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Charleston is an area that is rich in both history and unique culture which blends West African, traditional southern American and French elements. Originally built on a peninsula of land that divides the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, the metropolitan area now sprawls into the three counties of Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester. The natural beauty of the Greater Charleston area is magnificent with beaches and wonderful county parks to visit and explore.
The city of Charleston itself is known as The Holy City due to the prominence of churches on the low-rise cityscape, particularly the numerous steeples which dot the city's skyline, and for the fact that it was the only city in the original thirteen colonies to provide religious tolerance to the French Huguenot Church. In fact, it is still the only city in the U.S. with such a church.
Yet another draw to the Charleston area is the delightful people and their inviting southern hospitality. America's most-published etiquette expert, Marjabelle Young Stewart, has recognized the city since 1995 as the "best-mannered" city in the U.S.
Whether you enjoy superb local restaurants and shopping or remarkable cultural events and festivals there is something to offer everyone. The Spoleto festival, for example, is a 17-day annual Charleston cultural event held in the spring which includes everything from musical, theatrical, and dance performances, to incredible art exhibits. There are also the Southeastern Wildlife Expo, Cooper River Bridge Run, and prestigious Family Circle Tennis Tournament to name a few.
Charleston has also grown economically. It is a very important port city, boasting the second largest container seaport on the East Coast and the fourth largest container seaport in North America. Charleston is also becoming a prime location for technology jobs and corporations, such as Google, Benefitfocus, and Blackbaud. In the downtown area, the medical district is experiencing rapid growth of biotechnology and medical research coupled with substantial expansions of hospital facilities at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Roper Hospital.
5 Fun Facts:
The community was established by English settlers in 1670 on the west bank of the Ashley River, a few miles northwest of the present city, and was named for Charles II of England. (1630-1685) During the American Revolution the church steeples of Charleston, especially St. Michael's, became targets for British war ships causing rebel forces to paint the steeples black to blend with the night sky. On January 9, 1861, Citadel cadets fired the first shots of the Civil War when they opened fire on the Union ship Star of the West entering Charleston's harbor. On August 31, 1886 Charleston was struck by an earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter Scale that was felt as far away as Boston and Bermuda. In July of 2005, the Arthur Ravenel Bridge opened as the longest cable-stayed bridge in the country. It connects downtown Charleston to Mt. Pleasant.
