Zoning & Planning

Historic Preservation Projects

Cultural Resources Element Goal: Cultural, historic and archaeological resources, unique settlement patterns of traditional Lowcountry communities (such as historically African-American communities and family settlements), and traditional activities (such as Sweetgrass Basket Making) should be preserved and protected from potential negative impacts of growth and development.

Contact

Historic Preservation Projects

Lonnie Hamilton, III, Public Services Building

4045 Bridge View Dr., N. Charleston, SC 29405

(843) 202-7200

Email: CCHPC@CharlestonCounty.org

Office Hours: M – F | 8AM – 5PM

Historic Preservation Committee of Planning Commission

In 2014, the Charleston County Planning Commission established a Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) comprised of four members of Planning Commission, planning staff, and community members interested in preserving and enhancing the history of Charleston County and carrying out strategies identified in the Cultural Resources Element of the Charleston County Comprehensive Plan. Read about the Committee's initiatives and projects below.

Historic Resources Survey Work

In 2015, the Charleston County Zoning and Planning Department was awarded a Federal Historic Preservation Grant from the National Park Service (administered by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History) to fund an update to the Charleston County Historical and Architectural Survey (last conducted in 1992). New South Associates (NSA), Inc., a cultural resources consulting firm, was hired to complete this project, which included identifying and surveying properties that have historical or architectural significance. The survey update only included properties in unincorporated Charleston County that had not previously been surveyed. NSA and planning staff held community meetings and met with citizens in preparation for completing the survey work in Spring 2016. In the end, approximately 1,300 properties were surveyed. The survey identified two individual properties as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) – the Elliot Constantine House in Riverland Terrace and the Tobin-Boyd School in the Red Top Community. The survey also identified Riverland Terrace on James Island as potentially eligible for the NRHP as a historic district. The most significant survey finding was the documentation of a corridor of African-American settlement communities, which is a unique cultural resource that represents the Gullah people, their culture, and the communities they established during the Reconstruction era. Four of the communities, Phillips, Snowden, Scanlonville, and Sol Legare, were designated eligible for the NRHP, while several others were deemed eligible with further research.

This project and the Planning Department have won two major awards for furthering preservation in South Carolina:

2017 Preservation Service Award from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History (SCDAH), SCDAH Foundation, and Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation
2018 Robert N.S. and Patti Foos Whitelaw Founders Award from Historic Charleston Foundation

Charleston County Historical and Architectural Surveys

Promotion of the South Carolina Century Farms Program

This state-wide program recognizes farms that have been owned by the same family for over 100 years. In Charleston County, agriculture has always played a large role in the rich local history, starting with the plantations that began operating during the 17th century. If you know of a local farm that has been around for over 100 years, encourage them to apply for the Century Farms program (the program information and application can found here).

Identification of Local Cultural Resources and Cemeteries

Throughout the County, primarily in undeveloped or rural parts of the County, many cemeteries or clusters of unmarked graves exist. The County is gathering information on these sites to help create an inventory of cemeteries.

Do you have information about cemeteries or unmarked grave sites? If so, please contact our staff using one of the following methods:

Phone: (843) 202-7200

Email: CCHPC@CharlestonCounty.org

As the County works to create a local inventory of historic resources, please contact our staff using one of the methods above if you have a property that deserves to be recognized.

Charleston County adopted a new Historic Preservation Ordinance on August 21, 2018 and subsequently established a Historic Preservation Commission to implement the Ordinance.

Useful Links

Charleston County Public Library

National Register of Historic Places

SC Century Farms Program

SC Department of Archives & History

Locate Browser Version

Historic Preservation Projects

Contact

Historic Preservation Committee of Planning Commission

Useful Links