The historic downtown square of Laurens is situated at the intersection of East Main Street and South Harper Street, offering residents a mix of southern hospitality and urban convenience through local eateries and historic charm. Laurens was established in the mid-1700s on the backs of industries like textiles, manufacturing and glass like many areas in the South. In 2005, the community got a makeover after being featured on the TV show ‘Town Haul’ when a park and an amphitheater were built to bring some life into the small city 40 miles southeast of Greenville. Since then, Laurens has continued to celebrate its history at the Laurens County Museum, offer scenic green space like Little River Park and maintain a local small-town feel through annual events like Squealin’ on the Square.
An aerial overview of Laurens Downtown.
The Laurens County Museum offers a rich history of the area.
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American Foursquares and brick facade ramblers
Laurens features a range of housing options from two-story American Foursquares and brick facade ranch styles to newly-constructed modern traditionals. The community boasts both single and multi-family homes while also balancing the charm of older homes with new construction moving into the area. With a median sales price of $212,000, price points here can range from the low $100,000s to upwards of the low $500,000s depending on the age, size and location of the property. For example, a two-bedroom renovated ranch-style costs around $130,000, while a four-bedroom modern traditional with a covered porch can go for around $513,000. Homes neighboring the downtown area are subject to increased price points. Homes here often feature front porches, paved driveways and are typically fronted by well-maintained mid-sized yards with enough room for a few shrubs and smaller trees. “Laurens attracts first-time homebuyers and offers both new builds and older homes dating back nearly a century,” says Sarah Hill, broker for 864 Realty.
American Foursquare homes are common throughout the Laurens community.
A row of colonial and classic homes located in Laurens.
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Local greenery and the Laurens County Museum
Residents here are within walking distance of the park benches and riverfront walking trails found at Little River Park. Locals often take the family pup for a walk here or allow their children to take advantage of the onsite playground with monkey bars. For a pick-up game of football or baseball, visit the multi-sports fields at Laurens City Parks and Recreation where Little League games are common in the Spring. History enthusiasts are in luck with Laurens County Museum located at the heart of downtown Laurens, which is dedicated to preserving Laurens County history and features three major exhibits and displays of artifacts from before European settlement. The museum is located at South Public Square within the Witherspoon Building. “Laurens has been working on making the downtown area livelier,” says Cathy Clay, Realtor with Allen Tate. “There are live bands on the weekends, and they just built a splash pad for kids right off the square.”
Little River Park 9
Laurens City Parks and Recreation has something to offer for everyone living in Laurens, SC.
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Shopping at The Shoppes
When shopping within the area, locals head to The Shoppes off East Main Street, which offers a variety of department stores and retailers to choose from like Belk, Dollar General and Goodwill. While groceries and other everyday essentials are available at nearby stores like Wal-Mart, Ingles Market and Walgreens. When dining in the area, residents start their mornings off with a latte from the quaint Courthouse Coffee which has court-themed drinks like ‘The Gavel’ or visit Roma for Italian cuisine and an outdoor dining experience with views of the historic courthouse. For an upscale dining experience, head to Rootimentary for intimate seating with southern-inspired dishes.
Locals enjoy visiting the Courthouse Coffee Cafe.
Belk is a clothes store in Laurens.
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The annual Squealin’ on the Square cook-off
In October every year, the Courthouse Square turns into a barbecue pit for ‘Squealin’ on the Square’ — a championship BBQ cook-off that draws in teams from across the southeast who compete for cash and prizes. Laurens residents attend the event for free and enjoy the barbecue, tractor/car show, live music and local vendors from eateries to homemade knick-knacks.
Enjoy public seating on the square near teh courthouse in Laurens SC.
Education at Laurens County Schools
Students in Laurens can attend schools like Laurens Elementary, Laurens Middle and Laurens District High School, which have received ratings of C-plus, C-plus and C from the educational review site, Niche. Laurens Elementary School is dedicated to getting books into students' homes through its partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, while Laurens Middle School offers a student-teacher ratio of 15:1. Laurens District High School offers an advanced curriculum with Advanced Placement (AP) courses for higher education preparation. Private institutions like Laurens Academy and Lighthouse Christian Academy are also common here.
Laurens Elematary in Laurens SC where students show their "Pride".
Laurens Middle Schools is one of 2 highly rated middle schools in Laurens
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Transportation around Laurens
Laurens is primarily car-dependent and relies on East Main Street and South Harper Street for easy access to major highways and neighboring areas like Hickory Tavern and Clinton. For those seeking to travel longer distances, the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is 40 miles away from Laurens. When seeking healthcare, the Prisma Health Laurens County Hospital is located just 5 miles from the community.
The Prisma Health Laurens Hospital is located close to Laurens Downtown.
Laurens has various highway systems that connect it to other cities like Greenville, SC.
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