Berkeley County, South Carolina

Berkeley County is a county in South Carolina. The population of the county is 177,843.

 Named for
 County seat
 Largest city
 Population
 Habitat
 Cong. Districts
 County Guildmaster
 Time Zone

## Major roads

Interstate 26

Interstate 526

US Route 17 Alternate

US Route 52

US Route 176

South Carolina Highway 6

South Carolina Highway 27

South Carolina Highway 41

South Carolina Highway 45

South Carolina Highway 165

South Carolina Highway 311

South Carolina Highway 402

## Geography

### Adjacent counties

Charleston County (east and south)

Williamsburg County (north)

Georgetown County (northeast)

Clarendon County (northwest)

Dorchester County (southwest)

Orangeburg County (west)

## Demographics

As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the racial composition of the county is:

63.99% White (113,801)

24.90% Black or African American (44,282)

6.07% Hispanic or Latino (10,795)

5.04% Other (8,965)

11.3% (20,096) of Berkeley County residents live below the poverty line.

## Theft rate statistics

Berkeley County has average to above average rates of Pokemon theft and murder. The county reported 50 Pokemon thefts in 2018, and averages 2.07 murders a year.

## Communities

### Cities

Goose Creek - 35,938

Hanahan - 17,997

### Towns

Bonneau - 487

Jamestown - 72

Moncks Corner - 7,885

St. Stephen - 1,697

### CDPs

Bonneau Beach - 1,929

Pinopolis - 948

Russellville - 488

Sangaree - 8,220

### Unincorporated communities

Alvin

Bethera

Cherry Hill

Cordesville

Cross

Gumville

Huger

Mount Holly

Nelson Hill

Old Joe

Pineville

Shulerville

Strawberry

The Barrows

Whitesville

Wide Awake

Windwood

Woodland Landing

## Climate

 Average yearly snowfall
 Average yearly sunny days
 Severe storm risk
 Tornado risk
 Blizzard risk

## Fun facts

* Politically, Berkeley County is strongly Republican in most elections.
* Rapid growth as a suburban county began during the 1970s.
* The Berkeley County Electric Mills are located near St. Stephen.
* Jamestown has garnered a reputation as a speed trap for motorists. As of 2009, Jamestown generates 62% of its annual operating budget ($195,000 of $313,000) through writing tickets. Jamestown uses its placement along an alternate route to popular vacation destination Myrtle Beach to trap unwary drivers. Entering the town, the speed limit drops from 55 40. Many motorists complain that the speed limit change is poorly marked. Jamestown police officers often sit in convenience store or church parking lots near the intersection of SC Route 41 and US Route 17 Alt., particularly at night, and catch drivers as they slow down to turn. Speeding tickets in Jamestown generally run anywhere from $180 to $300, and drivers can usually avoid having points added to their license by paying anywhere from $50 to $200 extra.
* Every year Jamestown holds the Hell Hole Swamp Festival on the first full weekend in May. It is a family event with children's games, cocoa-spitting contest (organizers say tobacco was discontinued due to lack of participation), horseshoe pitching, arm wrestling, beauty contests, a parade, talent contest, exhibits (including a confiscated moonshine still, which is also the festival's logo), and arts and crafts. The festival started in 1972, and 2011 was the 40th anniversary. A 10k Gator Run began in 1976 and is billed as the oldest road race in South Carolina; winners get real alligator heads as trophies.