Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston: The most populous city in South Carolina. It is located on the Ashley and Cooper rivers in southeastern South Carolina. Charleston is known for its many historic buildings, its many parks and green spaces, and its many attractions, such as the Charleston Museum and the Fort Sumter National Monument.

About

Charleston is a city located in the county of Charleston in the U.S. state of South Carolina. Its population at the 2010 census was 120,083. After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 139,714 inhabitants.

The city was created 354 years ago in 1669.

Charleston was founded in 1670 and originally named Charles Town after King Charles II. It was one of the largest cities and leading ports in the American South by the 1700s. Charleston played a major role in the Antebellum Era and as a hub for the slave trade.

The city suffered damage during the Civil War but continued to grow as an ocean port and railroad center into the 1900s. Tourism also became an important industry as Charleston leveraged its history, architecture, and hospitality.

Key Facts About Modern Charleston

Here are some key details about Charleston today:

  • Population: Around 137,000 residents in the city proper as of 2019. The metro area is much larger.
  • Economy: Major industries include tourism, education, manufacturing, technology, and port operations. The city is home to Medical University of South Carolina.
  • Neighborhoods: Iconic areas include the historic downtown French Quarter, Battery District, and South of Broad. Other notable communities are Johns Island and Daniel Island.
  • Attractions: Popular sites include Fort Sumter, Magnolia Plantation, Middleton Place, waterfront parks, and preserved antebellum mansions and churches.
  • Food: Charleston is renowned as a global food destination, known for Lowcountry cuisine like she crab soup, shrimp and grits, and gourmet Gullah cooking.

Charleston's southern charm, hospitality, and historic beauty make it a premier travel destination. But it is also a modern, thriving city focused on economic diversity.

Charleston locator map
Location of Charleston on South Carolina map.

Quick Facts about Charleston

Population : 139,714 (2020)
Country : United States of America
State : South Carolina (United States)
County : Charleston County
Phone Area Codes : 843
Official name : Charleston
Water as percent of area : 16.99%
Land as percent of area : 83.01%
Named for : Charles II of England
Altitude : 20 feet / 6 meters
Capital city : Charleston is capital of Charleston County, Province of South Carolina
Establishment : January 01, 1670 (354 years ago)
Time Zone : Eastern Time Zone
Local time : 18:02:59 (28th March 2024)
Postal code : 29401
Population growth : 14.05% (2010-2020)
BroadStreetCharleston image
BroadStreetCharleston
BroadStreetCharleston image

Geography

Charleston is located at 32°46'36"N 79°55'51"W (32.7765700, -79.9309200).

Charleston map

  • Spoleto
  • Tempelhof (2000 )

Demographics

The population of Charleston increased by 14.05% in 10 years.

Year Population % Change Method
2010 120,083 - census
2011 123,012 2.38% estimation process
2012 125,223 1.77% estimation process
2013 127,246 1.59% estimation process
2014 129,434 1.69% estimation process
2015 132,413 2.25% estimation process
2016 134,453 1.52% estimation process
2017 135,626 0.86% estimation process
2018 136,111 0.36% estimation process
2019 137,566 1.06% estimation process
2020 139,714 1.54% estimation process

Charleston zip code is 29401. County name: Charleston, County fips: 45019

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Best Things to Do in Charleston

1 Historic Charleston City Market

Rating: 4.5 (18143)

188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18439370920 🔗 Url

Historic Charleston City Market

2 Joe Riley Waterfront Park

Rating: 4.7 (7930)

Vendue Range, Concord St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ 🔗 Url

Joe Riley Waterfront Park

3 Bulldog Tours

Rating: 4.8 (6718)

18 Anson St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18437228687 🔗 Url

Bulldog Tours

4 Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Rating: 4.5 (6033)

3550 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18435711266 🔗 Url

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

5 South Carolina Aquarium

Rating: 4.5 (4795)

100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18435773474 🔗 Url

South Carolina Aquarium

Where ot Eat in Charleston

1 IHOP

Rating: 3.3 (1163)

