843 Area Code 🌍☎️

Charleston, South Carolina's most populous city, is located on Charleston Harbor at the confluence of the Ashley, Cooper, and Wando rivers and had a population of 150,227 in the 2020 census, with its metropolitan area comprising Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties reaching approximately 870,000 residents and ranking as the 71st-most populous in the U.S. Founded by the English in 1670 as Charles Town in honor of King Charles II, the settlement relocated in 1680 to its present location and became the fifth-largest city in North America by the 1690s, remaining in the top 10 U.S. cities by population through 1840. Charleston's economy is anchored by tourism, the Port of Charleston (one of the nation's busiest), aerospace through Boeing, and information technology, earning the nickname "Silicon Harbor" for its growing tech sector. The city played a central and tragic role in the Atlantic slave trade, with almost one-half of all enslaved people imported to the United States arriving there, for which Charleston formally apologized in 2018. Charleston is renowned for its well-preserved antebellum architecture, historic landmarks including Fort Sumter National Monument and Rainbow Row, vibrant Gullah cultural heritage, and thriving culinary and arts scenes. Myrtle Beach is a resort city in Horry County in northeastern South Carolina, located in the center of the 60-mile "Grand Strand" beach stretch, with a 2020 population of 35,682 making it the state's 13th-most populous city. The city attracts over 20 million visitors annually and ranks among the most visited U.S. destinations due to its warm subtropical climate, miles of beaches, 86 golf courses, and 1,800 restaurants. Originally settled by the Waccamaw people and later the Withers family in the colonial period, the area was developed as a resort community by Franklin Burroughs, whose widow named it Myrtle Beach after local wax-myrtle shrubs following the completion of a railroad and Seaside Inn. The Myrtle Beach Metro Area is one of the country's fastest-growing metropolitan regions, with a 2024 population of 479,426 representing nearly 28% growth over eight years as more than 104,000 people relocated to the area. Florence is the county seat of Florence County, South Carolina, located at the intersection of Interstates 20 and 95 in the historical Pee Dee region of northeastern South Carolina, with a 2020 population of 39,899 making it the 10th-most populous city in the state. Founded as a railroad hub in 1871 by General William Harllee, who named it after his daughter, Florence became the junction of three major railroad systems - the Wilmington and Manchester, the Northeastern, and the Cheraw and Darlington - and served as a crucial Confederate supply and repair center during the Civil War, hosting the Florence Stockade that held 12,000 to 18,000 Union prisoners. Recognized as an All-American City in 1965 by the National Civic League, Florence evolved economically from cotton and timber production to become known for textiles, pharmaceuticals, paper, and manufacturing, with healthcare becoming a major industry driver by the 20th century. The city functions as a higher education hub, home to Francis Marion University and Florence-Darlington Technical College, and has a vibrant cultural scene anchored by the Florence Little Theater Guild, which celebrated 100 years of performances in 2023. Since 2010, Florence has undergone significant downtown revitalization, transforming a 70-square-block district into a redevelopment area that has expanded to include over 600 acres including the historic Timrod Park.