Charleston's signature housing type is the "'single house" - a narrow house with gracious side piazzas. The single house is but one choice in an ample range of housing indigenous to Charleston. From marshfront condominiums to downtown studio and from four-bedroom homes to splendid mansions in the historic district, every domestic setting can be realized. Charleston's single family market is strong; since 1987, single family production has averaged 310 new homes annually, and multi-family construction averages at 30.4 units per year.
The City of Charleston is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean at the juncture of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. Occupying 88.14 square miles, Charleston has 7.6 square miles of a vital, bustling downtown which is home to the City's central business district.
Population
Charleston is the second largest city in South Carolina with an estimated 1998 population of 100,122. Between 1980 and
1990 Charleston grew 15 percent while the nation as a whole grew 9.8 percent. The City's growth is due to the annexed
lands in West Ashley, James Island, Johns Island and the Cainhoy Peninsula.