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Charleston — travel, stays & events guide
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Charleston city overview
Charleston is a city in USA shaped by its region, population, local economy, landmarks, climate and civic history. This overview summarizes the city itself: where it sits, what defines it, which places anchor its identity and why it matters within the wider country.
City facts
Known forCharleston, South Carolina Lowcountry, Charleston planning base 3, Charleston planning base 4
RegionUSAUSA
Time zoneAmerica/New_Yorklocal time
Founded1663historical origin
City history
King Charles II granted the chartered Province of Carolina to eight of his loyal friends, known as the Lords Proprietors, on March 24, 1663.
At the time of European colonization, the area was inhabited by the indigenous Cusabo, on whom the settlers declared war in October 1671.
The initial settlement quickly dwindled and disappeared while another village—established by the settlers on Oyster Point at the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper rivers around 1672—thrived.
In 1680, this second settlement formally replaced the original Charles Town, which today is commemorated as Charles Towne Landing.
A smallpox outbreak erupted in 1698, followed by an earthquake in February 1699.
Although Columbia had replaced it as the state capital in 1788, Charleston became even more prosperous as Eli Whitney's 1793 invention of the cotton gin sped the processing of the crop over 50 times.
On January 9, 1861, Citadel cadets opened fire on the USS Star of the West as it entered Charleston Harbor.
Native American settlement The unified Cusabo people (including sub tribes such as Kiawah) and the Ittiwan people inhabited the area prior to colonial settlement.
Britain's Industrial Revolution—initially built upon its textile industry—took up the extra production ravenously and cotton became Charleston's major export commodity in the 19th century.
Because the Carolina's Fundamental Constitutions were never ratified, however, Charles Town was never incorporated during the colonial period.
The latter caused a fire that destroyed about a third of the town.
Much of Charles Town was flooded as "the Ashley and Cooper rivers became one." At least seventy people died in the disaster.
More than one million enslaved people were transported from the Upper South to the Deep South in the antebellum years, as cotton plantations were widely developed through what became known as the Black Belt.
Beauregard fired upon the US Army-held Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor.
Worth seeing
Charleston
Charleston is a practical Charleston planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
South Carolina Lowcountry
South Carolina Lowcountry is a practical Charleston planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Charleston planning base 3
Charleston planning base 3 is a practical Charleston planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Charleston planning base 4
Charleston planning base 4 is a practical Charleston planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Charleston planning base 5
Charleston planning base 5 is a practical Charleston planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Charleston planning base 6
Charleston planning base 6 is a practical Charleston planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Stay overview
Compare Charleston before booking Charleston hotels. Start with the places you will repeat most, then check airport timing, parking, nightly price and event demand before choosing the final base.
Hotels & areas
Compare accommodation options in and around Charleston by area, not only by nightly price. A cheaper room can become expensive when airport transfers, parking, attraction routes, late arrivals or event-week demand add time and cost.
Compare stays in Charleston, USAFlights & airports
Main airport TBC arrival plan
- Charleston airport accessMain gateway TBC.
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Rental cars
Charleston day-trip car use
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Best time to visit
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Transport notes
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Crowds
Prices can jump around festivals, conventions, school holidays, cruise days, ski weeks, race weekends and large sports events.
Booking detail
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Upcoming events
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