Gaffney – Gaffney is a city in Cherokee County, South Carolina. As of the 2005 estimate, the city population was 13,149. It is the county seat of Cherokee County. It is the principal city of the Gaffney, South Carolina, Micropolitan Statistical Area (population 52,537 according to year 2000 estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau), an (MSA) which includes all of Cherokee County and which is further included in the greater Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina Combined Statistical Area (population 1,185,534 according to year 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimates).
   
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Gaffney 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.
Despite the small of amount of residential and population growth, 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; however, most population growth occurs outside the city limits.
Uptown Gaffney began to languish after I-85 was built in the county as industries located near the new highway. Recent renovations in downtown Gaffney have prompted more businesses to locate there, but 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. There are also plans for a large and diverse cultural center to be placed in the downtown area. There are plans for a farmers' market to be built on a site in or near the downtown area. The city's park system is also receiving a huge upgrade as city council recently approved the construction of several parks in various neighborhoods in the city. These plans include a skateboard park, a passive park, and several childrens' playgrounds.
