Berkeley County With just over 150,000 residents, Berkeley County is one of the fastest-growing areas of the Charleston metro, offering a diverse range of real estate from new high-end housing in Daniel Island to the more rural areas in the eastern part of the county. The county was named for the two Lords Proprietors of Carolina, John and William Berkeley. The first European settlers in the area were the English and French and their African slaves in the late 17th century. This “sportsman’s paradise” is known for its abundant fishing and hunting opportunities. Located 30 miles north of the city of Charleston, the county still maintains forests and old rice fields for nature enthusiasts. The county is also a rapidly growing center for businesses in South Carolina. There are more than 75 manufacturing facilities operating currently in Berkeley County. The quiet town of Hanahan is located in the North Area adjacent to North Charleston. The town of 14,000 has more than a dozen new residential developments in the works, including Tanner Plantation and Indigo Island Reserve, which offer large homes from the $500s to over $1 million. Long considered a bedroom community, Hanahan is expanding its economic base as the site of the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR) and FedEx Ground, which add plenty of new jobs to the region. The city of Goose Creek, with about 32,500 residents, strives hard to manage its rapid economic growth and maintain the character of a small town. Originally the area was a large plantation spot, some of which remain. The origin of the name of the name is uncertain; some say it is for all of the gooseneck turns in the creek off of the Cooper River, while others say it’s from the large population of geese in the area. It’s also possible that the name came from Native American origins. St. James Parish Goose Creek Church is one of the oldest churches in the state, dating back to about 1713. As the county seat for Berkeley County, Moncks Corner is home to about 7,000 residents. The area served as a trading post for many years, which was bolstered when the railroad came through in 1856, and the town incorporated in 1909. Moncks Corner has been named the “Capital of Santee Cooper Country” for its abundance of outdoor activities. The town’s old railroad depot has since been restored and serves as a visitors center. Moncks Corner is also known for Cypress Gardens, which offers 80 acres of swamp, 4.5 miles of trails, a butterfly house, aquarium, reptile center, a wide variety of crocodile species and cypress trees. Also in Moncks Corner, Mepkin Abbey is a Trappist monastery founded in 1949 at a site once used by Native Americans for hunting and that has been owned by several prominent political figures, some who are now buried here. The abbey welcomes visitors to see the monks’ way of life and the lovely Mepkin Gardens, first created in 1936 and renovated in 1988. Capturing a major part of Berkeley County history, Old Santee Canal State Park is a 195-acre park marking the Santee Canal, which started operating in 1800 and connected the Santee and Cooper rivers. At 22 miles long, 35 feet wide and 5.5 feet deep, the canal was considered one of the greatest engineering achievements of its time. When the railroad came through during the mid-1800s, the canal was no longer needed. Today, most of the former canal is under Lake Moultrie, and the park is at the southern end of the canal. The park offers educational programs for youth, four miles of trails and an 11,000-square- foot Interpretive Center with exhibits on natural history and native wildlife. Part of the park, Stony Landing is located on a high bluff at the headwaters of the Cooper River. The plantation house, built around 1843, has been restored and is open to the public for tours. Tracing 12,000 years of Berkeley County history, Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center is part of Old Santee Canal State Park with exhibits on Brig. Gen. Francis Marion (also known as the Swamp Fox), Native Americans, colonial life, the Civil War and Francis National Forest. Lake Moultrie, along with its sister lake Lake Marion, was created in the early 1940s and is owned by the Santee Cooper utility company. Both are known for their excellent fishing. In fact, Lake Moultrie holds the world record for channel catfish and the state record for black crappie. At 60,400 acres, Lake Moultrie is connected to 110,000-acre Lake Marion by canal. On the east side of Lake Moultrie is the tiny town of Bonneau, with just 346 residents. Jamestown, in far eastern Berkeley County, was the site of the first French Hugenot settlement on the Santee River in 1685. In the northern part of Berkeley County, St. Stephen is a small town of about 1,800 people. It’s known for St. Stephen Episcopal Church, a National Historic Landmark which was built in 1767 and has since been renovated. Spread out over 252,368 acres in Berkeley and Charleston counties, Francis Marion National Forest offers camping, picnic shelters, canoeing and kayaking along the Intracoastal Waterway, rifle ranges and more than 100 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding. Berkeley County BlueWays is a partnership between government agencies, environmental groups and the Santee Cooper utility company that has created a trail system for paddlers. The BlueWays system extends 175 miles along 23 different trails. CHARLOTTE OBSERVER FILE PHOTO