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Interstate 26

Interstate 26

Interstate 26 (abbreviated I-26) is an interstate highway in the southeastern United States. It goes from Kingsport, Tennessee at the Tennessee-Virginia border to Charleston, South Carolina at the Septima Clark Expressway. The section from Asheville to Colonial Heights was opened in September 2003, and included half of Interstate 181 from Colonial Heights to Johnson City, Tennessee, and the western half of Interstate 240 in Asheville. The State of Tennessee had wanted to rename all of I-181, and in August 2005 achieved their goal with a bill in the United States Senate by Tennessee Senator and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. The highway now includes all of the former Interstate 181 through Tennessee. Like U.S. Highway 52 before it, Interstate 26 runs northwest-southeast. Unlike US 52, I-26 goes directly northwest from Charleston, rather than jogging around.

Length

Intersections with other Interstates

- Interstate 81 in Colonial Heights, Tennessee
- Interstate 40 in Asheville, North Carolina
- Interstate 85 in Spartanburg, South Carolina
- Interstate 20 in Columbia, South Carolina
- Interstate 77 in Columbia, South Carolina
- Interstate 95 near Harleyville, South Carolina ([http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Harleyville,+South+Carolina&ll=33.288064,-80.473480&spn=0.516927,0.720154&hl=en Map])

3di Routes

Notes

This is a diagonal Interstate that goes northwest-to-southeast, even though it is signed west-to-east. With the recent extensions, it actually goes much further north and south than east and west, however there are no real logical north-south numbers available. Because of the awkward numbering, the mile-log numbers for each exit were increased by 30 or 31 in North Carolina. Small green signs attached to the top of the large green signs indicate what the old number was. Oddly, the part that it shares with I-240 has not had the numbers changed yet, as of September 2004, a year after the opening, although most of the markers now indicate I-26 instead of I-240. The old divided highway which makes up the southern half of the extension is marked with an extra FUTURE sign above (and in the same style as) the EAST and WEST signs, probably indicating that it has not yet been upgraded to full AASHTO standards for Interstate highways. Shoulders remain substandard or nonexistant along short sections of the route. Exit numbers in Tennessee are numbered backwards, going from east to west. This exit numbering will eventually flip-flop to the correct way sometime in 2005 or 2006. The major roadblock preventing this flip-flop was the I-181 issue. With the issue resolved the change will likely come soon. However, this is not the first precedent in North America for backwards exit numbering - another example is Highway 417 in Ontario, Canada. Some have called for an extension of I-26 northward across the Virginia state line to meet up with a potential I-66 extension in Kentucky, however that is not on the immediate plans. It would continue to follow Corridor B of the Appalachian Development Highway System.

Reference

- 2005 Rand McNally "The Road Atlas 2005" - newest feature- interstate mileage by state 26 26 26 26

Interstate Highway

The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly called the Interstate Highway System, is a network of highways in the United States. The Interstate Highway System is a separate system within the larger National Highway System. With very few exceptions, Interstate highways are controlled-access freeways, allowing for safe high-speed driving when traffic permits. They are assigned a special level of funding at the federal level. Despite this federal funding, these highways are owned, designed, built and maintained by the state in which they are located, with the only exception being the federally-owned Woodrow Wilson Bridge on the Capital Beltway (I-95/I-495). The highways in the system are typically known as Interstate XX or I-XX; sometimes Interstate Highway XX (IH XX) or Interstate Route XX (IR XX) is used. In some areas the more generic Route XX or Highway XX is used. The system serves all major U.S. cities, and unlike its counterparts in most industrialized countries, often goes right through downtown areas rather than bypassing them. This facilitated the emergence of automobile-oriented postwar suburban development patterns, often pejoratively referred to as "urban sprawl". The system is prominent in the daily lives of most Americans. Virtually all goods and services are delivered via the Interstate Highways at some point. Many residents of American cities use the urban segments of the system to go to and from their jobs. Most long-distance journeys (for vacation or business) of less than 300 miles (500 km) use the interstate highway system at some point. Hawaii has several signed Interstates, but Alaska and Puerto Rico do not. The latter two do have roads designated as Interstates for funding purposes, but they are not currently or planned to be built to Interstate standards. The public controlled-access highways of Puerto Rico are the Autopistas (PR-22, PR-52, and PR-53).

History

Autopistas The interstate system was authorized by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, popularly known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act of 1956. It was lobbied for by major U.S. automobile manufacturers and championed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and was influenced by both his experiences as a young soldier crossing the country in 1919 following the route of the Lincoln Highway, and by his appreciation of the German autobahn network. Planning for a system of new superhighways began in the late 1930s, even before federal commitment to build the Interstate highway system came in the 1950s. Construction on the world's first public limited-access highway, the Bronx River Parkway, had begun in New York as early as 1907. By the 1920s, longer highways such as the New York City parkway system had been built as part of local or state highway systems. As automotive traffic increased, planners saw a need for such an interconnected national system to supplement the existing, largely non-freeway, U.S. Highway system.The General location of national system of interstate highways, including all additional routes at urban areas designated in September, 1955 maps what became the interstate system, and is informally known as the Yellow Book. Although construction on the Interstate Highway system continues, it was officially regarded as complete in 1991 (though 1.5 miles of the original planned system remain unconstructed as of 2005 [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/interstate.html]). The initial cost estimate for the system was $25 billion over twelve years; it ended up costing $114 billion, taking 35 years to complete. As of 2004, the system contains over 42,700 miles (68,500 km) of roads, all at least four lanes wide.

Standards

:Main article: Interstate Highway standards The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has defined a set of standards that all new Interstates must meet unless a waiver from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is obtained. These standards have become stricter over the years. One almost absolute standard is the controlled access nature of the roads. Except for a few exceptions, traffic lights (and cross traffic in general) are limited to toll booths and ramp meters (metered flow control for lane merging during rush hours).

Speed limits

Speed limits vary according to location. By initial planning, the Interstate system was designed to provide reasonable road safety at speeds of 75 to 80 miles per hour (120 to 130 km/h) except in limited stretches (such as steep mountain passes or urban cores) where many vehicles cannot maintain such speeds. Many western states had high speed limits. Kansas, for example, had a posted limit of 80 mph (130 km/h)[http://people.smu.edu/acambre/blog/PermaLink,guid,5575625c-bbd4-47a3-be9f-9d5517d3a06f.aspx]. Some states, such as Oregon, defined the limit as whatever was "reasonable and proper", which would not be allowed today (see Montana reference below). In 1974, the federal government enacted 55 mph (90 km/h) as a gasoline conservation measure in response to the 1973 energy crisis. After the end of the embargo this restriction was continued as a safety measure. It was very unpopular, especially in western states. The 55 mph cap was relaxed in 1987 to allow 65 mph (105 km/h) speeds on rural Interstates if the states so chose. During this interim period, some roads (such as I-335 in Kansas) were specifically designated as Interstates to take advantage of this higher speed limit. Shortly thereafter, 65 mph limits were allowed on roads not numbered as interstates but which were built to interstate standards. The 55/65 mph caps were eliminated in late 1995, fully returning speed limit control to the states. Many states maintain several different limits. For example, in California, most interstates are limited to 55 mph within a major city, 65 mph (105 km/h) for most of the suburban highway stretches, and up to 70 mph (115 km/h) throughout the desert and rural stretches of the state. In some states, commercial trucks have a lower speed limit than passenger automobiles. In some mountainous regions, the condition of the roadway mandates a lower speed limit than would otherwise have applied. While some states have maintained the 65 mph limit, other states have increased the limits to 70 or 75 mph (110 or 120 km/h). Generally, the highest speed limits are found in the South and Southwest, while the lowest are found in the Northeast. Soon after the end of the National Maximum Speed Limit, the state of Montana ended daytime speed limits for automobile traffic on Interstate Highways in the state, instead instructing motorists to maintain a "reasonable and prudent" speed. A few years later, the "reasonable and prudent" law was declared unconstitutional for being too vague and a limit of 75 mph (120 km/h) was enacted in its place. Texas recently enacted a law allowing 80 MPH speed limits on certain portions of Interstates 10 and 20 in far west Texas. However, these limits are on hold pending further study by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Dual-purpose design

