Happy (almost) 175th birthday to The Flower Town in the Pines — you don’t look a day over 20.
If you haven’t already heard, the Town of Summerville is commemorating its 175th anniversary on Saturday, Dec. 17, with an afternoon chock-full of family-friendly celebrations.
Head to Gahagan Park from 3-7 p.m. to enjoy live music from local artist Vinyl Daze, food, and fireworks at 6:30 p.m. We can’t think of a better way to honor the occasion.
So, what have the last 175 years looked like for the town? Let’s dive into a quick history lesson.
- Late 1700s: Charlestonians and other Lowcountry locals settled in what was recognized as a pine-forested ridge to escape the summer heat.
- Early 1800s: The railroad arrives and modernization begins in the area.
- 1847: The village becomes an official town and a law is passed to prevent certain trees from being cut without permission. Pssst: This is recognized as one of the oldest ordinances of its kind in the US.
- 1886: The town is struck during the Charleston Earthquake and a fire destroys most town square buildings.
- Late 1970s: The town population reaches 6,000 after sitting at 3,000 for a century.
- 1980s: The population continues to grow + doubles in size.
Today, Summerville’s population is recognized as 52,419. Can you imagine what it would be like with just 3,000 residents?
To continue this walk down memory lane, here are a few ways that we’ve covered the “Birthplace of Sweet Tea” through the years.
- The history of sweet tea
- A 30-mile getaway
- The Sweet Tea Festival
- A new library
- An upcoming $200+ million development
There’s clearly lots to celebrate between 1847 and today, and we’re proud of the growth and expansion that the Town of Summerville has seen. Happy anniversary.
