First inhabited by the Sewee Indians, Mount Pleasant's first English settlers arrived in 1680. One of the earliest maps of the area calls it "North Point."

In 1770 Andrew Hibben obtained a ferry charter and bought land from Jacob Motte on the south side of Shem Creek. Hibben's ferry was the first to connect the town with the city of Charleston.

A newspaper article in 1889 reported, "The health of Mount Pleasant has been unprecedently fine for the past year. The town council expends about $2,000,000.00 on the streets and other necessary improvement, and the money is so judiciously applied that Mount Pleasant, in regard to general appearance, is one of the model towns of the state."

Today, with the crowning achievement of the Ravenel Bridge linking Mount Pleasant to Charleston and Waterfront Park, the town is known for its beautiful communities, great shopping and dining options, and proximity to beaches.

With a population of about 58,000, the town recently surpassed Greenville as the fourth largest municipality in the state. Money Magazine ranked Mount Pleasant at No. 70 in its list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the United States.

At the heart of Mount Pleasant is the "Old Village," a National Register Historic District with gracious homes from the colonial and antebellum periods.

The town is also home to one of the world's largest naval and maritime museum complexes, Patriots Point, which is dominated by the famous World War II aircraft carrier Yorktown and houses several other ships as well. It is one of the top tourist destinations in South Carolina.

Daniel Island, S.C.

A newly developed community, Daniel Island is part of the City of Charleston, although it is located in Berkeley County just a few minutes drive from the heart of Mount Pleasant. The island offers 4,000 acres of planned community living.

The island has only recently been developed. In 1947, the prominent Guggenheim family of New York purchased the entire island for cattle ranching and a family hunting retreat.

When Harry Frank Guggenheim passed away, the land passed to his foundation, which sponsored a group of some of the top urban visionaries from around the country to develop a master plan to ensure the island would be responsibly developed. The island was sold to the Daniel Island Company in 1997 and today is being developed in accordance with the vision outlined in the master plan.

Daniel Island offers a variety of shops as well as restaurants, banks, medical facilities and a grocery store. There are also a number of business and corporate offices in the center of town. Parks are plentiful here, with gardens and natural areas for families to enjoy.

The island is home to the Charleston Battery, the area's professional soccer team. Each year, the island hosts the Family Circle Cup Tennis Tournament, and concerts and cultural events are held at the stadium throughout the year.

The Club at Daniel Island holds events for its members and coordinates activities for both children and adults.

Isle of Palms, S.C.

Originally named Hunting Island and later Long Island, the Isle of Palms had no permanent inhabitants until the late 19th century when locals began to recognize the island as a refuge from the summer heat and tempo of Charleston.

The first home on Long Island was a summer getaway built by Nicholas Sottile in 1898. In 1899, J.S. Lawrence purchased the island and renamed it the Isle of Palms.

A bridge link to the islands was established in 1946. At that time, developer J.C. Long of The Beach Company purchased most of the island. He provided low-cost housing to veterans returning from World War II, and the Isle of Palms slowly developed into a residential bedroom community of greater Charleston while still maintaining its charm, natural beauty and desirability as a summertime getaway.

One of the most famous resorts in the Lowcountry is located on Isle of Palms. Originally called the Isle of Palms Beach and Racquet Club, it was renamed Wild Dunes Beach and Racquet Club in 1984 and today is simply called Wild Dunes. With nationally recognized golf courses and other resort amenities, Wild Dunes has become a major vacation locale on the South Carolina coast.

In 1989, Hurricane Hugo destroyed many homes and businesses on the island, and in the years since, a number of large new beach homes have been built. In the business district, popular Palm Boulevard has recently undergone a facelift with more parking and palm trees.

In 1993, the new Isle of Palms Connector opened, connecting the island directly to Mount Pleasant near I-526.

Charleston, S.C.

Founded by English settlers in 1670, Charleston has played a major part in American history since its founding. The peninsular city is what most people think of when they hear "Charleston," and it is brimming with historic buildings and places to shop, dine and visit.

Charleston has had its natural disasters, including an earthquake that shook the city in 1886 and Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Through it all, the downtown district has been a symbol for the enduring strength of the city.

The Historic Downtown District has stood throughout Charleston's history as a cultural capital of the South and the cultural heart of the city. Many consider it a "living museum." The downtown district also boasts numerous art galleries that display the city's impressive appreciation for the visual arts.

