Its permanent settlers soon were shaping Greensborough, as it was then spelled, into an educational and economic center. Quaker settlers started a boarding school for training teachers, now known as Guilford College, which was the first co-educational institution in the South. Greensboro was ahead of most cities in promoting higher education for women and African Americans. The city's early prosperity was propelled by the completion of railroad tracks in 1856. Henry Humphreys already had built the state's first steam-powered cotton mill in 1828, but a stop on the N.C. Railroad was a sure way to attract more businesses.
Textiles still play a key role in Greensboro's economy.
Today, the city hosts VF Corporation's world headquarters, plus companies such as Cone Mills, Guilford Mills and Unifi. Much of Greensboro's past is maintained in the Downtown Historic District, which includes antique shops, restaurants and city landmarks. The Greensboro Historical Museum preserves the area's place in American history with exhibits on military campaigns and the Woolworth's sit-ins that helped speed up the civil rights movement. Modern Greensboro offers an array of entertainment and cultural events. The streets of downtown light up several times a year with annual festivals, such as CityStage in October and the Fun Fourth Festival in July.