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Geography
The City of
Charleston is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean at
the juncture of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. Occupying 88.14
square miles, Charleston has 7.6 square miles of a vital,
bustling downtown which is home to the City's central business
district. The Peninsula's dense urban streets set in dramatic
contrast to the vast expanses of marsh which lay in buffer
around the highlands. Over half of the City's population lives
in West Ashley and James Island which lie just to the west of
the Peninsula. West Ashley and James Island are a mixture of
old and new; older neighborhoods with brick homes and graceful
oak trees settle in with newer subdivisions and commercial
centers. Johns Island, more rural in character, combines an
intricate network of waterways with fertile farmland,
residential property and limited commercial development.
Daniel Island and the Cainhoy Peninsula, which lie east and
north of the Peninsula, are among the most recently annexed
areas of the City. The pristine Daniel Island, a full 4,500
acres in size, is just beginning to reflect the thoughtfully
planned, environmentally sensitive community mapped out in the
Daniel Island Master Plan. It is sure to be the future's
complement to Charleston's historic downtown.
See also:
Charleston Area Beaches.
Population
Charleston is the second largest city in South Carolina with
an estimated 1998 population of 100,122. Between 1980 and 1990
Charleston grew 15 percent while the nation as a whole grew
9.8 percent. The City's growth is due to the annexed lands in
West Ashley, James Island, Johns Island and the Cainhoy
Peninsula.
The Charleston Metropolitan Statistical Area encompasses three counties:
Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester. In 1990, the population
of this tri-county region was 506,875. More than 95 percent of
the region's growth during the past ten years occurred in the
Metro Charleston area. The projected population growth to the
year 2015 is an additional 600,000 for the tri-county area.
Climate
Charleston has a
warm climate. In January the average temperature is 55 degrees
F; in July, the average is 82 degrees. Humidity averages 86
percent; rainfall, 52 inches per year. The first frost
typically occurs around December 10; the last usually occurs
in mid-February.
See also:
Other Weather Information
Recreation
As in other
coastal cities, recreation in Charleston centers around water.
Tennis and golf are popular, too and the mild climate makes
them year-round sports. The City operates a municipal golf
course and 40 tennis courts. The City's numerous parks and
scenic, tree-lined streets provide ample space and a beautiful
backdrop for walking, jogging and cycling. The annual Cooper
River Bridge Run, attracting over 25,000 participants, is one
of the most popular roadraces in the Southeast. The City's
Waterfront Park, deemed "this generation's gift to the future"
by Mayor Riley, is a popular destination for residents and
visitors alike. Hosts of private and County facilities round
out the City's extensive inventory of recreational
facilities.
See also: Charleston Area Beaches
and Charleston Area Golfing
Economy
Charleston is the largest business and financial center for
the Southeastern section of South Carolina. The economy of the
tri-county area has expanded steadily over the past few years.
Manufacturing, the military, the State Ports Authority and
tourism were the engines behind that expansion. The military
alone employed 19 percent of the area's work force and pumped
over $4 billion annually into the local economy. For this
reason, there was concern in 1992 when the Navy announced it
was shutting down its Charleston base and shipyard. Community
leaders rallied together with a renewed effort to fill the
void that would be left by the exiting Naval presence. By 1995
a record 1.2 billion dollars of capital investment in this
area was figured to bring about 8,000 new
jobs.
The medical industry
accounts for approximately 16,000 jobs in the regional
economy. The primary medical complex occupies an eight block
area in downtown Charleston. The medical center includes The
Medical University of South Carolina, which employs
approximately 7,500 people and has a $1 billion annual impact
on the regional economy. Roper Hospital employs approximately
2,170. A third hospital, Charleston County Memorial Hospital,
is owned by Charleston County and operated by The Medical
University of South Carolina. Bon Secours-St. Francis Xavier
Hospital and Veterans Administration Medical Center are also a
part of the downtown medical
complex.
A 1996 Gamble Givens & Moody business survey concluded that Charleston's
economy is sound and growing. Economic boom is evident in the
vast newly connected lands of Daniel Island and Cainhoy. The
Charleston Regional Development Alliance is responsible for
securing about 5,000 new positions, including the Nucor steel
plant and high quality tabletop product manufacturer Mikasa
for the Cainhoy area. Two other recent additions to Cainhoy
are a new administrative facility for health insurance
provider, Healthsource and the Cainhoy area's first school,
Bishop England High School.
More than 8 million tons of cargo pass through the Port of Charleston each
year. As the largest containerized cargo port on the Southeast
Atlantic and Gulf Coasts and the seventh largest nationwide,
the port annually handles over 6.8 million tons of cargo and
employs an estimated 17,000 people (directly and indirectly).
Confidence in the port's expanding future is evident in BMW
Corporation's recent decision to import and export around the
world from these docks. The Port of Charleston promises to be
a cornerstone of the area's future economic growth.