In addition to being designed to support automobile and heavy truck traffic, interstate highways are also designed for use in military and civil defense operations within the United States, particularly troop movements. One potential civil defense use of the Interstate Highway System is for the emergency evacuation of cities in the event of a potential nuclear war. Although this use has never happened, the Interstate Highway System has been used to facilitate evacuations in the face of hurricanes and other natural disasters. An option for maximizing throughput is to reverse the flow of traffic on one side so that all lanes become outbound lanes. This procedure is known as Contraflow, and could be seen in the evacuations of New Orleans, Louisiana and Houston, Texas prior to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, respectively. Several Interstates in the South, including I-16 in Georgia, I-40 in North Carolina, I-65 in Alabama, I-10 & I-59 in Louisiana, and I-59 in Mississippi, are equipped and signed specifically for contraflow, with crossovers inland after major interchanges to distribute much of the traffic. This is however not limited to Interstates; US 49 from Gulfport to Jackson and State Road 528, in Central Florida, have the same setup. A widespread but false urban legend states that one out of every five miles of the Interstate highway system must be built straight and flat, so as to be usable by aircraft during times of war.[http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/mayjun00/onemileinfive.htm] However, the Germans in World War II used the Autobahns for just such a purpose.

Terminology

While the name implies that these highways cross state lines, many Interstates do not. Rather, it is the system of interstates that connects states. There are interstate highways in Hawaii, funded in the same way as in the other states, but entirely within the populous island of Oahu. They have the designation of H-X, and connect military bases. Similarly, both Alaska and Puerto Rico have public roads that receive funding from the Interstate program, though these routes are not signed as Interstate Highways.

Primary routes

The numbering scheme for the Interstate Highway System (as well as the U.S. Highway System) is coordinated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), though their authority is occasionally trumped by a number written into Federal law. Within the continental United States, primary Interstates (also called main line Interstates or two-digit Interstates) are given one- or two-digit route numbers. Most Interstates have two numbers; there are only three one-digit Interstates in the system: I-4, I-5 and I-8. Within this category, east-west highways are assigned even numbers, and north-south highways are assigned odd-numbers. Odd route numbers increase from west to east, and even numbered routes increase from south to north. Numbers divisible by 5 are intended to be primary routes, carrying traffic long distances. For example, I-5 runs from Canada to Mexico along the west coast (the only interstate to do so) while I-95 runs from Miami north to Canada. In addition, I-10 runs from Los Angeles, California to Jacksonville, Florida while I-90 runs from Seattle to Boston. However, not all primary routes traverse long distances. I-45 runs from Galveston, Texas north to Dallas, Texas, a distance of only 284 miles. It is the only primary route that does not cross state lines (see List of intrastate Interstate Highways). It should be noted that I-50 and I-60 do not exist (and there are no even-numbered Interstates between 46 and 62), mainly because they would most likely have passed through the same states that already have US 50 and US 60. AASHTO rules discourage Interstate and US Highways with the same number to exist in the same state, although I-24 and US 24 exist at opposite ends of Illinois. Some planned Interstates do not follow this guideline - I-69 will enter Texas (which has US 69), I-74 will have a multiplex with US 74 in North Carolina, and I-41 will do the same with US 41 in Wisconsin. Several two-digit numbers are shared between two roads at opposite ends of the country, namely I-76, I-84, I-86 and I-88. Some of these were the result of a change in the numbering system in the 1970s; previously letter-suffixed numbers were used for long spurs off primary routes; for example, western I-84 was I-80N, as it went north from I-80. In the 1970s, AASHTO decided to eliminate these; some became additional two-digit routes, while others became three-digit routes (see below). Only two pairs of these exist; I-35 splits into I-35W and I-35E through both the Dallas-Fort Worth and the Minneapolis-St. Paul areas. Strict adherence to the directional nature of the system results in some amusing oddities. For a ten-mile stretch east of Wytheville, Virginia, the driver can be traveling on both North I-81 and South I-77 at the same time (and vice versa) (see also Wrong-way multiplex). For the sake of efficiency, some Interstates double up for short or sometimes long distances, as in the example above. Another notable example are Interstates I-90 and I-94, which double and then separate several times as they criss-cross the upper Midwest and Great Plains.

Three-digit Interstates

Three-digit route numbers, consisting of a single digit prefixed to the number of a primary Interstate highway, are used to designate usually short spur or loop routes from their "parent" route, either directly or via another three-digit Interstate. A route that spurs from its parent and ends at an intersection with no other Interstates is given an odd first digit; a route that returns to its parent is given an even first digit. The number given to the first digit of a route that spurs from the parent and ends at another Interstate depends on the state; some consider these routes spurs and give them odd numbers, while others consider them loop-style connectors and give them even numbers. For instance, I-90 in New York has a full set of three-digit Interstates - I-190, I-290, I-390, I-490, I-590, I-690, I-790, I-890 and I-990. Due to the large number of these routes, they can be repeated in different places along the mainline; no two three-digit Interstates in the same state can share a number. The Minneapolis-St. Paul area has a single loop around the entire Metro area. I-94 intersects the loop in two spots and runs directly through it separating it into a northern and southern half. The southern half of it is labeled I-494 while the northern half of it is labeled I-694. Charlotte, North Carolina has a single loop around the city that intersects with both I-77 and I-85, but the entire loop is known as I-485. The Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area has several spur routes off of I-95. The area has I-195, I-295, I-495, I-795 and I-895. It also has two routes numbered I-395 (in Baltimore and Washington) and two I-695s (one is signed, the other is a secret designation), as well as an unsigned route called I-595. No I-995 exists anywhere. New York City has numerous spur routes off of I-78 and I-95, but none of I-78's spur routes actually intersect with I-78. A three-digit spur off a letter-suffixed two-digit Interstate (see above) was given a number without a letter suffix, except for one case - I-184 in Idaho was I-180N.

Exceptions

:Main article: List of gaps in Interstate Highways Interstate 238 near Oakland, California is one of two major exceptions to the numbering scheme, as no Interstate 38 exists. This number exists because Interstate 238 replaced a segment of California Highway 238, and no appropriate number was available. The other exception is I-99 in Pennsylvania, which was written into law as I-99 by Pennsylvania Congressman Bud Shuster; I-99 (which is also U.S. Highway 220) is west of several Interstates that are numerically less than 99, and was the nearest available unused two-digit number. Some proposed future Interstate routes have been given similarly non-conforming designations by their legislative proponents. For example, backers of the proposed Third Infantry Division Highway, a route in Georgia and Tennessee, have suggested it be named Interstate 3, in honor of the division for which the highway is named [http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-003.html].

