Berkeley County History

Berkeley County’s roots date back to the late 1600s, when English settlers and Huguenots moved to the area surrounding Charles Towne—modern day Charleston. Berkeley County’s name was derived from two of South Carolina’s Lord Proprietors at that time: Lord John Berkeley and Sir William Berkeley. A Lord Proprietor was a person in the 17th century with authority to issue a royal charter establishing an English colony and government. Over the centuries, Berkeley County’s boundary lines changed more than once. It wasn’t until the late 1800s that the County’s current boundary lines were determined.

Berkeley County is also famous for its Revolutionary War connections, not only serving as the setting for 32 of the war’s 166 battle sites, but also two prominent military leaders: General Francis Marion and General William Moultrie. Notorious for his “Swamp Fox” nickname, Marion and his militia were known for hiding in area swamps and launching bloody, surprise attacks on the British Redcoats. Marion is buried at Belle Island Plantation in St. Stephen. One of Moultrie’s most heroic war feats was in keeping the Sullivan’s Island fort, which he constructed from sand and Palmetto logs, out of the enemy’s hands. Marion later went on to serve a successful political career as a state senator and two-term Governor of South Carolina.

In the past decade, Berkeley County has continued to build on its rich history and promise through smart and focused growth, both residentially and commercially. Still being penned, the story of Berkeley County is both distinctive and bright and one both current and future generations alike can take pride in.

Historical Markers in Berkeley County, SC

County line markers
Berkeley County Marker– Cross, SC
Berkeley County Marker– Mudville, SC
Berkeley County Marker– Summerville, SC
Berkeley County Marker– Jamestown, SC
Berkeley County Marker– Spring Hill, SC
Berkeley County Marker– St. Stephen, SC

((listed in alphabetical order according to historical marker title))

Barnet’s Tavern– Cross, SC

Battle of Lenud’s Ferry– Jamestown, SC

Berkeley County Confederate Monument– Moncks Corner, SC

Berkeley Training High School– Moncks Corner, SC

Biggin Church– Moncks Corner, SC

Boochawee Hall– Goose Creek, SC

Bowen’s Corner– Hanahan, SC

Brabant Plantation– Cainhoy, SC

Broom Hall Plantation– Goose Creek, SC

Button Hall– Goose Creek, SC

C.S.S. David– Moncks Corner, SC

Casey (Caice)– Goose Creek, SC

Cherokee Path– Cross, SC

Colleton House: “Unmanly Practices” or Legitimate Target?– Moncks Corner, SC

Cross Post Office– Cross, SC

Crowfield Plantation– Goose Creek, SC

DeWitt Williams Bridge– St. Stephen, SC

Dixie Training School/ Berkeley Training High School

Early Indian Trading Paths/ The Goose Creek Men– Goose Creek, SC

Fairlawn Plantation / Fort Fairlawn– Moncks Corner, SC

First Site of Moncks Corner– Moncks Corner, SC

Fort Fair Lawn: An Archaeological Treasure– Moncks Corner, SC

Francis Marion– Cordesville, SC

Francis Marion/ Francis Marion’s Grave– Pineville, SC

Francis Marion’s Grave– Pineville, SC

French Huguenot Plantation / Freedman’s Plantation– Goose Creek, SC

Friendship Methodist Church– Cross, SC

Gen. William Moultrie– Cross, SC

Goose Creek Bridge– Goose Creek, SC

Goose Creek Church– Goose Creek, SC

Goose Creek/ City of Goose Creek– Goose Creek, SC

Howe Hall Plantation / Howe Hall– Goose Creek, SC

Howe Hall Plantation/ Howe Hall Elementary School– Goose Creek, SC

Jamestown Veterans Monument– Jamestown, SC

L. Mendel Rivers House– St. Stephen, SC

Lewisfield Plantation– Moncks Corner, SC

Liberty Hall Plantation– Goose Creek

Maham Plantation– Pineville, SC

Medway Plantation– Mount Holly, SC

Mepkin Plantation– Cordesville, SC

Moss Grove– Cross, SC

Mount Holly Station • Mount Holly– Goose Creek, SC

Mulberry Plantation– Moncks Corner, SC

Old Jamestown– Jamestown, SC

Old Moncks Corner– Moncks Corner, SC

Otranto Indigo Vat– Goose Creek, SC

Otranto Plantation– Goose Creek, SC

Pinopolis– Pinopolis, SC

Pompion Hill Chapel– Huger, SC

Quenby Bridge– Huger, SC

Quinby Bridge & Shubrick’s Plantation: The Disastrous “Raid of the Dog Days”– Huger, SC

Rehoboth Methodist Church– Macbeth, SC

Rembert C. Dennis Boulevard–

Santee Canal– Moncks Corner, SC (located on U.S. 52/71 near Dock Road)

Santee Canal– Moncks Corner, SC (located at Old Santee Canal Park entrance)

Silk Hope Plantation– Huger, SC

Site of Huguenot Church of Saint John’s Berkeley– Santee Circle, SC

“Sojer Grave”– Moncks Corner, SC

Springfield Plantation– Goose Creek, SC

Spring Hill Methodist Church– Spring Hill, SC

St. James, Goose Creek– Goose Creek, SC

St. James, Goose Creek Chapel of Ease / Bethlehem Baptist Church– Moncks Corner, SC

St. John’s Church– Pinopolis, SC

St. Stephen Colored School/ St. Stephen High School– St. Stephen, SC

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church– St. Stephen, SC

St. Stephens Veterans Monument– St. Stephen, SC

St. Thomas Church– Cainhoy, SC

Steepbrook Plantation– Hanahan, SC

Stony Landing House– Moncks Corner, SC

Stony Landing Plantation– Moncks Corner, SC

Strawberry Chapel– Cordesville, SC

The Elusive Francis Marion: Guerrilla Commander– Pineville, SC

The Elusive Francis Marion: The Stuff of Legend– Pineville, SC

The Oaks– Goose Creek, SC

The Yamasee War At Goose Creek, 1715– Goose Creek, SC

Thomas Sumter’s Store– Cross, SC

Thomas Walter– St. Stephen, SC

Thorogood Plantation/ Mount Holly Plantation– Mount Holly, SC

Varner Town Indian Community– Carnes Crossroads, SC

Village of Eadytown– Pineville, SC

Village of Pineville– Pineville, SC

Wadboo Barony– Moncks Corner, SC

Wadboo Barony: Francis Marion’s Last Headquarters– Moncks Corner, SC

Wassamassaw– Moncks Corner, SC