Revitilization and Development
Completed in 2000,
The South Carolina Aquarium, showcases exhibits of South
Carolina's waterways from the mountains to the sea and
includes thousands of animals and plants. Also completed in
2000, and located adjacent to the South Carolina Aquarium, is
the new IMAX Theatre.
The Ashley River Walkway - a combination bikeway and
promenade - is in the planning stages and will wrap around the
eastern side of the Peninsula. Ultimately, the Walkway would
link the new City baseball stadium, just north of Brittlebank
Park on the Ashley River, with the South Carolina Aquarium
A major catalyst in the City's revitalization was the completion of
Charleston Place in 1986. This luxury hotel/retail complex
draws a steady stream of customers to its shops as well as to
neighboring stores and restaurants along King, Meeting and
Market Streets. With the Hampton Inn redevelopment, the
refurbishment of the stately Francis Marion Hotel and the
conversion of the old Citadel into Embassy Suites, this area
is experiencing a resounding boom. A well-appointed landmark,
Marion Square Park is undergoing a redesign and will be
entirely surrounded by development successes and two revered
churches.
In 1991, Charleston opened the gates to its Visitor Reception and Transportation
Center (VRTC) on Meeting Street. The VRTC represents a
significant alliance of historic preservation and tourism
management. It is housed in an 1856 railroad freight station.
In the renovation of the structure, the City has salvaged the
rustic feel of the old depot - original beams and pine floors
still greet the Charleston visitor.
Several
other developments enlivened the City and secured its position
as a wonderful place to live. In 1990, the City
completed the Waterfront Park - an eight-acre linear park and pier
along the Charleston Harbor entry. The park masterfully
combines spectacular fountains, spacious lawns, intimate garden "rooms", plenty of
walking and jogging paths and a long wharf with picnic
tables and wooden swings. Additional waters-edge projects afford greater public access to
the water, including the Charleston Maritime Center, which will
establish a permanent home for the shrimping industry and include
a special events pier with public access to the
water.
Another extraordinary economic opportunity avails itself as a nearby
sixty - five acres, known as Union Pier, offers prime
development sites for hotel, retail, office and residential,
deep in the historic district. A full complement of
boulevards, parks and vistas are planned to ensure an ambiance
befitting the historic district.
Housing
Charleston's
signature housing type is the "'single house" - a narrow house
with gracious side piazzas. The single house is but one choice
in an ample range of housing indigenous to Charleston. From
marshfront condominiums to downtown studio and from
four-bedroom homes to splendid mansions in the historic
district, every domestic setting can be realized. Charleston's
single family market is strong; since 1987, single family
production has averaged 310 new homes annually, and
multi-family construction averages at 30.4 units per
year.
For years, Charleston has made national headlines for its innovative
approaches to providing affordable housing. In addition to the
award winning designs, the achievements include the incredible
rebirth of the central city and a strong revitalization
movement northward up the Peninsula and into the neck area.
Through its Community Development Division, the City has
provided over 2,000 housing units since 1990. The Charleston
Housing Authority manages 10 public housing areas as well as
113 units which are scattered throughout the City. The task of
providing affordable housing does not fall to City agencies
alone. A variety of groups like Habitat for Humanity,
Charleston Affordable Housing , Humanities Foundation,
Charleston Crisis Ministries, many churches and dedicated
individuals offer assistance in the quest to provide decent,
attractive, affordable housing and to prevent homelessness.
This production task force is leading the way by generating
creative financing and design solutions.
Culture and the Arts
Throughout
its history, Charleston has stood as a cultural capital of the
South. The performing arts are well represented here with a
symphony orchestra, community theater groups and several local
ballet companies performing regularly. The Gibbes Museum of
Art and numerous art galleries, along with the abundant
examples of architectural excellence and craftsmanship, expose
residents and tourists to the visual arts. The Charleston
Museum, the oldest museum in North America, offers a
captivating collection of artifacts depicting lowcountry life
from the time of the first settlers through the twentieth
century.
Each spring, Charleston hosts Spoleto Festival U.S.A., the most
comprehensive arts festival in the country. For two and
one-half weeks, the world's finest dancers, musicians and
actors take to the stage in a spirited homage to the arts
culminating in a in a splendid finale at Middleton Plantation
- complete with symphonic fanfare and fireworks. Simultaneous
with Spoleto, the City's Office of Cultural Affairs offers a
highly evolved and sophisticated fringe festival, Piccolo
Spoleto, which showcases the best of regional talent.
Informal, affordable and often a little zany and off-beat, the
typical Piccolo program includes sidewalk art shows, jazz,
classical music, film, crafts, theater, dance and much more,
including a long list of daily arts activities for children.
Piccolo's tickets average $5.00 but many events are
free.
Other cultural events bringing visitors from afar are the annual Moja
African-American Arts Festival, Southeastern Wildlife
Exposition, Worldfest Charleston International Film Festival,
and biannual House and Garden Tours. Other events which
attract visitors are the Harvest Festival at the Charleston
Farmers Market, the Christmas Parade of Boats in Charleston
Harbor and the Christmas in Charleston Celebration on King
Street.
