Goose Creek, South Carolina

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–Summerville Metropolitan Area and the Charleston–North Charleston Urbanized Area.

Goose Creek
City
St. James' Church in Goose Creek
St. James' Church in Goose Creek
Flag of Goose Creek
Flag
Official seal of Goose Creek
Seal
Motto: 
"Small Town Vibe. Big Time Recreation."
Location of Goose Creek, South Carolina
Location of Goose Creek, South Carolina
Coordinates: 33°0′N 80°2′W
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Carolina
CountiesBerkeley
Incorporated1961
Named forA 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)
Elevation
46 ft (14 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total45,946
 • Estimate 
(2022)
47,618
 • Density1,085.01/sq mi (418.93/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
29445
Area code(s)843, 854
FIPS code45-29815[4]
GNIS feature ID1231332[5]
Websitewww.cityofgoosecreek.com

Geography

Goose Creek is located in southern Berkeley County at 33°0′N 80°2′W (32.9955, -80.0289).[7] 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 40.8 square miles (105.8 km2), of which 40.1 square miles (103.8 km2) is land and 0.77 square miles (2.0 km2), or 1.88%, is water.[8]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19703,825—
198017,811365.6%
199024,69238.6%
200029,20818.3%
201035,93823.0%
202045,94627.8%
2022 (est.)47,618[6]3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9][3]

2020 census
Goose Creek racial composition[10]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 26,795 58.32%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 9,850 21.44%
Native American 176 0.38%
Asian 1,585 3.45%
Pacific Islander 59 0.13%
Other/Mixed 3,132 6.82%
Hispanic or Latino 4,349 9.47%

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.

History

Although the city of Goose Creek was established in 1961,[11] 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.[12][13][14] Other prominent men included brothers Daniel and Pierre Bacot.[15]

The Otranto Plantation Indigo Vats and St. James Church are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[16]

Armed forces

Portions of the Charleston, South Carolina 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
  • Marine Corps Reserve Center, Naval Weapons Station

Army
  • South Carolina Army National Guard
  • Army Reserve Training Center
  • 841st Army Transportation Battalion
  • 1182nd Army Deployment & Distribution Support Battalion
  • 1189th Army Transportation Brigade, Reserve Support Command
  • Army Strategic Logistics Activity
  • Joint Base Charleston
    Joint Base Charleston
  • United States Marine Corps
    United States Marine Corps
  • SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic
    SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic
  • The 437 Airlift Wing
    The 437 Airlift Wing
  • The 315 Airlift Wing
    The 315 Airlift Wing
  • The 1st Combat Camera Squadron
    The 1st Combat Camera Squadron
  • The 412 Flight Test Squadron
    The 412 Flight Test Squadron
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

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.[17]

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.[18]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "Darius Rucker's Favorite South Carolina Adventures". discoversouthcarolina.com. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  2. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  3. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Goose Creek city, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Goose Creek city, South Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  11. About Goose Creek, City of Goose Creek.
  12. Oatis, Steven J. (2004). A colonial complex: South Carolina's frontiers in the era of the Yamasee War, 1680–1730. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-3575-5.
  13. Overview of the History of Goose Creek, City of Goose Creek.
  14. Smith, Henry A. M. (1928). "Goose Creek". The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine. 29: 1–25, 71–96, 167–92, 265–79. ISSN 0148-7825.
  15. Virkus, Frederick Adams (1942). The Standard Genealogical Encyclopedia of the First Families of America. Vol. VII. Baltimore Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company.
  16. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  17. "Drug Raid At S.C. High School". CBS News. November 7, 2003.
  18. "South Carolina libraries and archives". SCIWAY. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
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