Charleston Regional Development Alliance

Berkeley, Charleston & Dorchester Counties

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Charleston County


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Charleston County, S.C. Data Profile

Statistical Profile 
Total Area (land and water) 1,357 sq mi (3,515 sq km)
County Seat Charleston
Form of Government Council/Administrator
Gross Retail Sales (2009)1 $12.7 billion


Population & Demographics2
Population 2000 2010 % Change 2020 Projection
Charleston County 309,969 350,209 13.0% 366,380
Population by Age 2000 2010
19 or younger 27.3% 24.0%
20-24 8.5% 9.1%
25-34 14.9% 15.9%
35-54 28.8% 26.1%
55-64 8.6% 12.2%
65+ 11.9% 12.7%
Median Age 34.5 35.9
Population by Gender 2000 2010
Male 48.3% 48.5%
Female 51.7% 51.5%
Population by Race 2000 2010
White 61.9% 64.2%
Black or African-American 34.5% 29.8%
Asian 1.1% 1.3%
Other 2.5% 4.7%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)3 2.4% 5.4%
Households 2000 2009
Total Households (2000 and 2010 Census) 123,260 144,309
Median Household Income $37,810 $46,473
Average Household Income $52,985 $65,982
Educational Attainment 2000 2009
High School Diploma (or equivalent) or higher 81.5% 87.8%
Bachelors Degree or higher 30.7% 38.5%
Advanced Degree 11.0% 12.7%


Labor Force4
Labor Market 2000 2010 % Change
Civilian Labor Force 152,750 176,357 15.5%
Employment 147,850 160,330 8.4%
Unemployment rate (%) 3.2% 9.1%
Employment by Sector 20025 2010 % Change
County-wide employment 182,784 204,190 11.7%
Natural resources / mining / construction 6.7% 4.5%
Manufacturing 4.6% 5.4%
Trade / transportation / utilities 20.1% 18.8%
Information 1.7% 1.8%
Financial activities 5.0% 4.5%
Professional & business services 13.5% 15.5%
Educational & health services 10.8% 12.2%
Leisure & hospitality industries 13.8% 13.8%
Other services 3.0% 2.7%
Government / public administration 20.7% 20.8%


Selected Leading Employers6
Firm Product or Service # of Employees
Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Hospital, post-secondary education, research 11,000
Charleston Air Force Base, part of Joint Base Charleston U.S. Air Force 7,000
Boeing Charleston Aircraft manufacturing 3,000
SAIC Systems engineering and integration services 1,800
Force Protection Inc. Mine-protected vehicles, military class vehicles 1,300
Verizon Wireless Inbound/outbound call center 1,100
KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp. Paper, packaging, forest products 850
Cummins Turbo Technologies Manufacture turbo-chargers & air compressors 700
Scientific Research Corporation Communications & monitoring systems & equipment 650
BAE Systems Electronic security and communications systems design, manufacturing and integration 375
MWV (MeadWestvaco Corporation) Diverse portfolio of specialty chemical products, community development, forest management 350
GEL Group Environmental laboratory and engineering services 350
Hill-Rom Inc. Specialty medical equipment 250
Mediterranean Shipping Co. (USA) Inc. South Atlantic corporate headquarters; steamship line 225
Automated Trading Desk Custom computer programming services 135
Daimler Vans Manufacturing, LLC SKD production of Sprinter Vans for the US market 100


Notes & Sources:
(1) S.C. Dept of Revenue
(2) U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 Census, 2009 American Community Survey and 2000 Census;
population projections from SC Budget and Control Board, Office of Research & Statistics
(3) Persons of Hispanic/Latino origin may be of any race.
(4) S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce
(5) NAICS comparable historic data only available back to 2002 by county
(6) Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce 09/2010