Overview

Charleston County's rich blend of culture, economic activity, environmental beauty and historic tapestry makes it one of the most distinguished counties in the nation. A recognized leader, Charleston County is a proud community that strives to protect both its historic treasures and its environment, while still keeping an eye toward future development and citizens' needs.

Charleston's numerous advantages have not gone unnoticed. The Partners for Livable Communities, a Washington, D.C. based non-profit foundation, included Charleston in its top ten "most livable places" in the United States. And, Conde Nast Traveler, the world's leading travel circular, named Charleston among its top five recommended American cities and top twenty cities worldwide.

The County continues to draw national recognition, winning dozens of local, state and national awards for its innovative programs and services.

In the past few years, Charleston County opened the Lonnie Hamilton III Public Services Building, completed restoration of the Historic Statehouse/Courthouse to its 1792 era, constructed a new Judicial Center to serve as the core of a Judicial Complex at the Four Corners of Law in downtown Charleston, renovated the Blake Tenement House, expanded the Cumberland Street Parking Garage and has several major projects ongoing, including construction of a new John's Island Library and new facilities for Emergency Medical Service and Magistrate's Courts in several areas of the county.

With a full plate of activities and achievements, Charleston County strives to provide public service in an environment that recognizes both the need for fiscal responsibility and the desire to maintain excellence.

Lonnie Hamilton, III, Public Services Building
Lonnie Hamilton, III, Public Services Building

Charleston County History

The concept of the county as a governmental entity originated in Europe. Large areas, often containing several villages, were usually governed by a count. When the Normans conquered England, they used county to describe the geographical areas then known as shires. Eventually, counties evolved to include law enforcement, representation in Parliament and delivery of administrative justice. It was this concept of county that made its way to the Colonies and the Province of Carolina.

In designing the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina in 1682, the Lords Proprietors chose to divide the province into three counties. These counties would become the most basic territorial divisions for government, land grants and administration of justice.

The first counties in the Province of Carolina emerged in 1682 as election districts. There were three: Craven County, which included land north of Seewee Creek (now Awendaw Creek); Berkeley County, which centered around Charleston, included land between Seewee Creek and the Stono River; and Colleton County, which included land from the Stono River south to the Combahee River. Later, a fourth, Granville County, was laid out between the Combahee and Savannah rivers. These election districts had little to do with the operations of Carolina Government. That began to change with the legal division of the province into North and South Carolina in 1729.

During the period following the division, the main functions of local governments were performed by the Commons House of Assembly, which met in Charleston to decide matters of road construction and the provision of laws and courts. Parishes, established by the Anglican Church in 1706, served as the election districts beginning in 1721. During the same year, South Carolina was divided into 33 road districts with responsibility for the infrastructure falling on independent boards of commissioners. The central authority for law and order, however, remained in Charleston. While centralization of authority in Charleston was convenient for lawmakers and judges of the Lowcountry, residents of the Backcountry or Upcountry, suffered from lack of law and representation. In 1769, complaints from Backcountry residents led the Province of South Carolina to create seven judicial districts, each with a courthouse. Charleston became one of these districts.

In 1785, the General Assembly of the new State of South Carolina divided the state into 34 counties. Charleston District encompassed six of the counties. In 1791, when the number of counties was reduced to 25, the six counties in the Charleston District were dissolved.

The lines were redrawn again in 1798 when all counties were reincorporated into districts. Two years later, Charleston District was split into Colleton District and Charleston District. The latter roughly included what are today Charleston and Berkeley counties.

There was still little need for local government beyond the duties that rested with the local road commissioners and justices of the peace. By 1828, most of the operational powers were in the hands of the S.C. General Assembly. It remained so until the adoption of the South Carolina Constitution of 1868, also known as the Reconstruction Constitution.

This constitution established 31 counties as governmental units and included provisions for each county to elect a board of commissioners, clerk of court, coroner, probate judge and sheriff. As governmental units, the boards of commissioners were given jurisdiction over all local concerns of their respective counties.

These circumstances reversed just 27 years later with adoption of the South Carolina Constitution of 1895. The new constitution made no mention of local government, although the S.C. General Assembly was careful to formalize the counties under its own authority. Because the legislative delegations controlled their respective county budgets, these delegations became the governing bodies of each county. And as each county's state senator had veto power over delegation decisions, the senator became the most powerful authority in each county.

The local Board of Commissioners lost even more power in 1900 when the General Assembly established the Sanitary and Drainage Commission in Charleston County. Then, in 1925, the legislature created a separate Charleston County Police Commission; and, in 1931, the Legislative Delegation assumed control of the County Board of Education. With help from a Rockefeller Foundation grant in 1926 the Charleston County Board of Health was created, but was later combined in 1936 with the City of Charleston Board of Health.

By the end of World War II, the population was increasing and administrative responsibilities were scattered between a board of commissioners, constitutional officers, sheriffs and assorted school, health and public service district officials. Public demands for more effective local government ballooned forcing reform with the passage of state legislation in 1948, which provided for a system of local government in South Carolina.

Voters in Charleston County decided between a plan which placed control in the hands of a seven-member county council with an appointed manager as chief executive officer or a plan which maintained legislative delegation control but centralized county administrative functions under a council of 11. If neither plan gained majority voter support, the system would continue unchanged.

