Converse CollegeLocal Atmosphere Summary

Written by Gwendolyn Smith

Gwendolyn Smith

Hometown

Greenville, SC

Major

English

View all previous student authors

While the Spartanburg community does not roll out the red carpet for college students, it is quite welcoming and friendly. The town has six different colleges to help stimulate the economy, and locals are aware of the economic impact of Converse and other schools. Despite the presence of six different colleges, Spartanburg is still very much a small city, as opposed to an exciting college town. The small-city atmosphere can be charming, particularly in the downtown area, but it can also be frustrating if you’re looking for something to do. Many students go home or go to other cities on the weekends. The Converse campus is definitely sleepy from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening.

While there isn't a crazy number of things to do in Spartanburg, there are still some options for those who decide to hang out in town on the weekends. There are shopping centers on both sides of town and a mall in the Westside neighborhood. The downtown area also has several independent boutiques. In addition to the cultural activities sponsored by the city’s colleges, Spartanburg is also home to the Chapman Cultural Center and Hub-Bub (which encourages people to get excited about art). However, Spartanburg is lacking in other areas. There are no professional or minor league sports in the area, so the only sports events are those sponsored by the city’s colleges. Many bars and other hangouts either close early or are open only to those 21-and-over. In addition to the lack of nightlife, some areas of Spartanburg can be very unsafe. While statistics vary from report to report, the city consistently tops national crime rates.