What Charleston is known for

Francis Marion National Forest is one of the primary natural features of the region. Located to the northeast of Charleston, the national forest is just over 250,000 acres. The forest is large enough that it encompasses a few small towns, such as Huger, Jamestown, and Awendaw. The Francis Marion National Forest contains four specifically designated wilderness areas: Hell Hole Bay, Wambaw Creek, Wambaw Swamp, and Little Wambaw Swamp. Other parts of the forest allow for recreational activities such as horseback riding, mountain biking, camping, and ATVing. A popular trail of the area—the Palmetto Trail—cuts through the national forest for a period of over 40 miles.[1] 

The largest city in the region is Charleston, which is also one of the largest cities in the state of South Carolina. Charleston has a comprehensive arrangement of attractions to experience, making it a popular tourist destination. Annually, roughly 7.3 people visit Charleston. The most popular time of year for that visitation is between March and May. The weather is more temperate, and the diverse range of wildlife blooms into color. Hotel prices increase significantly because of this, as well as the general population density of the region. September to November are also reasonably popular times to visit the region, and visitors may find that the crowds are not as prevalent.[2] Some of the more popular attractions located in or around Charleston include the South Carolina Aquarium, the Waterfront Park, and Middleton Place Plantation. The South Carolina Aquarium is home to many aquatic creatures such as sharks, manta rays, and sea turtles. Additionally, there are birds and mammals like penguins and otters. An emphasis is placed on live interaction by means of touching animals, interactive shows, and the viewing of the aquarium's hospital.[4] The Middleton Place Plantation is one of many historical sites within the southern United States pertaining to slavery. Visitors to the house—which was initially constructed in 1755—will learn about the four generations of Middletons that owned the property. Antique furniture, books, porcelain, portraits, and silver are on display throughout the home.[4] 

The economy of Charleston is driven by its many businesses, seeing as how the area is more metropolitan than other regions of South Carolina. Some of the largest private companies that have a presence in the Francis Marion Region are The Boeing Company, Walmart Inc., and T-Mobile USA. Public sector businesses include Joint Base Charleston, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), and the Charleston County School District.[7]

Geography

The topography of the Francis Marion Region is mostly swampland, pushed up against the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of the United States. Rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water are spread across the majority of the region, acting as a contributing factor to the dense green foliage that is frequent in the area. The region's boundaries cover the shoreline from Edisto Beach to Georgetown. The boundaries continue inland until the northwestern edge of Lake Marion, meaning that the entirety of the Francis Marion Region rests within the state of South Carolina. The largest city in the region is Charleston, and other notable cities include Georgetown, Walterboro, and Summerville. 

The climate of the area is humid and warm, especially during the summer. Average high temperatures during that time reach the upper 80s (Fahrenheit) frequently, meaning that visitors during June, July, and August are relatively low. The summer is also the wettest season in the Francis Marion Region, with an average of 17 inches of precipitation over the course of the three months. Peak tourism occurs from March to May, and during that time, the temperature averages out to be roughly 60-80 degrees on average. The flora of the area begins to bloom in full, and precipitation averages out to be just under 3 inches per month. Annual precipitation is about 44 inches, and the area never experiences snowfall.[2] 

Some of the notable geographic features of the region include the Francis Marion National Forest, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Lake Moultrie, and Lake Marion. The landscape is relatively flat, with no notable mountains or large hills. Some of the resources produced in the Francis Marion Region include motor vehicles/parts, chemicals, machinery, and tobacco products. Manufactured goods drive the economy of Charleston, specifically.[8] 

The South Carolina flora consists of species such as the yellow birch, cypress, azaleas, camellias, and various kinds of moss and lichens. A few examples of local fauna are white-tailed deer (which is also the state animal), red foxes, marsh rabbits, woodchucks, and black bears. Bird species range from mockingbirds to wood storks, among others.[9]

History

The Francis Marion Region is named after a man of the same name. Francis was known as the "Swamp Fox," and he was a military officer during the American Revolutionary War. In Francis' early life, he managed his family's plantation. He joined the military when he was about 25 years old and served in the French and Indian War. At the start of the American Revolutionary War, Francis Marion was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel. For the first few years of the war, American forces in South Carolina were reduced to dangerously low levels. Outnumbered and on the run, Marion was forced to use unorthodox methods for the time. He is considered to be one of the fathers of modern guerrilla warfare, and his skills in intelligence gathering far exceeded that of the British in the state. His terrorizing and quick attacks led the British to seek Marion's capture or death, but his elusiveness earned him the nickname "The Swamp Fox." Colonel Banastre Tarleton was tasked with finding Francis Marion, but after unsuccessfully pursuing his troops for over 26 miles in the swamp, he declared that "the Devil himself could not catch [Marion]." Other military achievements of Marion include retaking Fort Watson and capturing Fort Motte. He also broke military communications between British posts in the Carolinas.[1] 

Francis Marion's impact on the southern states during the war earned him a great deal of fame, and in subsequent generations, many landmarks and buildings would be named in his honor. Today, the population of Charleston sits at around 134,000, with 71.2% of citizens being white, 22.3% black, and the remaining 6.5% as Asians and multiracial.[10]