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Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Outside of Charleston, Charming Mount Pleasant is Known for its Easy Tempo, Lovely Homes and Beautiful Beaches
In 1680, the British arrived in present-day Mount Pleasant, just across the Cooper River from Charleston on South Carolina's mid-coast. The town they and others built soon attracted wealthy Charlestonians who constructed grand summer homes on the bluffs overlooking Charleston Harbor. Many of these homes still stand today.
Thanks to these beginnings, Mount Pleasant (population 95,000) is now a charming residential area. It has grown 28% within the last 10 years, and many new residents are from out of state, primarily New York, Florida and Georgia. The city has been ranked by Charleston residents as the Lowcountry's best suburb, and the good citizens of Mount Pleasant have a reputation as a closely-knit but friendly bunch who appreciate the city's easy tempo.
The cost of living is 120% above the national average. The crime rate is well below the national average, and 34% of residents are age 45 or better. Nearly 60% of locals are college educated.
For the past two and a half decades, the city has been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation and it is thick with palm trees, live oaks, red cedars, devilwoods and yaupon hollies. Sedate, tree-lined neighborhoods boast stately residences with overflowing gardens. The Old Village section of town is perhaps the most desirable place to live. Mount Pleasant's overall median home price is $1.1 million, reflecting a 15% increase from last year.
Not a lot goes on here, but that is a plus in many people's eyes. The Memorial Waterfront Park is a source of pride and is a lovely spot for picnicking or watching boats bob in the water. The Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival is held here every year. ArtFest, another community gathering, happens every March and highlights local artistic talents.
The Patriots Point Naval Museum, Boone Hall Plantation and Palmetto Islands State Park are additional area highlights. And the long, clean oceanfront beaches along the nearby barrier islands Sullivan's Island and Isle of Palms give residents a wonderful spot to sun, swim and beachcomb.
Mount Pleasant shopping is adequate with a mix of higher-end stores and discount retailers. Many shopping areas are tucked off the street and hard to find if one does not know where to look. Dining options are fairly good, particularly around the Shem Creek area where seafood restaurants are the norm and diners can watch Charleston's shrimp boat fleet come in each day. The popular farmers' market operates every Tuesday.
East Cooper Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission and is award-winning for excellence in patient safety, overall patient experience and general surgery. It provides a number of services, including 24-hour emergency care, diagnostic imaging services, orthopedics, pain care, adult and pediatric rehabilitation services and wound care services. Medicare patients are accepted.
CARTA provides public bus transportation into Charleston, but service is otherwise limited.
The Senior Center, operated by the city, is open Monday through Saturday and offers a good selection of programs, services and activities (fitness classes, painting classes, wii bowling, potlucks, coffee talks, computers with wireless Internet access, afternoon movies, personal trainers, massage therapists, bingo, driving safety and more). Membership fees are $140 per year.
The city has mild winters, hot summers and on average receives 48 inches of rain per year. Summer high temperatures reach the 90s with lows in the 70s, and winter high temperatures reach into the 50s and 60s with lows in the 40s.
Mount Pleasant does have some drawbacks. Hurricanes are always a possibility, and Ian brought damage in 2022. Traffic congestion is a problem. Urban sprawl is evident.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes | Is South Carolina Tax-Friendly for Retirement? Yes
The hurricane threat and traffic congestion are drawbacks, but beautiful homes, historic neighborhoods, pretty beaches, good medical facilities, safe neighborhoods and lush foliage make Mount Pleasant a great place to retire.
South Carolina:
South Carolina is nicknamed the Palmetto State and its motto is "Dum Spiro Spero," which is Latin for "While I Breath, I Hope." It is 40th in size in the United States and was the eighth state to be admitted to the Union on May 23, 1788. The largest city and state capital is Columbia.
Formerly known as the Province of South Carolina, the area was also one of the 13 Colonies that declared its independence during the American Revolution. The state was the first to secede from the Union and was the first and founding state of the Confederate States of America.
South Carolina is in what is considered the Deep South and is bordered by the states of Georgia on the south and North Carolina on the north.
The state does not host any major professional sport franchises. However, the Carolina Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes actually represent both North Carolina and South Carolina.
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