Goose Creek, South Carolina

Last updated

Goose Creek
St. James Goose Creek Parish Church, Goose Creek, South Carolina.jpg
St. James' Church in Goose Creek
Goose Creek, SC City Flag.gif
Goose Creek, SC City Seal.png
Motto: 
"Small Town Vibe. Big Time Recreation."
SCMap-doton-GooseCreek.PNG
Location in South Carolina
Coordinates: 33°0′N80°2′W / 33.000°N 80.033°W / 33.000; -80.033
CountryUnited States
State South Carolina
Counties Berkeley
Incorporated1961
Named for A creek resembling a goose [1]
Government
  MayorGregory Habib
Area
[2]
  Total42.84 sq mi (110.95 km2)
  Land42.35 sq mi (109.67 km2)
  Water0.49 sq mi (1.28 km2)  1.14%
Elevation
46 ft (14 m)
Population
 (2020) [3]
  Total45,946
  Estimate 
(2022)
47,618
  Density1,085.01/sq mi (418.93/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
29445
Area code(s) 843, 854
FIPS code 45-29815 [4]
GNIS feature ID1231332 [5]
Website www.cityofgoosecreek.com

Goose Creek is the most populous city in Berkeley County in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 45,946 at the 2020 census, making it the 7th-most populous city in the state. [6] Most of the Naval Weapons Station Charleston is in Goose Creek. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used only by the U.S. Census Bureau and other federal agencies for statistical purposes, Goose Creek is included within the Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

History

Although the city of Goose Creek was established in 1961, [7] its history dates back many centuries. In the 1670s the Etiwan moved to the area to escape the Westo, seeking protection among the plantations of early colonists who were often referred to as the "Goose Creek men", mostly settled a few miles north of Charleston near a stream called Goose Creek, a tributary of the Cooper River. The Goose Creek men became leaders of the early Indian trade, and by the 1690s many held important offices in the colonial government. At first the Goose Creek men dealt mainly in Indian slaves, while later the deerskin trade dominated. Several colonial governors were Goose Creek men, such as James Moore and Robert Daniell. [8] [9] [10] Other prominent men included brothers Daniel and Pierre Bacot. [11]

The Otranto Plantation Indigo Vats and St. James Church are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [12]

Geography

Goose Creek, South Carolina
Interactive map of Goose Creek

Goose Creek is located in southern Berkeley County at 33°0′N80°2′W / 33.000°N 80.033°W / 33.000; -80.033 (32.9955, -80.0289). [13] It is bordered to the east by the Cooper River and the Back River, to the southeast by an outer portion of the city of Charleston, to the southwest by the city of Hanahan and (farther to the west) the city of North Charleston in Charleston County, and to the west by the unincorporated community of Ladson.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 42.84 square miles (111.0 km2), of which 42.35 square miles (109.7 km2) is land and 0.49 square miles (1.3 km2) (1.14%) is water. [2]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1970 3,825
1980 17,811365.6%
1990 24,69238.6%
2000 29,20818.3%
2010 35,93823.0%
2020 45,94627.8%
2022 (est.)47,618 [6] 3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [14] [3]

2020 census

Goose Creek racial composition [15]
RaceNum.Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)26,79558.32%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)9,85021.44%
Native American 1760.38%
Asian 1,5853.45%
Pacific Islander 590.13%
Other/Mixed 3,1326.82%
Hispanic or Latino 4,3499.47%

As of the 2020 census, there were 45,946 people, 13,924 households, and 10,341 families residing in the city.

2010 census

At the 2010 census [4] there were 35,938 people, 8,947 households, and 7,443 families residing in the city. The population density was 921.6 inhabitants per square mile (355.8/km2). There were 9,482 housing units at an average density of 299.2 per square mile (115.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 78.50% White, 14.22% African American, 0.59% Native American, 2.66% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 1.56% from other races, and 2.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.05% of the population.

There were 8,947 households, out of which 49.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.9% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.8% were non-families. 12.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city, the distribution of the population by age was 29.6% under the age of 18, 18.2% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 15.4% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 115.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,919, and the median income for a family was $47,937. Males had a median income of $31,965 versus $23,754 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,905. About 5.8% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under the age of 18 and 7.3% of those 65 and older.

