 <p>another approach</p> <pre><code>protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e) { List&lt;string&gt; list = new List&lt;string&gt;(); list.Add("Bread"); list.Add("Cheeze"); list.Add("Wine"); list.Add("Beer"); list.Add("Waffles"); GridView1.DataSource = list; GridView1.DataBind(); GridView1.Columns.Add(new BoundField()); } </code></pre>