Charleston, South Carolina

City: Charleston

County: Charleston

State: South Carolina

Lat/Long: 32.7667, -79.9667

Founded in 1670, Charleston is on the Atlantic coast of southeastern South Carolina. Originally named Charles Town, after Charles II of England, the name was changed to Charleston when incorporated in August 1783. Charleston serves as the county seat of Charleston County. In April 1861, the Confederate attack on and capture of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor marked the outbreak of the Civil War. Following a Union blockade, the city was evacuated in February 1865 and occupied by the Union Army.

Courtlandt Canby, The Encyclopedia of Historic Places (New York: Facts on File, 1984), 1:173; Frank R. Abate, ed., American Places Dictionary (Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1994), 2:576.