PeopleGroups Initiative

The Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metropolitan Area is a three-county area in Southeastern South Carolina anchored by the city of Charleston.

The city is located on Charleston Harbor, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean formed by the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper rivers, or, as is locally expressed, "where the Cooper and Ashley Rivers come together to form the Atlantic Ocean".

The area is known for its rich history dating to the 1600's, well-preserved architecture, a celebrated restaurant community, mannerly people, and beautiful beaches. It has been named "America's Most Friendly [City]" by Travel + Leisure, the #1 City in the US by Condé Nast Traveler, and also "the most polite and hospitable city in America" by Southern Living magazine.

Charleston is a growing and dynamic place to live that thrives on tourism, federal military installations, and a increasingly diverse economic base.

Total Population: 744,526

(An increase of 12.03 % in the past 5 years.)

Census Data

Foreign Born - 35,507
Language Spoken at Home - 42,422

[ Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Foreign Born and Language Spoken at Home]

Quick Facts

The third largest metropolitan area in South Carolina.

Charleston is the fastest growing municipality in the State.

Charleston has one official sister city, Spoleto, Umbria, Italy. Charleston is also twinned with Speightstown, St. Peter, Barbados.

Charleston annually hosts Spoleto Festival USA, a 17-day art festival featuring performances by individual artists in a variety of disciplines. The Spoleto Festival is internationally recognized as America's premier performing arts festival.

The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church is one of only two remaining Huguenot churches in America.

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, founded in 1749 by Sephardic Jews from London, is the fourth-oldest Jewish congregation in the continental United States.

Brith Sholom Beth Israel is the oldest Orthodox synagogue in the South, founded by Ashkenazi German and Central European Jews

Profile

Charleston is famous for its unique culture, which blends traditional Southern U.S., English, French, and West African elements. The downtown peninsula is well known for its art, music, local cuisine, and fashion.

Charleston is also known for its local seafood, which plays a key role in the city's renowned cuisine, comprising staple dishes such as gumbo, she-crab soup, fried oysters, Lowcountry boil, deviled crab cakes, red rice, and shrimp and grits. The cuisine in Charleston is also strongly influenced by British and French elements.

The traditional and unique accent of white Charleston speakers has long been noted in the South and has been attributed to its early settlement by French Huguenots and Sephardic Jews both of whom played influential roles in Charleston's early development and history. Charleston also has a high concentration of African-Americans locals who speak the Gullah language, a creole language that developed on the Sea Islands and in the Low Country.

While the city has traditionally been predominantly Caucasian and African-American, there is a growing population of Hispanic and Asian immigrants.

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People Group Profiles

Displaying 1-4 of 4 results.

PG Name	Country Of Birth	Affinity Bloc	Primary Religion	Baseline Population Total

German	Germany	Eurasian Peoples	Christianity - Orthodox	1,780
Russian	Russia	Eurasian Peoples	Christianity - Orthodox	632
Italian	Italy	Eurasian Peoples	Christianity - Roman Catholic	549
Mixtec, Northwestern Tlaxiaco	Mexico	Latin-Caribbean Americans	Christianity - Roman Catholic	65

Ethnic Links

Charleston Cinco de Mayo - The Charleston Cinco de Mayo Festival takes place annually on or near May 5th, a Mexican holiday which is widely celebrated throughout the United States in order to celebrate Latin heritage and culture. The event provides an opportunity for Charleston residents to experience Hispanic food, dance, and music.

Latin American Festival - Celebrate the sights and sounds of the Latin world with live Salsa and Merengue music, authentic food and crafts, and plenty of activities for families to enjoy at the Latin American Festival.

India Association of Greater Charleston - Exists to participate in cultural events to disseminate information about the rich culture of India; to serve as a resource and repository of information about India; to increase the understanding of Indian culture, art, and heritage among the community; and to provide a platform for people interested in India to come together in a social setting.

Charleston Chinese Cultural Center - The Mission of the Charleston Chinese Cultural Center is to enrich Chinese culture through various activities, special art and cultural events.

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