Other notable examples

- I-82 lies fully north of I-84, but I-84 was I-80N when I-82 got its number.
- I-85 diverts west of I-75 (intersecting it near Atlanta, Georgia) The following two-digit Interstates change signed direction from their normal (even=east-west, odd=north-south) direction:
- I-69
- I-76 (west) Two-digit interstates in Hawaii, as well as the "paper" interstates of Alaska and Puerto Rico, are numbered sequentially in order of funding, without regard to the rules on odd and even numbers. Business Loop and Business Spur Interstates are not subject to any of the Interstate standards. Their designation is simple - a Business Loop heads into a downtown area from its parent and returns to its parent; a Business Spur ends downtown, occasionally continuing from the end of the main Interstate. Business routes can split from either two- or three-digit Interstates, and can be repeated within a state. In a few cases, where an Interstate has been realigned, the old road has been designated a Business Loop because it is not up to standards.

Financing

About 72% ([http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/ohim/hs03/htm/hf10.htm 2003 FHWA summary]) of the construction and maintenance costs are funded through user fees, primarily gasoline taxes, collected by states and the federal government, and tolls collected on toll roads and bridges. The rest of the costs come out of the federal budget. In the eastern United States, large sections of some Interstate Highways planned or built prior to 1956 are operated as toll roads. The taxes dedicated to the construction and maintenance of highways are often criticized as a direct subsidy from the government to promote and maintain auto-oriented development as we know it today. The dominant role of the federal government in road finance has enabled it to pass laws in areas outside of the powers enumerated in the federal Constitution. By threatening to withhold highway funds, the federal government has been able to force state legislatures to pass a variety of laws. Examples include increasing the legal drinking age to 21, for a number of years reducing the maximum speed limit to 55 miles per hour, passing Megan's Law legislation, lowering the legal intoxication level to 0.08/1000, and other laws. This has proved to be controversial. Those who support this feel that it is a way to provide an impetus to states to pass uniform legislation. Others feel that using highway dollars in this fashion upsets the balance between federal and states' rights in favor of the federal government, and effectively holds funds as ransom in order to coerce state governments into passing laws that would not have otherwised been introduced. As American suburbs push ever outward, the costs incurred of maintaining freeway infrastructure has started to catch up with the economy, leaving little in the way of funds for new interstate construction. This has led to the proliferation of the toll road (turnpike) as the new method of building limited-access highways in suburban areas. Also, some interstates are being privately maintained now (VMS in Texas, I-35) in order to cut rising costs of maintenance and allow state departments of transportation to focus on serving the fastest growing regions in their respective states. The future of the interstate system as we know it is in question. It is entirely possible that parts of the system will have to be tolled in the future to meet maintenance and expansion demands, as is done with adding toll HOV/HOT lanes in certain cities like Minneapolis, Houston, Dallas, and Washington D.C.

Non-chargeable Interstate routes

In addition to Interstate highways financed with federal funds (Chargeable Interstate routes), federal laws allow other highways to be signed as Interstates, if they meet the Interstate Highway standards and that they are logical additions or connections to the System. Called Non-Chargeable Interstate routes, these additions fall under two categories: # Routes that already meet Interstate standards. They can immediately be signed as Interstates once their proposed number is approved. # Routes designated as a future part of the system once they are upgraded to Interstate standards. Until then, it cannot be signed as an Interstate yet.

Signage

dollar Interstate Highways are signed by a number on a red, white and blue sign as shown to the right. In the original design, the state was formerly listed above the highway number, but in many states, this area is now left blank. The sign itself measures 36 inches high, and is 36 inches wide for two-digit interstates, or 45 inches for three-digit interstates. Business Loop and Business Spur Interstates use a special shield where the red and blue are replaced with green; the word BUSINESS appears instead of INTERSTATE, and the word SPUR or LOOP usually appears above the number. The majority of Interstates have exit numbers. All traffic signs and lane markings on the Interstates are supposed to be designed in compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). However, there are many local and regional variations in signage. The state of California is now adapting to an exit numbering system after many years as being the only state in the country that did not use such a system. In most states, the exit numbers correspond to the mileage markers on the Interstates (with an exception being I-19 in Arizona, whose length is measured in kilometers instead of miles). Many northeastern states label exit numbers sequentially, regardless of how many miles have passed between exits. On even-numbered Interstates, mileage increases to the east and decreases to the west; and on odd-numbered Interstates, mileage increases to the north and decreases to the south. In both cases, the exit numbers increase and decrease accordingly.

Interstate oddities

- Vinita, Oklahoma — A McDonalds is built over the top of Interstate 44. It goes from one side of the interstate to the other, passing over the interstate. Customers can sit inside and eat while traffic drives beneath them. It is also purported to be the "world's largest".
- Kearney, Nebraska — The Great Platte River Road Archway Museum is built over top of Interstate 80. The 1,500 ton structure spans 308 feet across the interstate and houses a museum dedicated to frontier culture.
- Reno, Nevada — A Walgreens store sits on top of a segment of Interstate 80 in downtown Reno.
- Newton, Massachusetts — A Star Market supermarket is built over the top of Interstate 90. Traffic reporters refer to this point on the highway as the "Star Market overpass".
- Newton, Massachusetts — A Sheraton hotel is built over the top of Interstate 90.
- Boston, Massachusetts — The Prudential Tower in downtown Boston is built over top of Interstate 90 as well. A less known fact about Interstate 90 is that it is built over what used to be the largest railroad corridor in New England; photos from the 1950s show huge rail yards where I-90 now comes into the city. Many of the oddities on I-90 are the result of deals struck by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, Perini Corporation (which constructed the majority of the highway), and existing buildings at the time of construction. In return for not obstructing the highway project, the MTA went to lengths such as preserving the aforementioned Star Market.
- Atlanta, Georgia — The Civic Center MARTA station is located over the Downtown Connector (Interstate 75/85) at West Peachtree Street, making it the only subway station built over an Interstate highway.
- Illinois — The Illinois Tollway oasis is a type of rest area which spans the top of the interstate highway it is on. There are seven of them which are on the Tri-State Tollway (Interstates 80, 94 & 294), Northwest Tollway (Interstate 90) and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (Interstate 88). Customers are able to sit inside the Oases and eat while traffic goes by beneath them. This type of development is common in the UK.
- Seattle, Washington — The [http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/parkspaces/FreewayPark.htm Seattle Freeway Park] sits on top of Interstate 5 (NB and SB, including HOV express lanes). The park is connected to the [http://www.wsctc.com Washington State Convention Center] connecting downtown to the [http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/tour/capitol.htm Capitol Hill] and First Hill districts (locally, First Hill is also known as "Pill Hill" as this is Seattle's medical district). The park is multi-level and as such, there are areas where visitors are able to watch traffic pass by.
- Breezewood, Pennsylvania — There is a sign of a policeman pointing at you saying, "You! Slow Down!" You then have to drive a few blocks on US 30 before returning to I-70. This is a rare instance of a traffic light on an interstate.
- Jersey City, New Jersey — Interstate 78 follows a pair of one-way streets for a short distance between the Newark Bay Extension of the New Jersey Turnpike and the Holland Tunnel, which leads into New York City. Along with the aforementioned I-70, this is the only other primary interstate with traffic lights.

