Greenville, North Carolina

Greenville, one of the fastest growing cities in the State of North Carolina, is located in Pitt County on the Tar River. American Demographics Magazine projects the city to be ranked among the top 10 places in America for growth rate of both population and employment over the next twenty years. Greenville is known as the cultural, economical, and educational hub of Eastern North Carolina. The city boasts a vibrant business community and is consistently ranked among the top places nationally to live, work, study and play. In 2004, Greenville was named Sportstown USA for the state of North Carolina by Sports Illustrated and the National Parks & Recreation Association. The city is also known as "Pro Town USA", as it is home for many top professional BMX riders, such as Dave Mirra and Ryan Nyquist.

Culture

Greenville serves as a regional entertainment hub for all of Eastern North Carolina. The area boasts a vast array of local and national-chain restaurants catering to a variety of tastes from down-home favorites to gourmet specialties. Several restaurants within the city have been recognized nationally for their barbecue and superior wine selection.

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The retail sector has acquired a regional draw bringing shoppers to Greenville from all over Eastern North Carolina. Numerous options offer shoppers variety in price, selection, and style, and range from consignment shops to boutiques, malls to commercial strips, and galleries to showrooms.

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Culture permeates on and off the East Carolina University campus. On almost any given evening, East Carolina University offers world-class musical concerts, theatrical and dance productions, travel films, and lectures. Antique stores are scattered throughout the county and offer a number of unique treasures. Also, art galleries abound featuring major art collections, traveling exhibits, and the work of local and regional artists. County-wide festivals round out the calendar celebrating everything from collards to watermelons and offer something for all ages.

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Athletics predominate the area and the fans are avid. The city and all of Eastern North Carolina have a great passion for the East Carolina University Pirates. ECU Pirates offer sporting seasons sure to get everyone on their feet cheering. Certainly, Football dominates the ECU athletic scene. However, other notable teams include the ECU Mens and Womens Basketball Teams (http://www.ecupirates.com), the ECU Baseball Team (http://www.ecupirates.com), the ECU Softball Team (http://www.ecupirates.com), ECU Track and Field (http://www.ecupirates.com), the ECU Swimming Teams (http://www.ecupirates.com) and the ECU Golf Teams (http://www.ecupirates.com). Greenville is also home to the Eastern Regional High School Football and Basketball Tournament, NC Senior Games, and hosted the Babe Ruth World Series Girl?s Softball Tournament in the Summer of 2002.

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Numerous trendy restaurants and nightclubs offer live entertainment in the evenings on the weekends and Uptown Greenville has a district that includes numerous venue options. Greenville, has also retained the reputation of the number "Party Capital" in the nation Freeboot Friday in the fall and Sunday in the Park offer great opportunities to enjoy friends and family and the seasons. And, area coffee shops provide a chance to chat with an old friend or enjoy a good book. The downtown area is known on the national level for its annual large Halloween street party and live music bars.

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