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Summerville is located just 24 miles nw of Charleston, South Carolina. The Summerville area is served by the Charleston International Airport and has easy access to I-95 and I-26.

Climate (Moderate)
Average Daily temperature- 65.6
Average Daily High - 75.5
Average Daily Low - 55.7
Average Rainfall - 51.53"
Average Annual Snowfall - .01"
Average Relative Humidity - 76%
Average Days of Sunshine - 230

The city functions as a distant suburb of  Charleston in Dorchester County, and therefore has experienced rapid population growth. A 2005 Census Bureau estimate had the population at 35,734. By 2010 Summerville is projected to have a population of 43,756.

Summerville is a friendly town, where charm and Southern hospitality blend with a modern and progressive outlook. 

The town offers its residents beautiful residential communities, shopping centers, recreation, and excellent medical facilities. Every April, thousands of visitors come to Azalea Park to view blooming azaleas and camellias during the annual Flowertown Festival. This event has been named one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society.

In May, crowds come to Azalea Park for "Sculpture in the South". In early December, residents meet at Towne Square for the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting.

Dorchester County is recognized for its natural beauty and historic plantations. The population of the county continues to grow and reflects the economic state of the county.Business is supported by quick access to I-95, the Port of Charleston, and the Charleston International Airport.

Dorchester County is home to some of the most well recognized public and private schools in the state. Several prestigious colleges and universities are just minutes from downtown Summerville, and housing is some of the most affordable in the Lowcountry area. Dorchester County is located just minutes from area beaches and rivers and a variety of recreational activities.

Summerville Demographics (census bureau)

The racial makeup of the town is 77.19% White, 19.38% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. 1.97% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

History

Situated on a pine-forested ridge, it was first inhabited in the late 1700's, as Charlestonians and other inhabitants of the SC Lowcountry sought relief from the summer heat, mosquitos and disease of the lowcountry. From May to September, plantation families along the Ashley River and other coastal areas headed for higher elevation to "maroon," in the little forest colony of Summerville.  Other pioneer residents descended from 17th century puritans who settled the nearby former colonial settlement of Dorchester.

The railroad arrived in the early 1800's. Trees were being cut in large numbers for laying rails and clearing lots to relocate the commercial center near the tracks. In 1847, to protect Summerville's biggest asset, the village passed it's first law - prohibiting the cutting of certain-sized trees without permission. That ordinance, one of the oldest of its kind in the United States, is still on the books.

While still recovering from the Civil War, Summerville suffered extensive destruction during the 1886 earthquake, followed by a downtown fire which wiped out most of the buildings surrounding the town square.  Good fortune came from France, when the International Congress of Physicians declared Summerville as one of the two best places in the world for the treatment and recovery of lung disorders. It was believed to be due to the healing aspects of the pine tree's turpentine scent. This led to the building of inns and hotels to handle the masses of visitors who came for their health. Many discovered the beauty of  Summerville, built winter homes, and many became year-round residents. The motto on the town's official seal is "The Pine is Sacred".

Summerville's nickname is "The Flower Town in the Pines." Since the early 1900's, tourists have visited the town during early spring to enjoy millions of spring flowers, especially azaleas, in private and public gardens, including the Azalea Park.Summerville became a bedroom community for the larger urban centers in the area, and the charm of Summerville resulted in a doubling of the population in the 1980's. It continues to attract families, business people and military personnel, all looking for a quality of life that has long since disappeared in cities.

The Dorchseter II School District serving Summerville is rated as having some of the best schools in the state. There are 700 local buildings on the National Historic Register. A "Tree City USA" flag also flies in front of Town Hall. Visitors can enjoy a wonderful small town environment of pretty homes and friendly people- all close to wildlife and nature preserves, beautiful plantations, and historic Charleston, SC.

How To Get Here

From Charleston: Take I-26 West to the Highway 17-A Summerville exit #199. Follow 17-A as it becomes Main Street into downtown Summerville.

From Myrtle Beach: Travel south on Hwy. 17 toward Charleston. Take I-526 West to I-26 West. Follow I-26 to the Highway 17-A Summerville exit. Follow 17-A as it becomes Main Street into downtown Summerville.

