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About Charleston
Charleston is the second largest city in South Carolina (Columbia, the capital, takes first place). The city's population is just over 100,000. The city's Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area encompasses three counties: Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester. This is sometimes called the "Tri-County Area" or the "Trident Area," and is home to about 555,000 residents. Projected population growth for the Charleston metro area predicts 600,000 people by the year 2015.
Charleston has a warm climate. In January, the average temperature is 55 degrees; in July, it's 82 on the average. But it's prudent to note that summertime temperatures can peak above the 100-degree mark. And the humidity, which is considerable in the Lowcountry during any season, makes the hot seem hotter and the cold seem colder. Spring in Charleston, however, more than compensates for any discomfort during the other seasons. Many consider it the best time of year in the area; days are warm, nights barely chilled, and the whole world appears to be dripping in wisteria vines and azalea blossoms.
A 1999 business survey concluded that the Charleston economy continues to be sound and growing. The economic boom is most evident in the vast, newly connected lands of Daniel Island and Cainhoy. Just to the east and north of peninsular Charleston, these areas were annexed in 1991 into the city of Charleston. Daniel Island, which is 4,500 acres, is now being developed as a planned, environmentally sensitive community.
Charleston also offers a wealth of job opportunities. Throughout the area in 1997 alone, the Charleston Regional Development Alliance was responsible for securing more than 4,585 new jobs, including those at the Nucor steel plant and Mikasa, a manufacturer of tabletop products.
More than eight million tons of cargo pass through the Port of Charleston every year. As the largest cargo port on the Southeast Atlantic and Gulf coasts (the seventh largest container port nationwide), the port directly and indirectly employs an estimated 17,000 people.
Throughout history, Charleston has stood as the cultural capital of the South. The performing arts are well represented here with a symphony orchestra, community theater groups, and several ballet companies. The Gibbes Museum of Art and numerous art galleries display the city's impressive appreciation for visual pleasures. The abundant examples of architectural preservation, showing the city's longstanding heritage of building excellence and craftsmanship, also bear witness to this esthetic awareness.
For five consecutive years, Charleston has been recognized in popular tourist magazines as one of the top-10 domestic travel destinations. It's even been proclaimed by etiquette guru Marjabelle Young Stewart as the "most mannerly" city in America. We hope that will turn out to be your experience as well.
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