Charleston, SC

About Charleston

• • Dubose Heyward, author of "Porgy", which became "Porgy and Bess", was born here.
• • Sweetgrass basket weaving, originating in West Africa, took root and flourished in Charleston.
• • Charleston's port established it as a major hub for trade in the early colonies.
• • Rainbow Row houses were once dilapidated buildings that were painted to revitalize the area.
• • The Great Fire of 1861 destroyed a significant portion of the city.
• • Named Charles Towne in 1670 after King Charles II, it incorporated as Charleston in 1783.
• • With around 150,000 residents, it is South Carolina's second-largest city.
• • At roughly 20 feet above sea level, flooding is a recurring concern.
• • Tourism and hospitality are major drivers of Charleston's economy.
• • Charleston evokes a feeling of historic charm and Southern hospitality.
• • Charleston's geology is defined by the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with layers of sedimentary deposits.
• • The Ashley and Cooper Rivers converge to form Charleston Harbor.
• • Loggerhead sea turtles nest on beaches near Charleston.
• • Palmetto trees are a signature tree found throughout Charleston.
• • The Charleston area was inhabited by the Cusabo Native American tribes before European settlement.
• • The first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861.
• • Construction of the Dock Street Theatre, one of the first theaters in America, began around 1736.
• • Poogan's Porch is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of Zoe St. Amand.
• • The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge, connects Charleston and Mount Pleasant.

Artists From Charleston

Songs About Charleston

Nearby Places