Space History:

The Spartanburg Area Conservancy (SPACE) is a small land trust located in northwestern South Carolina at the foot of the mountains (piedmont) adjacent to North Carolina. Formerly a rural agricultural area, the Spartanburg area is now a large manufacturing and international business center with more than 110 international firms, including BMW Manufacturing Corporation, as well as six colleges and universities, including Converse College, Wofford College, and the University of South Carolina Upstate. The city of Spartanburg’s population is approximately 40,000, and Spartanburg County has a population of about 262,000. Union County is more sparsely populated with a largely agrarian economy.

SPACE was created in 1989 when directors of a local community foundation became concerned over rapid growth and the increasing loss of greenspace and habitat. Through fee ownerships and conservation easements, we have protected 2,537 acres in Spartanburg and Union Counties, comprised of nine fee owned properties (four of which are nature preserves managed for the public’s enjoyment and education) and 19 conservation easements. Our strategic conservation focus is on the Pacolet Watershed, which is the source of most of our drinking water, as well as land that is adjacent to other area rivers and streams. In addition to protecting critical watersheds, our protected properties encompass varied, unique features, including historically significant land, wetlands, farms, forests, geological formations, and habitat for numerous rare and/or threatened animals, birds, reptiles, wildflowers, trees, and other plant species.

SPACE’s conservation success has been enhanced through partnerships with regional and community conservation groups, such as the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the Nature Conservancy, Upstate Forever, and the South Carolina Conservation Bank.

For more info and Land Trusts please visit FindaLandTrust.org