COMMUNITY PROFILES / BERKELEY COUNTY
County Offices
1003 Highway 52
Moncks Corner 843-719-4234
https://berkeleycountysc.gov
Chamber of Commerce
1004 Old Highway 52
Moncks Corner 843-761-8238
Charleston 843-761-8238
https://berkeleysc.org
Services
Rich in natural resources that appeal to business and industry, Berkeley County also tops the desirability list for residential development. This rapidly growing section of Greater Charleston provides a recreational paradise and first-rate services and amenities. Area youth receive a quality education in Berkeley County School District facilities or college-prep private schools in Moncks Corner and Hanahan. Maintaining a focus on new technologies and instructional methodologies, staff members are dedicated to preparing students for leadership in a competitive world. Life-long learning opportunities are available for students of all ages in adult and community education programs as well as the Berkeley County campus of Trident Technical College. A number of respected colleges and universities are available close to home, including the Medical University of South Carolina, the College of Charleston, Charleston Southern University, The Citadel, and Webster College.
State-of-the-art healthcare facilities and services are as close as the Roper St. Francis Medical Center at Berkeley. Equipped with an award-winning, state-of-the-art emergency room, the center also provides an ambulatory surgery center, comprehensive diagnostics, and a medical office building with offices for more than 30 physicians. Other specialties include physical and occupational therapy, lab services, outpatient cancer therapy, pain management, outpatient wound care and vascular services, and cardiac testing. The largest of the metropolitan region’s healthcare centers surrounds the Medical University of South Carolina, covering more than 50 acres in downtown Charleston. Six MUSC colleges and patient-care facilities offer a full spectrum of healthcare and educational services, featuring highly skilled staff members who are nationally recognized in such leading areas as cardiology, cancer, and pediatrics.
Lifestyle
Berkeley County has long been recognized as a paradise for sports enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. Lakes Marion and Moultrie are world-famous for fishing, and close proximity to the Atlantic coastline encourages every imaginable type of water sport. The Cooper and Santee rivers also flow through Berkeley County for additional water-oriented recreation. Anglers who pull their catch from local lakes and rivers hold several state and world record catches of catfish, shellcracker, shad, and bass. The county offers the natural beauty of the Francis Marion National Forest, which offers opportunities for birding, camping, biking, hiking, landscape photography, and nature study. Two of the Palmetto Trail’s most popular and diverse sections run through Francis Marion Forest and toward Lake Multrie. Lush parks, campgrounds, brilliant gardens, picturesque marinas, championship golf courses, tennis courts, and wildlife sanctuaries are all encompassed within Berkeley County’s borders.
Berkeley County provides all the conveniences of a major metropolis but manages to maintain its appealing country flavor. The incorporated communities of Hanahan and Goose Creek lie just beyond the city limits of North Charleston. Other charming small communities in this area include Moncks Corner, which also serves as the county seat, and Daniel Island. Daniel Island is home of the Women’s Tennis Association Family Circle Cup tournament and the Charleston Battery, Charleston’s professional men’s soccer team. Most of the retail development in the county is clustered along the US Highway 52 corridor, the major north/south artery. Interstate 26 is also available for quick and easy commutes to regional destinations.
Boasting a rich 300-year history, Berkeley County has preserved many historically significant buildings. One of the finest examples of a rural church of its time, the St. James Goose Creek Church was built in the early 1700s and still holds an annual service. The Old Santee Canal Park is a unique sanctuary commemorating the site of
America’s first canal that began operations in 1800, offering interpretive exhibits, canoeing, hiking trails, and picnic sites. The Berkeley Museum within the park unfolds 12,000 years of the region’s colorful history. From the wide selection of older homes and newer construction to premier recreational amenities, Berkeley County offers a truly idyllic home just beyond the bright city lights of Charleston.
COMMUNITY PROFILES
Daniel Island
Charleston City Offices
843-724-3746
https://charleston-sc.gov
County Offices
843-719-4234
https://berkeleycountysc.gov
Chamber of Commerce
843-577-2510
https://www.charlestonchamber.org
Years of planning and vision made this thriving island town a reality, forming a desirable residential community from farmland and marshes. Daniel Island has emerged as a nationally acclaimed neotraditional town with a true feeling of community. Many of the historic design elements of the neighborhoods of downtown Charleston have been repeated, including homes set close to meandering, quiet streets. Many properties feature large piazzas that are ideal for casual chats with neighbors. Residents are often able to walk to retail shops, services, schools, and neighborhood parks along wide sidewalks that cross the island. Complementing carefully planned residential communities, thickets of preserved Spanish moss still drape over oak and towering palmetto trees. Recent additions include an acclaimed Tom Fazio golf course and a new tennis stadium that hosts Davis Cup matches as well as live entertainment and concerts. The City of Charleston annexed nearly all of Daniel Island in the early ’90s.
