Living in Charleston, SC

Living Near Charleston, SC

Escape the hassles of big-city life without sacrificing the beauty and culture of a metropolitan area. Located on the shores of South Carolina in the region known as the "Lowcountry," Charleston is a moderate-sized coastal city steeped in history and charm, with five major beaches just minutes away.

Drama, disaster, and destruction made the original settlement a difficult place to live, but more than three centuries after Charles Towne was founded by eight British Lords Proprietor, the Southern jewel is enjoying revitalization, growth and accolades from travel experts throughout the country. The area offers an abundance of recreational and cultural opportunities, thanks to its mild climate, proximity to water and historical significance.

Visit the Charleston Metro Chamber and Charleston.net Web sites to learn more about our city and for more extensive information about relocating.

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Living in Goose Creek, SC

Goose Creek is a small city outside of the Charleston - North Charleston urban area, with a population of nearly 36,000.  Although the area has a history of being settled dating back to the 1600s, the area experienced its first modern growth spurt between 1958 and 1968 when on average, ten families per week moved to the area.

The city was incorporated on March 22, 1961.The origin of the city’s name is uncertain, although one theory is the area was named after the gooseneck turns in the creek extending from the Cooper River in the area. Another theory is the name comes from the number of geese in the area while a third theory says the name is of Native American origin. Regardless of the source of the name, the area has been known as Goose Creek for over three hundred years.

Early accounts of the area record Native Americans as the first known inhabitants of the area. It is uncertain how many tribes were present in the area, but early records show the presence of both the Etiwan and Sewee tribes. Both tribes were semi-nomadic and were invaluable in assisting the early settlers to adapting to the sometimes harsh conditions of the swampy region. The tribes taught these English settlers how to modify their food, housing and travel to survive the frontier.

While the Revolutionary War gave America its independence, it altered the economy for this area of the Lowcountry. With the economy in flux, many of the settlers in Goose Creek began to move out of the region, and plantation owners began to spend summers in Charleston to avoid the health problems associated with life in the swampy area.

None of the Civil War battles were fought in Goose Creek, but the end of the war brought the fall of slavery and the end of the plantation system, which was the backbone of the Goose Creek economy in this era.

Modern Goose Creek lies within both Charleston and Berkeley counties and is home to several large employers, including a Naval Weapons Station (partially located within city limits), Alcoa Mt. Holly, Walmart, Lanxess, JW Aluminum, Quoizel, AAI, JK Harris and Company, Pegasus Steel and Preferred Sourcing. Not far from Goose Creek is the Google Data Center, which opened in 2008.

JK Harris made the move to Goose Creek in July 2009 and has been grateful for the warm reception we received upon our arrival. A large number of our employees call Goose Creek and the surrounding area home. All of us here at JK Harris and Company are proud to call Goose Creek, SC our new corporate home.