Charleston Real Estate Listings of Houses and Homes for Sale in Charleston County, South Carolina

Charleston

The first laws of the Carolinas guaranteed the widest measure of religious liberty in all of the 13 colonies. By 1704, Charles Towne was a picture of religious freedom with members of the English, French, Quaker, Anabaptist and Independent churches worshipping peacefully together in a small community.

With its historic charm, diverse economic system and fabulous location, Charleston today is one of the best places to live in the country. Readers of Conde' Nast Traveler have named the city a "Top Ten" domestic destination for six consecutive years in Reader's Choice Polls. In fact, the polls have cited Charleston as one of the "Top Twenty" destinations in the world. Charleston is reported to have more gourmet restaurants than any city its size in the U.S.

The area's lush sea islands and sun-drenched beaches offer as much recreation or relaxation as your heart desires. The Isle of Palms is home to the world-renowned Wild Dunes Resort, while Sullivans Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island and Edisto Beach are exciting beach destinations. Golfing opportunities are abundant, with more than 30 challenging courses (including Kiawah’s Ocean Course – site of a Rider Cup match and multiple World Cups) that reflect the natural beauty of the South Carolina "Low Country."

Charleston ranks first among international container cargo ports on the South East and Gulf coasts. Only the combined ports of New York and New Jersey move more cargo than Charleston on the entire East Coast. Charleston ranks as the fourth largest container port in the United States and services approximately 150 countries around the world through its five terminal locations. There are more than 281,660 port related jobs in South Carolina.
More than 27,000 active-duty and civilian military jobs are located in the Charleston region with the Navy the largest employer of area installations with more than 16,200 personnel – it is also the largest employer in the Charleston area. The top commands include the Navy Nuclear Power Training Unit, the Nuclear Power Training Command, and SPAWAR.
The Charleston Air Force Base employs approximately 5600 active-duty and civilian personnel.
Shopping is one of the area's most uniquely rewarding pursuits with native sweetgrass baskets and other handmade crafts found in Charleston's famous open-air market. Boutiques, art galleries and antique shops can be easily found throughout the Charleston area.

Charleston is home to a number of outstanding cultural attractions. The South Carolina Aquarium is located on Charleston Harbor and is a recognized environmental and educational institution. The two-week Spoleto Festival and the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition draw participants and attendees from around the world. The Charleston Museum, the Gibbes Museum of Art, Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum (home of the WWII aircraft carrier Yorktown), the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and the Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site are just a few of the area’s other renowned attractions. The city is also home to a wide range of historic sites and buildings, including the Charleston County Courthouse, the Old Citadel and the South Carolina Society Hall.

Charleston's historic forts were at the turning point of some of the nation's most important events. Ft. Moultrie was the site of the first decisive patriot victory of the American Revolution and Ft. Sumter was the scene of the first shots of the Civil War. The first shots were fired by Citadel Cadets.

Fast Facts on the Charleston Area

Population 603,178
Growth rate 9.9%
Median age 35.4
Total area 3163 mi.²
Average household income $57,700
Unemployment rate 5.2%
Visitors each year 5.1 million
Economic impact of tourism 5.4 billion

Top 15 Major Employers in Charleston
• United States Navy - 12543
• The Medical University of South Carolina 8200
• US Air Force 5000
• Charleston County School District 5000
• Roper St. Francis Healthcare 4000
• Berkeley County Schools 3400
• Piggly Wiggly of South Carolina 2400
• Charleston County 2200
• Trident Health System 2000
• Robert Bosch Corporation 2000
• MeadWestvaco Corp. 1700
• Santee Cooper 1700
• Dorchester County school District Two 1700
• The City of Charleston 1600
• Wal-Mart Stores 1600

Top Industrial Facilities
• Robert Bosch Corporation
• MeadWestvaco Corp
• Cummings Engine Divisions
• Nucor
• Detyens Shipyards
• Alcoa
• Williams Technologies
• Bayer
• LINQ Industrial Fabrics
• American LaFrance

Top International Firms
• Robert Bosch Corporation – Germany
• Bayer Polymers – Germany
• LINQ Industrial Fabrics – Canada
• American LaFrance – Germany
• DAK Americas – Mexico
• Mikasa – France
• Hagemeyer/Cameron and Barkley – Netherlands
• Behr Heat Transfer Systems – Germany
• Giant Cement – Spain
• Holset Engineering – England
• Agfa – Belgium
• Showa Denko Carbon – Japan

