Hardeeville, South Carolina

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Coordinates: 32°17′2″N 81°4′43″W / 32.28389, -81.07861
Hardeeville, South Carolina
Location of Hardeeville, South Carolina
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Jasper
Area
- Total	4.3 sq mi (11.1 km²)
- Land	4.3 sq mi (11.1 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation	23 ft (7 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	1,793
- Density	419.8/sq mi (162.1/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	29927
Area code(s)	843
FIPS code	45-32245^[1]
GNIS feature ID	1223032^[2]

Hardeeville is a small, though rapidly growing city in Jasper County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,793 at the 2000 census. Hardeeville is included within the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan Area.

[edit] History

The earliest European settlement in the region was Purrysburg, a former Swiss Huguenot and German settlement founded in 1738 on the banks of the Savannah River, about two miles northwest of the current city's center. The settlement ultimately failed, as disease, infestation, and competition from growing Savannah proved too much for the local settlers to overcome. Many left the immediate area, though some remained.

The area within the city was settled in the 19th century by Isaac Hardee, a native North Carolinean. Through his son William Whyte Hardee's efforts, a depot and general store along the Charleston to Savannah railway opened up. This depot and the surrounding areas became collectively known as Hardee Station, and eventually as Hardeeville at the town's founding in 1911. The area became renowned for its timber operations with the Argent Lumber Company, which had one of the largest logging operations in the world centered around the town. Unique to the area was the swamp logging procedure that was utilized, which made operations far more treacherous than standard logging. Narrow-gauge railroads were constructed to help deliver timber to a processing area, where the lumber would be lifted onto standard-gauge rail cars or trucks headed to all parts of North America.

Growth continued at a modest pace, though timbering operations were gradually scaled back as overseas lands became more sought after due to lower costs and more standard logging procedures. In spite of the decline of the logging industry, the construction of U.S. Route 17 and later Interstate 95 provided a new type of commerce; motorist services such as motels, restaurants, and gas stations. The town was also notorious for being the "speed trap" before Savannah for motorists who would often be pulled over for speeding along these thoroughfares. Officially, the city adopted the slogan "The Lowcountry Host", and to this day remains one of the most popular exits along the interstate for motorists near and far.

[edit] Geography

Hardeeville is located at 32°17′2″N, 81°4′43″W (32.283850, -81.078496)^[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²), all land in 2000. The City has since expanded its limits to an area approximately 50 square miles in size, due to annexation of large parcels formerly held by area lumber/timber companies.

The vast majority of the city is located on flat coastal plain land, with very few variations in elevation. Most of the city is approximately 20 feet above mean sea level. Hardeeville is located entirely within Jasper County, though shares boundaries with Beaufort County and the Town of Bluffton. The city is bordered to the west by the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, a large-scale nature preserve along the South Carolina and Georgia sides of the Savannah River.

[edit] The City Defined

[edit] Downtown

"Downtown Hardeeville" or "Old Town Hardeeville" refers generally to the original city limit extents of the community, bound between Exits 5 and 8 along I-95 and between the interstate and the rail-line. Downtown consists mostly of one-story single-family homes along quiet and shaded streets. Main Street (S.C. 46) and Whyte Hardee Boulevard (U.S. 17) provide the majority of commercial development in downtown. Most travel-oriented commercial establishments are along Whyte Hardee Boulevard closer to Exit 5, while more locally-oriented commerce is located along Main Street and northern portions of Whyte Hardee Boulevard.

[edit] Exit 8

Approximately two miles north of Downtown is a growing area of the City that is centered around Exit 8. Travel-oriented commercial establishments, in addition to the local hospital and a county park are located in this area.

[edit] Industrial Areas

The Hardeeville Industrial Park has served the City for several years, allowing a location for light industrial development and distribution. The industrial park is connected both to road and rail networks.

Additional light industrial development is occurring in other areas of the city, especially along the Argent Boulevard and Highway 170 corridors.