Criticism

In addition to the various economic issues, the system has roused criticism on aesthetic grounds. The efficiency and faster speeds of the system, made possible in part by engineering techniques that often tend to cut through the land rather than merely following it as with the older U.S. Highway, have inevitably resulted in a safer but less-scenic drive. When the cross-country I-40 was finally finished in the late 1980s, by completing the segment between Raleigh, North Carolina and Wilmington, North Carolina, Charles Kuralt stated, "It is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything!"

References

# 65 MPH Approved for Route, Wichita Eagle-Beacon, October 24, 1987 # Field, David. "On 40th birthday, interstates face expensive midlife crisis." Insight on the News, 29 July 1996, 40-42.

External links

- [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/programadmin/interstate.html Interstate Highway information]
- [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/routefinder/index.htm FHWA Route Log and Finder List]
- [http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/septoct00/urban.htm FHWA Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center] - Analysis and History of Interstate Highway System
- [http://www.kurumi.com/roads/3di/ 3-digit Interstate Highways]
- [http://www.aaroads.com/ Pictures of all Interstates]
- [http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=88 One] of 100 milestone documents of American history
- Federal Highway Administration's [http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/summer96/p96su10.htm article on the act]
- Fortune magazine on [http://www.fortune.com/fortune/fortune500/articles/0,15114,574088,00.html history of the Interstate Highway System]
- [http://www.geocities.com/michelleskinnerfreeway Another great Interstate Page], with facts on all 2-digit Interstates and links to their exit lists
- [http://www.ajfroggie.com/triskele Highway Heaven] Contains exit lists for most Interstate highways
- [http://www.triskele.com/fonts/index.html RoadGeek] - A complete set of TrueType fonts for simulating Interstate and other highway signage ja:ドワイト・デーヴィッド・アイゼンハワー全米州間国防高速道路網

Kingsport, Tennessee

Kingsport is a city located in Sullivan County, Tennessee. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 44,905.

History

Initially chartered in 1917, Kingsport was the first city with a modern urban design and among the first municipalities with a city manager form of government and a school system built on a model developed at Columbia University. It is a very industrialized city dominated by the Eastman Chemical company.

Geography

Eastman Chemical Kingsport is located at 36°32'13" North, 82°32'32" West (36.536851, -82.542123). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 116.6 km² (45.0 mi²). 114.1 km² (44.1 mi²) of it is land and 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.07% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 44,905 people, 19,662 households, and 12,642 families residing in the city. The population density is 393.4/km² (1,018.9/mi²). There are 21,796 housing units at an average density of 191.0/km² (494.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 93.32% White, 4.22% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 19,662 households out of which 26.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% are married couples living together, 12.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% are non-families. 32.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.22 and the average family size is 2.80. In the city the population is spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 79.6 males. The median income for a household in the city is $30,524, and the median income for a family is $40,183. Males have a median income of $33,075 versus $23,217 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,549. 17.1% of the population and 14.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.9% of those under the age of 18 and 13.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Culture and Recreation

Bays Mountain Park

Bays Mountain Park is a 3000 acre, city-owned nature preserve located atop Bays Mountain.

Other

The local newspaper is the Kingsport Times-News. The vessel SS Kingsport Victory, which later became USNS Kingsport, was named in honor of the city. The town hosts the Kingsport Mets baseball club of the Appalachian League.

Notable Kingsport Residents

- Bobby Dodd, College Football Hall of Fame inductee as both a football player (University of Tennessee) and coach (Georgia Institute of Technology).
- Brownie McGhee and Stick McGhee, brothers and blues musicians, grew up in Kingsport and other east Tennessee towns.

External links

- [http://www.discoverkingsport.com DiscoverKingsport.com] All About Kingsport and its history.
- [http://ci.kingsport.tn.us/ Official site]
- [http://www.kingsport.org/ A satirical take on life in Kingsport and the Tri-Cities]
- [http://www.timesnews.net Kingsport Times-News website]
- [http://www.baysmountain.com Bays Mountain Park website]
- [http://www.sullivan-county.com/sullivan.htm Report on Sullivan County] Category:Cities in Tennessee Category:Hawkins County, Tennessee

Charleston, South Carolina

For other uses, see Charleston. Charleston is a city in the counties of Berkeley and Charleston in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The city was founded as Charlestown or Charles Towne, Carolina in 1670, and moved to its present location in 1680. Up until 1800, Charleston was the fifth largest city in North America, behind Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, and Quebec City. It adopted its present name in 1783. Also known as The Holy City, or Chucktown, Charleston brims with the culturally unique, such as the joggling board. As of 2005, the Census Bureau estimated the population of the city proper as 110,483, a 13.8% growth over the population as of the 2000 census. Current trends puts Charleston as the fastest growing city in South Carolina. Reports estimate that Charleston will probably overtake Columbia's small lead by no later than 2015. The metropolitan area of Charleston and North Charleston had a population of about 600,434, 72nd largest in the country. The city of Charleston is located roughly at the mid-point of South Carolina's coastline, at the junction of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. Charleston's name is derived from Charles Town, named after King Charles II of England. Charleston is the location of Fort Moultrie, which was instrumental in delivering a critical defeat to the British in the American Revolutionary War, and Fort Sumter, the reputed site of the "first shot" of the American Civil War.

History

Early history of Charleston

After Charles II of England was restored to the English throne, he granted the chartered Carolina territory to eight of his loyal friends, known as the Lords Proprietor, in 1663. It took seven years before the Lords could arrange for settlement, the first being that of Charles Town. The community was established by English settlers in 1670 across the Ashley River from the city's current location. It was soon chosen by Anthony Ashley-Cooper, one of the Lords Proprietor, to become a "great port towne," a destiny which the city fulfilled. By 1680, the settlement had grown, joined by others from England, Barbados, and Virginia, and relocated to its current peninsular location. The capital of the Carolina colony, Charleston was the center for further expansion and the southernmost point of English settlement during the late 1600s. The settlement was often subject to attack from sea and from land. Periodic assaults from Spain and France, who still contested England's claims to the region, were combined with resistance from Native Americans as well as pirate raids. Charleston's colonists erected a fortification wall around the small settlement to aid in its defense. The only building to remain from the Walled City is the Powder Magazine, where the city's supply of gun powder was stored. A 1680 plan for the new settlement, the Grand Modell, laid out "the model of an exact regular town," and the future for the growing community. Land surrounding the intersection of Meeting and Broad Streets was set aside for a Civic Square. Over time it became known as the Four Corners of the Law, referring to the various arms of governmental and religious law presiding over the square and the growing city. St. Michael's Episcopal, Charleston's oldest and most noted church, was built on the southeast corner in 1752. The following year the Capitol of the colony was erected across the square. Because of its prominent position within the city and its elegant architecture, the building signaled to Charleston's citizens and visitors its importance within the British colonies. Provincial court met on the ground floor, the Commons House of Assembly and the Royal Governor's Council Chamber met on the second floor. While the earliest settlers primarily came from England, colonial Charleston was also home to a mixture of ethnic and religious groups. In colonial times, Boston, Massachusetts and Charleston were sister cities, and people of means spent summers in Boston and winters in Charleston. There was a great deal of trade with Bermuda and the Caribbean, and some people came to live in Charleston from these areas. French, Scottish, Irish and Germans migrated to the developing seacoast town, representing numerous Protestant denominations, as well as Catholicism and Judaism. Sephardic Jews migrated to the city in such numbers that Charleston became one of the largest Jewish communities in North America. The Jewish Coming Street Cemetery, first established in 1762, attests to their long-standing presence in the community. The first Anglican church, St. Philip's Episcopal, was built in 1682, although later destroyed by fire and relocated to its current location. Slaves also comprised a major portion of the population, and were active in the city's religious community. Free black Charlestonians and slaves helped establish the Old Bethel United Methodist Church in 1797, and the congregation of the Emanuel A.M.E. Church stems from a religious group organized solely by African Americans, free and slave, in 1791. The first American museum opened to the public on January 12, 1773 in Charleston. By the mid-18th century Charleston had become a bustling trade center, and the wealthiest and largest city south of Philadelphia. By 1770 it was the fourth largest port in the colonies, after only Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, with a population of 11,000, slightly more than half of that slaves. Rice and indigo had been successfully cultivated by gentleman planters in the surrounding coastal lowcountry. Those and naval stores were exported in an extremely profitable shipping industry. It was the cultural and economic center of the South. From the mid-18th century a large amount of immigration was taking place in the upcountry of the Carolinas, some of it coming from abroad through Charleston, but also much of it a southward movement from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, until the upstate population was larger than the coastal population. The upstaters were not as polished in many ways, and had different interests, setting the stage for several generations of conflicts between upstate and the Charleston elite.

