Charleston: Community & Culture
Charleston's civic fabric includes 6 libraries, 101 congregations, and 22 cultural organizations.
- 0.7 congregations per 1,000 residents (vs South Carolina 1.2/1K).
- 1.4 cultural orgs per 10K residents (vs South Carolina 1.5/10K).
Libraries & Learning
| Nearest Library · Name | Main Library |
|---|---|
| Nearest Library · Address | 68 Calhoun Street |
| Nearest Library · Phone | (843) 805-6801 |
| Nearest Library · Zip | 29401 |
| Nearest Library · Hours Per Year | 3169 |
| Nearest Library · Total Libraries In City | 6 |
Sources: IMLS PLS — state+city name match
Faith & Tradition
Houses of worship counted via OpenStreetMap + IRS 990 nonprofit registry. Reflects active congregations, not historical churches.
Organizations (20)
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY CQ WILLIAMS VETERANS MEMORIAL UNIT
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
VFW AUXILIARY VFW DEPARTMENT OF S C
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST ASHLEY
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
BENEVOLENT & PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS OF THE USA
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
CHARLESTON COUNTY MASONIC ASSN INC
AMERICAN LEGION
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
CHARLESTON ROTARY FUND
RALPH H JOHNSON AMERICAN LEGION POST 147
KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL INC
GIFT OF LIFE OF ROTARY DISTRICT 7770 INC
IMPROVED BENEVOLENT PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS OF THE WORLD
VFW AUXULIARY VFW DEPARTMENT OF S C
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
| Churches · Total count | 101 |
|---|
Sources: IRS Exempt Organizations · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Arts & Culture
Cultural organizations: museums, performing-arts venues, and arts nonprofits.
Listings (20)
Aiken, Gov. William, House
Aiken, William, House and Associated Railroad Structures
Ashley Hall Plantation
Ashley River Historic District
Ashley River Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Barnwell House
Bennett, Gov. Thomas, House
Bethel Methodist Church
Blacklock, William, House
Blake Tenements
Branford-Horry House
Brewton, Miles, House
Brewton, Robert, House
Brown, Dianna, Antique Shop
Castle Pinckney
Central Baptist Church
Charleston Cemeteries Historic District
Charleston Cigar Factory
Charleston Consolidated Railway, Electric and Gas Company Car House
Charleston Historic District
| Arts Organizations · Total count | 7 |
|---|---|
| Cultural Orgs · Total count | 22 |
Sources: IRS BMF keyword · IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Civic Organizations
Fraternal orders, service clubs, and civic-engagement organizations (Rotary, Lions, Elks, etc.).
Organizations (16)
NATIONAL EXCHANGE CLUB
UNITED GRAND IMPERIAL COUN KNIGHTS OF RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE
THE NATIONAL EXCHANGE CLUB
PALMETTO GOODWILL
JUNIOR LEAGUE OF CHARLESTON INC
YWCA OF GREATER CHARLESTON
PALMETTO GOODWILL SERVICES
LOWCOUNTRY FOOD BANK INC
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL INC
EXCHANGE CLUB OF CHARLESTON FOUNDATION INC
NATIONAL EXCHANGE CLUB
LOWCOUNTRY FOOD BANK ENDOWMENT FUND
BRIDGE BETWEEN ANIMAL RESCUE
NATIONAL EXCHANGE CLUB
CHUCKTOWN BOUND ANIMAL RESCUE RESOURCE
LOWCOUNTRY FOOD BANK PROPERTY HOLDINGS INC
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | SEA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|---|
| Community Organizations · Total | 1,314 |
| Community Resource Links · Food Assistance | https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator?location=Charleston+SC |
| Community Resource Links · Legal Aid | https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/what-legal-aid/get-legal-help?zip=29492 |
| Community Resource Links · Senior Services | https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx?zip=29492 |
| Community Resource Links · Job Centers | https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/AmericanJobCenters/find-american-jo… |
| Community Resource Links · Substance Abuse | https://findtreatment.gov/?zip=29492 |
| Community Resource Links · Housing Assistance | https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/hcc?searchZip=29492 |
Sources: IRS EO BMF · IRS EO BMF — full extraction by NTEE category · Federal agency locator URLs · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Dining & Nightlife
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 110 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 143 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 8 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 24 |
| Craft Beverages · Breweries · Total count | 6 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722 · OSM Overpass — craft=brewery/winery
Attractions
Notable nearby attractions and visitor destinations from federal/state tourism data.