On September 14, 1948, voters chose the first plan with the appointed manager, and, on January 4, 1949, members of Charleston County Council were sworn into office. On June 6, 1949, a manager was hired, and operations as a council-manager form of government began on July 1, 1949. Since that time, Council was expanded to nine members to accommodate a growing population.

Under the Home Rule Act passed by the S.C. General Assembly in 1975, Charleston County residents chose the council-administrator form of government through a referendum. Charleston County continues to operate under the council-administrator form.

Firsts & Oldest

The first decisive American victory of the American Revolution was the Battle of Fort Sullivan on Sullivan's Island.

America's first women-owned newspaper.

Nov. 16, 1700: America's first public library - A law passed by the S.C. General Assembly established a provincial library in Charles Towne and provided for its governance. This library, located on St Philip's Street, remained in operation for 14 years.

1706: Oldest Surviving Church - Old St. Andrew's Parish Church, founded and built in 1706, is the oldest surviving church in the Carolinas.

1707: America's first woman artist - America's first recognized woman artist, Charles Towne's own Henrietta Johnson, began painting portraits.

Feb. 18, 1735: First opera performed - Colley Cibber's ballad opera Flora, or Hob in the Well, was performed at the Courtroom in Charles Towne.

1736: First Fire Insurance - The first fire insurance in America, the "Friendly Society for Mutual Insurance of Houses against Fire," was founded in Charles Towne in 1736. It was bankrupted by the Great Fire of 1740 which destroyed more than 300 buildings.

Feb. 12, 1736: First building constructed solely for use as a theater - The New Theatre in Charles Towne opened with a performance of George Farquhar's The Recruiting Officer, but it closed soon after on March 23, 1736. Today the Dock Street Theatre, located on Church Street, occupies the remodeled New Theatre building.

April 1737: First systematic, scientific recording of weather information - Dr. John Lining (1708-1760) took observations of Charles Towne's weather three times a day from his home on Broad Street. He recorded temperature, rainfall, atmospheric pressure, humidity, wind direction, and wind speed.

1741: Middleton Place - Middleton Place, c. 1741, is America's oldest formally landscaped gardens.

1742: Drayton Hall - Completed in 1742, Drayton Hall now stands as one of the oldest and finest examples of Georgian Palladian architecture built before the American Revolution.

1749: Second Oldest Synagogue in continuous use - Formed in 1749, Congregation Beth Elohim is the second oldest synagogue in the United States and the oldest in continuous use.

1762: First musical society - The St. Cecilia Society was founded in Charles Towne.

1764: First cotton exported to England - The custom house in London, England recorded a shipment of 8 bales of cotton from Charles Towne.

January 1773: First public museum - A special committee of the Charles Towne Library Society met to discuss the establishment of a museum in Charles Towne. Several months later another committee was appointed by Lieutenant Governor William Bull II (1710-1791) to collect materials for the new Charleston Museum, which is now located on Meeting Street.

Dec. 9, 1773: Oldest municipal Chamber of Commerce in continuous operation - The Charles Towne Chamber of Commerce was organized at Mrs. Swallows Tavern on Broad Street. Today it is called the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.

July 30, 1774: First business publication - The earliest known edition of South-Carolina Price-Current listed prices for 168 things bought and sold in Charles Towne.

March 1776: First independent government in the colonies - Four months before the Declaration of Independence was signed, South Carolina adopted a state constitution - drafted by a Provincial Congress - and elected John Rutledge (1739-1800) as the state's president and Henry Laurens (1724-1792) as its vice-president. The titles of these offices were changed to Governor and Lieutenant Governor by the Constitution of 1779.

1780: First Prescription Drug Store - The first prescription drug store began operation in Charles Towne.

1781: First eminent architect born in America - Robert Mills (1781-1855), who designed many famous buildings and monuments, was born in Charles Towne.

1785: College of Charleston - Chartered in 1785, the College of Charleston is the oldest municipal college in America. Additionally, it is the only college in America to have four signers of the Declaration of Independence as founding members.

Sept. 29, 1786: First golf club - Scottish merchants formed the South Carolina Golf Club in Charleston. Club members played on Harleston's Green in Charleston until 1800.

1789: First cotton mill - Frances Ramage, a planter's widow, established a cotton mill on James Island, a large sea island that forms the southern shore of Charleston harbor.

1802: First tea planted - French botanist Francois Andre Michaux (1770-1855) planted tea at Middleton Barony (now known as Middleton Place) near Charleston.

1820: Poinsettia Plant introduced - Charlestonian Joel R. Poinsett first introduced the popular poinsettia plant to the United States in 1820.

1823: First fireproof building - Construction of Charleston's Fireproof Building began in 1823 and was completed four years later. This building, which is located at 100 Meeting Street, was designed by Robert Mills to house state records. The South Carolina Historical Society, which had offices in the building from 1859 until the end of the Civil War, has been located in the building since 1943.

Nov. 21, 1824: First Reform Jewish Congregation - The Reformed Society of Israelites was founded in Charleston by 47 members of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim after their petition to change the Sephardic Orthodox liturgy was denied.

1830: First Scheduled Train Passenger Service - The Best Friend of Charleston, the nation's first regularly scheduled train offering passenger service, originated from Charleston in 1830. It was the world's largest when the 140 mile rail line was completed to Hamburg, S.C.

1851: First artificial ice - Artificial ice was first made in Charleston by John Gorrie.

1863: The Hunley - The world's first successful submarine attack occurred in Charleston Harbor in 1864 when the Confederate submarine Hunley sank the Union warship Housatonic.