After the United States Declaration of Independence

As the relationship between the colonists and England deteriorated, Charleston became a focal point in the ensuing Revolution. In protest of the Tea Act of 1773, which embodied the concept of taxation without representation, Charlestonians confiscated tea and stored it in the Exchange and Custom House. Representatives from all over the colony came to the Exchange in 1774 to elect delegates to the Continental Congress, the group responsible for drafting the Declaration of Independence; and South Carolina declared its independence from the crown on the steps of the Exchange. Soon, the church steeples of Charleston, especially St. Michael's, became targets for British war ships causing rebel forces to paint the steeples black to blend with the night sky. A siege on the city in 1776 was successfully defended by William Moultrie from Sullivan's Island, but by 1780 Charleston came under British control for two and a half years. After the British retreated in December 1782, the city's name was officially changed to Charleston. By 1788, Carolinians were meeting at the Capitol building for the Constitutional Ratification Convention, and while there was support for the Federal Government, division arose over the location of the new State Capital. A suspicious fire broke out in the Capitol building during the Convention, after which the delegates removed to the Exchange and decreed Columbia the new State Capital. By 1792, the Capitol had been rebuilt and became the Charleston County Courthouse. Upon its completion, the city possessed all the public buildings necessary to be transformed from a colonial capital to the center of the antebellum South. But the grandeur and number of buildings erected in the following century reflect the optimism, pride, and civic destiny that many Charlestonians felt for their community. As Charleston grew, so did the community's cultural and social opportunities, especially for the elite merchants and planters. The first theater building in America was built in Charleston in 1736, but was later replaced by the 19th-century Planter's Hotel where wealthy planters stayed during Charleston's horse-racing season (now the Dock Street Theatre). Benevolent societies were formed by several different ethnic groups: the South Carolina Society, founded by French Huguenots in 1737; the German Friendly Society, founded in 1766; and the Hibernian Society, founded by Irish immigrants in 1801. The Charleston Library Society was established in 1748 by some wealthy Charlestonians who wished to keep up with the scientific and philosophical issues of the day. This group also helped establish the College of Charleston in 1770, the oldest college in South Carolina and the 13th oldest in the United States. Charleston became more prosperous in the plantation-dominated economy of the post-Revolutionary years. The invention of the cotton gin in 1793 revolutionized this crop's production, and it quickly became South Carolina's major export. Cotton plantations relied heavily on slave labor. Slaves were also the primary labor force within the city, working as domestics, artisans, market workers or laborers. Many black Charlestonians spoke Gullah, a dialect based on African American structures which combined African, French,German,English, and Dutch words. By 1820 Charleston's population had grown to 23,000, with a black majority. When a massive slave revolt planned by Denmark Vesey, a free black, was discovered in 1822, such hysteria ensued amidst white Charlestonians and Carolinians that the activities of free blacks and slaves were severely restricted. Hundreds of blacks, free and slave, and some white supporters involved in the planned uprising were held in the Old Jail. It also was the impetus for the construction of a new State Arsenal in Charleston. Recently, research published by historian Michael P. Johnson of Johns Hopkins University has cast doubt on the veracity of the accounts detailing Vesey's aborted slave revolt. As Charleston's government, society and industry grew, commercial institutions were established to support the community's aspirations. The Bank of South Carolina, the second oldest building constructed as a bank in the nation, was established here in 1798. Branches of the First and Second Bank of the United States were also located in Charleston in 1800 and 1817. While the First Bank was converted to City Hall by 1818, the Second Bank proved to be a vital part of the community as it was the only bank in the city equipped to handle the international transactions so crucial to the export trade. By 1840, the Market Hall and Sheds, where fresh meat and produce were brought daily, became the commercial hub of the city. The slave trade also depended on the port of Charleston, where ships could be unloaded and the slaves sold at markets. In the first half of the 19th century, South Carolinians became more devoted to the idea that state's rights were superior to the Federal government's authority. Buildings such as the Marine Hospital ignited controversy over the degree in which the Federal government should be involved in South Carolina's government, society, and commerce. During this period over 90 percent of Federal funding was generated from import duties, collected by custom houses such as the one in Charleston. In 1832 South Carolina passed an ordinance of nullification, a procedure in which a state could in effect repeal a Federal law, directed against the most recent tariff acts. Soon Federal soldiers were dispensed to Charleston's forts and began to collect tariffs by force. A compromise was reached by which the tariffs would be gradually reduced, but the underlying argument over state's rights would continue to escalate in the coming decades. Charleston remained one of the busiest port cities in the country, and the construction of a new, larger United States Custom House began in 1849, but its construction was interrupted by the events of the Civil War. Prior to the 1860 election, the National Democratic Convention convened in Charleston. Hibernian Hall served as the headquarters for the delegates supporting Stephen A. Douglas, who it was hoped would bridge the gap between the northern and southern delegates on the issue of extending slavery to the territories. The convention disintegrated when delegates were unable to summon a two-thirds majority for any candidate. This divisiveness resulted in a split in the Democratic party, and the election of Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate.