[edit] New Developments

Hardeeville is becoming one of the fastest growing cities in the state and has in the past few years annexed large parcels of land in southern Jasper County, in anticipation of major growth. Among major developments that are planned or are underway include the following:

Crescent Centre, a large commercial power center by The Tetra Companies, LLC. [1]
Tradition, a mixed-use, golf course community by Core Communities. [2]
Hampton Pointe, a residential golf course community by Toll Brothers. [3]
Hilton Head Lakes at Hardeeville, a lagoon-oriented residential community by Hilton Head Lakes, LLC [4]
A sizable expansion to the existing Sun City Hilton Head over-55 community by Pulte-Del Webb Communities. [5]
Courtney Bend, a luxury garden apartment community by ContraVest. [6]
Deerfield Village, an affordable housing community of single family homes.

[edit] Culture

[edit] Media

Hardeeville currently is served exclusively by the weekly newspaper Hardeeville Today, [7] which is a subsidiary of the Savannah Morning News. Other local newspapers that serve the community include the Jasper County Sun, the Island Packet, and the Beaufort Gazette.

[edit] Festivals & Events

The city hosts celebrations throughout the year to garner community involvement and interest. Among the more notable celebrations include:

Easter Egg Hunt (March/April)
Relay for Life (April/May)
Children's Fishing Rodeo (May)
Fireworks & Fun Fourth of July Celebration (July)
National Night Out (August)
Celebrate Hardeeville Festival (October)
Christmas Parade (December)

[edit] Sports & Recreation

Through the city's recreation department, junior and intramural athletics are sponsored year-round. Activities include football, basketball, softball, soccer, and cheerleading. Most recreational events take place at the city's recreation complex located behind City Hall. The city hopes to attract baseball, softball, and soccer tournaments in the future.

The city is also home to the semi-professional football club, the Hardeeville Warriors, which moved to the city from Georgia in 2007.

[edit] Community Facilities

Hardeeville City Hall
Hardeeville Museum (inside City Hall)
Hardeeville Community Library
Senior Citizens Center
Coastal Carolina Hospital
Hardeeville Recreational Park (sports and recreation fields & courts)
Hardeeville Veterans Park & Old Number 7 Locomotive
Sgt. Jasper County Park
The Sarge Disc Golf Course

[edit] Religion

The city is home to several Christian denominations, with most churches located in the downtown area. Other religious faiths have houses of worship in surrounding communities, especially in Beaufort, Hilton Head, and Savannah.

[edit] Economy

Hardeeville's central location from other fast growing areas including Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, and Bluffton make it a prime site commercial and industrial development. Large land tracts, good access to downtown Savannah, the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, the Port of Savannah, and a future container port to be built on the Savannah River are additional features that the city capitalizes on to attract investment. Upon final buildout of major projects and other developments, the city will likely become one of the ten largest cities in South Carolina based on population and land area.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 1,793 people, 642 households, and 428 families residing in the city. The population density was 419.8 people per square mile (162.1/km²). There were 700 housing units at an average density of 163.9/sq mi (63.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.79% White, 40.83% African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 10.32% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.41% of the population.

Due to Census undercounts and undocumented immigration, a population estimate of about 3,000 residents is more realistic.

There were 642 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 111.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,977, and the median income for a family was $31,625. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $20,781 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,795. About 27.7% of families and 31.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.3% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

[edit] City Council

Hardeeville is governed by an elected, non-partisan city council, with one mayor and four council members. All members are elected to staggered four-year terms and are considered at-large (not repesenting geographic districts). The city council as of June 2008 was represented by the following officials:

Bronco Bostick, Mayor (term ends 2012)
Roy Powell, Mayor Pro-Tem (term ends 2012)
Brooks Willis, Councilman (term ends 2010)
Michael Foskey, Councilman (term ends 2012)
Vacant Position, Councilman - a special election is scheduled to fill this seat, vacated in May 2008 by Bea Jones. (term ends 2010)

The city also has an Election Commission, a Planning Commission, a Board of Zoning Appeals. Meetings from these boards as well as community events and news are broadcast by the city's local-access cable station, HTVN Channel 63.

