Charleston, South Carolina, USA
1916

Charleston, a port of entry, capital of a county of its own name, and the largest city of South Carolina, is situated on a tongue of land between the rivers Ashley and Cooper, which unite immediately below the town and form a spacious harbor, communicating with the Atlantic Ocean at Sullivan's Island, 7 miles below. It is 115 miles by rail NE. of Savannah and 580 miles SW. of Baltimore. Lat. 32° 46' N. ; Ion. 79° 57' W. A sandbar extends across the mouth of the harbor, affording, however, a deep-water channel near Sullivan's Island ; since the late harbor improvements, safe entry is given to vessels of 23-24 feet draft. The harbor is defended by Castle Pinokney and forts Sumter and Ripley, each on an island, the first-named 1 mile and the last 6 miles below the city, and also by forts Moultrie, on Sullivan's Island, and Johnston, on James Island. Charleston is regularly built, but retains, in its architectural features (lofty piazzas, etc.) and old landmarks, many of the peculiarities of the cities of the South. It has hand some and stately residences and a wealth of gardens with profuse vegetation, the exhibition of magnolias, jessamines, camellias, and azaleas being always an attractive feature of the city. The streets are bordered with lire-oaks and other beautiful shade-trees, and are of generous width. Legare Street and the Battery, a broad esplanade about 500 yards long, are part of the most aristocratic residential quarters.

The principal public buildings are the new custom-house, the city-hall, the court-house, academy of music, arsenal, and the South Carolina Military Academy. At the southern extremity of the city is a small park, called the White Point Garden, with beautiful live-oaks, which is a popular place of promenade. The most important educational and literary institutions are the College of Charleston (non- sectarian), which was founded in 1788 and reorganized in 1837 ; the Medical College of South Carolina, which was founded in 1833; the Charleston Library, founded in 1748; and the Military Academy above mentioned. The College of Charleston has a museum of natural history. The Avery Normal Institute is attended by about 400 colored students. Charleston contains numerous churches (white and colored), among which St. Michael's (Episcopal), with its commanding tower and fine chimes, is the most conspicuous. The city has also many benevolent and charitable institutions, among which are the Enston Home for the aged and the Confederate Home for Widows. The Orphan House, founded in 1792, is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the country. Charleston is the seat of a Catholic bishop. The city has various manufactures (cotton, flour, carriages, baggings, textiles), extensive ma chine-shops, ship-yards, dry-docks, etc. The preparation or manufacture of fertilizers and lime-phosphates, large deposits of which are found on the Ashley River, constitutes its most important industry. The value of this industry is $6,000,000 to $7,000,000 annually.

Charleston is the chief commercial city of South Carolina, its facilities embracing a deep-water harbor and three rail way lines, — the Southern, the Atlantic Coast Line, and Plant System, — which have termini here, and which are connected with the interior by important feeders. The chief articles of export are cotton, rice, phosphate, naval stores, and lumber. The quantity of cotton exported in 1901 was valued at $6,728,665. The city has a large wholesale trade in dry-goods, clothing, drugs, etc. The total value of the foreign exports for the year ending June 30, 1900, was $7,151,720 ; imports, $1,124,671. Steamships ply regularly between Charleston and the Atlantic ports of the United States, the Antilles, South America, and Europe. Points of interest or resort in the surroundings are the Isle of Palms, Magnolia Cemetery, the Gardens of Magnolia on the Ashley, and Chicora Park. An English settlement was made here in 1670. In 1685- 36 a company of French Huguenots, exiled for their religion, settled at this place. On June 28, 1776, a British squadron attacked the garrison on Sullivan's Island, consisting of 400 men under Colonel Moultrie, who defended the place with success. Charleston was besieged by Sir Henry Clinton from April 1, 1780, to May 12, when it was surrendered by General Lincoln. On April 12-13, 1861, the South Carolinians bombarded and captured Fort Sumter. This was the beginning of the Civil War. In April, 1863, a Federal fleet, commanded by Admiral Dupont, attacked the fortifications of Charleston without success. After a long siege the place was evacuated by the Confederates, Feb. 17, 1865. On Aug. 31, 1886, the city was visited by a disastrous earthquake, which wrecked property to the value of several millions of dollars and destroyed a number of human lives. An Interstate and West Indian Exposition was held here in 1901 and 1902. Pop. in 1800, 18,711 ; in 1820, 24,780 ; in 1840, 29,261 ; in 1860, 40,522 ; in 1880, 49,984; in 1890, 55,807 ; in 1900, 54,955.

Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

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