Nearby (15)
Animal Forest
The Citadel Daniel Museum
Macaulay Museum of Dental History
McLeod Plantation Historic Site
TiNY Tennis Museum
Charleston Apple Museum
Mace Brown Museum of Natural History
Louis G. Gregory Bahá'í Museum
The Best Friend Train Museum
Children's Museum of the Lowcountry
John M. Rivers Communications Museum
Joseph Manigault House
The Aiken-Rhett House Museum
Philip Simmons House
The Museum at Market Hall
Attractions (15)
Animal Forest
The Citadel Daniel Museum
Macaulay Museum of Dental History
McLeod Plantation Historic Site
TiNY Tennis Museum
Charleston Apple Museum
Mace Brown Museum of Natural History
Louis G. Gregory Bahá'í Museum
The Best Friend Train Museum
Children's Museum of the Lowcountry
John M. Rivers Communications Museum
Joseph Manigault House
The Aiken-Rhett House Museum
Philip Simmons House
The Museum at Market Hall
Other
Organizations (12)
SECOND REGIMENT SOUTH CAROLINA LINE CONTINENTAL ESTABLISHMENT
GENERAL BARTON & STOVALLS HISTORY - HERITAGE ASSOCAITION
THE GARDEN CLUB OF CHARLESTON CHARITABLE FUND
KRIEGIE FOUNDATION
COLE ISLAND FOUNDATION FOR PRESERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP
NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE COLONIAL DAMES OF AMERICA
CHARLESTON COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION INC
CHARLESTON SCOTTISH RITE CENTER HISTORICAL & EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIO
JAMES HOBAN SOCIETY
FRIENDS OF MCLEOD INC
BRICK HOUSE RUINS PRESERVATION
BLACK WOMEN LEGACIES INC
Clubs (12)
THE GARDEN CLUB OF CHARLESTON CHARITABLE FUND
CHARLESTON RIFLE CLUB
COUNTRY CLUB OF CHARLESTON
CHARLESTON YACHT CLUB INC CHARLESTON MUNICIPAL MARINA 17 LOC
JAMES ISLAND YACHT CLUB
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON ATHLETIC CLUB
STONO RIVER GOLF CLUB
PARKSHORE SWIM AND RACQUET CLUB INC
GARDEN CLUB OF DRAYTON
FITNESS FOR ALL INC
IRON WOLF RECOVERY FITNESS
COUNTRY CLUB OF CHARLESTON EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE FUND INCORPORATED
Stations (9)
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| Community Engagement · Orgs Per 1000 Residents | 8.50 |
|---|---|
| Community Engagement · Churches Per 1000 Residents | 70.0% |
| Community Engagement · Engagement Level | engaged |
| Community Engagement · Total Orgs | 1,314 |
| Homelessness · State homelessness rate per 10K | 8.97 |
| Homelessness · Estimated homeless population | 138 |
| Homelessness · Year | 2024 |
| Environmental Orgs · Total count | 45 |
| Homeless Services · Total count | 1 |
| Legal Aid · Total count | 1 |
| Mentoring Orgs · Total count | 3 |
| Recovery Orgs · Total count | 8 |
| Senior Services · Total count | 22 |
| Youth Sports · Total count | 92 |
| Youth Sports · Total In Area | 92 |
Sources: HUD AHAR 2024 PIT Counts — state rate applied · IRS BMF NTEE C/D · IRS BMF keyword search · IRS BMF keyword · IRS BMF NTEE code match, city=Charleston