WELCOME TO CHARLESTON
Metropolitan Charleston has emerged as one of the nation’s most dynamic and desirable places to live and do business. Situated on coastal South Carolina, this region offers a thriving local economy, naturally beautiful surroundings, and an unrivaled quality of life. Encompassing three counties and home to more than a half-million residents, Greater Charleston has become a hot spot for business investment. Thousands of new residents arrive in Charleston every year, bringing fresh ideas and new talent to an already booming atmosphere.
Charleston was cited among the best places to live in America by Men’s Journal and was referred to as a “New American Dream town” by Outside magazine. The charm of historic architecture is enhanced by the mild year-round climate, miles of white-sand beaches, and panoramic waterways. Best of all, this exceptional quality of life does not come with an equally high price tag. Charleston consistently ranks below the national average in the ACCRA cost of living index.
Services
State-of-the-art healthcare services and facilities are anchored by leading hospitals and medical centers that are strategically located throughout the metropolitan area. More than 2,000 physicians and nearly a dozen major medical facilities underline the strong dedication to medical research as well as advanced diagnostics and treatment. Charleston is also home to a vital health and wellness community that includes alternative therapies, yoga and exercise centers, and a college for massage therapy. Three nationally recognized hospital systems lead a network of medical centers and specialized care centers that are among the finest in the nation. The Medical University of South Carolina Children’s Hospital, for example, is acclaimed as one of the nation’s best and offers a wide range of pediatric sub-specialists. Charleston also claims the only designated Level I Trauma center in coastal South Carolina and emergency helicopter and fixed-wing airplane transport services. Other highlights include highly advanced cancer care, the state’s most complete line of cardiac and vascular services, and the only center in the state that performs a complete range of transplantations.
Newcomers to Charleston will be impressed by the quality of the educational system, with public and private schools on every academic level. From preschool through graduate school, this region offers easy access to well-managed learning environments that include industrial training and continuing education. Even the public school districts offer a number of options that include magnet schools, charter schools, college prep programs, vocational training, and career pathways. Each one of the schools districts that serves this region is distinguished through achievements and awards, including mention in Money magazine as of the nation’s Top 100 School Districts. More than a dozen college campuses, both public and private, dot the region with opportunities for higher education, from engineering to the arts. A number of these colleges and universities are consistently ranked among the finest in the nation by influential and respected guides like Peterson’s and US News & World Report.
Lifestyle
Charleston has been named among the Top 10 Travel Destinations by Conde Nast Traveler’s reader’s choice, and many of the highlights that make it so popular for visitors are drawing new residents as well. At the same time, the booming tourism industry only enhances the area by adding world-class restaurants, fine boutiques, and a caliber of entertainment and recreational amenities that are associated with much larger cities. Residents enjoy a rich cultural life and active support the visual and performing arts. Permanent companies include a renowned symphony orchestra, ballet, and several theatre groups. Intriguing art and history museums combine with fine galleries to underscore Charleston’s listing by AmericanStyle magazine as one of the nation’s Top 10 Art Destinations.
The housing options in Greater Charleston are some of the most attractive in the nation, stretched over three counties to offer a kaleidoscope of desirable settings. Whether your dream is a tree-lined home in the historic district or a beachfront estate, Charleston has the ideal address. More than two dozen incorporated communities range from the quaint village of Jamestown to the cosmopolitan cities of Charleston and North Charleston. Rapid growth of the metropolitan area has pushed residential development into the breathtakingly beautiful barrier islands along the Atlantic shoreline and inland on pristine rural acreage.
Recreational amenities and opportunities for outdoor enjoyment are abundant and first class. Acres of freshwater lakes, a large national forest, and miles of sandy beaches combine with nearly 200 parks to offer a panoramic backdrop for every activity. Golfing, playing tennis, sports leagues, sailing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, water skiing, fishing, hunting, hiking, bicycling, camping, and horseback riding are all common pastimes in this lovely coastal paradise. Colorful festivals dot the annual calendar, highlighted by such stellar events as MOJA Arts Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, the Charleston Food & Wine Festival, and the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. Take your time exploring the byways and quiet corners of Charleston, where history lives and tomorrow has never look brighter.
