Hardeeville, South Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hardeeville, South Carolina
City
U.S. Highway 17 in Hardeeville
Seal Logo
Location in South Carolina
Hardeeville, South Carolina Location in South Carolina
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
Counties	Beaufort, Jasper
Incorporated	1911
Named for	Being north of Charleston
Area
• City	56.82 sq mi (147.17 km2)
• Land	56.71 sq mi (146.88 km2)
• Water	0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2)
Elevation	26 ft (8 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	7,473
• Estimate  (2022)	10,283
• Density	131.77/sq mi (50.88/km2)
• Metro	228,410 (US: 206th)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	29927 29909 (portions of) 29936 (portions of)
Area code(s)	843 and 854
FIPS code	45-32245
GNIS feature ID	1223032
Sales tax	8.0%

Hardeeville is a city in South Carolina, located in both Jasper and Beaufort counties. In 2020, about 7,473 people lived there. This was a huge increase of over 150% since 2010! Hardeeville is part of the larger Hilton Head Island–Bluffton metropolitan area.

For a long time, Hardeeville was known as the "Lowcountry Host." This was because many hotels and places for travelers were built along U.S. Highway 17 and later Interstate 95. Recently, the city has grown a lot. It has become a place with many new businesses and homes. Between 2010 and 2014, Hardeeville was the fastest-growing city in South Carolina.

Hardeeville's Past: A Look Back at History

Marker indicating the former location of the Purrysburg settlement

The first European settlement in this area was called Purrysburg. It was founded in 1732 by Swiss Huguenots. This settlement was on the Savannah River, a few miles from where Hardeeville is today. Sadly, Purrysburg did not last. Diseases and competition from the growing city of Savannah made it hard for people to stay. Many settlers moved to other places in the Lowcountry. Some went to a new village called Switzerland. Others moved upriver to Augusta, Georgia, or Hamburg, South Carolina.

During the American Civil War, there were some small battles here. The Charleston and Savannah Railway was very important. Union forces wanted to control it. The Battle of Honey Hill happened in late 1864. Southern forces won this battle, protecting the railroad. This was just before General William Sherman marched into South Carolina.

Argent Lumber Company locomotive on display

In the 1800s, Isaac Hardee settled in this area. His son, Whyte William Hardee, helped open a train station and a store. This area became known as "Hardee's Station." Later, in 1911, it was officially named "Hardeeville."

The city became famous for its timber industry. The Argent Lumber Company had one of the biggest logging operations in the world. They even used special narrow-gauge railroads to move logs from swamps. These logs were then sent all over North America. To honor the company, the city received a steam locomotive. It's called Argent Lumber Company Number 7. You can see it on display today.

Hardeeville continued to grow slowly. The timber industry became less active. But new roads like U.S. Route 17 and Interstate 95 brought new businesses. Motels, restaurants, and gas stations opened for travelers. The growth of Hilton Head Island as a resort also helped Hardeeville. Many people who work on Hilton Head Island live in Hardeeville because it's more affordable.

In the early 2000s, Hardeeville started to grow much faster. The city added large areas of undeveloped land. This helped guide new construction into big planned communities. The city limits grew from about 5 square miles (13 km²) in 2000 to over 45 square miles (117 km²) in 2010. Even with a slowdown in building around 2007, Hardeeville kept growing. New businesses and industries have invested in the city. This has helped improve streets, community buildings, and other areas.

Where is Hardeeville? Geography and Location

Hardeeville is located in the southern part of Jasper County. Its exact location is 32°17′2″N 81°4′43″W / 32.28389°N 81.07861°W / 32.28389; -81.07861. In 2010, the city covered about 45.27 square miles (117.25 km²). Most of this area, about 45.16 square miles (116.97 km²), is land. The rest is water. Almost 90% of the city's land was added between 2000 and 2010. This was to make room for large planned communities.

The city is on the Atlantic coastal plain, so it's mostly flat. The average height above sea level is about 20 feet (6.1 m). Most of Hardeeville is in Jasper County. However, a small part of the city extends into Beaufort County. A large part of the city's western side is next to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. This is a big nature preserve along the Savannah River.

Hardeeville's Communities: Exploring Neighborhoods

Even though Hardeeville has a smaller population, it's one of the 10 largest cities in South Carolina by land area. It has a small downtown area. New areas are developing along the U.S. 278 road. Hardeeville has two main population centers: Downtown and New River.

Downtown: Historic Hardeeville

"Downtown" or "Historic Hardeeville" is the older part of the city. It's located between Exits 5 and 8 on I-95. It's also between the interstate and the CSX train tracks. Downtown mostly has one-story houses and one- or two-story apartments. Main Street (S.C. 46) and Whyte Hardee Boulevard (U.S. 17) are where most of the businesses are. Nearby neighborhoods include Car Moorer Acres, Pine Arbor, Heritage Place, Jenny Greeene, and Deerfield Village.

New River: Modern Developments

The "New River" area has large, planned communities. These are mostly along the U.S. 278 and Argent Boulevard roads. Most of Hardeeville's population growth since 2005 has happened in these areas. They were added to the city between 2004 and 2010. These communities include Hilton Head Lakes, Riverton Pointe (formerly Hampton Pointe), Hearthstone Lakes, Latitude Margaritaville, and parts of Sun City Hilton Head. Other places here are the Courtney Bend apartments and Camp Lake Jasper, an RV park.

Hardeeville Life: Culture and Fun

Media: Local News and TV

Hardeeville has a weekly newspaper called Hardeeville Today. It's part of the Savannah Morning News. Other local newspapers are the Jasper County Sun and the Island Packet. The city also has its own public TV channel, HTVN Channel 9. You can watch it on Hargray cable services. Local TV channels usually come from the Savannah area.

