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James Island is a large triangular sea island framed by
Wappoo Creek and Charleston Harbor to the north, Morris
Island and Folly Beach to the east, and the Stono River
and John’s Island to the West. Less rural than neighboring
John’s Island, it is essentially a bedroom community
for Charleston, with small shopping centers scattered
along Folly Road and Maybank Highway, the island’s
main thoroughfares.
During the 19th century, plantations were built on James
Island, along with the village of Secessionville, a summer
retreat for plantation owners. The first shots of the
Civil War were fired from the island’s Fort Johnson
onto Fort Sumter in 1861.
All but a handful of dwellings were destroyed during the
war. With the stately plantations gone, the island reverted
to a sparsely populated rural farming area, much like
its neighbor, John’s Island. Laced with creeks,
and affording spectacular views of the city, James Island
became a little piece of paradise enjoyed by few.
The island began experiencing renewed growth during the
20th century, but the opening of the James Island Expressway
in 1993 suddenly made James Island and the other islands
west of Charleston prime locations for new development.
Today many business and residential areas cover James
Island, making it a popular place for a family-oriented
lifestyle in close proximity to the city. The island’s
wide variety of housing options draws people from all
walks of life.
All the conveniences and most of the pleasures of a larger
city can be found on James Island. Restaurants abound,
offering everything from a quick deli sandwich to an elegant
evening dining experience.
Families can choose from a number of recreational opportunities,
including those available at the popular James Island
County Park. This incredible 643-acre park offers biking,
nature trails, a climbing wall, an elaborate playground,
pedal boats, kayaking, 16 acres of lagoons, fishing and
crabbing dock, and picnic areas. There are 10 vacation
cottages and a campground, with 125 sites. Splash Zone,
located inside the park, is a well-rounded water playground
offering two 200-foot tube slides, a 500-foot lazy river
with an adventure channel featuring sprays and a waterfall,
a leisure pool, and a Caribbean play structure with interactive
elements. |
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