History and general information
Michael Gaffney, born in Granard, Ireland in 1775, emigrated to America in 1797, arriving in New York and moving to Charleston, South Carolina a few years later. Gaffney moved again in 1804 to the South Carolina Upcountry (The Upstate) and established a tavern and lodging house at what became known as "Gaffney's Cross Roads." The location was perfect for growth because of the two major roads which met here, one from the mountains of North Carolina to Charleston and the other from Charlotte into Georgia. Michael Gaffney died here on September 6, 1854.
In 1872, the area became known as "Gaffney City." Gaffney became the county seat of Cherokee County which was formed out of parts of York, Union, and Spartanburg Counties in 1897. Gaffney became a major center for the textile industry in South Carolina and was the backbone of the county's economy up until the 1980s.
Businesses and companies continue to locate within the city limits, especially along the bustling Floyd Baker Boulevard and Highway 105 and many other areas within the city limits.
Recent renovations in downtown Gaffney have prompted more businesses to locate there, and there is still a great deal that is planned for the central part of the city. Many plans have been announced for the downtown area, including a large 20-acre park that will be developed on the grounds of a recently demolished mill. A plaza has been completed beside city hall and includes a refurbished fountain and extensive landscaping. Highlights to the upgrade of the city's park system include a skatepark, two passive parks, and several children's playgrounds.
The city has recently hired an architectural firm to renovate the old Gaffney Post Office located at the intersection of Frederick and Granard Streets into a Visitor's Center and Art Gallery.
There are also plans for a large cultural center to be placed in the downtown area.
A farmers' market, Gaffney Station Farmers' Market, has been established in a city parking lot directly across from the old post office downtown. The farmers' market operates on Wednesdays and Saturdays June through October. There are also plans to create a more permanent site for the farmer's market at that site. The City of Gaffney plans to build a partial replica of the old train depot that was once located there. The partial replica will house a portion of the farmer's market, and also act as a landmark that calls back to the days of the old depot.
The city recently concluded Spring Session '08 of a popular concert series entitled Shindig at the Gaffney Cabin. Bands perform on a weekly basis - Fridays during the Spring Session (May) and Thursdays during the Fall Session (late August through September). Concerts are held on Thursdays during Fall Sessions so as not to conflict with Gaffney Indian football games on Friday nights. The City will hold more of those concerts in 2009, this time from April to June 2009, and again from August to October of the same year. See the City's Visitor's Website for more information.