Hardeeville, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Hardeeville is a city in Jasper County, South Carolina
, United States
. The population was 2,952 at the 2010 census
, a 64 percent increase from its recorded population of 1,793 from the 2000 Census
. Hardeeville is included within the Hilton Head Island
–Beaufort
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
and German
settlement founded in 1732 on the banks of the Savannah River
, about two miles (3 km) northwest of the current city's center. The settlement ultimately failed as disease
and competition from growing Savannah
proved too much for the local settlers to overcome. Many left the immediate area, moving elsewhere in the Lowcountry region (including a new hamlet called Switzerland
) or upriver to the new communities of Augusta
and Hamburg, though some remained.
The area saw some skirmishes between Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War. The Charleston and Savannah Railway
(today's CSX railway) was considered a prized possession and major strategic goal for Union forces. In an effort to defend the railroad, the Battle of Honey Hill
was one of the last battles won by southern forces in late 1864, shortly before General William Sherman attacked South Carolina after his "March to the Sea
" in Georgia.
The area within the city was settled in the 19th century by Isaac Hardee, a native North Carolinean
. Through his son William White Hardee's efforts, a depot
and general store
along the Charleston to Savannah railway opened up. This depot and the surrounding areas became collectively known as Hardee's Station, and eventually as Hardeeville at the town's founding in 1911. The area became renowned for its timber operations with the Argent Lumber Company, which had one of the largest logging operations in the world centered around the town. Unique to the area was the swamp logging procedure that was utilized, which made operations far more treacherous than standard logging. Narrow-gauge railroads
were constructed to help deliver timber to a processing area, where the lumber would be lifted onto standard-gauge rail cars or trucks headed to all parts of North America
. As a tribute to Argent's impact on the community, the city was donated an H.K. Porter 2-8-0 steam locomotive (c/n 4776, built January 1911), Argent Lumber Company Number 7, for display in 1960.
Growth continued at a modest pace throughout the rest of the 20th century, though timbering operations were gradually scaled back as overseas lands became more sought after due to lower costs and more standard logging procedures. In spite of the decline of the logging industry, the construction of U.S. 17
and later Interstate 95
provided a new type of commerce; motorist services such as motels, restaurants, and gas stations. The development of Hilton Head Island as a resort destination had a further impact on the community, with an additional interstate exit providing greater commercial opportunity and affordable costs of living for service employees who moved to the city.
At the turn of the 21st century, development pressures along the U.S. 278
corridor became a central concern for city leaders. In response, Hardeeville began to annex large undeveloped parcels of land that were previously held by timbering and paper concerns. These annexations were done in order to guide new growth into larger planned developments
, increasing the city limits from 5 square miles (13 km²) in 2000 to over 50 square miles (129.5 km²) in 2010. In 2004, Core Communities became the first company to sign a development agreement with the city and began constructing Tradition Hilton Head. In the following years, other developments have begun or announced plans at developing in these areas. Although the recession
beginning in late 2007 had significantly slowed down the pace of development, the city has continued to grow due to continuous commitments from existing developers, and new investment related to industrial and commercial opportunities. These investments have allowed the city to make improvements to its existing areas in the form of streetscaping projects, improved community facilities, and general reinvestment.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 49.7 square miles (128.7 km²), all land in 2010. Nearly 90 percent of the city limits was annexed between 2000 and 2010, primarily to accommodate large, planned development communities located on former lands devoted to logging and timber harvesting.
The vast majority of the city is located on flat coastal plain land, with very few variations in elevation. The average elevation of the city is approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) above mean sea level. Most of Hardeeville is located within Jasper County, though a small portion of the city limits crosses into Beaufort County. Much of the city is bordered to the west by the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
, a large-scale nature preserve along the South Carolina and Georgia
sides of the Savannah River.
corridor, which connects Hardeeville with Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, and Beaufort. Most of these areas of the city were formerly owned by the Argent Lumber Company and is divided into several large parcels which are slated for development. Included in this area are the following developments:
. Other local newspapers that serve the community include the Jasper County Sun, and the Island Packet.
The city of Hardeeville also owns and operates a public affairs channel (HTVN Channel 9) on local cable networks. Broadcast channels shown on local services originate in the Savannah market.
The city is currently home to the University of South Carolina Beaufort
Sand Sharks baseball team. The Sand Sharks have played at the Richard Gray Baseball Complex since 2008 and will continue games at the facility until a new facility is built on the USCB's south campus in Beaufort County. The University of South Carolina Beaufort Sand Shark softball team also plays home games at the Richard Gray Baseball Complex, holding their inaugural season in 2012.
, and Bluffton
make it a prime site commercial and industrial development. Large land tracts, good access to downtown Savannah, the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, the Port of Savannah
, and a future container port
to be built on the Savannah River
are additional features that the city capitalizes on to attract investment. Upon final build-out of major projects and other developments, the city will likely become one of the ten largest cities in South Carolina based on population and land area.
