From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia South Carolina Lowcountry
South Carolina Lowcountry
Always included
A scenic vista from an observation area at Hunting Island
State Park near Beaufort. Such marsh views are emblematic of
the Lowcountry and its beautiful landscapes. The most commonly accepted counties of the Lowcoun-
try are Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties.
The Lowcountry (official spelling, sometimes spelled Supporters of this definition point to the Lowcountry
lowcountry)
Low Country or just lowcountry is a geographic and cul- Council of Governments (a regional governmental entity
tural region located along South Carolina’s coast. The re- charged with regional and transportation planning) as
gion includes the South Carolina Sea Islands. Once a loca- covering these four counties. In addition, the South
tion that was known for its agricultural wealth, the Low- Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
country today is internationally renowned for its historic identifies the "Lowcountry and Resort Islands" tourism
cities and communities, its natural beauty, and its unique area as the four aforementioned counties [1].
cultural heritage, which have attracted millions of visi-
tors and thousands of new residents. Usually included
A larger geographic definition for Lowcountry often in-
Definition cludes Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties,
sometimes referred to as the Charleston-North
The Lowcountry is often thought of as a geographic and Charleston-Summerville metropolitan area. Critics of
social identifier. While there is a general consensus on this larger definition point that the Charleston-North
defining Lowcountry as it relates to culture, there is a Charleston-Summerville metropolitan area, frequently
considerable difference of opinion on its geographic ex- used by those living in the City of Charleston, borrowed
tent. According to some historians, the Lowcountry ex- the Lowcountry moniker in an attempt to give a name
tends from the Sandhills of South Carolina, just east of to their region of the state; however, supporters point
Columbia, to the coast. This area is mostly near or below that many of the same geographic qualities and features
sea level; thus the term "low country". Contemporary found in the smaller area are also found throughout the
definitions however differentiate depending on perspec- three metropolitan counties as well.
tive:
Sometimes included
Applied more broadly, the term can also refer to periph-
eral or adjacent areas. These include Allendale, George-
town, and Williamsburg counties. Although along the
coast, Horry County, home to Myrtle Beach and Conway
is very rarely included in the definition and is more often
considered to be its own region (The Grand Strand) or
closer geographically to the Pee Dee Region of the state.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia South Carolina Lowcountry
History munities, including Edisto Beach, Folly Beach, Sullivan’s
Island, and the Isle of Palms, remain popular destinations
For more detail on history in the Lowcountry region, for visitors and a growing number of permanent resi-
consult the following articles: dents and second-home owners.
Main article: Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville Charleston is one of the leading cultural and historic
metropolitan area destinations in the United States and attracts millions of
Main article: Hilton Head Island-Beaufort micropolitan visitors each year. Beaufort is also a very popular destina-
area tion for cultural activities and sightseeing, while some of
the smaller communities in the region have certain cul-
Geography tural activities or amenities that attract thousands of vis-
itors per year. Highway or traveler commercial services
For more detail on geographic characteristics in the Low- are of particular importance to communities in the low-
country region, consult the following articles: country (including Mount Pleasant, North Charleston,
Main article: Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville South Carolina, Goose Creek, Charleston and Sum-
metropolitan area merville) and along Interstate 95 (including St. George,
Main article: Hilton Head Island-Beaufort micropolitan Walterboro, and Hardeeville).
area Hunting Island State Park, Edisto State Park and other
local, state, and federally protected or preserved lands
Economy and wetlands provide thousands of acres of pristine nat-
ural areas that are accessible in areas to millions of visi-
Originally an area dependent on large-scale agricultural tors.
farming, 20th-century economic forces have created a
more dynamic economy for the Lowcountry. Though Trade and retail
agriculture remains an important component of the
overall economy, other sectors have become as predomi-
nant and vital to the region’s economic portfolio.
Tourism
The Port of Charleston has several terminals processing over
$60 billion of handled goods per year.
