Greater Summerville Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce

About Dorchester County
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The county is located in the Eastern part of the state and is bordered by Orangeburg, Berkeley, Colleton and Charleston counties. Created in 1897, the county encompasses 575 square miles. The county seat is St. George, and is governed by a county council and administrator. Dorchester County is a member of the Berkeley Charleston Dorchester Council of Governments.

Dorchester County, SC is recognized for its natural beauty, historic plantations and bustling economy. Middleton Place, a historic plantation (and a National Historic Landmark), boasts the oldest landscaped gardens in the United States, having been laid out in 1741. In addition, as millions of flowers bloom in the spring, the town of Summerville is the site of the annual Flowertown Festival, a Summerville Family YMCA event. This event has been named one of the "Top 20 Events in the Southeast" (Southeast Tourism Society) and draws thousands of visitors for this
3-day event.

The population of the county continues to grow and reflects the economic state of the county. In 1980, the population was 58,761 residents. By the year 2000, that figure had jumped to 96,413. In 2005, a wide variety of companies invested $103 million in the county. The average annual growth rate from 1988 - 2000 was 6.32%. Manufacturing, Wholesale and Retail Trade, Services, and Government continue to be the major employment sectors. Business is supported by quick access to I-95, the Port of Charleston, and the Charleston International Airport.

Our county is home to some of the most highly regarded public and private schools in the state. Several prestigious colleges and universities are just minutes from downtown Summerville, and housing in Dorchester County is some of the most affordable in the Lowcountry area. Located just minutes from area beaches and rivers, a variety of recreational opportunities abound in the area.

Dorchester County offers residents and visitors alike all the best in modern conveniences, while maintaining its small town southern charm and feel. For more information, please contact us at The Greater Summerville Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce at 843-873-2931.