North Charleston, South Carolina
North Charleston is a city in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina.[1] As of the 2020 census, North Charleston had a population of 114,852,[4] making it the third-most populous city in the state, and the 248th-most populous city in the United States. North Charleston is a principal city within the Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 849,417 in 2023.[5]
North Charleston
United States
June 12, 1972
Being north of Charleston
Reginald L. “Reggie” Burgess
81.06 sq mi (209.95 km2)
77.63 sq mi (201.06 km2)
3.43 sq mi (8.89 km2) 4.23%
20 ft (6 m)
114,852
118,608
1,527.8/sq mi (589.9/km2)
684,773 (US: 63rd)
849,417 (US: 71st)
UTC–4 (EDT)
45-50875
1225072[3]
9.0%[6]
History[edit]
1680–1901: Plantations[edit]
From the 17th century until the Civil War, plantations cultivated commodity crops, such as rice and indigo. Some of the plantations in what is now North Charleston were:
Museums, historical sites, and other attractions include:
From its establishment in August 1999, the Convention Center has attracted millions of guests and visitors to North Charleston and contributed significantly to the local and regional economy. The complex includes exhibition halls, ballrooms and meeting rooms.[56] The Performing Arts Center, the North Charleston Coliseum, and the Charleston Area Convention Center are owned by the City of North Charleston and managed by SMG. Together with the co-located Embassy Suites hotel, they help create an entertainment and cultural complex that serves the City of North Charleston and the entire region:
The Jenkins Orphanage (now Jenkins Institute For Children) left Charleston in 1937 and moved to 3923 Azalea Drive in what is now North Charleston. The institute is known for its contributions to child welfare in the area and the Jenkins Orphanage Band.[59][60][61]
The Park Circle Film Society[62] is a nonprofit art house theater that holds over 70 screenings of independent and documentary films each year. It holds the annual Lowcountry Indie Shorts Festival, South Carolina's festival dedicated to short film.
North Charleston
27.8
70.0
193.1
668.6
959.5
479.7
3794.0
591.0
20.2
4885.0
North Charleston is served by the Charleston County School District and Dorchester School District II.
Public high schools:
Private schools:
North Charleston is home to Charleston Southern University, Trident Technical College, and ECPI University.[72] Near the airport, in North Charleston, the Lowcountry Graduate Center offers satellite campus access to multiple universities in South Carolina. Clemson, University of South Carolina, Medical University of South Carolina, The Citadel and the College of Charleston all working together to provide Lowcountry residents with access to graduate degree programs together in one convenient location. Webster University maintains two locations, one at the Charleston AFB and another just off of Leeds Avenue.
City services[edit]
Fire department[edit]
The first fire department founded in the area to become North Charleston was the St. Phillip's and St. Michael's Fire Department in 1935, made up of volunteers. They had one station and one engine. The North Charleston Fire Department, also a volunteer group, was formed in 1937 with one station and one engine. In 1959, the departments merged to become the North Charleston Consolidated Fire Department. NCFD became a paid service in 1962, at which time all volunteers were released. They formed the organization today known as the Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Squad.[84]
The two departments were merged in 1996 as the North Charleston Fire Department. It had a total of 10 fire stations, 10 engines, 3 ladder trucks and 2 squads at that time.[84]
Currently, the NCFD has 13 stations, with one being a satellite station for the marine unit. The department has 12 engine companies, 2 aerial tower companies, 2 ladder companies, 2 rescue companies, 1 hazmat unit, 2 marine units, and 1 high water rescue unit in service.[85]
The department operates on a 24/48 shift schedule. The NCFD runs on average roughly 30,000 calls per year.[86]