The American Civil War

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln On December 20, 1860, the South Carolina legislature was the first state to vote for secession from the Union. They asserted that one of the causes was the election to the presidency of a man "whose opinions and purposes are hostile to slavery." On January 9, 1861, Citadel cadets fired the first shots of the American Civil War when they opened fire on a Union ship entering Charleston's harbor. On April 12, 1861, shore batteries under the command of General Pierre G. T. Beauregard opened fire on the Union-held Fort Sumter in the harbor. After a 34-hour bombardment, Major Robert Anderson surrendered the fort. Cadets from the Citadel, South Carolina's liberal arts military college, continued to aid the Confederate army by helping drill recruits, manufacture ammunition, protect arms depots, and guard Union prisoners. The city under siege took control of Fort Sumter, became the center for blockade running, and was the site of the first submarine warfare in 1863. In 1865, Union troops moved into the city, and took control of many sites, such as the United States Arsenal which the Confederate army had seized at the outbreak of the war. After the eventual and destructive defeat of the Confederacy, Federal forces remained in Charleston during the city's reconstruction. The war had shattered the prosperity of the antebellum city. Freed slaves were faced with poverty and discrimination. Industries slowly brought the city and its inhabitants back to a renewed vitality and growth in population. As the city's commerce improved, Charlestonians also worked to restore their community institutions. In 1867 Charleston's first free secondary school for blacks was established, the Avery Institute. General William T. Sherman lent his support to the conversion of the United States Arsenal into the Porter Military Academy, an educational facility for former soldiers and boys left orphaned or destitute by the war. Porter Military Academy later joined with Gaud School and is now a well-known K-12 prep school, [http://www.portergaud.edu/ Porter-Gaud School]. The William Enston Home, a planned community for the city's aged and infirm, was built in 1889. An elaborate public building, the United States Post Office and Courthouse, was completed in 1896 and signaled renewed life in the heart of the city. A 125 mile-an-hour hurricane hit Charleston August 25, 1885, destroying or damaging 90 percent of the homes and causing an estimated $2 million in damages. In 1886 Charleston was nearly destroyed by a 7.5 earthquake that was felt as far away as Boston and Bermuda. It damaged 2,000 buildings and caused $6 million worth of damage, while in the whole city the buildings were only valued at approximately $24 million. However, though there have been many fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, several wars, and urban renewal in the 20th century, many of Charleston's historic buildings remain intact

Charlestonian dialect

Charleston's unique (though vanishing) dialect has long been noted in the South and elsewhere, for the singular attributes it possesses. Alone among the various regional Southern dialects, Charlestonian speakers inglide long mid vowels and one hears elements often associated with speech in Canada, such as the raising for /ay/ and /aw/. Some attribute these unique features of Charleston's speech to its early settlement by French Huguenots and Sephardic Jews, both of which played influential parts in Charleston's development and history. Two important works which shed light on Charleston's early dialect are "Charleston Provincialisms" and "The Huguenot Element in Charleston's Provincialisms," both written by Sylvester Primer. Further scholarship is needed on the influence of Sephardic Jews to the speech patterns of Charleston.

The Old Exchange

The Old Exchange and Customs House in downtown Charleston was finished in 1771. It was to be The Royal Exchange & Customs House. It is the third most important Colonial building in the nation. The other two are Faneuil Hall in Boston and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. This building has had many historic events happen in its walls. It has a dungeon which has held signers of the Declaration of Independence and many other South Carolina Patriots. It has also housed events for George Washington in 1791, The U.S. Constitution ratification in 1788, and tea stolen from trade ships just prior the revolution and then was sold for the revolutionary cause by Charlestown patriots. This building has also been a U.S.post office, the first Confederate post office, and used by the U.S. Coast Guard. After being saved by the state D.A.R., the Old Exchange exists as a public museum and is a major tourist destination which gives tours daily and hosts other grand events. It was succeeded in its official capacity by the Greek revival style US Customs House on East Bay Street between North and South Market Streets.

Modern-day Charleston

Greek revival Charlestonians today fondly refer to their city as The Holy City, and describe it as the site where the "Ashley and Cooper Rivers merge into Charleston Harbor and then forms the Atlantic Ocean." America's most-published etiquette expert, Marjabelle Young Stewart, has recognized the city ever since 1995 as the "best-mannered" city in the U.S, a claim lent credence by the fact that it has the only Livability Court in the country. Charleston is a tourist mecca, with streets lined with grand live oaks draped with Spanish moss. Along the waterfront are many beautiful and historic pastel-colored homes. It's also a busy port, though the majority of the larger container ships are now docking at the Wando Terminal in Mount Pleasant. The Wando River and the Cooper River meet at the Southern point of Daniel Island. The new Arthur Ravenel, Jr. bridge across the Cooper River opened on July 16, 2005. It is the largest cable-stayed bridge in the Americas, (External link: [http://www.cooperriverbridge.org/]). It replaced the Silas N. Pearman Bridge built in 1966 and the Grace Memorial Bridge built in 1929. These were the largest continuous-truss type bridges in the world. Demolition of these two bridges began in August, immediately following the opening of the Ravenel Bridge, and will be completed by the summer of 2006. Grace Memorial Bridge Charleston annually hosts Spoleto Festival USA[http://www.spoletousa.org/], as well as the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition[http://www.sewe.com/], the Family Circle Tennis Cup[http://www.familycirclecup.com/], and the Cooper River Bridge Run[http://www.bridgerun.com/]. Nature lovers may visit the South Carolina Aquarium, the Audubon Swamp Garden, or Cypress Gardens[http://www.cypressgardens.org/]. History buffs can visit the Old Exchange Building, Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumter, Patriot's Point (home to the USS Yorktown), or any of the several beautiful former plantations such as Boone Hall Plantation, Magnolia Plantation, and Middleton Place. Hurricane Hugo hit Charleston in 1989, damaging three-quarters of the homes in Charleston's historic district. The hurricane caused over $2.8 billion in damage. In 1993, the world's first squadron of amazing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft was established at Charleston Air Force base. In 2004, SPAWAR (US Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command) became the largest employer in the Charleston metropolitan area. Until 2004, the Medical University of South Carolina was the largest employer. Charleston is served by Charleston International Airport the busiest airport in the state. Charleston's port is also the second-largest container port in the nation. For more information see Robert Rosen's A Short History of Charleston.

Interstates and major highways in Charleston

- Interstate 26 is the VIA Freeway in the Charleston-North Charleston Metropolitan Area; it ends at The Septima Clark Expressway downtown Charleston.
- Interstate 526, or the Mark Clark Expressway, forms a half-circle around the city.
- U.S. Highway 17 is the Septima Clark Expressway Downtown and becomes Savannah Highway after it crosses the Ashley River. This highway runs through the middle of the city.
- U.S. Highway 52 is Market Street and its spur is Morisson Drive, which becomes East Bay Street after leaving the Eastside.
- U.S. Highway 78 is Rivers Avenue in North Charleston, which then becomes King Street in downtown Charleston.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 326.5 km² (126.1 mi²). 251.2 km² (97.0 mi²) of it is land and 44.3 km² (17.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 15.00% water. The old city is on a peninsula at the point where, as Charlestonians say "The Ashley and the Cooper Rivers come together to form the Atlantic Ocean." The entire peninsula is very low, some of it fillmaterial, and it frequently floods during heavy rains or unusually high tides. The city has expanded across the Ashley River from the peninsula, but North Charleston blocks any expansion up the peninsula, and Mount Pleasant occupies the land across the Cooper River. The tidal rivers (Wando, Cooper, Stono, and Ashley) are evidence of a Submergent or drowned coastline, ie. the original rivers had a lower base line, but either the ocean rose or the land sank, changing the landform. There is a submerged river delta off the mouth of the harbor, and the rivers are deep, affording a good port site. The rising of the ocean may be due to melting of glacial ice and the end of the ice age.