Firsts
• First European settlement – 1526
• First slave revolt – November 1526
• First American-built ship to cross the Atlantic – 1563
• First public library – November 16, 1700
• First professional female artist – 1707
• First opera performed – February 18, 1735
• First fire insurance company – February 3, 1736
• First building constructed solely for use as a theater – February 12, 1736
• First systematic, scientific recording of weather information – April 1737
• First major slave insurrection – September 9, 1739
• First musical society – 1762
• First cotton exported to England – 1764
• First public museum – January 1773
• First black Baptist Church – 1773
• Oldest municipal Chamber of Commerce in continuous operation – December 9, 1773
• First business publication – July 30, 1774
• First independent government in the colonies – March 1776
• First major naval battle of the Revolutionary War – June 28, 1776
• First treaty between two US states – May 20, 1777
• First eminent architect born in America – 1781
• First golf club – September 29, 1786
• First cotton mill – 1789
• First ice transported commercially – 1799
• First tea planted – 1802
• First fireproof building – 1823
• First Reform Jewish Congregation – November 21, 1824
• First regularly scheduled rail passenger service – December 25, 1830
• First municipal college – 1836
• First trial in a worker's compensation lawsuit – July 1838
• First building to be used solely as a college library – May 6, 1840
• First patent for a mechanical refrigerator – May 6, 1851
• First state to secede – December 20, 1860
• First shot fired in the Civil War – January 9, 1861
• First black Civil War regiment – November 1862
• First black to earn a Medal of Honor – July 18, 1863
• First submarine to sink a ship in battle – February 17, 1864
• First black state supreme court associate justice – February 1, 1870
• First commercial tea farm – 1890
• First totally electric textile plant – 1893
• First textile school established in a college – 1899
• First rivetless cargo ship – February 1930
• First Historical Zoning Ordinance – Oct 13, 1931
• First US senator elected by write-in vote – November 2, 1954
• First Independent Flag of the Colonies - 1775
• First Golf Course - 1786
• First Music Store - 1819

Trivia

#1 Best Mannered City in America (etiquette expert Marjabelle Young Stewart)
#2 Best Retirement Cities (Macmillan Travel)
#2 Top Cities for Small Business (Entrepreneur and D&B)
#3 Best City for Family Vacations (Family Fun magazine – a Disney publication)
#3 Best US City to Visit (Conde Nast)
#3 Best Retirement Place (AARP)
#3 Best Retirement Places (Retirement Places Rated)
#4 Top Ten Cities in the United States (Travel and Leisure Magazine)
#4 Best Places to Retire (Sperling’s Best Places)
#5 Best Places to Reinvent Your Life (AARP)
#6 Best Golf Town in America (Golf Digest)
-- The New York Times - Charleston is the, "new capital for regional cuisine"
-- Reader’s Choice Awards from Southern Living Magazine: Dream Getaway, Historic Site, Romantic Getaway, and Weekend Getaway
-- Rated among Forbes “Finest Places”
-- Has 2 of the 100 greatest golf courses in the world (Golf Magazine)
-- “…among the nation's best” cities for golf (Golf Digest).
-- Outside Online: Charleston is one of, "The New American Dream Towns"
-- Voted by readers of Conde Nast Travel as among the top 10 places to visit for 14 consecutive years

Colleges

The Citadel
#1 for value among Southern universities that award master's degrees, up from 2 last year.
#5 among public and private Southern universities that award master's degrees, up from 7 last year.
#2 among public Southern universities that award master's degrees, up from 3 last year.
The Citadel and the College of Charleston ranked in the top public Southern universities that award master's degrees
The Citadel and Converse College ranked among the top values among public and private Southern universities that award master's degrees
College of Charleston
# 8 among public and private Southern universities that award master's degrees, up from 11 last year.
# 3 among public Southern universities that award master's degrees, up from 4 last year.
Clemson University
# 27 among public national universities, up from 30 last year.
University of South Carolina
# 54 among public national universities, the same as last year.
#1 among public and private universities nationwide for the Moore School of Business' undergraduate program in international business. The program has held the top spot since 1995.
# 41 among business programs at public and private universities nationwide, up from 42 last year.