Armed forces

Portions of the Charleston metropolitan area (Charleston, North Charleston, Goose Creek, and Hanahan) are home to branches of the United States military. During the Cold War, the Naval Base (1902–1996) became the third largest U.S. homeport serving over 80 ships and submarines. In addition, the Charleston Naval Shipyard repaired frigates, destroyers, cruisers, sub tenders, and submarines. The shipyard was also equipped for the refueling of nuclear subs.

During this period, the Weapons Station was the Atlantic Fleet's loadout base for all nuclear ballistic missile submarines. Two SSBN "Boomer" squadrons and a sub tender were homeported at the Weapons Station, while one SSN attack squadron, Submarine Squadron 4, and a sub tender were homeported at the Naval Base. At the 1996 closure of the Station's Polaris Missile Facility Atlantic (POMFLANT), over 2,500 nuclear warheads and their UGM-27 Polaris, UGM-73 Poseidon, and UGM-96 Trident I delivery missiles (SLBM) were stored and maintained, guarded by a U.S. Marine Corps security force company.

In 2010, the Air Force base (3,877 acres) and Naval Weapons Station (>17,000 acres) merged to form Joint Base Charleston. Today, Joint Base Charleston, encompassing over 20,877 acres (8,449 ha) and supporting 53 military commands and federal agencies, provides service to over 79,000 airmen, sailors, soldiers, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, DOD civilians, dependents, and retirees.

Marines

Army

Police force

The Goose Creek Police Department is housed at the Marguerite H. Brown Municipal Center, along with the City Hall and Municipal Court, and is an active department within the community of Goose Creek. The Goose Creek Police Department is a CALEA accredited agency and works to maintain a good relationship with the citizens using the community policing method. [16]

Education

There are three high schools that serve the Goose Creek area. Goose Creek High School and Stratford High School serve students inside Goose Creek, while Cane Bay High School is located outside Goose Creek city limits and serves students from both in and out of Goose Creek's city limits. Goose Creek High School is the home of the Berkeley County School of the Arts (BCA) Program.

Goose Creek has a public library, a branch of the Berkeley County Library System. [17]

Notable people

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berkeley County, South Carolina</span> County in South Carolina, United States

Berkeley County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 229,861. Its county seat is Moncks Corner, and the largest community is Goose Creek. After two previous incarnations of Berkeley County, the current county was created in 1882. Berkeley County is included in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Hanahan is a city in Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 12,937 at the 2000 census. The 2010 census puts the population at 17,997. Portions of the Naval Weapons Station Charleston, including the Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston, are located in Hanahan. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes only, Hanahan is included within the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville metropolitan area and the Charleston-North Charleston Urbanized Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Charleston, South Carolina</span> City in South Carolina, United States

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USS <i>Daniel Webster</i> US navy submarine

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USS <i>Sam Rayburn</i> James Madison-class fleet ballistic missile submarine

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USS <i>Canopus</i> (AS-34) Tender of the United States Navy

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Naval Support Activity Charleston, originally designated Naval Weapons Station Charleston, is a base of the United States Navy located on the west bank of the Cooper River, in the cities of Goose Creek and Hanahan South Carolina. The base encompasses more than 17,000 acres (69 km²) of land with 10,000 acres (40 km²) of forest and wetlands, 16-plus miles of waterfront, four deep-water piers, 38.2 miles (61.5 km) of railroad and 292 miles (470 km) of road. The current workforce numbers more than 11,000 with an additional 3,600 people in on-base family housing.

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A moored training ship (MTS) is a United States Navy nuclear powered submarine that has been converted to a training ship for the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command's Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) at Naval Support Activity Charleston in South Carolina. The NPTU is part of the Navy's Nuclear Power School at Goose Creek, S.C. The Navy uses decommissioned nuclear submarines and converts them to MTSs to train personnel in the operation and maintenance of submarines and their nuclear reactors. The first moored training ship was USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635) a James Madison-class fleet ballistic missile submarine, redesignated as (MTS-635) in 1989, followed a year later by USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626), a Lafayette-class ballistic missile submarine, redesignated as (MTS-626). Conversion of these two boats took place at the Charleston Naval Shipyard and modifications included special mooring arrangements with a mechanism to absorb power generated by the main propulsion shaft.

References

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  7. About Goose Creek, City of Goose Creek.
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  11. Virkus, Frederick Adams (1942). The Standard Genealogical Encyclopedia of the First Families of America. Vol. VII. Baltimore Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company.
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  14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  16. "Drug Raid At S.C. High School". CBS News. November 7, 2003.
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