Goose Creek, South Carolina Facts for Kids

Goose Creek is a lively city in Berkeley County, South Carolina. It's the biggest city in the county. In 2020, about 45,946 people lived there. This makes it the 7th largest city in the whole state. A big part of the Naval Weapons Station Charleston is located in Goose Creek. The city is also part of the larger Charleston metropolitan area.

History of Goose Creek
Geography and Location
Population and People
- Who Lives in Goose Creek?
Military Presence
Police Department
Education in Goose Creek
Notable People from Goose Creek
Images for kids
See also

History of Goose Creek

Even though Goose Creek became an official city in 1961, its story goes back hundreds of years. In the 1670s, the Etiwan people moved to this area. They were trying to escape another tribe called the Westo. They found safety near the early colonial plantations.

The first colonists in this area were often called the "Goose Creek men." They settled near a stream called Goose Creek, which flows into the Cooper River. These "Goose Creek men" became important leaders in the early trade with Native Americans. By the 1690s, many of them held powerful positions in the colonial government.

At first, they mainly traded in Native American slaves. Later, the trade in deerskin became more important. Some colonial governors, like James Moore and Robert Daniell, were from the Goose Creek area. Other important people included brothers Daniel and Pierre Bacot.

Two historic places in Goose Creek are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the Otranto Plantation Indigo Vats and St. James Church.

Geography and Location

Goose Creek is found in the southern part of Berkeley County. It's located at coordinates 33°0′N 80°2′W. To the east, you'll find the Cooper River and the Back River. Parts of the city of Charleston are to the southeast. To the southwest are the cities of Hanahan and North Charleston. The community of Ladson is to the west.

The city covers a total area of about 42.84 square miles (110.95 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 42.35 square miles (109.67 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.49 square miles (1.28 square kilometers), is water.

Population and People

Goose Creek has grown a lot over the years. In 1970, there were only 3,825 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 45,946. In 2023, it was estimated to be around 49,249 people.

Who Lives in Goose Creek?

According to the 2020 census, Goose Creek is a diverse city.

About 58.32% of the people are White (not Hispanic).
Around 21.44% are Black or African American (not Hispanic).
About 3.45% are Asian.
About 9.47% are Hispanic or Latino.
The rest are Native American, Pacific Islander, or people of two or more races.

In 2020, there were 13,924 households in the city. About 10,341 of these were families. The average household had about 2.94 people. Many households, almost 50%, had children under 18 living with them. The median age of people in Goose Creek was 26 years old.

Military Presence

The Charleston area, including Goose Creek, is very important for the United States military. During the Cold War, the Naval Base here was one of the largest U.S. Navy ports. It served over 80 ships and submarines. The Charleston Naval Shipyard also repaired many types of naval vessels.

The Naval Weapons Station was a key base for loading nuclear ballistic missile submarines. It stored and maintained thousands of nuclear warheads and their missiles. These were guarded by U.S. Marines.

In 2010, the Air Force base and the Naval Weapons Station joined together. They formed Joint Base Charleston. This base is huge, covering over 20,877 acres. It supports 53 military commands and federal agencies. It serves over 79,000 military members, civilians, and their families.

Navy in Goose Creek

Several important Navy commands and units are located in or near Goose Creek:

Naval Weapons Station, part of Joint Base Charleston
Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic (NAVWAR)
Naval Nuclear Power Training Command
Nuclear Power School
Nuclear Power Training Unit
Moored Training Nuclear Submarines, like the USS Daniel Webster and USS Sam Rayburn.
Naval Consolidated Brig, Charleston, which is a military prison.
Naval Health Clinic Charleston

Marines in Goose Creek

Marine Corps Reserve Center, located at the Naval Weapons Station.

Army in Goose Creek

South Carolina Army National Guard
Army Reserve Training Center
Various Army Transportation Battalions and Brigades.
Army Strategic Logistics Activity

Police Department

The Goose Creek Police Department is located at the Marguerite H. Brown Municipal Center. This building also houses the City Hall and Municipal Court. The police department is very active in the community. It is a CALEA accredited agency. This means it meets high standards for law enforcement. The department works hard to have a good relationship with the citizens. They use a method called community policing.

Education in Goose Creek

Goose Creek is served by three high schools. Goose Creek High School and Stratford High School are within the city limits. Cane Bay High School is just outside the city. Goose Creek High School is also home to the Berkeley County School of the Arts (BCA) Program. This program offers special training in the arts.

The city also has a public library. It is a branch of the Berkeley County Library System.

Notable People from Goose Creek

Many interesting people have come from Goose Creek:

Madelyn Cline, an actress.
Sean McPherson, a state legislator from South Dakota.
Brandon Shell, an offensive lineman for the New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks in football.
Justin Smoak, a Major League Baseball player.
Matt Wieters, another Major League Baseball player.
Joseph Young, an orchestra conductor.
OsamaSon, an underground rapper.