Charleston, SC Economic Development

Berkeley County


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Berkeley County, S.C. Data Profile

 Statistical Profile  
Total Area (land and water) 1,229 sq mi (3,183 sq km)
County Seat Moncks Corner
Form of Government Council/Supervisor
Gross Retail Sales (2007)1 $3.7 billion


Population and Demographics2
Population 2000 2007 % Change 2015 Projection
Berkeley County 142,651 163,622 14.8% 172,940
Population by Age 2000 2007
19 or younger 32.2% 29.9%
20-24 7.6% 7.0%
25-34 14.7% 14.0%
35-54 29.4% 29.1%
55-64 8.2% 11.0%
65+ 7.9% 9.0%
Median Age 32.2 34.3
Population by Gender 2000 2007
Male 50.8% 49.5%
Female 49.2% 50.5%
Population by Race 2000 2007
White 68.0% 68.7%
Black or African-American 26.6% 26.4%
Asian 1.9% 2.3%
Other 4.5% 2.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)3 2.8% 3.7%
Households 2000 2007
Total Households 49,868 58,243
Median Household Income $39,908 $49,048
Average Household Income $46,791 $58,324
Educational Attainment 2000 2007
High School Diploma (or equivalent) or higher 80.2% 86.8%
Bachelors Degree or higher 14.4% 18.7%
Advanced Degree 4.3% 5.9%


Labor Force4
Labor Market 2000 2007 % Change
Civilian Labor Force 65,670 75,460 14.9%
Employment 63,570 71,761 12.9%
Unemployment rate (%) 3.2% 4.9%
Employment by Sector 20025 2007 % Change
County-wide employment 32,525 39,029 15.6%
Natural resources / mining / construction 12.5% 10.7%
Manufacturing 21.0% 15.9%
Trade / transportation / utilities 22.0% 22.0%
Information 0.9% 2.6%
Financial activities 2.1% 3.4%
Professional & business services 4.2% 8.1%
Educational & health services 5.1% 5.2%
Leisure & hospitality industries 8.6% 8.2%
Other services 1.8% 3.1%
Government / public administration 21.7% 20.8%


Selected Leading Employers6
Firm Product or Service # of Employees
Naval Weapons Station Charleston 41 military tenants and installations 13,000
SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic ** U.S. Navy electronics, engineering & integration center 4,700
Santee Cooper Electric and water utility 1,750
Blackbaud, Inc. Nonprofit software and service 1,100
Nucor Steel Manufacturing - steel roll & steel beam 900
Alcoa Mt. Holly Primary aluminum ingot; aluminum smelting 600
Piggly Wiggly Distribution Center Distribution - grocery items 600
CR Bard, Inc. Medical products- specialty catheter manufacturing 450
SunCom Wireless Customer service center 450
Benefitfocus Software/services for healthcare benefits 400
J.W. Aluminum Aluminum foil and sheet products 400
American LaFrance Manufacture heavy duty work trucks 360
AAI Services Corporation Software/hardware - aircraft simulators 320
Google, Inc. Computer data center 200


Notes & Sources:
(1) S.C. Dept of Revenue
(2) U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 American Community Survey and 2000 Census; 2015 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. Employment Security Commission, 9/2008
(5) NAICS comparable historic data only available back to 2002 by county
(6) Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 6/2008