Charleston County, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charleston County
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Charleston County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
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 South Carolina's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  South Carolina |
| Founded | 1769 |
| Seat | Charleston |
| Largest city | Charleston |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,358 sq mi (3,520 km2) |
| • Land | 916 sq mi (2,370 km2) |
| • Water | 442 sq mi (1,140 km2) 33% |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 350,209 |
| • Estimate
(2020)
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416,590 |
| • Density | 257.89/sq mi (99.57/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional districts | 1st, 6th |
Charleston County is located in the U.S. state of South Carolina along the Atlantic coast. As of the 2010 census, its population was 350,209, making it the third most populous county in South Carolina (behind Greenville and Richland counties). Its county seat is Charleston. The county was created in 1901 by an act of the South Carolina State Legislature.
Charleston County is included in the Charleston- North Charleston, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,358 square miles (3,520 km2), of which 916 square miles (2,370 km2) is land and 442 square miles (1,140 km2) (33%) is water. It is the largest county in South Carolina by total land and water area.
Adjacent counties
- Berkeley County - north
- Georgetown County - northeast
- Colleton County - west
- Dorchester County - northwest
National protected areas
- Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
- Charles Pinckney National Historic Site
- Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Fort Moultrie National Monument
- Fort Sumter National Monument
- Francis Marion National Forest (part)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 66,985 | — | |
| 1800 | 57,480 | −14.2% | |
| 1810 | 63,179 | 9.9% | |
| 1820 | 80,212 | 27.0% | |
| 1830 | 86,338 | 7.6% | |
| 1840 | 82,661 | −4.3% | |
| 1850 | 72,805 | −11.9% | |
| 1860 | 70,100 | −3.7% | |
| 1870 | 88,863 | 26.8% | |
| 1880 | 102,800 | 15.7% | |
| 1890 | 59,903 | −41.7% | |
| 1900 | 88,006 | 46.9% | |
| 1910 | 88,594 | 0.7% | |
| 1920 | 108,450 | 22.4% | |
| 1930 | 101,050 | −6.8% | |
| 1940 | 121,105 | 19.8% | |
| 1950 | 164,856 | 36.1% | |
| 1960 | 216,382 | 31.3% | |
| 1970 | 247,650 | 14.5% | |
| 1980 | 276,974 | 11.8% | |
| 1990 | 295,039 | 6.5% | |
| 2000 | 309,969 | 5.1% | |
| 2010 | 350,209 | 13.0% | |
| 2020 (est.) | 416,590 | 19.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2015 |
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2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 350,209 people, 144,309 households, and 85,692 families residing in the county. The population density was 382.3 inhabitants per square mile (147.6/km2). There were 169,984 housing units at an average density of 185.6 per square mile (71.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 64.2% white, 29.8% black or African American, 1.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.7% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.4% of the population. In terms of claimed ancestry, 11.3% were German, 11.0% were English, 10.2% were Irish, and 9.8% were American.
Of the 144,309 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.6% were non-families, and 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 35.9 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $48,433 and the median income for a family was $61,525. Males had a median income of $42,569 versus $34,195 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,401. About 11.5% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 263,560 | 64.56% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 91,746 | 22.47% |
| Native American | 857 | 0.21% |
| Asian | 7,461 | 1.83% |
| Pacific Islander | 319 | 0.08% |
| Other/Mixed | 15,012 | 3.68% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 29,280 | 7.17% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 408,235 people, 165,568 households, and 95,785 families residing in the county.
Recreation
The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) operates numerous facilities within Charleston County.
Beach parks:
- Kiawah Beachwalker County Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
- Isle of Palms County Park, Isle of Palms, South Carolina
- Folly Beach County Park, Folly Beach, South Carolina
Fishing piers:
- Folly Beach Fishing Pier, Folly Beach, South Carolina
- Mt. Pleasant Pier, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Marinas and boat landings:
- Cooper River Marina
- Multiple county-wide boat landings
Day parks:
- Palmetto Islands County Park, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- Caw Caw Nature and History Interpretive Center, Ravenel, South Carolina
- North Charleston Wannamaker County Park, North Charleston, South Carolina
- Mullet Hall Equestrian Center, Johns Island, South Carolina
- James Island County Park, Charleston, South Carolina
Water parks:
- Splash Island at Palmetto Islands County Park
- Splash Zone at James Island County Park
- Whirlin' Waters at North Charleston Wannamaker County Park
Off-leash dog parks are offered at James Island, Palmetto Islands, and North Charleston Wannamaker County Park.
James Island County Park, approximately 11 minutes by car from downtown Charleston, features a 50-foot climbing wall and bouldering cave; cabin, RV, and tent camping facilities; rental facilities, fishing dock, challenge course, kayaking programs, summer camps, paved trails, and many special events such as the Lowcountry Cajun Festival (usually the first weekend in April), East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival (3rd weekend in April), Holiday Festival of Lights (mid-November through the first of the year), and the summer outdoor reggae concerts.
Communities
Cities
- Charleston (county seat) (partly in Berkeley County)
- Folly Beach
- Isle of Palms
- North Charleston (partly in Dorchester County and Berkeley County)
Towns
Census-designated place
- Ladson (partly in Berkeley County)
Districts
- Awendaw-McClellanville Consolidated Fire District - Made up of unincorporated parts of Northern Charleston County, the Town of Awendaw, and the Town of McClellanville.
- James Island Public Service District - Made up of unincorporated parts of the island.
- North Charleston Public Service District - Responsible for sewer lines and treatment in the City of North Charleston.
- St. John's Fire District - Serving Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, unincorporated John's Island, and Wadmalaw Island
- Saint Andrews Public Service District - Made up of unincorporated parts of West Ashley.
- St. Pauls Fire District - Made up of all of the Towns of Hollywood, Ravenel, Meggett and unincorporated parts of the southern end of Charleston County.
Notable residents
- Pernessa C. Seele (1954- ), immunologist, founder and CEO of the Balm in Gilead, Inc., an international organization based in Harlem, New York, to promote religious communities' role in education and prevention of HIV/AIDS, and support of families.
- Also see List of people from Charleston, South Carolina for many more notable residents
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Charleston para niños
