South Carolina

Charleston

408,235
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 66,985. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 408,235.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 40 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Proprietary Period Indian War – Stono 1673, Sewee People's Migration Disaster 1700, Carolina-French War — Second Siege of Charleston, and 218 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020408,235
2010350,209
2000309,969
1990295,039
1980276,974
1970247,650
1960216,382
1950164,856
1940121,105
1930101,050
1920108,450
191088,594
190088,006
189059,903
1880102,800
187088,863
186070,100
185072,805
184082,661
183086,338
182080,212
181063,179
180057,480
179066,985
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Charleston

Military engagements that took place in Charleston, South Carolina.

Proprietary Period Indian War – Stono 1673
1673
Sewee People's Migration Disaster 1700
1700
Carolina-French War — Second Siege of Charleston
1706
Yamasee War — Battle of Stono
1715
Yamasee War - Battle of Charleston 1715
1715
Carolina Proprietary Revolution 1719
1719
Stono Rebellion – Battle of Stono River September 9 1739
1739
Stono Rebellion 1739
1739
Stono Rebellion (South Carolina) Sep 9 1739
1739
Stono Rebellion (South Carolina)
1739
Stono Rebellion
1739
Capture of Fort Johnson (Charleston Harbor)
1775
Battle of Fort Moultrie (1776)
1776
Battle of Fort Moultrie Jun 28 1776
1776
Battle of Sullivan's Island
1776
Battle of Sullivan's Island (Fort Moultrie)
1776
Battle of Stono Ferry
1779
Engagement at Stono Ferry — June 20 1779
1779
Siege of Charleston
1780
Battle of Fort Moultrie
1780
Siege of Charleston Apr-May 1780
1780
Battle of James Island (1782)
1782
Action at Ashley Ferry
1782
Evacuation of Charleston
1782
Denmark Vesey Conspiracy
1822
Anderson's Fort Sumter Garrison — Winter 1860-61
1860
Fort Moultrie — Confederate Recapture December 1860
1860
Battle of Fort Sumter — April 1861
1861
Fort Sumter — Major Anderson Surrenders April 14 1861
1861
First Battle of Charleston Harbor (Stone Fleet)
1861
First Battle of Fort Sumter (Naval Bombardment)
1861
Fort Sumter — First Bombardment
1861
Bombardment of Fort Sumter
1861
Star of the West — Fort Sumter Relief Attempt
1861
Confederate Ironclad Program — SC Build Sites
1862
Union Seizure of North Edisto River Banks
1862
Skirmish at Legareville — Stono River
1862
Expedition to Willtown Bluff — Edisto River 1862
1862
Battle of James Island 1862
1862
Union Navy Operations on Stono River — 1862-1863
1862

Historic places in Charleston

National Register of Historic Places listings in Charleston, South Carolina.

Brewton, Miles, House
Charleston
Porter Military Academy
Charleston
Mills, Clark, Studio
Charleston
Hampton Plantation
McClellanville
Rockville Historic District
Rockville and
Hampton Park Terrace Historic District
Charleston
Stuart, Col. John, House
Charleston
Heyward-Washington House
Charleston
South Carolina State Arsenal
Charleston
College of Charleston
Charleston
Rutledge, Edward, House
Charleston
Enston, William, Home
Charleston
McCrady's Tavern and Long Room
Charleston
Wilkinson-Boineau House
Adams Run
Russell, Nathaniel, House
Charleston
St. Philip's Episcopal Church
Charleston
Roper, Robert William, House
Charleston
Mount Pleasant Historic District
Mount Pleasant
Lucas Family Cemetery
Mt. Pleasant
Hibernian Hall
Charleston
Huguenot Church
Charleston
Sparrow, James, House
Charleston
Grove Plantation
Adams Run
Fort Pringle
James Island
Browse all South Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in South Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more South Carolina counties.

SpartanburgSumterUnionWilliamsburgYorkAbbevilleAikenAllendaleAndersonBambergBarnwellBeaufortBerkeleyCalhounCherokeeChesterChesterfieldClarendonColletonDarlington
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Charleston County, South Carolina

This page charts the census history of Charleston County, South Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Charleston County, South Carolina report
Or see a real report first

Explore South Carolina records

South Carolinahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from South Carolina›

Frequently asked about Charleston

When does Charleston first appear in the US census?
Charleston, South Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 66,985.
What is the population of Charleston?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Charleston had a recorded population of 408,235.
Were any battles fought in Charleston?
40 documented military engagements took place in Charleston, including Proprietary Period Indian War – Stono 1673, Sewee People's Migration Disaster 1700, Carolina-French War — Second Siege of Charleston.
How many historic places are in Charleston?
218 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Charleston, South Carolina.
Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report