[edit] City Government

Since 2006, Hardeeville operates under a council-manager form of government. The current city manager is Kevin Griffin, who has served in this position since June 2008 and previously was an assistant city manager. The city consists of the following departments organized into three sections:

Administrative

City Manager
City Clerk

Operations

Finance
Public Safety (Police, Fire, & EMS)
Parks & Recreation
Public Works
Public Relations
Information Technology

Growth Management

Planning
Engineering
Permitting & Licensing
Economic Development
Building (partially contracted)

[edit] Education

Hardeeville presently has three schools (two public, one private). Hardeeville Elementary School and Hardeeville Junior/Senior High School are technically two separate public schools (run by the Jasper County School District) operating on one campus. The "Hardeeville South Campus" as it is officially known was opened in October 2007 and serves students in Hardeeville and southern Jasper County. Abundant Life Academy, a private, Christian-affiliated K-12 school is also located in the city limits. The Hardeeville Community Library serves residents in Hardeeville and southern Jasper County. Additional schools are planned in the future through development agreements signed by private developers and the city.

Two local institutions comprise the current extent of higher education in the Hardeeville area. Both the University of South Carolina Beaufort South Campus and the Technical College of the Lowcountry New River Campus are located just outside the city limits in Beaufort County.

[edit] Transport

Interstate 95, the major north-south highway on the Eastern Seaboard runs through Hardeeville. Exits 5 and 8 are located in the city and provide numerous motorist services. A South Carolina welcome center is located in the city, shortly before Exit 5 on the northbound lanes. The four-lane interstate is expected to be widened to six lanes from Exit 8 to the state line to help with increasing congestion. A future exit 3 is being planned and will help assist in the flow of traffic around the city and to Bluffton and Hilton Head Island.

U.S. Highway 17, a principal route connecting Savannah with Charleston and beyond enters Hardeeville shortly after crossing the Savannah River from Georgia and remains in the city limits for 15 miles. The road is known locally as Speedway Boulevard for points south of I-95 and as Whyte Hardee Boulevard north of the interstate. U.S. 17 is exit 5 off I-95. The road is mainly four lanes wide, with some segments having a suicide lane, whereas other segments are limited-access. Sections of two-lane configurations exist in the northern and southern areas of the city.

U.S. Highway 278, a heavily-traveled thoroughfare connecting Hardeeville and Interstate 95 with Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. As mentioned above, most of the city's major large-scale developments are occurring along this corridor. U.S. 278 is exit 8 off I-95. Heading north, the route runs concurrent with U.S. 17 until Ridgeland, before veering west towards Augusta and Atlanta.

U.S. Highway 321, a lightly-traveled trunk route for cars, yet serves as a commercially important link for trucks heading towards the Port of Savannah. From its starting point/terminus at U.S. 17 near Interstate 95, the route heads northward toward Columbia, Charlotte, and Knoxville.

S.C. Highway 46, known locally as Main Street, runs eastward from its starting point at U.S. 321 over the CSX rail line, intersects at U.S. 17, goes under I-95, and continues eastward towards Bluffton, passing by the hamlet of Prichardsville and the new development of Palmetto Bluff. The route provides a more scenic and less traveled alternative to U.S. 278.

S.C. Highway 170, known locally as Okatie Highway, Freedom Parkway, and Alligator Alley, runs generally northeast to southwest, connecting Hardeeville with Beaufort and northern Beaufort County as well as Port Wentworth and the northern suburbs of Savannah. The highway also goes through the neighboring rural communities of Okatie and Levy, as well as the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

CSX Railroad (also known as the Charleston-Savannah Railway) currently operates both passenger and freight trains along the lines, but do not stop at Hardeeville. There have been discussions to bring an Amtrak station to the city.