Community Places: What's Available

Hardeeville has many places for its residents:

• Hardeeville City Hall
• Hardeeville Museum (inside City Hall)
• Hardeeville Community Library
• Senior Citizens Center
• Coastal Carolina Hospital
• Hardeeville Recreational Park (for sports)
• Hardeeville Veterans Park & Argent Lumber Company Engine 7
• Sgt. Jasper County Park
• The Sarge Disc Golf Course

Festivals and Events: Fun All Year

The city hosts many celebrations throughout the year. These events bring the community together. Some of the most popular ones are:

• Easter Egg Hunt (March/April)
• SC/GA Barbeque Festival (April)
• Relay for Life (April/May)
• 4th off Main (June/July)
• National Night Out (August)
• Catfish Festival (Third weekend in September)
• Christmas Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting (Second Saturday in December)

Sports and Recreation: Stay Active

The city's recreation department offers sports for kids and adults all year. Activities include football, flag football, basketball, softball, soccer, and cheerleading. Most sports events happen at the city's recreation complex. It's located behind City Hall.

The University of South Carolina Beaufort Sand Sharks baseball and softball teams play in Hardeeville. They use the Richard Gray Baseball Complex.

Religion: Places of Worship

Hardeeville has several Christian churches. Most of them are in the downtown area. Other religious groups have places of worship in nearby communities. These include Beaufort, Hilton Head, and Savannah.

Hardeeville's Economy: How the City Works

Downtown Hardeeville has always been the main business area. Businesses for travelers along U.S. 17 mix with local shops on Main Street. Hardeeville has two exits on Interstate 95 (Exit 5 and Exit 8). These are popular stops for travelers. Exit 5 has been around longer and has more businesses. Exit 8 has also seen recent growth. It's also the way to get to the local hospital and a popular county park.

The Hardeeville Industrial Park is a successful business area. It's connected to both roads and train lines. More industrial businesses are growing in other parts of the city. These are especially along Argent Boulevard and Highway 170.

A new project called RiverPort is planned for the city's western and southern edges. It will focus on transportation and port-related industries. A future Exit 3 on Interstate 95 is planned. This will help with traffic and support new industrial growth. New businesses are also planned along the U.S. 278 road.

Hardeeville's People: Demographics

2020 Census Overview

In 2020, there were 7,473 people living in Hardeeville. There were 2,789 households and 1,913 families.

2010 Census Overview

In 2010, Hardeeville had 2,952 people. There were 1,068 households and 693 families. The population density was about 59.4 inhabitants per square mile (22.9/km²). There were 1,292 housing units.

The city's population was made up of different groups. About 43.7% were White. About 34.7% were African American. About 16.1% were from other races. About 28.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. This is one of the highest percentages in South Carolina.

About 29.5% of households had children under 18. About 38.8% were married couples. The average household had 2.76 people. The average family had 3.24 people. About 25.4% of the population was under 18. About 7.9% were 65 or older. The average age was 29.3 years. There were slightly more males than females.

Learning in Hardeeville: Education

Hardeeville has two public schools on its South Campus. These are Hardeeville Elementary (for grades K-5) and Hardeeville-Ridgeland Middle School (for grades 6-8). High school students go to Ridgeland-Hardeeville High School in Ridgeland. This school serves all of Jasper County. More schools are planned for the future.

Many students in the area attend Royal Live Oaks Academy of Arts & Sciences. This is a public charter school. It opened in 2012 and serves grades K-12. Private schools nearby include Thomas Heyward Academy in Ridgeland and St. John Paul II Catholic School in Okatie.

The Hardeeville Community Library serves residents in Hardeeville and southern Jasper County. There are also two colleges near Hardeeville. These are the University of South Carolina Beaufort South Campus and the Technical College of the Lowcountry New River Campus. Both are just outside the city limits.

Getting Around: Transportation in Hardeeville

Hardeeville is an important transportation center. Several major roads pass through the city.

• I-95: This is a major highway that runs north and south along the Eastern Seaboard. Exits 5 and 8 are in Hardeeville. They offer many services for travelers. There's also a South Carolina welcome center here. The highway is planned to be wider in the future. A new Exit 3 is also being planned.
• US 17: This road connects Charleston and Savannah. It runs through Hardeeville for about 15 miles (24 km). It's known as Speedway Boulevard south of I-95. North of I-95, it's called Whyte Hardee Boulevard. U.S. 17 is Exit 5 off I-95.
• US 278: Also called Independence Boulevard, this road connects Hardeeville and I-95 to Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. Many of the city's new developments are along this road. U.S. 278 is Exit 8 off I-95.
• US 321: This road is also known as Deerfield Highway. It's important for trucks heading to the Port of Savannah. It goes north towards Columbia, South Carolina.
• SC 46: Known as Main Street, this road goes eastward from U.S. 321. It passes under I-95 and continues towards Bluffton. It's a more scenic route than U.S. 278.
• SC 170: This road connects Hardeeville with Beaufort and northern Beaufort County. It also connects to Port Wentworth and the northern suburbs of Savannah.

CSX Transportation operates both freight and passenger trains through Hardeeville. However, the trains do not stop in the city. Local public transportation is provided by Palmetto Breeze. This service helps people get around the region.

Utilities: City Services

Since 2005, water and sewer services are provided by the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA). South Carolina Electric and Gas Company (SCE&G) and Palmetto Electric Cooperative supply power. Hargray provides telephone and internet services. Republic Waste handles trash collection.

See also

In Spanish: Hardeeville para niños