Powdersville

When moving into this suburb of Greenville, South Carolina, the name breaks the ice before the new neighbors can. Welcome, found just 4 miles southwest of downtown Greenville, is a well-established community known for its sprawl of green space around residential areas and a small-town feel. "It's a friendly area that has evolved over many years, with a good mix of people looking for a starter community and others who have lived in their homes for 60 years," says Jennifer Burton, co-owner of Burton, Williams, and Co. and native of Welcome. "People relocating here are drawn to the convenience of downtown Greenville, and it has remained one of the less expensive areas near the city." Winding streets in this bedroom community are lined with bungalows, ranch homes and split-levels, many of which were developed between the 1960s and '80s and sit on hilly terrain. A drive through Welcome sees some houses perched on small banks with lush landscaping in the front yard while others sit on smaller lots lined in the back by thickly forested areas. "You can still buy a good investment property here around the $150,000 range," Burton says. "If the homes have been renovated, they can sell for $300,000. Depending on size and location, some might be priced a bit higher than that." Mass new developments haven't quite entered the neighborhood yet, but large custom builds have been popping up here and there, often selling between $400,000 and $500,000. Welcome Park features a gravel walking path and two newly refurbished, shaded playgrounds alongside a wooded creek. Benches surround the enclosed play space, allowing parents to relax while the kids explore. There's also a basketball court for games and a shaded picnic shelter to meet up with friends and have lunch. Just outside the area's southern end is Dolly Cooper Park, settled along the Saluda River. During the warm months, it's a popular site for kayaking or tubing along the waterway. Locals also use it for baseball or kickball games on the fields or a round of disc golf on the 18-hole course. There are a few errand stops along White Horse Road, such as convenience stores and Family Dollar, but most residents will head west on Route 81 to get to a large commercial center just outside of Welcome. Bunched together are big-name stores such as Walmart, Aldi and CVS. As for local restaurants, there are a few along White Horse Road, including Gus's Streetside Café, a traditional diner known for its friendly and familiar staff. Locals head to La Michoacana Ice Cream Factory on balmy summer evenings, where the flavors are as eclectic as the pastel décor. Greenville County School District serves public schools, and children can start at Welcome Elementary, which opened in the early 1900s and receives a B-plus on Niche. Students filter into Tanglewood Middle School and Carolina High School, which both get overall C-plus grades. High school students can apply for one of two magnet programs in engineering or health. Courses include civil engineering, architecture and biomedical innovation. White Horse Road is one of the area's main thoroughfares, and residents can head a couple of miles south to connect to Interstate 185. Welcome is not connected to the city's public transportation, and due to how spread out the neighborhood is, it's generally not considered very walkable or bikeable, so residents are car-dependent. The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is 18 miles east of Welcome, and downtown Greenville is just 4 miles away. One of the community's most prominent events is Rhythm on the River, which happens annually on the first weekend in May. It is set up in Dolly Cooper Park along the Saluda River and features live music of all genres, plenty of food trucks and vending booths where local artists sell their creations. As a family-friendly event, it also makes sure to include local children through game areas and allowing them to take the stage, with recent performances from the Sweet Potato Pie Kids Band and the Powdersville High School Jazz Band.