Named by an early settler's wife as she gazed at the lush surroundings of her summer home, Greenwood was incorporated on December 21, 1857. Growing from a fledgling village into a town that at one time boasted "the widest Main Street in the world," the city grew due to two industries: the railroad and textiles. Railroad companies such as Piedmont & Northern and Seaboard built their way through Greenwood, while textile tycoons such as James C. Self and John Pope Abney worked hard to increase productivity and job opportunities. Soon, education, businesses, and community services followed suit. Greenwood was booming, making the small town a place of educational advancement, great entrepreneurial spirit, and community-minded individuals.