Charleston, SC Economic Development

Charleston County


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Charleston County, SC Data Profile

Statistical Profile 
Total Area (land and water) 1,357 sq mi (3,515 sq km)
County Seat Charleston
Form of Government Council/Administrator
Gross Retail Sales (2006)1 $13.1 billion


Population & Demographics2
Population 2000 2006 % Change 2010 Projection
Charleston County 309,969 331,917 7.1% 339,140
Population by Age 2000 2006
19 or younger 27.3% 27.0%
20-24 8.5% 7.6%
25-34 14.9% 13.6%
35-54 28.8% 28.0%
55-64 8.6% 11.6%
65+ 11.9% 12.2%
Median Age 34.5 36
Population by Gender 2000 2006
Male 48.3% 48.3%
Female 51.7% 51.7%
Population by Race 2000 2006
White 61.9% 63.7%
Black or African-American 34.5% 31.9%
Asian 1.1% 1.3%
Other 3.5% 3.1%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)3 2.4% 3.3%
Households 2000 2006
Total Households 123,260 136,818
Median Household Income $37,810 $43,857
Average Household Income $52,985 $67,930
Educational Attainment 2000 2006
High School Diploma (or equivalent) or higher 81.5% 86.3%
Bachelors Degree or higher 30.7% 36.1%
Advanced Degree 11.0% 12.1%


Labor Force4
Labor Market 2000 2006 % Change
Civilian Labor Force 152,750 172,920 13.2%
Employment 147,850 164,180 11.0%
Unemployment rate (%) 3.2% 5.1%
Employment by Sector 20025 2006 % Change
County-wide employment 182,784 203,809 11.5%
Natural resources / mining / construction 6.7% 6.8%
Manufacturing 4.6% 4.8%
Trade / transportation / utilities 20.1% 20.2%
Information 1.7% 1.7%
Financial activities 5.0% 5.0%
Professional & business services 13.5% 14.3%
Educational & health services 10.8% 10.9%
Leisure & hospitality industries 13.8% 13.8%
Other services 3.0% 3.0%
Government / public administration 20.7% 19.4%


Selected Leading Employers6
Firm Product or Service # of Employees
Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Hospital, post-secondary education, research 10,000
Charleston Air Force Base U.S. Air Force 7,300
Force Protection Inc. Mine-protected vehicles, military class vehicles 1,550
Eagan, McAllister Associates, Inc Engineering, Applied Technology 1,100
Verizon Wireless Inbound/outbound call center 1,050
KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp. Paper, packaging, forest products 950
Scientific Research Corporation Communications & monitoring systems & equipment 600
MWV (MeadWestvaco Corporation) Specialty chemicals, community devmt., forest mgt. 420
GEL Group Environmental lab and engineering services 350
Global Aeronautica LLC Aircraft components manufacturing 350
Hill-Rom Inc. Specialty medical equipment 350
Vought Aircraft Industries Aircraft manufacturing 340
Rhodia Chemical Manufacturing 250
VT Milcom Engineering and technical services 250
Daimler Vans Manufacturing, LLC SKD production of Sprinter Vans for the U.S. market 180
Automated Trading Desk Custom computer programming Services 140
GenPhar Developing biodefense vaccines 140


Notes & Sources:
(1) S.C. Dept of Revenue
(2) U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 American Community Survey and 2000 Census; 2010 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, 2007
(5) NAICS comparable historic data only available back to 2002 by county
(6) Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 7/08