The City of North Charleston turns 50 this weekend and the city is definitely celebrating in style.
To commemorate the anniversary, the North Charleston Fifty Fest is this Saturday, June 11 from 4-9 p.m. Head to the Park Circle Business District for a free community street festival featuring music, local vendors and merchants, plus merchandise, prizes, and dessert.
Did we mention the Classic Car Show? This show is set to be held as part of the Fifty Fest + will exhibit antique automobiles from the 1940s through the 1980s.
In short: The celebrations are abundant.
So, what have the last 50 years looked like for the city? Let’s take a look at a few notable milestones from the last five decades.
- June 1972: North Charleston is established, ranking as the 9th largest city in the state. The first mayor is John E. Bourne, Jr.
- December 1972: City population increases from 22,000 to 53,000 + North Charleston claims a spot as the fourth-largest city in SC.
- 1982: The city has just under $2 million invested in parks + recreation facilities, $2.3 million in economic development, and $15 million in capital investments. Overall growth is 250%.
- 1986: Northwoods Mall officially opens.
- 1989: Hurricane Hugo runs through the Lowcountry — creating just under $3 billion in damage.
- 1993: The North Charleston Coliseum opens and serves as the South Carolina Stingrays’ home base.
- 1994: Mayor R. Keith Summey is first elected as mayor + has served in the position ever since.
- 1999: The North Charleston Performing Arts Center + Charleston Area Convention Center make their debut.
- 2005: North Charleston’s Riverfront Park officially opens to the public.
- 2009: Boeing announces North Charleston is the new home of the 787 Dreamliner Aircraft assembly and delivery prep center.
- 2019: North Charleston Transit Center opens.
- 2022: North Charleston accepts + reviews submissions for a new city flag.
There’s clearly lots to celebrate between 1972 and today, and we’re proud of the growth + expansion that the City of North Charleston has seen.
Looking forward, there are several key projects in the area including Park Circle Reimagined, the Noisette Creek Pedestrian Bridge, and the Lowcountry Rapid Transit.
Happy anniversary, North Charleston.