the 4th is centered on Greenville County, the state's most populous. Successful manufacturing ventures have transformed the area from its textile past. Greenville now claims to have more engineers per capita than any other county in the nation.

Similar patterns of economic growth have helped Spartanburg to the northeast, which has attracted some big companies, including BMW. The car-maker began production at its first North American assembly plant in 1994 in Spartanburg, now the sole producer of the Z3 Roadster.

Spreading wealth has helped keep this district solidly Republican. Voters tend to reward candidates who emphasize taxes and tort reform. The district, nicknamed the "buckle of the Bible Belt," remains socially conservative, especially around Greenville-based Bob Jones U. While Spartanburg County has developed a more Democratic-leaning base with its German, Swiss, Japanese, Indian and British immigrants, many still opt for GOP candidates.

Major Industry
Engineering, manufacturing, textiles

Population
581,385 (1990)

Cities
Greenville, 57,064; Spartanburg, 42,136 (1996); Wade Hampton (unincorporated), 20,014 (1990)

People
60% urban; 12% age 65+ (ranks second of six in state; middle third nationally); 58% married couples, 26% married couples with children; 18% college educated (ranks third of six in state; middle third nationally); 52% white collar (ranks third of six in state; bottom third nationally), 36% blue collar (ranks fourth of six in state; top third nationally) (1990)

Race
79% white, 20% black, 1% Asian; 1% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$27,703 (ranks third of six in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Cowpens National Battlefield, near Chesnee, where in 1781 American forces outwitted a larger British contingent by passing around both flanks at the same time, the first and only time the double envelopment maneuver had been successfully executed on American soil.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company