Barely four miles long and less than a half mile wide, Seabrook Island is among the most exclusive resort and retirement destinations in the Carolinas. Originally inhabited by Native Americans, the island, located 23 miles south of downtown Charleston, was claimed by Lt. Col. Robert Sanford in 1666 for England’s King Charles. It was known then … [Read more...]

Santee is perfectly situated, with its proximity to two major interstates and a major north/south artery. You could almost say that all roads lead to Santee. The earliest known residents were the Santee Indians, who lived on the banks of a river by the same name. Two centuries later, Santee was an important defense against the British troops … [Read more...]

With a growing reputation as one of South Carolina’s latest boom towns, North Charleston has proven to be an excellent place to live and visit. Split between three counties, Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester, just north of the city of Charleston, the area was comprised mostly of plantations prior to the Civil War. The area eventually was … [Read more...]

It hasn’t been long since Kiawah Island was an overgrown hunting reserve accessible only by boat. Today, the exclusive island retreat, located 30 miles from historic downtown Charleston, is home to some of the most valuable real estate in the Southeast. The Vanderhorst family, of Charleston, owned the 10-mile-long barrier island for almost two … [Read more...]

Much of South Carolina and North Carolina have seen a population boom in recent years, with builders putting up housing developments as quickly as possible, then moving on to the next project. Despite its proximity to Charleston, Johns Island, located just across the Stono River, has retained its pastoral charm, a veritable sea of tranquility … [Read more...]

James Island, just across the river from Charleston, has a long history of conflict. Early on the morning of April 12, 1861, Confed­erate troops in Fort Johnson, on the northern tip of the island opened fire on the Union forces in Fort Sumter, sparking the bloodiest war in Ameri­can history. In fact, James Island was the primary battleground … [Read more...]

Folly Beach was not always the laid-back beach town it is today. In the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, carnival rides and big band leaders such as Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey attracted crowds to the island now known as “The Edge of America” from up and down the East Coast. By day, visitors would lie in the sun and play in the warm waters of the … [Read more...]

Legend has it that, as delegates from across South Carolina gathered to debate seceding from the United States in 1861, the representative from Edisto Island leapt to his feet and declared that if South Carolina did not vote for immediate secession, then, by God, Edisto Island would secede by itself. We all know what happened after that. Even … [Read more...]