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The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

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Morgan Square

SC PICTURE PROJECT 3 Comments

SC Picture Project / Spartanburg County / Morgan Square

Located at the intersection of Main and Magnolia Streets, Morgan Square serves as the center of downtown Spartanburg‘s business district. Originally known as Public Square, this gathering spot dates to 1787. It was renamed Morgan Square in 1881, when the US Congress gave $23,000 to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens.

Morgan Square

Larry Dent of Spartanburg, 2008 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Toward this end, Spartanburg erected a statue of General Daniel Morgan, the battle’s hero. You can see the statue of General Morgan in the photos above and below – he proudly stands near Spartanburg’s iconic town clock.

Morgan Square with Foliage

Wendy Shockley McCarty of Inman, 2019 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Incidentally the statue of Morgan has been moved around the square several times. The general now stands very close to his original location. Spartanburg’s town clock, sometimes called the ‘Heartbeat of Spartanburg’, is also located in Morgan Square. It was constructed in the late 1870s and was part of the old Opera House that once stood in the square.

Morgan Statue in Spartanburg's Morgan Square

Ann Helms of Spartanburg, 2009 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Much of this area is listed in the National Historic Register. Spartanburg went through a period of prosperity from 1880 through 1920 thanks to its booming textile and railroad industries, and many of the buildings reflect the designs of that era. Even though some of them have undergone extensive renovations, Morgan Square still maintains its historic integrity and character.

Spartanburg Town Clock in Morgan Square

Christine Kuzmich of Spartanburg, 2007 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Reflections on Morgan Square


Contributor Edward Bolds shares about his photo below: “This is Spartanburg’s ‘Old Town Clock,’ a prominent landmark in Morgan Square, first installed in 1881. The image was captured during a brilliant, late-summer sunset in 2010. This is one of many unique town clocks present in many cities and towns throughout the state.”

Morgan Square Spartanburg

Edward Bolds of Greer, 2010 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Plan Your Trip: Morgan Square

Where is Morgan Square located?
Address: West Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306
GPS Coordinates: 34.949716,-81.932169
What else should I see?
Vann Building 0.1 mile
Central United Methodist Church 0.3 mile
Spartanburg County Courthouse 0.3 mile
Hotel Oregon 0.5 mile
Show me more like this!
  • Spartanburg Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina Town Clocks
    Morgan Square Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Paige says

      August 14, 2019 at 9:12 PM

      I would like to see a picture of the “I Love You” statue there. Thanks!

      Reply
    2. Don Switzer says

      May 26, 2013 at 12:42 PM

      I spent a week in and around Spartanburg in 2009 doing genealogical research in the City’s wonderful Library, and I found both the area and the People to be most inviting. Part of this experience, a most memorable and warm part, was Morgan Square. That physical location, I later found, played a role in the history of my family–which, back in the Nineteenth Century–before the Civil War, regularly carried on a business there.

      Reply
    3. ellis says

      November 30, 2012 at 9:23 AM

      A very beautiful place

      Reply

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