Greensboro is part of what is known as the Triad area that includes Greensboro, Highpoint and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. These cities represent some of the most thriving populations in North Carolina, a true representation of home, hearth, and American sports. Their love of their sports teams is reflected in their stadiums, the attendance of each game and the scoreboards that keep the cheering on. However, it wasn’t always so. Greensboro, like many towns of the area had to fight to get where they are.
The area that is currently Greensboro was at the heart of a number of battles throughout history. From the British Army to the Civil War, Greensboro seemed to be in the path of those that wanted it as a stronghold or possession. The area was known for its wild woodlands and huckleberry bushes and both growth and progress was initially a difficult task for the area.
The town itself was originally purchased and there were about 369 people in residence in 1821. Greensboro didn’t experience any real expansion until it was chosen as part of the railroad service. At that time, it had a quick explosion when it became The Gate City as the center for the transport of supplies and products for the budding textile mill productions. With its rich land, Greensboro eventually became the industrial headquarters for many of the textile companies. The expansion into the cotton industry opened up new avenues of income and both wealth and mansions became a common thing in Greensboro. Sports is another hot topic in Greensboro and can be seen by the attendance of every game as well as the team points on the scoreboards.
Industry seemed to ‘take a liking’ to the Greensboro area and this continued into the twentieth century. More corporations, plants and industries began to call Greensboro home. The success of the area continued in an unprecedented manner, even during the Great Depression. One of the few areas of the country whose economy was actually blossoming, it became the center of a migration for those seeking a better life.
The negative notoriety for Greensboro began during the Civil Rights Movement. As a southern state, it had battled its own demons when it came to discrimination against Black Americans. The social injustice culminated when four black university students sat at a lunch counter at Woolworth’s and refused to vacate when they weren’t given any service This one act broke the backs of the already heavy burden of discrimination of the area. Through protests and marches, progress on this topic came very slowly. Change is difficult and often painful. The second notoriety came during a rally held by the Communist Workers Party against the KKK. Ku Klux Klan members banded with neo-Nazis and gun fire rang out to eventually kill seven of the members of the CWP and end with seven others wounded. Both of these were dark days for Greensboro and reflected a time and era that was embedded with many years of history and emotion.
The Greensboro of today has made an enormous leap to the future. The focus of progress and technology, combined with education and history has gained a new respect for the Greensboro area. The arts, museums and stadiums reflect a more enlightened community with their goals set on moving forward and yet learning from the past. With the upgrade in lifestyle, there has also been enhancements in their sports fields and scoreboards. Baseball is a main attractionin Greensboro and attendance of the local games brings a sense of loyalty to all that show up. It has been a long hard road, but the citizens of Greensboro are finally there.