Settings downtown including the Battery, with views of Charleston Harbor and Mount Pleasant beyond, the neighborhoods of Wraggborough, Radcliffeborough and Ansonborough, and the cobblestone streets of the French Quarter. Quiet garden courtyards form the "back yards" of single houses whose front doors open onto porches perpendicular with the sidewalks, and many a tourist-filled horsedrawn carriage can be spotted in traffic.

The main shopping districts are along Market and King Streets, but businesses and eateries are sprinkled throughout the peninsula. These busy main arteries are surrounded by street after street of quiet, stately residences, lush with crape myrtles, wisteria and the garden landscapes that put Charleston on the map.

Sullivans Island, S.C.

Sullivans Island, a barrier island north of Charleston Harbor, is home to approximately 2,000 residents in half as many households. These are primarily full- or part-time citizens who enjoy the relaxed lifestyle of the island. There are very few short-term rentals and no hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts, or other transient lodgings.

The town, incorporated in 1817 as Moultrieville, did not allow lean-tos or shacks then or now. At that time lots were required to have a minimum of half an acre, and the same is true today.

Sullivan's Island is distinctive because the beachfront lands that have built up over the years are owned by the town and held in a perpetual easement by the Lowcountry Open Land Trust, thus protecting the natural environment along the Atlantic Ocean.

The island has a long military tradition of protecting the harbor from invaders, and many wonderful histories capture those stories. The island has played a part in fiction as well. Edgar Allan Poe was stationed at Fort Moultrie from 1827 to 1828 and used the island as the setting for his short story "The Gold Bug."

Remnants of the military are abundant in now-privately-held military housing; even former fortifications are now single-family residences. Many of these historic homes have withstood the test of time and ravaging weather.

The Sullivan's Island lighthouse, the most powerful in the world, was built in 1962. The 140-foot-tall triangular building boasts an elevator instead of the typical spiral staircase. It stands as a symbol of the island and can be seen from various points surrounding Charleston Harbor.

West Ashley, S.C.

The city limits of Charleston extend across the Ashley River to an area known as West Ashley. In fact, it is the place where the English colonists established the first permanent settlement in the Carolinas in 1670 along the banks of the Ashley River.

Among the area's historic treasures are three of the region's most visited plantations: Drayton Hall, Middleton Place, and Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. But in addition to this strong presense of history, West Ashley is also a thriving urban community with a population that has more than doubled since 1960 a testament to the area's livability.

Some of the neighborhoods closest to downtown Charleston feature charming brick cottages, many of which have been renovated in recent years. Other established neighborhoods wind through hundred-year-old live oak trees, with some home sites that feature sweeping views of the marsh or access to the Ashley River.

The area west of the Ashley River has intermingled businesses with residential communities. Shopping at Citadel Mall, one of the largest malls in the Charleston area or at a number of strip centers that line the major thoroughfares, offers close-at-hand conveniences to residents.

The West Ashley area is also blessed with its share of eating establishments.

Because new developments are still cropping up in this area, the choices for residential living are numerous, from condominiums and duplexes to large homes with dock and river access.

James Island, S.C.,

James Island is a large triangular sea island that is framed by Wappoo Creek and Charleston Harbor on the north, Morris Island and Folly Beach on the east, and the Stono River and Johns Island on the west.

During the 19th century, plantations were built on James Island, along with the village of Secessionville, a summer retreat for plantation owners. The first shots of the Civil War were fired from the island's Fort Johnson onto Fort Sumter in 1861.

All but a handful of houses were destroyed during the war, and the island reverted to a rural farming area, much like its neighbor, Johns Island. Laced with creeks, and affording some spectacular views of Charleston, James Island became somewhat of a real estate secret just off Charleston Harbor.

The island began experiencing renewed growth during the 20th century, but the opening of the James Island Expressway in 1993 suddenly made James Island and the other islands west of Charleston prime locations for new development. Today many business and residential areas cover James Island, making it a popular place for a family-oriented lifestyle in close proximity to the city. The island's wide variety of housing options draws people from all walks of life.

James Island has all the conveniences and most of the pleasures of a larger city. There are many options for dining and shopping, as well as various recreational outlets.

Recently, James Island residents voted to incorporate as a town, but it is unclear whether the vote will stand because of legal questions being raised by the city of Charleston.