Heritage 

Greenville was named for Thomas J. Green, a general in the Texas Army in the war for independence from Mexico and, later, a member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas. (The city narrowly escaped being named “Pinckneyville” in honor of James Pinckney Henderson, the first Governor of Texas!) Hunt County commemorates Memucan Hunt, another Texas freedom fighter and Minister to the United States for the Republic.

The rich blackland soil that stuck to shoes and buggy wheels when wet proved to be a real economic asset. It grew a high quality cotton used by English spinning and weaving mills.

Cotton brought the railroads to Greenville and with them growth and prosperity. The “cotton capital of the world,” Greenville soon boasted the world’s largest inland cotton compress, a population of several thousand and six railway lines.

During the harvest season, cotton brought a “snowfall” to the downtown square as tufts of white pulled from bales for examination by cotton buyers floated into drifts around the courthouse.

As the area began to shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy in the 1950s, Greenville prepared for the future by developing an industrial park. Additional industry grew at the converted World War II Majors Field Army Air Corp base, now serving as the municipal airport.

A former Governor of Texas has stated, “Greenville stands a model of a community that planned smart and worked hard.”

Throughout Greenville’s history, economic growth has been accompanied by attention to the social, spiritual and recreational needs of our citizens. The community’s many civic organizations, churches and city-wide festivals and celebrations are enhanced by the availability of local parks, museums, library, golf courses, and nearby lakes.

The conveniences of an industrialized city, coupled with a “hometown” attitude, make Greenville a great place to work and a great place to live!

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