National Register Listings in
Charleston County, South Carolina

Aiken, Gov. William, House Aiken, William, House and Associated Railroad Structures Ashley River Historic District Ashley River Historic District (Boundary Increase) Ashley River Road Atlanticville Historic District Bache, Alexander, U.S. Coast Survey Line Bailey's Store Barnwell House Battery Cheves Battery Gadsden Battery LeRoy Battery No. 1 Battery No. 5 Battery Thomson Battery Tynes Battery Wilkes Bennett, Gov. Thomas, House Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Bethel Methodist Church Blacklock, William, House Blake Tenements Bleak Hall Plantation Outbuildings Boone Hall Plantation House and Historic Landscape (Boundary Increase) Branford-Horry House Brewton, Miles, House Brewton, Robert, House Brick House Ruin Brooklands Plantation Brown, Dianna, Antique Shop Cape Romain Lighthouses Cassina Point Castle Pinckney Central Baptist Church Charleston Cemeteries Historic District Charleston Consolidated Railway, Electric and Gas Company Car House Charleston Historic District Charleston Historic District Charleston Historic District (Boundary Increase) Charleston Historic District (Boundary Increase) Charleston Naval Hospital Charleston Naval Hospital Historic District Charleston Navy Yard Historic District Charleston Navy Yard Officers' Quarters Historic District Charleston Old and Historic District (Boundary Increase) Charleston Old and Historic District (Boundary Increase) Charleston's French Quarter District Christ Church Cigar Factory Circular Congregational Church and Parish House Citizens and Southern National Bank of South Carolina College of Charleston Coming Street Cemetery Cook's Old Field Cemetery Crawford's Plantation House Dock Street Theatre Drayton Hall Edisto Island Baptist Church Edisto Island Presbyterian Church Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church Engineering-Management Building Enston, William, Home Exchange and Provost Faber House Fairfield Plantation Farmers' and Exchange Bank Farmfield Plantation House Fenwick Hall Fireproof Building Florence Crittenton Home Fort Johnson/Powder Magazine Fort Moultrie Quartermaster and Support Facilities Historic District Fort Palmetto Fort Pringle Fort Sumter National Monument Fort Sumter National Monument (Boundary Increase and Additional Documentation) Fort Trenholm Frogmore General Asbestos and Rubber Company (GARCO) Main Mill Gibbes, William, House Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity Grove Plantation H. L. HUNLEY (submarine) Hampton Park Terrace Historic District Hampton Plantation Harrietta Plantation Heyward, Dubose, House Heyward-Washington House Hibernian Hall Host of America Motel Huger, Cleland Kinloch and Burnet R. Maybank, House Huguenot Church Hutchinson House Jackson Street Freedman's Cottages John's Island Presbyterian Church Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue King Cemetery Lawton-Seabrook Cemetery Lowndes Grove Lucas Family Cemetery Lucas, Jonathan, House Magnolia Cemetery Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Manigault, Joseph, House Marine Barracks, Charleston Navy Yard Market Hall and Sheds Marshlands Plantation House McClellanville Historic District McCrady's Tavern and Long Room McLeod Plantation Meggett, W. Gresham, High and Elementary School Middleton's Plantation Mills, Clark, Studio Morris Island Lighthouse Mosquito Beach Historic District Moultrieville Historic District Mount Pleasant Historic District Moving Star Hall Murray, Andrew B., Vocational School Nicholson, James, House Oak Island Oakland Plantation House Old Bethel United Methodist Church Old Courthouse Old Georgetown Road Old House Plantation Old House Plantation and Commissary (Boundary Increase) Old Marine Hospital Old Slave Mart Patrick, Dr. John B., House Peter's Point Plantation Porter Military Academy Powder Magazine Presbyterian Manse Presqui'ile Progressive Club, The Prospect Hill Remley Point Cemetery Rhett, Robert Barnwell, House Robb, William, House Rockville Historic District Roper, Robert William, House Rose, Thomas, House Russell, Nathaniel, House Rutledge, Edward, House Rutledge, Gov. John, House Seabrook, John, Plantation Bridge Seabrook, William, House Seashore Farmers' Lodge No. 767 Seaside Plantation House Seaside School Secessionville Historic District Simmons-Edwards House Site of Old Charles Towne Sixth Naval District Training Aids Library Slave Street, Smokehouse, and Allee, Boone Hall Plantation Snee Farm-Charles Pinckney National Historic Site Sottile, Giovanni, House South Carolina National Bank of Charleston South Carolina State Arsenal Sparrow, James, House St. Andrews Episcopal Church St. James Episcopal Church, Santee St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church St. Michael's Episcopal Church St. Philip's Episcopal Church Standard Oil Company Headquarters Stiles-Hinson House Stono River Slave Rebellion Site Stuart, Col. John, House Sullivan's Island Historic District Summit Plantation House Sunnyside Sunnyside Plantation Foreman's House (Boundary Increase) Sword Gate Houses Tennent, Josiah Smith, House Towles Farmstead Trinity Episcopal Church U.S. Coast Guard Historic District U.S. Customhouse U.S. Post Office and Courthouse Unitarian Church Unnamed Battery Unnamed Battery No. 1 USS CLAMAGORE (SS-343) USS LAFFEY USS YORKTOWN (CV-10) Vander Horst, Arnoldus, House Vesey, Denmark, House Wedge, The Wescott Road West Point Rice Mill Wilkinson-Boineau House Willtown Bluff Windsor Plantation
The first American military victory of the Revolutionary War took place in South Carolina. In 1775, a small group of American patriots led by William Moultrie successfully defended Fort Sullivan (now Fort Moultrie) on Sullivan's Island from a British attack. The victory prevented the British from gaining control of Charleston Harbor and gave a boost to the American cause.
Charleston County, located in the southern part of South Carolina, has a rich and storied history that dates back centuries. The area was originally home to various Native American tribes, such as the Cusabo and the Kiawah, who thrived along the coast. European exploration began in the late 16th century when Spanish, French, and English expeditions arrived.