Traveling north on I-95: Take the Walterboro exit #53 (Highway 17-A) and travel east. Follow Hwy. 17-A through historic Walterboro and Cottageville into Summerville.

Traveling south on I-95: Take the I-26 East exit toward Charleston. Follow I-26 to the Hwy. 17-A Summerville exit #199. Follow 17-A as it becomes Main Street into downtown Summerville.

info derived from several sources: Census Bureau, Dorchester County Chamber, Wikipedia Project

Area Helpful Links

community and regional events

Summerville Annual Letter Carriers' Food Drive
May - (803) 926-6321

This event raised 70.9 million lbs of food last year nationwide for the hungry, and all donations remain within the community to feed the hungry. Here in Summerville, The Low Country Food Bank receives your much-needed donations. Best items are canned soups, meats, vegetables and fruit, as well as peanut butter and boxed pasta items.

 Flowertown Festival 
It is the largest arts and crafts festival in South Carolina. It is held the first weekend of April.

Summerville Family YMCA Flowertown Festival Run & Walk
Over 1,000 runners participate in the  Flowertown Festival Run. Start and finish
at the Summerville Family YMCA Gymnastics Center at 205 West Richardson St.

Dorchester County Taste Of The Town
A variety of cuisines, local Restaurants are featured - Summerville Town Square (843) 873-2931

Friend Day - last Sunday of every month

Christian Rock Praise and Worship music starts the morning, 
Bible-based Inter-Denominational Sunday Service follows and 
there's always plenty of food and fun for families afterwards.

Bowl For Kids' Sake

Area Attractions and Cultural Events

Bonterra Lowcountry Blues Bash-->

Middleton Place Plantation
America's Oldest Landscaped Gardens
click here for history of slavery at the gardens

Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest
Sculpture in the South
Spoleto Festival U.S.A.
First Night Charleston
Southeastern Wildlife Exposition
South Carolina Aquarium
The North Charleston Coliseum
Cooper River Bridge Run
Blessing of the Fleet
Charleston Beach Music and Shag Festival
Charleston Comedy Festival
Confederate Ghost Walk
Charleston International Antiques Show

Summerville Golf

Gahagan Park Sports Complex
104 Civic Center (West Boundary St.)
Summerville, SC 29483
Telephone: (843) 851-5211

Gahagan Park Sports Complex hosts softball tournaments, recreational softball games, and football games

From I-26, take the Hwy. 17A Summerville Exit (#199). 
Go approx. 3/4 mile, turn left onto Berlin G. Myers Parkway. 
Follow the parkway to Gahagan Road. 
Turn left onto Gahagan Road and proceed approximatly one-half mile to Garbon St.  
Turn left, continue to the stop sign, which is West Boundary St.
Turn left, and the complex is one half mile on the left.

• Thirty-seven-acre complex
• Four lighted fields, with access to four additional fields (one lighted) within walking distance.
• State-of-the-art pressbox with computerized scoreboard
• 200-seat bleachers at each field, with space for folding chairs and wheelchairs.
• Free parking for 325 vehicles.
• picnic tables and public restrooms
• Fully-stocked Concession Stand
• Football/soccer field with its own pressbox and concessions.
• Adjacent, nearly-enclosed Plantation Playground, built by 3,000 Summerville volunteers.
• Hiking and biking trail surrounding the complex.

Additional Traveler's Info

SUMMERVILLE VISITOR CENTER
402 N. Main Street, Summerville
(843) 873-8535

CHARLESTON VISITOR CENTER
375 Meeting Street, Charleston
(843) 853-8000

Summerville Hotels and Inns

Helpful Community Resources

Summerville Police Department

300 West  2nd North Street, Summerville, SC 29483

Phone: (843) 871-2463   911 for emergencies

Summerville Medical Center
295 Midland Pkwy   (843) 832-5101

Palmetto Family Wellness
1525-D Old Trolley Rd #193
(843) 875-5093

A Chosen Child Adoption Services
975 Bacon's Bridge Rd  (843) 851-4004

Summerville Houses of Worship
this is not a complete listing of churches

Summerville Shopping and Businesses directory always in progress---->

Back to Charleston Visitor's Guide

2006 An Eye For Design