Demographics

There are 110,483 people in the city, organized into 47,791 households and 24,149 families. The population density is 384.7/km² (996.5/mi²). Projections have the city growing immensely with annexation to almost 130,000+ by 2008 and 150,000 by 2012. There are 44,563 housing units at an average density of 177.4/km² (459.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 63.08% White, 34.00% Black or African American, 1.24% Asian, 0.15% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 1.51% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 40,791 households out of which 23.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.0% are married couples living together, 15.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 45.7% are non-families. 33.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.23 and the average family size is 2.92. In the city the population is spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 17.2% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.2 males. The median income for a household in the city is $35,295, and the median income for a family is $48,705. Males have a median income of $32,585 versus $26,688 for females. The per-capita income for the city is $22,414. 19.1% of the population and 13.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.3% of those under the age of 18 and 13.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Public schools

Charleston County School District Berkeley County School District

Elementary schools

Middle schools

- Buist Academy - Charleston County
- Burke Middle School - Charleston County
- Cainhoy Middle School - Berkeley County
- C E Willams Middle Shcool - Charleston County
- James Island Middle School - Charleston County
- West Ashley Middle School - Charleston County

High schools

- Academic Magnet High School - Charleston County
- Burke High School - Charleston County
- James Island High School - Charleston County
- St. Johns High School - Charleston County
- West Ashley High School - Charleston County
- Bishop England High School - Berkeley County

Private schools

- [http://www.ashleyhall.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1 Ashley Hall]
- [http://www.behs.com/ Bishop England High School] - Diocese of Charleston
- Blessed Sacrament - Diocese of Charleston
- Christ our King-Stella Maris - Diocese of Charleston
- [http://www.catholic-doc.org/school/nativity/ Nativity School]
- [http://www.charlestondayschool.org/ Charleston Day School]
- [http://www.portergaud.edu/ Porter-Gaud School]

Colleges and universities

- Charleston Southern University
- College of Charleston
- Charleston School of Law
- The American College of the Building Arts
- Johnson & Wales University
- Limestone College
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Roper Hospital School of Practical Nursing
- Southern Wesleyn University
- Springield University
- The Citadel
- Trident Technical College
- Webster University

Government

Webster University
- Mayor: Joseph P. Riley, Jr.
- Mayor Pro Tempore: Deborah Morinelli
- Council Members: :
- Henry B. Fishburne, Jr. :
- Deborah Morinelli :
- James Lewis, Jr. :
- Jimmy S. Gallant, III :
- Wendell G. Gilliard :
- Louis L. Waring :
- Yvonne D. Evans :
- Paul Tinkler :
- Larry D. Shirley :
- Anne Frances Bleecker :
- G. Robert George
- Fire Chief: Russel Thomas
- Police Chief: previously Reuben Greenberg — (He resigned August 12, 2005 for unspecified health reasons at the recommendation of his personal doctor, Dr. Allen Rashford. Chief Greenberg had come under fire recently because of actions related to his temper.) Lt. Colonel Edward Hethington is Interim Chief. Greenberg, who served as Charleston's Chief of Police for twenty-three years, has occasionally made national news, if nothing else than for the most basic facts of his background and their uncommon combination in one person (Texan, African American, and Orthodox Jewish), which has caused consternation in 60 Minutes correspondents (who devoted a segment to him) and Zulus (a Zulu guard is said to have barred him from entering a South African synagogue, insisting that "this place is just for Jewish people, sir" [http://www.nationalreview.com/ledeen/ledeen200508180822.asp]) alike. Greenberg is generally credited with creating a polite police force that kept police brutality well in check even as it developed a visible presence in community policing and a significant reductions in crime rates, which in turn is sometimes credited as an influence on the measures pursued by New York City under Rudy Giuliani's administration.

Sister city (twin city)

- Spoleto, Umbria, Italy
- Savannah, Georgia is sometimes colloquially referred to as a sister city
- Boston, Massachusetts - Former

Squares in Downtown Charleston

- Court House Square
- Liberty Square
- Marion Square
- Market Square
- Washington Square

Parks in Downtown Charleston

- Brittle Bank Park & Fishing Pier
- Cannon Park
- Concord Park
- Cornine Jones Playground
- Harmon Park
- Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park (Home of the Charleston RiverDogs , an affiliate of the New York Yankees)
- Martin Park
- McMahon Playground
- Moultrie Park
- Waterfront Park
- White Point Park & Gardens or "Battery Park"

Local malls

- Citadel Mall
- The Shops at Charleston Place
- Northwoods Mall (Northwoods Mall is actually within the city limits of North Charleston, South Carolina).
- Mount Pleasant Towne Centre (Neo-Traditional mall within the city limits of Mount Pleasant).

Television stations

- WCBD - "News 2" NBC Affiliate
- WCIV - "News 4 Charleston" ABC Affiliate
- WCSC - "Live 5 News" CBS Affiliate
- WITV - Channel 7, part of SCETV and a PBS affiliate
- WJEA - Channel 12,"30 Minutos" Telefutura Affiliate
- WBLN - Channel 14, WB Affiliate
- WJRB - Channel 18, Independent
- W21BX - Channel 21, Trinity Broadcasting
- WAZS - Channel 22, Azteca America
- WTAT - Channel 24, FOX 24 News @ Ten
- W26CF - Channel 26 Dove Broadcasting
- WMMP- Channel 36, UPN Affiliate
- WJNI- Channel 42, Urban Television for Minority Entertainment

Transportation systems

- Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority or "CARTA"
- Future - Metro Rail Service

Metropolitan area stadiums

- Blackbaud Stadium
- Family Circle Magazine Stadium
- North Charleston Coliseum
- Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park
- Johnson Hagood Stadium - The Citadel Bull Dogs Home stadium.
- Palmetto Bowl - Construction will be started in 2006 if funds are avalible and if not in 2007.

Metropolitan area sports

- Charleston Battery - Soccer
- Charleston Lowgators 2000-2004 - Basketball
- Charleston RiverDogs - Baseball
- South Carolina Stingrays - Ice Hockey
- Charleston Swamp Foxes 2001-2003 - Arena Football

Fiction about Charleston

- The opera Porgy and Bess takes place in Charleston.
- Clive Barkers novel, Galilee, takes place partly in Charleston.
- In Harry Turtledove's Timeline-191 alternate history series about a Confederacy that won the Civil War, Charleston suffers an airstrike from an American aircraft carrier in the summer of 1941, in response to the Confederate invasion of Ohio.
- Citadel alumnus and novelist Pat Conroy often writes about Charleston. Rafael Sabatini's novel, "The Carolinian", takes place mostly in Charles Town between the years 1775-9.
TV and movies

- Palmetto Pointe I network
- The Notebook - 2004
- The Patriot - 2000
- The Great Santini
- The Legend of Bagger Vance
- Cold Mountain
- Die Hard With a Vengeance
- Don't Tell Her It's Me
- Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
- An Occasional Hell
- Chasers
- Consenting Adults
- Deciever
- For the Boys
- Kitty Kitty
- Leo
- Little Senegal
- Look Out, Here Comes Tomorrow
- Major League: Back to the Minors
- Mary Janes Last Dance
- My Man Done Me Wrong
- O
- Other Voices, Other Rooms
- Paradise
- Rich In Love
- The Break
- The Corn Dog Man
- The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
- The In Crowd
- The Jackal
- White Squall
- TV Miniseries of the trilogy of North and South, Love and War, Heaven and Hell
Notable Charlestonians

