Charleston, South Carolina, is a city of unhurried grace. Charleston is blessed with a wealth of historic structures that have been transformed into offices, restaurants, stores, and homes. The City's successful intermingling of business, home and garden make Charleston a beloved and very walkable urban landscape experience. The City of Charleston is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean at the juncture of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. Charleston occupies 88.14 square miles, 7.6 miles of which are the downtown business district. Charleston is the second largest city in South Carolina with an estimated 1998 population of 100,122. The Charleston Metropolitan Statistical Area encompasses three counties: Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester.
Charleston has a warm climate. In January the average temperature is 55 degrees F, and 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.
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 similar 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.
If you are just moving to the Charleston area, you may want to make sure you have notified our local utilities of your new address well in advance to make the transition go more smoothly. Many times, new neighborhood utility services are still in the process of constructing new facilities. Letting them know of your move-in well in advance may help them speed construction to your particular property.
Charleston Utility Links
Name/Link
Phone
Electric
South Carolina Electric & Gas/SCANA
(843) 554-7234
Berkeley EMC
(843) 572-5454
Phone
BellSouth
(888) 757-6500
Gas
South Carolina Electric & Gas/SCANA
(843) 554-7234
Charleston offers a wide range of educational opportunities for both children and adults. Charleston and Berkeley 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.
K-12 Public Schools
Name/Link
Phone
Charleston County School District
(843) 937-6300
Berkeley County School System
(843) 866-8600
Dorchester County School District
(843) 873-2372
K-12 Private & Parochial Schools
Name/Link
Phone
Bishop England High School
(843) 849-9599
Charleston Day School
(843) 722-7791
Charlestowne Montessori School
(843) 571-1140
Divine Redeemer School
(843) 553-1521
Harvest Baptist
(843) 552-4105
Mason Preparatory School
(843) 723-0664
Montessori Community School
(843) 769-0346
Porter Gaud School
(843) 402-4664
St. Johns Catholic School
(843) 744-3901
Schools of Higher Education
Name/Link
Phone
Charleston Southern University
(843) 863-7050
Citadel
(843) 953-5000
College of Charleston
(843) 953-5507
Johnson & Wales University
(843) 763-0318
Medical University of South Carolina
(843) 792-2300
Trident Technical College
(843) 574-6262
University of Charleston
(843) 953-5614
Webster University
(843) 572-2694
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. The Charleston Area Regional Transit Authority is the major bus system of the area.
Name/Link
Phone
Charleston International Airport
(843) 767-7000
Greyhound Bus Lines
(843) 744-4247
Charleston Area Regional Transit Authority
(843) 724-7420
Absolute Charleston/Airport-Taxi Shuttle
(843) 814-7315
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 road races 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.
Name/Link
Phone
Carolina Ice Palace
(843) 572-2717
Charleston City Marina
(843) 856-4386
Charleston Golf Inc.
(843) 805-3115
Charleston River Dogs Pro Baseball
(843) 723-7241
Charleston Tennis Center
(843) 805-3115
Charleston Walks Tours
(800) 729-3420
Schooner Pride
(843) 559-9686
South Carolina Aquarium
(800) 722-6455
Tour Charleston LLC
(800) 854-1670
Arts and Entertainment
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 low country life from the time of the first settlers through the twentieth century.
Name/Link
Phone
American Cinema Grill
(843) 722-3456
American Military Museum
(843) 723-9620
Charleston Museum
(843) 722-2996
Charleston Renaissance Gallery
(843) 723-0025
Charleston Stage Company
(843) 577-5967
Charleston Symphony
(843) 823-7528
Drayton Hall
(843) 766-0188
Footlight Players
(843) 722-7521
Gibbes Museum of Art
(843) 722-2706
The Have Nots! Comedy Improv
(843) 853-6687
Spoleto Festival USA
(843) 722-2764
Premier Properties of Charleston
10150 Dorchester Rd, Suite 215
Charleston offers a wide range of educational opportunities for both children and adults. Charleston and Berkeley Public Schools System consists of 110 schools and approximately 72,000 students.
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.
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.