Charleston is a city of cultivation and Old South charm, acknowledged for over a decade as the "best-mannered city in the U.S." Laid back and genteel, Charleston is a city of grand homes, wrought iron gates, and tree-lined streets. The downtown area, located on the peninsula where the Ashley and Cooper rivers flow into the Atlantic, serves as the business center for the Greater Charleston area (which encompasses three counties and 15 towns/cities, including North Charleston and Folly Beach). The Port of Charleston is one of the busiest in the nation, making the city a center of international trade. Yet the historic cityscape of Charleston is famously low and unobtrusive, unadulterated by high rises or glass towers. Steeples from the city's numerous churches dot the skyline, earning Charleston the nickname "The Holy City."

Established in 1670 by English settlers, "Charles Towne" was named for King Charles II of England. The original settlement was situated west of the Ashley River. Colonists poured in from England, Ireland, and Barbados, as well as the neighboring Virginia colony, enticed by the promises of religious freedom and landed estates. In 1680, the settlement moved across the river and established its Atlantic harbor. With aspirations of emerging as a "great port towne," Charles Towne became the gateway for colonial expansion. The region was contested by France and Spain, who periodically attacked Charles Towne. In addition, Native American tribes (allied with France) harassed Charles Towne with constant attacks, and marauding pirates assaulted its harbor. The colonists built a wall around the settlement in 1713 to aid in Charles Towne's defense. The Old Powder Magazine, a National Historic Landmark, is all that remains today of the fortification.