The Hardeeville Industrial Park has served the City for several years, allowing a location for light industrial development and distribution. The industrial park is connected both to road and rail networks. Additional light industrial development is occurring in other areas of the city, especially along the Argent Boulevard and Highway 170 corridors.
RiverPort is a major new industrial development that will focus on logistics, transportation, and port-related industrial uses. This development will occur along the U.S. Highway 17 corridor south of the downtown area. http://www.riverportsc.com
Downtown Hardeeville has traditionally been the center of commercial activity in the city, with traveler services along U.S. 17 mixing together with more local-oriented businesses along Main Street. Hardeeville's two exits along Interstate 95 are some of South Carolina's more popular stopping points, with traveler-oriented commercial services. Although Exit 5 has been in existence longer and has more commercial activity, Exit 8 has experienced recent commercial growth as well. Exit 8 also is the access point to the local hospital and a popular county park located within 1 miles (1.6 km) of the exit. A future exit 3 is planned to facilitate industrial development in RiverPort and alleviate truck congestion through downtown Hardeeville.
New commercial opportunities will continue to expand along the U.S. 278 corridor in future years.
of 2010, there were 2,952 people, 642 households, and 428 families residing in the city. The population density
was 419.8 people per square mile (162.1/km²). There were 1,292 housing units at an average density of 26.0 per square mile (10.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 33.06% White, 34.52% African American, 0.61% Native American, 1.90% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races
, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.42% of the population.
As of the census of 2000, there were 642 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples
living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 111.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,977, and the median income for a family was $31,625. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $20,781 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,795. About 27.7% of families and 31.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.3% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.
, with one mayor and four council members. All members are elected to staggered four-year terms and are considered at-large (not representing geographic districts). The city council as of June 2010 was represented by the following officials:
The city also has an Election Commission, a Planning Commission, a Board of Zoning Appeals. Meetings from these boards as well as community events and news are broadcast by the city's Public-access television
and Government-access television (GATV) cable TV station, HTVN Channel 9.
Since 2006, Hardeeville operates under a council-manager form of government. City departments include finance, fire and EMT, planning & development, police, parks & recreation, and public works.
Two local institutions comprise the current extent of higher education in the Hardeeville area. Both the University of South Carolina Beaufort
South Campus and the Technical College of the Lowcountry
New River Campus are located just outside the city limits in Beaufort County.
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Interstate 95
, the major north-south highway
on the Eastern Seaboard
runs through Hardeeville. Exits 5 and 8 are located in the city and provide numerous motorist services. A South Carolina welcome center is located in the city, shortly before Exit 5 on the northbound lanes. The four-lane interstate is expected to be widened to six lanes from Exit 8 to the state line to help with increasing congestion. A future exit 3 is being planned and will help assist in the flow of traffic around the city and to Bluffton and Hilton Head Island.
U.S. Highway 17
, a principal route connecting Charleston, Savannah and beyond enters Hardeeville shortly after crossing the Savannah River from Georgia and remains in the city limits for 15 miles (24.1 km). The road is known locally as Speedway Boulevard for points south of I-95 and as Whyte Hardee Boulevard north of the interstate. U.S. 17 is exit 5 off I-95. The road is mainly four lanes wide, with some segments having a suicide lane, whereas other segments are limited-access. Sections of two-lane configurations exist in the northern and southern areas of the city.
U.S. Highway 278
, also known as Independence Bouleveard, is a heavily traveled thoroughfare connecting Hardeeville and Interstate 95 with Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. As mentioned above, most of the city's major large-scale developments are occurring along this corridor. U.S. 278 is exit 8 off I-95. Heading north, the route runs concurrent with U.S. 17 until Ridgeland
, before veering west towards Augusta
and Atlanta.
U.S. Highway 321
, also known as Deerfield Highway is a lightly traveled route for cars, yet serves as a commercially important link for trucks heading for the Port of Savannah. From its starting point/terminus at U.S. 17 near Interstate 95, the route heads northward toward Columbia
, Charlotte
, and Knoxville.
S.C. Highway 46
, known locally as Main Street, runs eastward from its starting point at U.S. 321 over the CSX rail line, intersects at U.S. 17, goes under I-95, and continues eastward towards Bluffton, passing by the hamlet of Pritchardville
and the new development of Palmetto Bluff. The route provides a more scenic and less traveled alternative to U.S. 278.
S.C. Highway 170, known locally as Okatie Highway, Freedom Parkway, and Alligator Alley, runs generally northeast to southwest, connecting Hardeeville with Beaufort and northern Beaufort County as well as Port Wentworth and the northern suburbs of Savannah. The highway also goes through the neighboring rural communities of Okatie and Levy, as well as the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.
The CSX Railway, (also known as the Charleston-Savannah Railway) currently operates both freight trains and passenger trains (via Amtrak
) along the lines, but do not stop at Hardeeville.