Government
Charleston is
governed by a full-time mayor and a city council composed of
twelve council members who are elected for staggered four-year
terms from single-member districts. The Mayor is the presiding
officer of City Council. He has no veto power but casts a vote
similiar to those cast by each member of Council. Regular
meetings open to the public are held twice each month during
the year. The Mayor is the chief executive and administrative
officer of the City which has no City Manager.
See also:
City of Charleston - Website
Media
The primary
newspaper, The Post and Courier, delivers news daily to
112,000 people while 126,000 receive the comprehensive Sunday
edition. Approximately 20 other local publications also serve
the area's diverse interests. The tri-county listens to 28
different radio stations with offerings for every musical
taste and talk shows for every point of view. Five local
television stations and cable services are available
throughout the region. A number of free pocket-size
publications serve as "what to see and do" guides for both
tourists and residents and are widely available in hotels,
restaurants and stores, and the Visitor Reception and
Transportation Center.
See also:
Charleston Newspaper - Post and Courier
Transportation
Charleston International Airport provides commercial air
service to the entire trident region. Delta, Continental,
USAir and Midway are the primary carriers. Amtrak provides
daily rail service. Two interstate highways (1-26 and I-526),
four major U.S. Highways, and seven major state highways serve
the area. Interstate 526 (the Mark Clark Expressway) is a new
freeway which forms a semi-circle across the region - from US
17S to US 17N.
Charleston has one major bus system. Bus routes serve Mount Pleasant,
Sullivan's Island, the Isle of Palms, North Charleston, West
Ashley, James Island, Hanahan, and the Peninsula. The Downtown
Area Shuttle (DASH) which serves downtown workers and visitors
has as its focal point, the Visitor Reception and
Transportation Center. The buses, modeled to look like
trolleys, leave the center regularly and carry the visitors to
and from the historic district. The City has developed a
number of off street parking facilities within a one block
area of DASH routes. Additionally, an expanded rural transit
service will be setup by 1997 to operate within the rural
areas of the tri-county.
Water transportation is central to the Charleston economy. The
City's shipping port system, which offers more than two miles
of berthing space, connects Charleston with more than 100
countries all over the globe. Norfolk Southern and the CSX
rail system, in addition to 104 motor carriers, allow for the
transportation of cargo between the port and the major
industrial markets of the U.S.
Utilities
South Carolina
Electric and Gas Company, Santee Cooper and Berkeley Electric
Cooperative supply Charleston with electricity. SCE&G also
supplies natural gas to the area. Water and sewer service is
supplied by the Charleston Commissioners of Public Works. Bell
South provides telephone service.
Education
Charleston offers a wide range of educational opportunities
for both children and adults. Charleston and Berkely Public
Schools System consists of 110 schools and approximately
72,000 students. A nationally recognized Business Education
Partnership Program links public schools with business leaders
who help shape the schools' career education programs. A bevy
of private and parochial schools offer additional educational
choices. Since the founding of the College of Charleston in
1770, the City has been a site of higher education. Today, the
College of Charleston is a state-supported liberal arts
college and university with an enrollment of almost
10,000.
The Medical University, founded in 1824, includes the colleges of
Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Dentistry, Graduate Studies and
Health Related Professions. The Medical University's
enrollment is 2,500. The Citadel offers military education to
2,000 cadets and holds evening classes at both undergraduate
and graduate level for the general public. Trident Technical
College, with an enrollment of approximately 9,000, offers
two-year technical and college transfer programs. The
internationally recognized Johnson and Wales University grants
degrees in the culinary arts. For other educational institutions
in the Charleston area see our Charleston Area Schools
Medical Facilities
Charleston's
medical facilities are among the finest in the country. Five
major hospitals, Charleston Memorial, Roper, Bon Secours-St.
Francis Xavier, Veterans Administration Medical Center and
Medical University of South Carolina, are concentrated in an
eight- block medical district on the Peninsula. The Medical
University is a leading biomedical, teaching, patient care and
research center. Its specialized treatment programs include
the Children's Hospital, the Storm Eye Institute and the
Institute of Psychiatry. In addition to the major hospitals,
Charleston has a number of nursing homes, hospice care and
convalescent centers.
Public Safety
Efficient and
well trained, the Charleston Fire Department has a class I ISO
rating, the highest for a city its size in the state. This
impressive rating was achieved in only three years. The
Charleston Fire Department consists of 210 employees assigned
to one of 18 companies. The average response time citywide is
less than two minutes.
Charleston's Police Department is known nationwide for its
innovative law enforcement practices. The department
emphasizes crime prevention and police visibility. Under the
leadership of Chief Reuben Greenberg, CPD reduced the City's
crime rate by 20 percent between 1980 - 90. The force is
currently composed of 314 policemen. These officers are split
into 6 teams, four of which serve specific geographic
regions.
Charleston County's Emergency Medical Service, along with the Medical
University's helicopter and ambulance service provide the city
with emergency transport.
Information provided by the City of
Charleston.
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