Goose Creek
Municipal Office
843-797-6220
https://www.cityofgoosecreek.com/
Chamber of Commerce
843-577-2510
https://www.charlestonchamber.org
The largest of Berkeley County’s communities, Goose Creek was established in 1961. In just a few short decades, this progressive community has achieved a balance between growth, the environment and the preservation of the small town character. Residents live, work and raise their families surrounded by the rich historic and natural treasures of the low country. In the early 1960s, developers began subdividing the area’s farmland to provide housing for a booming population. In fact, a 1969 survey rated Goose Creek as the fastest-growing area in the nation. An avalanche of new recreational services and town activities including sailing and boating were developed to meet the needs of a growing population. Homes are still comparatively affordable, drawing many retirees. With antebellum plantations, rolling farmland, deep forests, and wildlife refuges including Goose Creek State Park, the community is steeped in individuality and independent character.
Hanahan
Municipal Offices
843-554-4221
https://www.cityofhanahan.com/
Chamber of Commerce
843-577-2510
https://www.charlestonchamber.org
The welcoming community of Hanahan is proud of its excellent schools, lush parks, recreational advantages, and strong community spirit. Primarily a bedroom community for Charleston and North Charleston, this area has also attracted some top-flight companies and corporations. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center and other defense contracting companies also call Hanahan home. Rapid residential growth has greatly expanded the available housing selection, blending charming older properties with vibrant new construction. The city is just 30 minutes away from beaches, lakes, and historic Charleston and just 10 minutes from Charleston International Airport. Long recognized as a family-oriented community, the city takes a progressive approach to continued development that protects the outstanding quality of life.
Moncks Corner
County Offices
843-719-4234
https://berkeleycountysc.gov
Chamber of Commerce
843-577-2510
https://www.charlestonchamber.org
While Moncks Corner is not as well known as famous Charleston, this wonderful community is cherished by Berkeley County residents. They enjoy easy access to the finest beaches and golf courses that the Lowcounty offers within the context of a slower pace and more relaxed lifestyle. Ancient moss-draped oaks grace this historic area, where pristine waterways teeming with fish beckon sport anglers. Modern healthcare facilities, excellent schools, and a strong business community are just a few of the advantages. Beautiful Cypress Gardens draws thousands of visitors each year to miles of hiking trails and flat-bottom boat tours. The nearby Mepkin Abbey was founded in 1949 on the bank of the Cooper River, and historic sites abound. The Biggin Church Ruins, the grave of General Francis Marion, and the Nesbitt House are among the treasures from yesterday.
Saint Stephen, Jamestown, Bonneau
St. Stephen Offices
843-567-3597
https://www.ststephensc.gov/
Jamestown Offices
843-257-2233
Bonneau Offices
843-825-3385
Chamber of Commerce
843-577-2510
https://www.charlestonchamber.org
The small towns of St. Stephen, Jamestown, and Bonneau each claim a distinctive flavor and proud history. St. Stephen is a quiet town cradled in northern Berkeley County just 15 miles from Moncks Corner. The town’s proud landmark is the namesake St. Stephen Episcopal Church, constructed circa 1767. Several historic signatures remain inscribed on the masonry of the east wall. Today, this National Historic Landmark is the site of weekly services. The town of Bonneau is just eight miles from Moncks Corner along US Highway 52. Local attractions include Bonneau Beach, a local summer retreat for many families, and the annual autumn festival known as the Great P’nut Boil. Jamestown is best known for its rich heritage as the first French Huguenot settlement on the Santee River beginning in 1685, although the present-day town was only incorporated in 1957. In fact, the region around the Jamestown settlement became known as the French Santee.
Summerville, Ladson
Municipal Offices
843-871-6000
https://www.summervillesc.gov
Chamber of Commerce
843-873-2931
https://www.greatersummerville.org
Nestled in the thick pine forests 30 miles from historic Charleston, Summerville stretches between Berkeley and Dorchester counties. Much of the northern section lies in Berkeley County, encompassing popular shopping and residential developments. Summerville began as a vacation retreat for wealthy Charleston residents in the 1700s. Today, this area draws newcomers to a combination of affordable housing, top-rated schools, and premier recreational opportunities. Each spring, “Flowertown in the Pines” lives up to its name during the Flowertown Festival, when the city is awash in brilliant blooms and famous artisans arrive from across the nation. Suburban development has added modern conveniences from eateries and restaurants to expansive shopping. Golfing, tennis, boating, and relaxing on pristine beaches are popular pastimes. The Francis Beidler Forest is also a short drive away, and the Dorchester Museum showcases some of the oldest fossils discovered in South Carolina. Ladson is a growing community just 10 minutes from Summerville.
