Charleston is a city located in Berkeley County and Charleston County South Carolina. Charleston has a 2023 population of 153,040. It is also the county seat of Charleston County.Charleston is currently growing at a rate of 0.47% annually and its population has increased by 1.42% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 150,903 in 2020.
The average household income in Charleston is $111,903 with a poverty rate of 11.99%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Charleston is 35.5 years, 34.5 years for males, and 36.6 years for females.
Charleston is the second-largest and oldest city in South Carolina. Located in Charleston County on Charleston Harbor, Charleston has a population of 120,000, although an official 2017 estimate places the population at {pop}.
Charleston was once one of the most dangerous cities in America based on the number of crimes committed per 100,000 people. The crime rate has been declining, however. In 1999, there were 597 crimes per 100,000 people, although the rate dropped to 236/100,000 people by 2011. This compares with the national average of 320/100,000 people.
Charleston is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. The greater Charleston area has one of the highest growth rates in America as more people move from surrounding counties to enjoy the city's rapidly improving economy. According to new census estimates, the Charleston MSA (or the Tri-County Area) was the 12th fastest-growing metro area in the U.S.
When Charles II of England retook the throne in 1660, he granted a charter to the Province of Carolina and sent the eight Lord Proprietors in 1663. It took several years for them to arrange for expeditions, although the first -- Charles Town -- was founded in 1670. Charles Town (which was later changed to Charleston) was settled by people from Bermuda under governor William Sayle. The settlement quickly became a major port town.
In 1718, the town was attacked by infamous pirate Edward Teach, better known as 'Blackbeard'. As the capital of the colony, Charles Town was the southernmost English settlement in America until the Georgia colony was established decades later. It was subjected to many attacks from France, Spain, and pirates for the 40 years.
Most early settlers were from England, the Barbados colony, and Bermuda. Among the first settlers were free people of color who were born in the West Indies to Englanders and Africans. Even in the beginning, Charleston attracted people from many religious and ethnic groups. It was once home to the richest and largest Jewish community in all of North America until 1830.
Charles Town was the most extensive and wealthiest city south of Philadelphia by the mid-1700s, becoming the 4th largest port in the colonies behind Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. Charleston was a significant point in the Revolutionary War. While it lost its status as the state capital in 1786, it became very prosperous with an economy dominated by cotton plantations until the mid-19th century. By 1860, almost 18% of the city's black population were free people of color or nearly 8% of the total population.
Charleston's 300-year history is evident in most neighborhoods, especially the city center, which has a large and well-preserved residential historic area that's popular with tourists. The city's downtown is free of skyscrapers. Instead, Charleston boasts historic plantation homes alongside new retail development.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Charleston was:
2.92
Average Family Size
2.23
Average Household Size
56.0%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
93.73% of Charleston residents speak only English, while 6.27% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 2.92% of the population.
11.99%
Overall Poverty Rate
10.54%
Male Poverty Rate
13.27%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Charleston is Native, with 156.8% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Charleston is Other, with 9.6% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.59%. Among those working part-time, it was 21.98%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 22.82%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
43.3%
Overall Marriage Rate
46.4%
Male Marriage Rate
40.5%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
7.01%
Veteran Poverty Rate
23.42%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
67.7%
Labor Force Participation
64.4%
Employment Rate
3.4%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
42.12%
Born in Charleston
92.68%
Native Born
4.89%
Foreign Born
2.18%
Non Citizen
2.71%
Naturalized
92.68% of Charleston residents were born in the United States, with 42.12% having been born in South Carolina. 2.18% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.