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coastal towns
Beaufort,
SC
Bluffton, SC
Brunswick
Islands, NC
Charleston &
its Resort Islands, SC
Conway, SC
Currituck, NC
Edisto Island, SC
Georgetown, SC
Hardeeville, SC
Hilton Head
Island, SC
Jasper
County, SC
Mount
Pleasant, SC
North Myrtle
Beach, SC
Myrtle
Beach, SC
Northeast NC: Edenton, New Bern, Elizabeth City, Hertford
Ocean Isle Beach, NC
Outer Banks, NC
Pawleys
Island/Litchfield, SC
Savannah,
GA
Southport, NC
Summerville, SC
Walterboro, SC
Washington, NC
Whiteville, NC
Wilmington, NC
Books About The
Carolinas
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History, history, everywhere.
That’s what you’ll find in quiet Jasper County. But don’t let the natural beauty
and laid back atmosphere fool you. Here are four primary U.S. highways, three industrial
parks, and progressive leadership – as well as Grahamville Episcopal Church,
circa 1855.
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| Jasper County |
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t’s the first county you enter, traveling up I-95 and leaving Georgia for
the South Carolina Lowcountry. Jasper County is one of South
Carolina’s youngest counties but it’s been home to folks for
hundreds of years.
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riginally, the Yemassee and Coosaw Native American Indians hunted in its live oak and pine forests, and fished in its abundant rivers, which include the Savannah, Tullifinny, Coosawatchie, Pocotaligo and the New River. Next, rice plantations were established by wealthy landowners who embraced sandy soil and fertile growing conditions.
Today, many descendents of those early residents still appreciate the terrain which makes Jasper County such a wonderful area. Sports enthusiasts can pursue deer, turkey, quail, doves, water fowl and other game. Hunt clubs are plentiful and open spaces abundant. The aforementioned rivers are great for freshwater fishing, kayaking, canoeing and exploring. Saltwater fishing and other ocean activities are nearby.
Sergeant Jasper Park includes 132 acres of trails, picnic areas, fishing lakes and soon, overnight RV and tent camping. It’s the rural lifestyle which has attracted folks from all over, as well as families with generations of history in the area. Jasper County is home to a number of small communities including two which are incorporated: Ridgeland (the county seat) and Hardeeville.
Ridgeland grew around a train depot which was established in 1860. It was first named Gopher Hill to acknowledge the burrowing gopher tortoises that inhabited the area (and have become the town’s mascot and symbol). Today, Ridgeland is an active, appealing community, with residents who cherish the small town atmosphere, while embracing the accessibility of larger cities such as Savannah, Beaufort and Hilton Head Island. Encompassing 42 square miles, Ridgeland is poised for growth, which is partly fueled by its proximity to I-95, a major North-South corridor that has been bringing families to the area for many years.
Now, many are considering the appeal of living next to world-class resorts, yet apart, in a more rural nature-friendly environment. Some will choose estate-sized homesites, or perhaps small farms. Others prefer a community, such as Genesis Landing Tract, with its 7,100 acres that is slated to move forward.
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Good Hope Plantation, along with Coles Island and Big Island, make up a nearly 15,000 acre annexation with miles of beautiful, pristine waterfront. The area has been zoned a Conservation Protection District, assuring new residents that their investment will be long-lasting and protected.
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The other incorporated town, Hardeeville, has its own distinctive personality and amenities, including the Millstone Landing, which provides easy access to the Savannah River. Another major water access, the Jasper County Port, is being planned. Set along the Savannah River, it will offer deep water access to accommodate large container ships which are now being built.
A recent announcement of plans for the Crescent Center and Okatie Crossings will offer a combined five million square feet of real estate, creating new dining, shopping and business opportunities for the area. Today, visitors and locals enjoy dining at the Cripple Crab or Crab Daddy’s, among lots of regional and ethnic restaurant choices.
Hardeeville’s Recreation Complex offers activities for all ages. In the spring, state-of-the-art baseball fields host recreational tee ball. In the fall, the football field is busy. This complex was expanded in 2008 to include a senior citizen center, a scoring tower, and a field house, thanks to a $2.5 million contribution from Core Communities, planners of Tradition Hilton Head.
There’s plenty to enjoy about life in Jasper County, including the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. Established in 1927, Savannah NWR lies on both the South Carolina and Georgia sides of the Savannah River, just upriver from Savannah, Georgia. It incorporates 28,168 acres, including bottomland hardwoods and tidal freshwater marshes. Carved from old plantations, the refuge is home to a large variety of wildlife including: ducks, geese, wading birds, shorebirds and several endangered and/or threatened species including bald eagles, wood storks, manatees and shortnose sturgeon.
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The natural environment is fantastic, but when a family craves brighter lights and bigger city charms, Savannah’s River Street is just a 15-minute drive away, with 70 restaurants, shops and art galleries.
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Back at home, two new schools plus higher education from the Technical College of the Lowcountry and USC Beaufort South Campus keep education close by. And Coastal Carolina Hospital makes quality healthcare just minutes away.
“I’ve been up and down this coast during my 27 years in the military,” explains Ken Lenker from his home at Honey Hill, just outside of Ridgeland. He and his wife, Emily, knew they wanted to leave the North and retire in the South. They also wanted to be near military bases for the health care and the shopping.
“We like the Lowcountry and the convenience of being in a rural area without the heavy traffic and congestion. The air is clean here and the skies are bright blue. Ridgeland is an old, small Southern town and we appreciate that, as well as the friendliness of the people here.”
They also appreciate being thirty minutes from Savannah or Hilton Head, and only 20 minutes from Beaufort, where they frequently enjoy watching the boats come and go. Beaufort has great festivals as well, including the Beaufort Water Festival and the Christmas Festival. They take their bikes to Hilton Head and ride on the beach, and they go to Savannah often, with its waterfront and restaurants.
Home is pretty special, though, with their donkeys, Leo and Luigi, and their dog and cat. Their home is located on five-plus acres, and the donkeys have their pasture behind the house. Because the homesites are so large, everyone has a taste of the farm life (and when the donkeys begin to demand their supper, no neighbors are bothered).
“We decided that a community with covenants would protect property values, plus the cost of living in this county is really affordable,” Mr. Lenker says. The couple enjoys traveling, and the neighbors help out by feeding the critters. He works at Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah as a technical writer, and that’s about 40 minutes down the interstate. “We have no traffic,” he laughs. “When we go to Parris Island Marine Corps Base, we pass two traffic lights in 25 miles. This area has seclusion, yet it’s close to entertainment. It’s perfect for us.”
Indeed, many share those same sentiments. Jasper County is a secret worth sharing:
A Lowcountry lifestyle with a generous dose of Southern Hospitality is a great way to live.
Read more
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Katherine Pettit has worked as a writer,
magazine editor, printer and public relations consultant. The Columbia resident
has published more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers. Her writing
explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles, business and management..
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