771 Daniel Ellis Dr, Charleston, SC 29412, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18437625888 🔗 Url

IHOP

2 Bojangles

Rating: 3.5 (819)

740 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18437958323 🔗 Url

Bojangles

3 Bahama Breeze

Rating: 4.2 (610)

7811 Rivers Ave, Charleston, SC 29406, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18434055779 🔗 Url

Bahama Breeze

4 Huddle House

Rating: 3.7 (520)

933 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18437627404 🔗 Url

Huddle House

5 Zaxby's Chicken Fingers & Buffalo Wings

Rating: 4 (488)

1018 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18437621919 🔗 Url

Zaxby's Chicken Fingers & Buffalo Wings

Where to Stay in Charleston

1 Hyatt House Charleston/Historic District

Rating: 4.3 (1512)

560 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18434144900 🔗 Url

Hyatt House Charleston/Historic District

2 The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel

Rating: 4.3 (1414)

115 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18435772400 🔗 Url

The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel

3 Charleston Marriott

Rating: 4.4 (1406)

170 Lockwood Dr, Charleston, SC 29403, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18437233000 🔗 Url

Charleston Marriott

4 Charleston Place, A Belmond Hotel, Charleston

Rating: 4.7 (1351)

205 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18437224900 🔗 Url

Charleston Place, A Belmond Hotel, Charleston

5 Holiday Inn Charleston Historic Downtown, an IHG Hotel

Rating: 4 (636)

425 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18437182327 🔗 Url

Holiday Inn Charleston Historic Downtown, an IHG Hotel

Other Places in Charleston

1 James Island Town Hall

Rating: 4.1 (7)

1122 Dills Bluff Rd, Charleston, SC 29412 ➦ Show Map

☎ +18437954141 🔗 Url

James Island Town Hall

2 Charleston City Hall

Rating: 5 (6)

80 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401 ➦ Show Map

☎ +18435776970 🔗 Url

Charleston City Hall

3 HCA South Atlantic Division

Rating: 3.8 (5)

115 Central Island St Ste 400, Charleston, SC 29492, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18438567910 🔗 Url

HCA South Atlantic Division

4 US Vegetable Laboratory

Rating: 5 (4)

2700 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29414, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18434025300 🔗 Url

5 Charleston Human Resources

Rating: 5 (2)

75 Calhoun St #3600, Charleston, SC 29401 ➦ Show Map

☎ +18437247388 🔗 Url

Charleston Human Resources

6 Charleston Planning Department

Rating: 3 (2)

2 George St, Charleston, SC 29401 ➦ Show Map

☎ +18437243765 🔗 Url

7 Dorchester County EMS Medic 6

Rating: 4 (1)

8045 Dorchester Rd, Charleston, SC 29418, United States ➦ Show Map

☎ +18435522425 🔗 Url

8 North Charleston Business Lcns

Rating: 5 (1)

2500 City Hall Ln, Charleston, SC 29406 ➦ Show Map

☎ +18437402634 🔗 Url

9 Charleston Clerk of Council

80 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401 ➦ Show Map

☎ +18437243727 🔗 Url

Charleston Clerk of Council

10 North Charleston Mechanical

2500 City Hall Ln, Charleston, SC 29406 ➦ Show Map

☎ +18437402567 🔗 Url

People born in Charleston (200)

People born in Charleston, including United States Navy Medal of Honor recipient William A. Moffett, Lutheran minister Jehu Jones, biochemist Robert F. Furchgott, .