The Port of Charleston, owned and operated by the South
Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA) is one of the ten
Hilton Head Island is one of the most popular resort destina- busiest ports in the United States, handling over $60 bil-
tions in the United States. lion worth of goods. Much of the lowcountrys economic
output revolves around manufacturing, transportation,
Tourism is the current dominant economic sector logistics and other port-related business. Major logistics
throughout much the Lowcountry and hinges upon three employers include Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, Evergreen
major contributing factors: resort amenities, cultural Marine Corporation, COSCO and Hamburg Süd. . The
sites, and natural features. SCSPA is constructing a new terminal in North
The evolution of the modern resort community was Charleston, South Carolina at the old Naval Base and has
pioneered at Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island plans to construct a new ocean terminal port in southern
in the 1950s. Since that time, other parts of Hilton Head Jasper County by 2020 in conjunction with the Georgia
Island in addition to Fripp Island, Seabrook Island, Ki- Ports Authority under a bi-state commission. A former
awah Island, and the Wild Dunes portion of the Isle of port facility in Port Royal was closed in 2005.
Palms have developed into popular destinations for golf, Manufacturing has become an increasingly impor-
tennis, and beach vacations. Longstanding seaside com- tant component of the Lowcountry’s economy. Major
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia South Carolina Lowcountry
manufacturers in the City of North Charleston, South
Carolina include Robert Bosch GmbH (diesel engine com-
ponents), Cummins (diesel engine components), Hess (fu-
el refining), Kapstone (paper), and Boeing (aircraft com-
ponents, formerly Vought Industries). In 2009, Boeing
announced plans to develop a second assembly facility
for its 787 Dreamliner aircraft in North Charleston, South
Carolina. It is anticipated by state and local officials that
the region will become more attractive for support in-
dustries and suppliers in the aviation and aeronautical
sector of the economy.
The knowledge-based and information technology Marine recruits on the Chosin Range, located at the Marine
sector is also a growing economic sector in the region. Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
Blackbaud is a major software company headquartered
in Charleston and employees hundreds of workers at its which includes a Naval Consolidated Brig in Hanahan. A
Daniel Island facility. Additional IT companies have former naval yard was closed in 1995.
sprung up in Charleston and Beaufort Counties. Facilities in the Beaufort area include the Marine
Retail trade is a major component of trade in the re- Corps Recruit Depot on Parris Island, the U.S. Naval
gion, with the City of North Charleston having the largest Hospital in Port Royal, and the Marine Corps Air Station
volume of retail sales in the region. Specialty retail, in- in Beaufort.
cluding arts and crafts, knick-knacks, antiques provide a
major component of retail trade in the historic areas of
Charleston, Summerville, Beaufort, Port Royal and Wal-
Culture
terboro. The Piggly Wiggly Carolina Co. has its local head-
quarters in Charleston with major warehousing and dis-
tribution center located just past Summerville off of I-26.
Major shopping complexes in the area include the Citadel
Mall in Charleston, the Northwoods Mall, Tanger Factory
Outlets and Centre Point in North Charleston and Tanger
Factory Outlets in Bluffton, the Mount Pleasant Town Centre
in Mount Pleasant and The Mall at Shelter Cove on Hilton
Head Island.
Major shopping districts in the area include the City
Market and King Street in Charleston, Savannah Highway
in West Ashley (Charleston suburb), Daniel Island
(Charleston suburb), North Charleston, Johnny Dodds Grits are one of several staples of Lowcountry cuisine.
Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, Boundary Street and Bay
Street in Beaufort, and U.S. 278 in Bluffton and Hilton The region contains its share of culture and history that
Head Island. draws from Southern, European, African, Caribbean, and
St. George, Walterboro, Point South, Ridgeland, and Native American roots. Among the more notable are the
Hardeeville provide traveler-oriented commercial ser- Gullah influence on St. Helena Island, the early European
vices for motorists and visitors along the Interstate 95 settlements near Beaufort and Port Royal, and the
corridor. Caribbean influence on architecture in Charleston.
Charleston and Beaufort both have dozens of antebellum
Military and postbellum homes that reflect unique blends and
The Lowcountry has a significant military presence, with styles of architecture.
tens of thousands of active duty and reserve personnel
stationed in and near bases around the region. The Air Food
Force, Navy, and the Marine Corps all have facilities lo- Main article: Lowcountry cuisine
cated in the region. The South Carolina National Guard
has several outposts located here as well.
Facilities in the lowcountry include the Space and
References
Naval Warfare Systems Center in Goose Creek/Hanahan,
the Charleston Air Force Base in North Charleston, and External links
the Naval Weapons Station Charleston in Goose Creek,
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia South Carolina Lowcountry
Coordinates: 33°07′34″N 80°00′32″W / 33.1260618°N
80.0087746°W / 33.1260618; -80.0087746
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=South_Carolina_Lowcountry&oldid=450862568"
Categories:
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• Gullah
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