In 1670, the English established the first permanent European settlement in the region, known as Charles Towne. The settlement quickly grew and became an important trading port, attracting colonists from England, Scotland, and Germany. By the early 18th century, Charleston had become one of the wealthiest and largest cities in the American colonies.

During the Revolutionary War, Charleston played a pivotal role as a major British stronghold. In 1780, the city was attacked and captured by British forces, leading to a period of occupation until 1782. However, Charlestonians' resilience and contributions to the war effort were crucial in gaining independence.

In the 19th century, Charleston County experienced tremendous growth and prosperity, driven by industries such as rice and indigo plantations, and later, the cotton industry. This prosperity relied heavily on enslaved African labor, leading to significant social, economic, and cultural impacts on the county. The rise of the abolitionist movement and the ensuing Civil War would later shape Charleston's history and lead to its ultimate transformation.

Today, Charleston County is a diverse and vibrant region, known for its historic charm, beautiful architecture, and thriving tourism industry. It continues to honor and preserve its rich history while embracing progress and growth in various sectors, including education, healthcare, and technology.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Charleston County, South Carolina.

  • 1670 - Charleston County established when English settlers arrive and establish Charles Town.
  • 1718 - Blackbeard the pirate is killed off the coast of Charleston County.
  • 1776 - Charleston County residents sign the South Carolina Constitution.
  • 1861 - American Civil War begins with the bombardment of Fort Sumter in Charleston County.
  • 1871 - First public school in Charleston County opens.
  • 1927 - Ravenel Bridge, connecting Charleston County to Mount Pleasant, is completed.
  • 1989 - Hurricane Hugo hits Charleston County, causing significant damage.
  • 2000 - Charleston County population reaches over 309,969 people.
  • 2015 - Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shooting in Charleston County.