- Septima Poinsette Clark (1898-1987) educator and early activist—"Grandmother of the Civil Rights Movement"
- Stephen Colbert (b. 1964) (comedian, correspondent for The Daily Show)
- Robert Furchgott (b. 1916) (chemist)
- Christopher Gadsden (1724-1805) (revolutionary leader)
- James Gadsden (1788-1858) (diplomat)
- Fritz Hollings (b. 1922) (US Senator)
- Benjamin Huger (1805-1877) (Confederate general)
- Darius Rucker (b. 1966) (singer -solo & lead for Hootie & the Blowfish)
- Ernest Everett Just (1883-1941) (biologist)
- Robert Rosen (b. 1947) (Historian, Author of Jewish Confederates and A Short History of Charleston)
- Sallie Krawcheck (b. 1964) (CFO of Citigroup)
- Mabel King (b.1932) (actress "What's Happening", The WIZ")
- Henry Laurens (1724-1792) (revolutionary leader)
- William Porcher Miles (1822-1899) (lawmaker, designer of one of the Confederate flags)
- Robert Mills (1781-1855) (architect)
- Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (1746-1825) (revolutionary leader)
- Joel Poinsett (1779-1851) (politician, diplomat, and botanist)
- Joseph P. Riley, Jr. (born 1943) (Mayor of Charleston since 1975)
- William Gilmore Simms (1806-1870) (novelist, author of The Sword and the Distaff)
- Thomas Sully (1783-1872) (painter)
- Melanie Thornton (1967-2001 Plane Crash) R&B/Pop/Dance Singer (former La Bouche)
- William Charles Wells (1757-1817) (physician)
- Judah P. Benjamin ( U.S. Senator and Treasurer of the Confederacy)
- Thomas Gibson (b. 1962 ) (actor)
See also

- List of radio stations in Charleston
External links

- [http://www.ci.charleston.sc.us/ City of Charleston website]
- [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/Charleston/ Historic Charleston by the National Park Service]
- [http://www.charlestoncvb.com/ Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau]
- [http://charlestonchamber.net/ Charleston Metro Chamber Of Commerce]
- [http://www.charleston.net/The Post and Courier City Newspaper]
- [http://www.port-of-charleston.com/ Port of Charleston]
- [http://www.cityofcharleston.info/ City of Charleston Directory]
- Category:Coastal cities Category:Charleston County, South Carolina Category:Berkeley County, South Carolina Charleston, South Carolina ko:찰스턴 (사우스캐롤라이나 주)

September

September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days. September begins (astrologically) with the sun in the sign of Virgo and ends in the sign of Libra. Astronomically speaking, the sun begins in the constellation of Leo and ends in the constellation of Virgo. The name comes from the Latin septem, for "seven". September was the seventh month of the Roman calendar until 153 BC.

Events in September

Roman calendar
- It is the start of the academic year in some countries, mostly in the west.
- In Venice on the first Sunday of September the regata storica is held, a parade as prelude to the rowing contests known as regattas.
- Labor Day is observed on the first Monday in September in the United States and Canada(spelled Labour Day).
- In Japan, Respect for the Aged Day is a national holiday celebrated on the third Monday of September. Autumnal Equinox Day is also a national holiday.
- In the Netherlands on the second Tuesday in September is known as prinsjesdag. The government presents its annual budget. The queen rides to the parliament in a gilded coach and reads the plans for the coming year to the States-general.
- The equinox named the autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere and the vernal or spring equinox in the southern hemisphere occurs on dates varying from 21 September to 24 September (in UTC). In the pagan wheel of the year the spring equinox is the time of Ostara and the autumn equinox is that of Mabon.
- In KwaZulu-Natal, king Shaka is commemorated on the last Sunday of September.
- Somewhat ironically, the German Oktoberfest and the Chinese August Moon festival (more correctly called the Mid-Autumn Festival) both occur in September.

Trivia

- September begins on the same day of the week as December every year.
- September's flower is the morning glory.
- September's birthstone is the sapphire.
- In the year 1752, in the British Empire, the Gregorian calendar was adopted and as a result September did not have days numbered 3–13.
- On Usenet, it is said that September 1993 never ended.

External links

- [http://www.astro.uu.nl/~strous/AA/en/antwoorden/seizoenen.html Astronomy Answers article on the seasons] Category:Months ko:9월 ms:September ja:9月 simple:September th:กันยายน

2003

2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. It was designated the:
- International Year of Freshwater
- European Disability Year
- Blog Year See also Wikipedia's almanac of events for this year.

Events

January

- January 1 - Luíz Inácio Lula Da Silva becomes the 37th President of Brazil.
- January 1 - Pascal Couchepin becomes President of the Confederation in Switzerland.
- January 8 - US Airways flight 5481 crashes at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina killing all 21 people aboard.
- January 15 - The United States Supreme Court hands down its decision in Eldred v. Ashcroft allowing the extension of copyright terms in the U.S.
- January 24 - The new United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation.
- January 25 - Central Line train crashes into the tunnel wall at Chancery Lane station in London, injuring 34 people.
- January 25 - An international group of volunteers left London and headed for Baghdad to act as voluntary human shields, hoping to avert a U.S. invasion.
- January 30 - Iraq disarmament crisis: The leaders of Britain, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic release a statement, the letter of the eight, demonstrating support for the United States' plans for an invasion of Iraq.

February

February
- February 1 - The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates over Texas upon reentry, killing all seven astronauts onboard.
- February 1 - In Northern Ireland, The Protestant UDA Belfast leader John Gregg is killed by a loyalist faction.
- February 3 - The worldwide movie premiere of Shanghai Knights was held at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.
- February 5 - Iraq disarmament crisis: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell addresses the UN Security Council on Iraq.
- February 9 - Cricket World Cup begins in South Africa.
- February 15 - Global protests against Iraq war - more than ten million people protest in over 600 cities worldwide, the largest war protest to take place before the war occurred.
- February 17 - Antwerp Diamond Center in Belgium opens its vaults after weekend and discovers that unknown burglars had stolen diamonds worth $100 million - largest diamond theft so far.
- February 26 - An American businessman is admitted to the Vietnam France Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam. WHO doctor Carlo Urbani reports the unusual highly contagious disease to WHO. Both the businessman and Carlo Urbani die of SARS in March.

March

- March 1 - Iraq disarmament crisis: The United Arab Emirates calls for Iraqi president Saddam Hussein to step down to avoid war. The sentiment is later echoed by Bahrain and Kuwait
- March 1 - The Turkish parliment vetos the access of the U.S troops to airbases in Turkey in order to attack Iraq from the north. The Bush administration starts working on the B Plan, namely attacking Iraq from the south, through the Persian Gulf.
- March 1 - The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the United States Customs Service, and the United States Secret Service moves to the United States Department of Homeland Security
- March 1 - Boxer Roy Jones Jr. beats John Ruiz to become WBA champion
- March 1 - War on Terrorism: Authorities in Pakistan capture Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks along with money man Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi.
- March 1 - Ohio celebrates its bicentennial statehood.
- March 5 - The Supreme Court of the United States by a 5-4 margin upholds California's "three strikes and you're out" law.
- March 11 - Iraq disarmament crisis: Iraqi fighters threaten two U.S. U-2 surveillance planes, flying missions for U.N. weapons inspectors, forcing them to abort their mission and return to base.
- March 12 - Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić assassinated in Belgrade
- March 12 - <