Charleston, South Carolina – The “Holy City”
Nestled just south of the midpoint of South Carolina’s captivating coastline, where the Ashley and Cooper Rivers converge in a graceful embrace, lies the historic city of Charleston. As the oldest city in the state, its narrative is a tapestry woven with threads of prosperity and hardship, conflict and resilience, and a unique blend of cultures that have earned it the endearing moniker of "The Holy City." Founded in 1670 as Charles Towne, a tribute to King Charles II, Charleston’s evolution has been shaped by a confluence of remarkable events.
The story of Charleston is one of contrasts. Periods of immense wealth and prosperity were juxtaposed with generations marked by poverty. The city’s soil bore witness to two major wars, followed by the heavy tread of occupying armies. Skirmishes with pirates and Native Americans added to the turbulent early years. Catastrophic fires swept through its streets, obliterating entire city blocks, while devastating hurricanes and the most powerful earthquake ever to strike the Eastern United States tested its resolve. It is this accumulation of trials and triumphs over three centuries that has forged Charleston into an unparalleled destination for those seeking a glimpse into the past.
The seeds of Charleston’s creation were sown in 1663 when King Charles II bestowed a charter for the Carolina territory upon eight of his loyal friends. However, it would be seven years before the first settlement took root. Charles Town was established as the capital city of Carolina on the western bank of the Ashley River. Within two years, the fledgling settlement boasted approximately 30 buildings and a population of 200-300 settlers. In 1680, the town was relocated to its present location on the main peninsula, and in 1783, it officially adopted the name Charleston.
The early years of the settlement were fraught with peril, as it faced constant threats from the sea and land. Spain, France, and pirates all cast covetous eyes upon Charles Town, while resistance from Native American tribes added to the challenges. While the initial wave of settlers hailed primarily from England, they were soon joined by a diverse influx of immigrants, including French, Scottish, Irish, and German individuals. This melting pot of cultures brought with it a diverse array of religious beliefs, encompassing various Protestant denominations, Roman Catholicism, and Judaism. This spirit of religious tolerance and the proliferation of historic churches would eventually earn Charleston its cherished nickname, "The Holy City."
In its nascent stages, the deerskin trade served as the primary economic engine of Charleston. Alliances forged with the Cherokee and Creek tribes ensured a consistent supply of deer hides, which were highly sought after in Europe. Between 1699 and 1715, an impressive average of 54,000 deerskins were exported annually, destined for the production of fashionable and practical buckskin pantaloons, gloves, and book bindings. The deerskin market continued to flourish throughout the mid-18th century, contributing significantly to Charleston’s growing wealth.
Driven by a spirit of innovation and a desire for economic diversification, colonial landowners experimented with a variety of crops, including tea, silk, rice, and indigo. By 1750, indigo had emerged as a leading export, solidifying Charleston’s position as a bustling trade center and the wealthiest and largest city south of Philadelphia.
By 1770, Charleston had ascended to become the fourth-largest port in the colonies, trailing only Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. Its population had swelled to 11,000, reflecting its burgeoning economic and cultural significance. As the city prospered, a vibrant array of cultural and social organizations took root, including the first theater in America, established in 1736, numerous benevolent societies, and the Charleston Library Society, founded in 1748. This influential group also played a pivotal role in establishing the College of Charleston in 1770, the oldest institution of higher learning in the state.
With the onset of the American Revolution, Charleston and its strategically important port found themselves thrust into the heart of the conflict, becoming a prime target for the British forces. The city would be attacked twice by the British, and would play a crucial role in the conflict.
On June 28, 1776, British General Henry Clinton, commanding a force of 2,000 men and a naval squadron, launched an assault on Charleston, hoping to capitalize on a simultaneous Loyalist uprising in South Carolina. However, the British mission faltered when their explosives failed to breach the thick palmetto log walls of Fort Moultrie, which, despite being unfinished, proved remarkably resilient. Furthermore, the anticipated Loyalist uprising within the town never materialized, thwarting the British plans.
Undeterred, General Clinton returned before the war’s conclusion, mounting a second attack in April 1780, this time with greater success. Leading a force of 14,000 soldiers, Clinton effectively cut off the city from any potential relief, commencing the siege on April 1.
A series of skirmishes unfolded over the next six weeks, culminating in the surrender of Continental Army Major General Benjamin Lincoln on May 12. The loss of Charleston and the surrender of 5,000 troops to the British represented the most significant defeat suffered by the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The British maintained control of the city until December 1782, after which the city officially changed its name to Charleston.
In 1786, Charleston relinquished its status as the state capital to Columbia, owing to the latter’s more central location. However, the city continued to thrive, fueled by the prosperity of large plantations. By 1790, Charleston was home to over 16,000 residents and ranked as the fifth-largest city in North America. The invention of the cotton gin in 1783 revolutionized cotton production, transforming it into South Carolina’s primary export. The cotton industry and the city’s economy as a whole became heavily reliant on slave labor. By 1820, Charleston’s population had surged to 23,000, with African-Americans constituting the majority.
