Berkeley County is not only the biggest and fastest growing county in South Carolina, it is also a pretty fascinating place that is rich in history. While this is by no means a complete list, we’ve included ten facts, some bizarre, about the area which first established itself as a county in 1882.
1. Since 1993 there have been four reported Bigfoot sightings in Berkeley County. The last documented sighting occurred in January 2007 in Ridgeville near Highway 176. (Source: BFRO)
2. Eleven popular movies and TV shows have been filmed at Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner including The Notebook, Cold Mountain and The Patriot (Source: Cypress Gardens)
Pictured: Scene from ‘The Patriot’ featuring Mel Gibson & Heath Ledger
3. Comedian and actor Andy Dick was born in Berkeley County in 1965 (Source: EVI.com)
4. Courtney Brown and Joe Hamilton, both graduates of Macedonia High School and from the small community of Alvin, went on to have very successful careers in the NFL before retiring.
5. Mepkin Abbey is one of only 12 monasteries in the country home to Trappist monks (Source: Trappists.org)
6. During the 1920s prohibition era when alcohol was outlawed, Berkeley Co. bootleggers reportedly bottled their illegal brews for notorious gangster Al “Scarface” Capone and other infamous mafia kingpins. (Source: The Griffon)
7. Built around 1822, Wampee Plantation in Pinopolis is considered one of the most haunted places in Berkeley County. Countless ghost hunters have explored the property over the years and claim it’s popping with spirits.
8. Born in Berkeley County and nicknamed the ‘Swamp Fox,’ Francis Marion led surprising attacks on British troops during the Revolutionary War and is regarded as a major hero in the War for Independence against England. He is buried in Pineville.
9. Built around 1713, St. James’ Church in Goose Creek is one of the oldest churches in Berkeley County. (Source: National Historic Landmarks)
10. In 2010, this photo of a woman holding a giant eastern diamondback rattlesnake measuring nearly 7 feet long went viral. The image was reportedly taken in Goose Creek. The largest eastern diamondback rattlesnake ever recorded, from south Georgia, was 8 feet long. While the photo may/may not be real, it’s cool nonetheless.(Source: HuntDrop.com)
A lifelong Berkeley County resident, Nikki Gaskins Campbell is an Emmy-nominated journalist with more than 20 years of experience covering news. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in broadcast journalism.
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I believe Berkeley County was founded in 1682 not 1882.
Hi there, thanks for writing in! Berkeley County was
established & originally named in 1682; however, present day Berkeley County formed from part of Charleston County in 1882. (Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/61979/Berkeley)