Awendaw, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Awendaw, South Carolina
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Awendaw, with U.S. Highway 17 in foreground
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Location of Awendaw in South Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Charleston |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17.60 sq mi (45.57 km2) |
| • Land | 17.35 sq mi (44.93 km2) |
| • Water | 0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2) |
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,399 |
| • Density | 80.65/sq mi (31.14/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
29429
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| Area codes | 843, 854 |
| FIPS code | 45-03385 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1229363 |
Awendaw (/ˈɔːwɪndɔː/ aw-WIN-daw) is a small fishing town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,294 at the 2010 census. Awendaw is part of the Charleston, South Carolina metropolitan area.
Contents
History
Awendaw was named by the Sewee tribe. Awendaw is thought to mean "Red Clay". It is also home to an oyster shell mound created by the Sewee tribe. It is the northernmost shell ring in a group that stretches south to the tip of Florida. Most of the mound is still intact. The rest of it was destroyed to construct roads and homes for the citizens of Awendaw. Awendaw was settled in 1696 as Wappetaw by settlers from Salem, Massachusetts, who had left after the Salem Witch Trials. The town was heavily damaged by Hurricane Hugo in September 1989, but did not receive as significant damage in 2004 when Hurricane Gaston made landfall in the region. In 1992, the town of Awendaw was first incorporated and elected Willam H. Alston as the first mayor. Alston served as mayor until 2009.
The Sewee Mound was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
Geography
Awendaw is located in northeastern Charleston County, along U.S. Route 17 at 32°59′11″N 79°38′36″W / 32.98639°N 79.64333°W (32.986445, -79.643451). US 17 leads southwest 28 miles (45 km) to Charleston and northeast 32 miles (51 km) to Georgetown.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Awendaw has a total area of 9.7 square miles (25.1 km2), of which 9.5 square miles (24.5 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2), or 2.13%, is water.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 1,195 | — | |
| 2010 | 1,294 | 8.3% | |
| 2020 | 1,399 | 8.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 720 | 51.47% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 634 | 45.32% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.21% |
| Other/Mixed | 31 | 2.22% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11 | 0.79% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,399 people, 514 households, and 328 families residing in the town.
Landmarks
The 609.6-meter-high (2,000 ft) WCSC-Tower is one of the world's tallest constructions. The Media General Tower is more than 600 m (2,000 ft) high.
In 2001, the town's public library was opened as the Awendaw Community Library. Currently named the William H. Alston Municipal Public Library, it is one of two municipal public libraries in the state.
Education
Charleston County School District operates public schools in Awendaw.
In 2016 school district staff stated that they were considering having a new Lincoln High School built in Awendaw. The previous Lincoln High School in McClellanville closed in 2015.
As of January 2017, the school district is moving forward with plans for a new high school in Awendaw. Location to be a 184-acre tract on Doar Rd.
Blue Crab Festival
To many Awendaw citizens, crabbing is a hobby and one of the town's main economic resources. Every year in the summer, the town has the Blue Crab Festival. Started by the town’s first mayor William H Alston and his wife Minnie E Alston.
Notable people
- Danielle Howle, singer-songwriter
- Charlton Singleton, 2-time Grammy award winner
See also
In Spanish: Awendaw para niños
