The Lay of the Land
Map of Charleston Area
As the map above indicates, the different areas of the lowcountry are defined primarily by their relationship to the area's many waterways. With the Charleston Penninsula at the center, the barrier islands insulating the coast and the suburbs of Mount Pleasant, West Ashley and the North Area holding it all together, Metro Charleston is divided into the three counties of Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester.
Downtown Charleston - Bordered on the east by the Cooper River and the west by the Ashley River, the peninsula of Charleston is truly one of the most beautiful and historically important places in North America. Graceful antebellum homes and cobblestone streets evoke thoughts of a bygone era, Charleston truly is a "Living Museum."
East of the Cooper - This area includes Mount Pleasant, Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms and Daniel Island.
Mount Pleasant - Just across the Harbor from Charleston, lies Mount Pleasant. Historically this was a sleepy little fishing village that held the summer homes of some of the areas most prominent families. While the "Old Village remains alive and well, the rest of Mount Pleasant has become a thriving suburb offering planned communties, upscale dining, shopping and equal proximity to Downtown Charleston and the beaches.
Sullivan's Island - Edgar Allen Poe was stationed here when he wrote The Goldbug, and today, many of the street names reflect his presence. Sullivan's Island represents the ideal, small town beach community, 19th century cottages still stand alongside stunning examples of modern architecture. This is also South Carolina's most expensive zip code.
Isle of Palms - Just to the north of Sullivan's, this barrier island is a good blend of both residential and resort lifestyles. The Front Beach section offers a good variety of shops, restaurants and hotels. On the northern end of the island you'll find Wild Dunes, a gated resort that is home to two Tom Fazio designed golf courses, an ocean front hotel, luxury homes and condominiums.
Daniel Island - Until the early 1990's, Daniel Island remained remote and undeveloped, but with the completion of the Mark Clark Expressway, it was suddenly very convenient and with 23 miles of water frontage, very desirable. Today it truly is an Island Town, with a thriving commercial district, hundreds of acres of parks, schools and meticulously planned neighborhoods.
Awendaw/McClellanville - Travelling north on US-17 from Mount Pleasant will take you to Awendaw and McClellanville respectively. Bordered by the Francis Marion National Forest to the west and the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and Atlantic Ocean to the east, these two communities are becoming more and more popular among those looking for waterfront property. Awendaw maintains a more rural feel, while McClellanville has a charming Historic District, with strong cultural ties to the crabbing and shrimping industries.
West of the Ashley and the West Islands - This area includes West Ashley, James Island, John's Island, Wadmalaw Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island and Edisto.
West of the Ashley - Usually shortened to West Ashley, this area is within the city limits of Charleston, located just across (to the west) the Ashley River. It was one of the first suburban areas established in South Carolina and today it's post-war neighborhoods are extremely popular both for their charming architectural style and for their proximity to downtown Charleston.
James Island - This largely residential community is laced with creeks and marshes and is coveted for its proximity to both Downtown Charleston and Folly Beach. The island is also home to the Country Club of Charleston, a private club founded in 1786 that the USGA has listed as being the oldest golf club in America.
Folly Beach - Locally known as "The Edge of America", Folly has a decidedly bohemian feel. It has also seen the highest rate of appreciation in the Charleston area over the course of the last 10 years.
John's Island - The second largest island on the East Coast (Long Island is the largest), John's Island has remained much more rural than it's neighbor James. The combination of two new bridges and it's abundance of waterfront property, have combined to ignite quite a buzz over the last few years. Look for this area to continue to grow in popularity.
Wadmalaw Island- Similar to John's Island in it's rural character, Wadmalaw Island is probably best known as the setting for the annual Rockville Regatta, a floating cocktail party where they occasionally race sailboats too.
Kiawah Island - This gated community offers 10 miles of pristine beaches, a world class spa & hotel, a dozen restaurants, and 7 golf courses. Pete Dye's world renowned Ocean Course will host the 2012 PGA Championship. There are a multitude of Real Estate offerings here ranging from golf villas to oceonfront homes.
Seabrook Island - Seabrook Island is every bit as beautiful, if not as famous as neighboring Kiawah. It offers golf, tennis and equestrian pursuits as well as a full service marina located on the Bohicket River. This sea island's natural beauty has been well preserved throughout the development process.
Edisto Island - About 30 minutes south of Charleston lies Edisto, a sea island that was home to many of the areas wealthy planters in colonial times and still offers some of the larger waterfront tracts of land still available. The beach here holds a more rustic tone than the beaches nearer to Charleston.
The North Area - This area includes the communities of North Charleston, Hanahan, Goose Creek, Monck's Corner and Summerville.
North Charleston - This is the commercial and industrial anchor for the area and is the site of the Noisette Project, an urban redevelopment project with a very progressive feel. As a result, many of the surrounding areas are experiencing a renaissance of their own with an optimistic eye on the future.
Hanahan - A very well regarded "bedroom community", known for quality schools, Hanahan has experienced strong growth over the past 5 years.
Goose Creek - With large scale developers such as Duke Energy and the Daniel Island Company planning new projects here, Goose Creek is poised for tremendous growth of an upscale nature.
Monck's Corner - Situated at the headwaters of the Cooper River, Monck's Corner is located very near Lake Moultrie, a 60,000 acre lake with world class Striped Bass fishing. It maintains a small town feeling, but has also seen tremendous growth of late.
Summerville - Once you become accustomed to the flat terrain of the lowcountry, the rolling hills and towering pines of Summerville will make you feel like you've been transported. Excellent schools and affordable property have made Summerville one of the most sought after communities in the north area. The downtown area is home to some wonderful examples of historic 19th century homes.