In 1822, a free African-American man named Denmark Vesey masterminded a slave revolt, calling upon free blacks to assist hundreds of slaves in killing their owners and seizing control of Charleston before sailing to freedom in Haiti. However, the plot was exposed, leading to the arrest of hundreds of blacks implicated in the conspiracy. In total, 67 men were convicted, and 35 were hanged, including Denmark Vesey himself. In the aftermath, stricter restrictions were imposed on slaves and free blacks, including a law mandating that all black seamen be confined to jail while in port.
Following the election of Abraham Lincoln, South Carolina legislators voted to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860, and Charleston became a focal point of skirmishes and battles during the Civil War. On January 9, 1861, Citadel cadets fired the first shots of the war from Morris Island in Charleston’s Harbor at the Union ship Star of the West, which was attempting to enter the harbor.
On April 12, 1861, General Pierre G. T. Beauregard initiated the bombardment of the Union-held Fort Sumter in the harbor. After a 34-hour barrage, Major Robert Anderson surrendered the fort, marking the official commencement of the Civil War and triggering a massive call for Federal troops to quell the rebellion.
Throughout the Civil War, Charleston and its surrounding fortifications were repeatedly targeted by the Union Army and Navy, resulting in extensive damage and a blockade that effectively crippled most commercial activity. However, the city did not fall to Federal forces until the final months of the war. By that time, the Union attacks had significantly weakened the city’s defenses, and in February 1865, General William T. Sherman began his march through South Carolina.
On February 15, General Pierre Beauregard ordered the evacuation of remaining Confederate forces, and three days later, Charleston’s mayor surrendered the city to Union General Alexander Schimmelfennig.
Federal troops subsequently occupied the city, seizing control of numerous sites, including the United States Arsenal and the Citadel Military Academy, which the Confederate army had seized at the outbreak of the war. Federal forces remained in Charleston throughout the city’s reconstruction period.
The end of the war left Charleston, like many Southern cities, in a state of devastation. A journalist in September 1865 described the city as "a city of ruins, of desolation, of vacant houses, of widowed women, of rotten wharves, of deserted warehouses, of weed-wild gardens, of miles of grass-grown streets, of acres of pitiful and voiceful barrenness."
With the city in ruins and the newly freed slaves facing poverty and discrimination, Charleston’s era of prosperity came to an end. However, the city embarked on a path of rebuilding, with many of its citizens returning as industries were revived. As the city’s economy recovered, efforts were made to restore and rebuild various organizations. In 1865, the Avery Normal Institute was established as a free private school for Charleston’s African American population. Today, the building remains part of the College of Charleston and serves as the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture.
General William T. Sherman lent his support to the conversion of the United States Arsenal into the Porter Military Academy, an educational institution for former soldiers and boys orphaned or impoverished by the war. The Academy later merged with Gaud School and continues to operate as a prep school known as the Porter-Gaud School.
The elaborate Renaissance Revival style United States Post Office and Courthouse, completed in 1886, symbolized renewed life in the heart of the city. Today, it continues to function as it did initially, serving as the downtown branch of the post office and a federal district court.
In the same year that the courthouse building was completed, Charleston endured another tragedy when an earthquake struck on August 31, 1886. Measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale, it was the most devastating earthquake to affect the Southeastern United States. Felt as far away as Boston, Chicago, and New Orleans, the earthquake damaged 2,000 buildings in Charleston and caused $6 million worth of damage. Despite this setback, Charleston once again demonstrated its resilience and embarked on a path of rebuilding.
Charleston’s economy experienced a decline following the Civil War but gradually grew throughout the 20th century. The presence of a large military population, which supported the local economy, was further bolstered by the construction of a naval shipyard during World War I and the establishment of numerous industries during World War II.
Like other cities across the United States, Charleston experienced its own Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, culminating in the Hospital Strike of 1969. After Medical College Hospital fired 12 employees for attempting to organize a union, over 60 other employees walked out, initiating a strike that lasted throughout the summer and drew prominent Civil Rights leaders to the city.
The election of Joseph P. Riley, Jr. as mayor in 1975 marked the beginning of a modern-day renaissance for Charleston. Under his leadership, the city strengthened its commitment to racial harmony and progress, achieved a significant reduction in crime, and experienced a remarkable revitalization of its historic downtown business district. He also championed the revival of Charleston’s economic and cultural heritage.
Despite enduring war, fires, and hurricanes, an extraordinary number of Charleston’s historic buildings have been preserved. The city’s historic district largely retains its appearance from centuries past, boasting 73 pre-Revolutionary buildings, 136 late 18th-century structures, and over 600 others constructed in the 1840s, making it one of the most complete historic districts in the country. In total, the city boasts more than 1,400 historically significant buildings.
Today, Charleston manufactures a variety of products, including paper and cigars, and its port remains a significant source of revenue. However, the city’s economy is primarily driven by tourism. As the County Seat of Charleston County, the city is home to approximately 150,000 residents today.
A wide array of tours, museums, two forts, galleries, theaters, and musical venues offer ample entertainment options. The downtown Charleston Historic District is best explored on foot, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the numerous buildings and historical sites, such as the Market Hall and Sheds, the U.S. Customs House, the Old Jail, Marine Hospital, Dock Street Theatre, and more. Charleston’s nickname, "The Holy City," reflects the numerous religious sites that serve its neighborhoods, some of which are over 250 years old, a testament to the city’s long history of religious tolerance and cultural diversity.