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Newcomer's Information
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Location & Geography
The City of Charleston is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean at the juncture of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. Charleston occupies 88.14 square miles, 7.6 miles of which are the downtown business district. Charleston is the second largest city in South Carolina with an estimated 1998 population of 100,122. The Charleston Metropolitan Area encompasses three counties: Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester.
Weather
Charleston enjoys a warm climate. In January the average temperature is 55 degrees. In July, the average is 82 degrees. Humidity averages 86 percent; Rainfall, 52 inches per year. The first frost typically occurs around December 10, and the last usually occurs in mid-February.
Government
Charleston is governed by a full-time mayor and a city council composed of twelve council members who are elected for staggered four-year terms from single-member districts. The Mayor is the presiding officer of City Council. He has no veto power but casts a vote similar to those cast by each member of Council. Regular meetings open to the public are held twice each month during the year. The Mayor is the chief executive and administrative officer of the City which has no City Manager.
HELPFUL INFORMATION
UTILITIES
Cable Television
Comcast......................................................(843) 554-4100
Home Television.......................................(843) 277-7300
Knology of Charleston.............................(843) 225-1000
Time Warner..............................................(843) 871-7000
Electricity & Gas
Berkeley Electric Co-op...........................(843) 572-5454
Edisto Electric Co-op................................(843) 563-4952
Santee Cooper............................................(843) 761-4060
SC Electric & Gas Co.................................(843) 554-7234
Telephone
BellSouth Telephone Co..........................(843) 780-2355
Comcast......................................................(843) 554-4100
Water
Berkeley County.......................................(843) 572-4400
City of Charleston.....................................(843) 727-6800
City of Goose Creek..................................(843) 797-6220
Dorchester Co. Water Authority.............(843) 832-0070
Mount Pleasant Waterworks...................(843) 884-9626
Summerville Commissioner....................(843) 871-0810
of Public Works
AUTO REGISTRATION/DMV
When applying for a South Carolina license plate, you will need to bring the following to any SC Motor Vehicle Department: car title, liability insurance, registration number and Form #406 receipt obtained from the County Auditor showing you owe no taxes.
A valid driver’s license from another state may be used for 90 days. You must then qualify and obtain a South Carolina license at any SC DMV office.
Charleston County
180 Lockwood Blvd. 1189 Iron Bridge Rd.
Charleston, SC 29403 Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466
(843) 727-6477 (843) 884-9760
1119 Wappoo Rd. 3790 Leeds Ave.
Charleston, SC 29407 North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 769-5879 (843) 740-6168
Berkeley County
438 North Highway 52 135 Wimberly Dr.
Moncks Corner, SC 29461 Ladson, SC 29456
(843) 761-5385 (843) 572-7852
Dorchester County
5215 E Jim Bilton Blvd.
St. George, SC 29477
(843) 563-6130
VOTER REGISTRATION
With proof of residency, you may obtain information at any of the following locations:
Charleston County...................................(843) 744-8683
4367 Headquarters Road
North Charleston, SC 29405
Berkeley County.......................................(843) 719-4056
6 Belt Drive
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Dorchester County...................................(843) 832-0132
201 Johnston Street
St. George, SC 29477
SCHOOL REGISTRATION
Charleston County....................................(843) 937-6300
Berkeley County........................................(843) 723-4627
Dorchester County District 2...................(843) 873-2901
Dorchester County District 4...................(843) 563-4535
MUNICIPALITIES
City of Charleston.....................................(843) 724-7311
City of Folly Beach....................................(843) 588-7006
City of Goose Creek..................................(843) 797-6220
City of Hanahan.........................................(843) 554-4221
City of Isle of Palms..................................(843) 886-6428
Town of Kiawah Island............................(843) 768-9166
Town of Lincolnville................................(843) 873-3261
Town of Mount Pleasant..........................(843) 884-8517
City of North Charleston..........................(843) 554-5700
Town of Sullivan’s Island.........................(843) 883-3198
Town of Summerville...............................(843) 871-6000
Town of St. George....................................(843) 563-3032
Town of Harleyville..................................(843) 462-7676
Town of Reevesville.................................(843) 563-9128
Town of Ridgeville...................................(843) 871-7960
COUNTY OFFICES
Charleston County....................................(843) 958-4000
Berkeley County........................................(843) 723-3800
Dorchester County....................................(843) 832-0103
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