Charleston, SC ... a great place to live!

 Charleston South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina is considered to be America's most beautiful city with historic attractions, lovely churches, museums, and galleries. Everywhere, its old streets are lined with picturesque and architecturally significant homes. The surrounding areas offer world famous gardens, elegant plantations, and superlative white sand beaches.

Quality education, transportation, health care, a variety of affordable housing, and low taxes combine to create an ideal environment for personal and business endeavors.

Beaches

There are public and private beaches scattered along the coast. In the East Cooper area, you can sun on the beaches of Sullivan's Island and Isle of Palms or in the more secluded area of Wild Dunes. To the south of Charleston is Folly Beach, popular with area surfers. Kiawah Island offers a public beach with limited parking and Seabrook Island is private.

 

Fishing, Boating, and Sailing

Sailing is one of Charleston's favorite year-round sports with regattas sponsored during the season by the College of Charleston and area yacht clubs. Fishing opportunities are abundant whether from a chartered boat for deep-sea fishing, a local pier, or the surf. Freshwater fishing is at its best in Berkeley County's Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion, highly regarded by the nation's recreational fishermen. Crabbing and shrimping are also popular leisure time activities. Endless creeks and rivers provide the best boating, waterskiing, or just exploring available in South Carolina. Public boat landings abound in the Metro area with Charleston being home to some of the finest marinas along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Golf, Tennis, and Swimming

Golf is one of Charleston's most popular sports. From Patroit's Point Golf Course to the nationally ranked course at Wild Dunes, there is a course for everyone. Tennis can be found at private residential clubs, as well as in the city's parks. Numerous invitational tournaments throughout the Metro area attract pro players, and also involve local residents. Novice swim teams, formed in neighborhood pools, are extremely popular with young people.

 

Hunting

Sportsmen enjoy hunting quail, dove, duck, and deer at local reserves. Organized hunts are provided by hunting clubs.

Scenic Attractions

Nature and history enthusiasts will find an abundance of wildlife refuges and pre-Civil War plantations. For bird watchers, the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, Bull's Island, and Drum Island offer over 250 species. Among the plantations open to the public are Middleton Place, Magnolia Gardens, Drayton Hall, Boone Hall, and Cypress Gardens.

Charleston SC, golf, beaches, fishing, hunting, attractions,and boating | Charleston, South Carolina is considered to be America's most beautiful city with historic attractions, lovely churches, museums, and galleries.

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County population in 2005: 330,368 (87% urban, 13% rural)
County owner-occupied houses and condos: 75,291
Renter-occupied apartments: 48,035

% of renters here:   39%
State:   28%
Land area: 919 sq. mi.
Water area: 439.6 sq. mi.
Population density: 360 people per square mile 
 
 (high).
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2005: 15.2%
Charleston County:   15.2%
South Carolina:   15.6%
(8.5% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 25.8% for Black residents)

Median age of residents in 2005: 35 years ols
(Males: 34 years old, Females: 36 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 39 years old, Black residents: 31 years old, American Indian residents: 45 years old, Asian residents: 31 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 26 years old, Other race residents: 25 years old)

Type of workers:

  • Private wage or salary: 73%
  • Government: 20%
  • Self-employed, not incorporated: 7%
  • Unpaid family work: 0%


Races in Charleston County, South Carolina:

  • White Non-Hispanic (60.8%)
  • Black (34.5%)
  • Hispanic (2.4%)
  • Two or more races (1.2%)
  • Other race (1.0%)
  • American Indian (0.6%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Median resident age:   34.5 years
South Carolina median age:   35.4 years

Males: 149,787   (48.3%)
Females: 160,182   (51.7%)
Average wage per job in 2003: $31,405
County population in 2003: 321,113
Jobs in 2003: 218,780


Total labor force in 2004: 166,024
Unemployment rate in 2004: 5.4%

Average household size:
Charleston County:   2.4 people
South Carolina:   2.5 people

Median household income in 2005: $43,213
2005 median house value: $199,600
Median contract rent in 2005: $642
Median monthly housing costs in 2005: $871
Estimated median household income in 2005: $40,088 ($37,810 in 2000)
This county   $40,088
South Carolina:   $39,316

Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $177,204
Charleston County   $177,204
South Carolina:   $113,100

Median montly rent in 2000: $605
Institutionalized population: 3,306
Median monthly costs for houses with a mortgage in Charleston County in 2000: $1056

Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

  • Murders: 6
  • Rapes: 39
  • Robberies: 98
  • Assaults: 722
  • Burglaries: 817
  • Thefts: 1756
  • Auto thefts: 440

Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

  • Murders: 4
  • Rapes: 38
  • Robberies: 85
  • Assaults: 849
  • Burglaries: 745
  • Thefts: 1868
  • Auto thefts: 391

Health of residents in Charleston County based on 445 CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Questionnaires from 2002 to 2004:
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) is 3.8. This is signifcantly better than average.
80.2% of residents exercised in the past month. This is about average.
33.8% of residents had a sunburn in the past 12 months. This is about average.
45.9% of residents smoked 100+ cigarettes in their lives. This is about average.
62.9% of residents drank alcohol in the past 30 days. This is more than average.
71.4% of residents visited a dentist within the past year. This is about average.
Average weight of males is 190 pounds. This is about average.
Average weight of females is 153 pounds. This is about average.


