| Location: Comprised of three counties�Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester�the Charleston Metropolitan Area stretches along the central and southern South Carolina coast. The region includes over 90 miles (145 km) of Atlantic coastline and reaches some 50 miles (80 km) inland towards the intersection of Interstates 26 & 95.
Distance to major U.S. cities
| Atlanta, GA |
291 miles |
468 km |
| Los Angeles, CA |
2,485 miles |
3,999 km |
| Miami, FL |
590 miles |
950 km |
| New York, NY |
768 miles |
1,236 km |
Geography (land and water area)
| Berkeley County |
1,229.23 sq. miles |
3,184 km2 |
| Charleston County |
1,357.14 sq. miles |
3,515 km2 |
| Dorchester County |
576.74 sq. miles |
1,494 km2 |
| Metro Area |
3,163.11 sq. miles |
8,192 km2 |
Climate
| Average annual temperature |
65.6ºF |
18.7ºC |
| Average daily maximum |
75.5ºF |
24.2ºC |
| Average daily minimum |
55.7ºF |
13.2ºC |
| Average annual rainfall |
51.53 inches |
131 cm |
| Average relative humidity(7 a.m.) |
86% |
|
| Population |
1990 |
2003 |
| Berkeley County |
128,776 |
146,449 |
| Charleston County |
295,039 |
321,014 |
| Dorchester County |
83,060 |
104,168 |
| Metro Area |
506,875 |
571,631 |
Racial Composition (Metro Area)
| White or Caucasian |
63.9% |
| Black or African-American |
32.1% |
| Asian |
1.2% |
| American Indian & Alaska Native |
0.4% |
| Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander |
0.0% |
| Other |
0.8% |
| Two or more races |
1.6% |
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
2% |
Source: 2003 American Community Survey, US Census Bureau
Total Retail Sales (Metro Area)
| 2000 |
$13,000,000,000 |
| 2001 |
$12,700,000,000 |
| 2002 |
$13,000,000,000 |
| 2003 |
$13,700,000,000 |
| 2004 |
$14,100,000,000 |
|
|
Labor Force & Employment � 2004
| Labor Force |
306,186 |
| Total Employment |
291,948 |
| Unemployment Rate |
4.7% |
Employment by Sector (NAICS)
| Construction/Mining |
8% |
| Manufacturing |
8% |
| Trade, Transportation, Utilities |
20% |
| Information (Print & broadcast media; telecommunications; internet � related; data processing; etc.) |
1% |
| Financial Activities (Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Rental and
Leasing) |
4% |
| Professional and Business (Professional, Scientific and
Technical Services; Mgmt of Companies & Enterprises) |
13% |
| Education and Health Services |
11% |
| Leisure & Hospitality Industries (Incl Food Services) |
12% |
| Other Services not elsewhere classified |
3% |
| Government/Public Admin. |
20% |
| Total Nonagricultural Employment |
100% |
Major Employers � 2004
| US Navy |
16,219 |
| Medical University of SC |
8,200 |
| Charleston Air Force Base |
5,594 |
| Charleston County School District |
5,000 |
| Roper St. Francis Healthcare |
4,000 |
| Berkeley County School District |
3,414 |
| Piggly Wiggly Carolina Co. Inc. |
2,500 |
| Robert Bosch Corp.-Automotive Group |
2,243 |
| Charleston County |
2,243 |
| Wal Mart Stores |
2,153 |
| Trident Health System & HCA Div HQ |
2,082 |
| Dorchester County School District II |
2,000 |
| Colleges & Universities |
Enrollment |
| American College of the Building Arts |
NA |
| Charleston School of Law |
125 |
| Charleston Southern University |
2,900 |
| City Colleges of Chicago |
175 |
| College of Charleston/Univ. of Charleston |
11,607 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University |
300 |
| Johnson & Wales University |
1,300 |
| Limestone College |
500 |
| Lowcountry Graduate Center |
233 |
| Medical University of South Carolina |
2,434 |
| Miller � Motte Tech College |
540 |
| Southern Illinois University |
91 |
| Southern Wesleyan |
350 |
| Springfield College at Charleston |
120 |
| The Citadel |
3,138 |
| Trident Technical College |
11,791 |
| Univ. of South Carolina (Extended Graduate Campus) |
NA |
| Voorhees College |
800 |
| Webster University |
616 |
| Total Enrollment |
37,020 |
|
