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 (pronounced AW-win-daw) is a small town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. It is known as a fishing town. In 2020, about 1,399 people lived there. Awendaw is part of the larger Charleston metropolitan area.
Contents
Awendaw's Story
Awendaw got its name from the Sewee tribe, who were Native Americans. The name "Awendaw" likely means "Red Clay."
Ancient History
The Sewee tribe built an interesting place called an oyster shell mound here. This mound is made of many oyster shells. It is the northernmost shell mound of its kind. Most of it is still there, but some parts were removed to build roads and homes.
Early Settlers
In 1696, people from Salem, Massachusetts, settled here. They had left Salem after the famous Salem Witch Trials. They named their new settlement Wappetaw.
Modern Times
Awendaw became an official town in 1992. Willam H. Alston was elected as the first mayor. He served as mayor until 2009. The town has faced strong storms, like Hurricane Hugo in 1989, which caused a lot of damage. However, it was not as badly hit by Hurricane Gaston in 2004.
The Sewee Mound is an important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
Where is Awendaw?
Awendaw is in the northeastern part of Charleston County. It is located along U.S. Route 17. This highway connects Awendaw to Charleston, which is about 28 miles (45 km) southwest. It also connects to Georgetown, about 32 miles (51 km) northeast.
The town covers a total area of about 17.6 square miles (45.57 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Who Lives in Awendaw?
Awendaw has grown over the years.
| 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 | |||
As of 2020, there were 1,399 people living in Awendaw. There were 514 households and 328 families.
Important Places
Awendaw has some interesting landmarks.
Tall Structures
The WCSC-Tower is a very tall structure in Awendaw. It is one of the tallest constructions in the world. The Media General Tower is also very high, over 600 meters (2,000 feet) tall.
Public Library
The town's public library opened in 2001. It is now called the William H. Alston Municipal Public Library. It is special because it is one of only two public libraries in South Carolina that are run by a town.
Learning in Awendaw
The Charleston County School District manages the public schools in Awendaw.
There are plans to build a new Lincoln High School in Awendaw. The old Lincoln High School in McClellanville closed in 2015. As of 2017, the school district is planning for the new high school on a large piece of land on Doar Road.
Blue Crab Festival
Crabbing is a popular hobby and an important part of Awendaw's economy. Because of this, the town holds a Blue Crab Festival every summer. The town's first mayor, William H. Alston, and his wife, Minnie E. Alston, started this fun festival.
Famous People from Awendaw
- Danielle Howle, a singer-songwriter
- Charlton Singleton, a musician who has won two Grammy awards
See also
In Spanish: Awendaw para niños