Single-family new house construction building permits:
  • 2004: 4284 buildings, average cost: $162,000
  • 2005: 4374 buildings, average cost: $201,300
  • 2006: 3958 buildings, average cost: $211,800

 

Bush/Cheney (Republican): 51.6%
Kerry/Edwards (Democratic): 46.8%

Area name: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Charleston County is $586 a month.
Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $663 a month.
Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $864 a month.

Cities in this county include: Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Ladson, Isle of Palms, Hollywood, Ravenel, Folly Beach, Seabrook Island, Meggett.

2005 air pollution in Charleston County:

Carbon Monoxide: 1 ppm (standard limit: 9 ppm). Below U.S. average.
Lead: 0.00 µg/m3 (standard limit: 1.5 µg/m3). Near U.S. average.
Nitrogen Dioxide: 0.01 ppm (standard limit: 0.053 ppm). Near U.S. average.
Ozone (1-hour): 0.085 ppm (standard limit: 0.12 ppm). Near U.S. average.
Ozone (8-hour): 0.077 ppm (standard limit: 0.08 ppm). Near U.S. average.
Particulate Matter (PM10) Annual: 21 µg/m3. Near U.S. average.
Particulate Matter (PM10) 24-hour (standard limit: 150 µg/m3): 48 µg/m3. Near U.S. average.
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Annual (standard limit: 15.0 µg/m3): 12.3 µg/m3. Near U.S. average.
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) 24-hour (standard limit: 35 µg/m3): 33 µg/m3. Near U.S. average.
Sulfur Oxides Annual: 0.003 ppm (standard limit: 0.03 ppm). Near U.S. average.
Sulfur Oxides 24-hour: 0.012 ppm (standard limit: 0.14 ppm). Near U.S. average.

Notable locations in this county outside city limits:

Notable locations in Charleston County: Point Farm (A), Fishburn Landing (B), South Windmill (C), Magnolia-on-the-Ashley (D), Prospect Plantation (E), Oakland Plantation (F), Big Oaks Hunting Club (G), Silver Hill Plantation (H), Cottage Plantation (I), New Cut Plantation (J), Harrietta Plantation (K), Fort Johnson Marine Biological Station (L), Mullet Hall (M), Boone Hall Plantation (N), Hampton Plantation (O), Hutton Plantation (P), Halfway Creek Trail Camp (Q), Peters Point Plantation (R), Brookland Plantation (S), Seven Oaks (T). 

Churches in Charleston County include: Promised Land Church (A), Blessed Sacrament Church (B), Hopewell Church (C), Our Chapel (D), Osborn Church (E), Olive Branch Church (F), Calvary Church (G), Lovely Hill Missionary Baptist Church (H), New Hope Church (I). 



Current college students: 25,683
People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 81.5%
People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 30.7%

Number of foreign born residents: 11,124 (38% naturalized citizens)

Charleston County:   3.6%
Whole state:   2.9%

  • 1995 to March 2000: 4,006
  • 1990 to 1994: 1,848
  • 1985 to 1989: 1,170
  • 1980 to 1984: 935
  • 1975 to 1979: 632
  • 1970 to 1974: 582
  • 1970 to 1974: 492
  • 1965 to 1969: 1,459

Mean travel time to work: 22.6 minutes

Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 89.6%

 

Housing units in structures:

  • One, detached: 82,286
  • One, attached: 6,868
  • Two: 6,214
  • 3 or 4: 8,959
  • 5 to 9: 11,824
  • 10 to 19: 6,205
  • 20 or more: 6,124
  • Mobile homes: 12,463
  • Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 88

Housing units in Charleston County with a mortgage: 43,623 (5,722 second mortgage, 6,156 home equity loan, 250 both second mortgage and home equity loan)
Houses without a mortgage: 17,938


Agriculture in Charleston County
Average size of farms: 114 acres
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $43329
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $3130.83
The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 40.48%
The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 11.54%
Average total farm production expenses per farm: $37999
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 10.74%
Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 29.58%
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $38954
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 84.65%
Average age of principal farm operators: 57 years
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 3.68
Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 0.23%
Corn for grain: 453 harvested acres
All wheat for grain: 121 harvested acres
Vegetables: 1618 harvested acres
Land in orchards: 365 acres

Charleston County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is below South Carolina state average. It is 1.2 times below overall U.S. average.
Tornadoes in this county have caused 16 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004.
On 9/11/1960, a category 3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado injured 10 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.

Charleston Area School Information Links Below:

South Carolina Department of Education- Jim Rex

Charleston Private School Guide

Charleston County Schools

School TREE Lookup

Area Colleges:

The College of Charleston

The Charleston School of Law

The Citadel

The Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston Southern

Trident Technical College and Culinary Institute

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