DORCHESTER COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA

Dorchester County, South Carolina, known for its beauty and historic plantations, lies in the Charleston Metro Area. Established in 1897, Dorchester encompasses 575 square miles, including 2 miles of water. Situated in eastern South Carolina, Dorchester County shares its borders with Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Orangeburg counties.

Dorchester County, SC was home to 96,413 residents at the time of the 2000 Census. Several tiny towns with miniscule populations exist within the county. These include Dorchester, Givhans, Grover, Jedburg, Reevesville and Rosinville. Medium sized towns such as Harleyville, population 594 and Ridgeville, population 1,690, are also located here. Dorchester County’s more urban areas include North Charleston, St. George and Summerville.

North Charleston, SC rests in the shadows of the bustling city of Charleston. North Charleston’s population was nearly 80,000 in 2000; however, 2005 estimates show growth that exceeded 86,000 individuals. This energetic city has a thriving business atmosphere, with a booming tourism industry responsible for attracting nearly 2 million visitors each year. The North Charleston Coliseum, Performing Arts Center and Convention Center lure numerous tourists to the area, while family-friendly sites such as Carolina Ice Palace, Frankie’s Fun Park and Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Park are also popular destinations. In addition, North Charleston residents have excellent public and private schools from which to choose. North Charleston, South Carolina is the site of the main campus of Trident Technical College, whose facilities serve a three county area.

St. George, population 2,092, serves as the seat of Dorchester County, SC. This unassuming town plays host to the World Grits Festival each April, where the town gathers for numerous celebrations and the crowning of “Miss Grits”. St. George, SC offers self-guided tours along the quaint boardwalk, as well as guided tours, canoe trips and enchanting night walks through the area. Visitors can enjoy the natural beauty of the area in Beidler Forest, which the National Audubon Society owns and operates. St. George is a lovely community that lives up to its reputation as “The Town of Friendly People”.

Summerville, SC, known as “The Flower Town in the Pines”, serves as a distant suburb of Charleston, where its strategic location set the stage for explosive growth and development. In 2005 the population estimated at nearly 38,000, which was an increase of nearly 10,000 individuals since the last official census in 2000. Despite its size and status as a bustling city, Summerville residents continue to refer to their community as a “town”. Summerville, SC is the site of the Flowertown Festival, South Carolina’s largest arts and crafts festival. It is also home to several scenic parks, a quaint town square, and a wide range of well-preserved historic homes and buildings.

The Greater Summerville area offers Dorchester County, South Carolina residents an astounding array of business opportunities, products and services geared to reinforce the thriving economy. The most significant sources of employment include the sectors of government, manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade and services. Residents earn a median household income of $43,316, which is above the national average of $41,994. Convenient access to I-95, the Charleston International Airport and the Port of Charleston add to the pro-business environment in Dorchester County, SC.

Dorchester County, South Carolina affords its residents and visitors a wealth of progressive amenities, while preserving the ambiance of a slower-paced lifestyle only the rural south can offer. Top-notch schools, a booming economy, excellent medical facilities and some of the most affordable housing in the Lowcountry region make Dorchester County an enviable community in which to live, work and play.