List

  • Jakob August Lorent (German chemist, botanist, archaeologist and photographer (1813-1884)) he was born in 12/12/1813
  • Pete Briggs (American musician) he was born in 01/01/1904
  • William Porcher Miles (American politician (1822-1899)) he was born in 04/07/1822
  • Isaac Edward Holmes (American politician (1796-1867)) he was born in 06/04/1796
  • William Valk (American Civil War surgeonand politician (1806-1879)) he was born in 12/10/1806
  • Tom Delaney (British racing driver) he was born in 08/01/1911
  • Henry Middleton (Plantation owner and public official from South Carolina (1717-1784)) he was born in 01/01/1717
  • Robert Jordan (American writer) he was born in 17/10/1948
  • Jacob Read (American politician (1752-1816)) he was born in 01/01/1752
  • Josh Powell (American basketball player) he was born in 25/01/1983
  • Lezley Zen (American movie actress) she was born in 19/02/1974
  • Mackenzie Rosman (American actress) she was born in 28/12/1989
  • Melanie Thornton (singer) she was born in 13/05/1967
  • Alexandra Ripley (American writer) she was born in 08/01/1934
  • Helen Chandler (American actress) she was born in 01/02/1906
  • Lauren Hutton (American model, actress, and entrepreneur) she was born in 17/11/1943
  • Thomas Gibson (American actor and director) he was born in 03/07/1962
  • Barnard Elliott Bee (United States Army officer and Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War) he was born in 08/02/1824

Schools in Charleston

College & universities near Charleston, SC

Code Name City ZIP
217819 College of Charleston Charleston (SC) 29424-0001
218335 Medical University of South Carolina Charleston (SC) 29425
451510 Charleston School of Law Charleston (SC) 29403
217864 Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston (SC) 29409
487807 Top of the Line Barber College Charleston (SC) 29407-2228

Stations (3)

Amtrak & bus stations near Charleston, SC

Code Name Address Type
CHS Charleston, South Carolina 4565 Gaynor Avenue RAIL
YEM Yemassee 9 Main Street RAIL
KTR Kingstree 101 East Main St. RAIL

Post offices near Charleston

Post Office Name City ZIP
Charleston Post Office Charleston (SC) 29401
East Bay Post Office Charleston (SC) 29403
James Island Post Office Charleston (SC) 29412
Saint Andrew Post Office Charleston (SC) 29407
Mount Pleasan Post Office Mount Pleasant (SC) 29464

Other places with the same name (13)

  • Charleston , West Virginia The capital of West Virginia. It is located on the Kanawha River in the eastern part of the state. Charleston is known for its many parks and green spaces, its many historical sites, and its many attractions, such as the West Virginia State Capitol and the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences. with a population of 45,879 people.
  • Charleston , Illinois city in Illinois with a population of 20,034 people.
  • Charleston , Missouri city in Missouri with a population of 5,015 people.
  • Charleston , Pennsylvania township in Tioga County, Pennsylvania with a population of 3,390 people.
  • Charleston , Arkansas city in Arkansas, USA with a population of 2,500 people.
  • Charleston , Michigan township in Sanilac County, Michigan, United States with a population of 2,048 people.
  • Charleston , Mississippi city in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi with a population of 1,882 people.
  • Charleston , Maine human settlement in Penobscot County, Maine, United States of America with a population of 1,675 people.
  • Charleston , New York town in Montgomery County, New York with a population of 1,318 people.
  • Charleston , Tennessee human settlement in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States of America with a population of 706 people.
  • Charleston , Utah town in Wasatch County, Utah, United States with a population of 496 people.
  • Charleston , Kansas human settlement in United States of America with a population of 74 people.

Other cities in Charleston County

Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Charleston County , SC.

City Name Population Title
North Charleston 118,752 The second most populous city in Charleston County, South Carolina.
Mount Pleasant 92,799 The second most populous city in Charleston County, South Carolina.
Hollywood 5,268 Town in South Carolina
Isle of Palms 4,371 City in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Ravenel 2,768 Human settlement in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States of America
Folly Beach 2,682 City in South Carolina, United States
Lincolnville 2,624 City in South Carolina, United States of America
Seabrook Island 1,880 City in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States of America
Sullivans Island 1,791 Island in the United States of America
Kiawah Island 1,765 City in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States of America
Awendaw 1,568 City in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States of America
Meggett 1,304 Town
McClellanville 547 Town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Rockville 138 Town in South Carolina

Distance to Other Cities

Charleston distances to largest South Carolina cities