James Island, South Carolina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Island is a town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. It is located in the central and southern parts of James Island. As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, the town's population is included within the Charleston-North Charleston Urbanized Area and the larger Charleston–North Charleston Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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[edit] History
Long settled as a semi-rural area, this island has been affected by increasing urbanization and the expansion of the city of Charleston. Island residents created the corporation of the Town of James Island on January 8, 1993 and sought recognition by the South Carolina state legislature. The normal course of events was interrupted by a lawsuit brought by Charleston as the city sought the right to freely annex additional areas for expansion. A second attempt at recognition in 2002 also failed.
South Carolina changed the state laws affecting incorporation, effective on July 1, 2005. A third attempt to become a town was successful in June 2006, when about 3,000 voted to incorporate. The day after the vote, Charleston mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. filed a lawsuit against the town for the third time saying that it was unconstitutional. Currently, the town's existence is in contention in court, but the town administration is continuing its operations until a court ruling dictates otherwise. Mary Clark was elected mayor of the on again-off again municipality for the third time in August, 2006.
Since incorporating, the town hall has operated for several months without restrooms or other amenities in a storefront convenient to the Mayor's residence. This situation has been investigated by DHEC and will soon face investigation by the Department of Justice due to its indifference to providing facilities for the handicapped in defiance of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. While it is working to resolve these issues, security of the Town Hall is deficient and the town is unable to comply with state staffing laws and town council seems to be confused over procedures, despite the fact council members have had years to perfect their skills.
While the town has been incorporated, the town limits do not incorporate the entire island of James Island. The city of Charleston's city limits encompass about 50% of the island.
[edit] Prominent People
- Comic television sensation Stephen Colbert spent some of his childhood on James Island and attended Stiles Point Elementary School. He has frequently mentioned both Charleston and South Carolina on his television program The Colbert Report.
- Atlanta Falcons wide receiver, Roddy White.
- Samuel Smalls, the man who DuBose Heyward based his novel Porgy and its subsequent George Gershwin written opera Porgy and Bess on, is buried next to James Island Presbyterian Church.
- Gorman Thomas, a long-time Milwaukee Brewer center fielder and desginated hitter.
[edit] Neighborhoods
One of James Island's oldest neighborhoods, Riverland Terrace, was developed in the 1940s. The Terrace is located just 10 minutes west of downtown Charleston, South Carolina along Wappoo Creek and the inland waterway. The neighborhood boasts a public boat landing , Charleston Municipal Golf Course , a playground, five restaurants and numerous antique shops.
Leading into the neighborhood is the historic Avenue of Oaks, consisting of 73 live oak trees believed to be over 100 years old. They once led to Wappoo Hall Plantation on the Stono River. A Civil War fortification known as Fort Pemberton, built in 1862, remains today.
The Terrace consists of approximately 800 homes. Sizes and prices vary greatly. Starter homes of 900 square feet begin at $200,000. Riverland Terrace has an active neighborhood association that meets 3-4 times each year. The community actively works to preserve the historical integrity of the community, thus contributing to the hometown feel.
The Riverland Terrace Neighborhood Association
The Riverland Terrace Neighborhood Association (RTNA) is a not-for-profit volunteer neighborhood organization for those who live, work, or play within Riverland Terrace. RTNA is committed to promoting and protecting the beauty, safety, stability, cleanliness, and social and economic viability of the neighborhood by fostering alliances with the local residents, merchants, and government officials. RTNA seeks to represent community interests as a single voice. The RTNA has a website that keeps its members up to date on events that affect the neighborhood. Riverland Terrace's Official Website
 Oak trees over 100 years old line the entrance to Riverland Terrace |
 The Wappoo Cut which borders one side of neighborhood |
 Plymouth Park |
[edit] External links
- The town's 'Official' website
- James Island at the Open Directory Project
- James Island (Images of America:South Carolina)
- James Island: Stories from Slave Descendents
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