Local public transportation and dial-a-ride service is provided by Palmetto Breeze, a regional transportation authority run by the Lowcountry Council of Governments, which serves as the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization
(MPO). http://www.firsttransit.com/FirsttransitView.php?id=106
(BJWSA), based in Okatie. South Carolina Electric and Gas Company
(SCE&G) and Palmetto Electric Cooperative are the major suppliers of power to the city. Hargray
provides telephone and broadband services. Waste Pro provides solid waste services.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,952 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
, a 64 percent increase from its recorded population of 1,793 from the 2000 Census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. Hardeeville is included within the Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Hilton Head Island or Hilton Head is a resort town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is north of Savannah, Georgia, and south of Charleston. The island gets its name from Captain William Hilton...
–Beaufort
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Hilton Head Island-Beaufort micropolitan area
The Hilton Head Island–Beaufort Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in South Carolina, anchored by the town of Hilton Head Island and the city of Beaufort....
.
History
The earliest European settlement in the region was Purrysburg, a former Swiss HuguenotHuguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
and German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
settlement founded in 1732 on the banks of the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
, about two miles (3 km) northwest of the current city's center. The settlement ultimately failed as disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
and competition from growing Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
proved too much for the local settlers to overcome. Many left the immediate area, moving elsewhere in the Lowcountry region (including a new hamlet called Switzerland
Switzerland, South Carolina
Switzerland is an unincorporated community in Jasper County, South Carolina, United States, near the Georgia border. The community is part of the Hilton Head Island–Beaufort Micropolitan Statistical Area....
) or upriver to the new communities of Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
and Hamburg, though some remained.
The area saw some skirmishes between Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War. The Charleston and Savannah Railway
Charleston and Savannah Railway
The Charleston and Savannah Railway was a 19th-century American railroad serving the coastal states of South Carolina and Georgia and running through part of the South Carolina Lowcountry....
(today's CSX railway) was considered a prized possession and major strategic goal for Union forces. In an effort to defend the railroad, the Battle of Honey Hill
Battle of Honey Hill
-References:** * Eicher, David J., The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil War, Simon & Schuster, 2001, ISBN 0-684-84944-5.* The Union Army; A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States, 1861–65 — Records of the Regiments in the Union Army — Cyclopedia of Battles...
was one of the last battles won by southern forces in late 1864, shortly before General William Sherman attacked South Carolina after his "March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
" in Georgia.
The area within the city was settled in the 19th century by Isaac Hardee, a native North Carolinean
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Through his son William White Hardee's efforts, a depot
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
and general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
along the Charleston to Savannah railway opened up. This depot and the surrounding areas became collectively known as Hardee's Station, and eventually as Hardeeville at the town's founding in 1911. The area became renowned for its timber operations with the Argent Lumber Company, which had one of the largest logging operations in the world centered around the town. Unique to the area was the swamp logging procedure that was utilized, which made operations far more treacherous than standard logging. Narrow-gauge railroads
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
were constructed to help deliver timber to a processing area, where the lumber would be lifted onto standard-gauge rail cars or trucks headed to all parts of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. As a tribute to Argent's impact on the community, the city was donated an H.K. Porter 2-8-0 steam locomotive (c/n 4776, built January 1911), Argent Lumber Company Number 7, for display in 1960.
Growth continued at a modest pace throughout the rest of the 20th century, though timbering operations were gradually scaled back as overseas lands became more sought after due to lower costs and more standard logging procedures. In spite of the decline of the logging industry, the construction of U.S. 17
U.S. Route 17
U.S. Route 17 or U.S. Highway 17 is a north–south United States highway. The highway spans the southeastern United States and is close to the Atlantic Coast for much of its length. The highway's southern terminus is at Punta Gorda, Florida, at an intersection with U.S. Route 41...
and later Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in South Carolina
Interstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In South Carolina, I-95 runs approximately parallel to the Atlantic Ocean shore although about inland, from Hardeeville in the south to Dillon in the northeast.-Route...
provided a new type of commerce; motorist services such as motels, restaurants, and gas stations. The development of Hilton Head Island as a resort destination had a further impact on the community, with an additional interstate exit providing greater commercial opportunity and affordable costs of living for service employees who moved to the city.
At the turn of the 21st century, development pressures along the U.S. 278
U.S. Route 278
U.S. Route 278 is a parallel route of U.S. Route 78. It currently runs for 1,074 miles from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina to Wickes, Arkansas at U.S. Highway 71/U.S. Highway 59. It might be notable that it is longer than its parent highway, US Hwy-78. US Hwy-278 passes through the states of...
corridor became a central concern for city leaders. In response, Hardeeville began to annex large undeveloped parcels of land that were previously held by timbering and paper concerns. These annexations were done in order to guide new growth into larger planned developments
Planned Unit Development
A planned unit development , is both a type of building development as well as a regulatory process. A PUD is a designed grouping of varied and compatible land uses, such as housing, recreation, commercial centers, and industrial parks, all within one contained development or...
, increasing the city limits from 5 square miles (13 km²) in 2000 to over 50 square miles (129.5 km²) in 2010. In 2004, Core Communities became the first company to sign a development agreement with the city and began constructing Tradition Hilton Head. In the following years, other developments have begun or announced plans at developing in these areas. Although the recession
United States housing bubble
The United States housing bubble is an economic bubble affecting many parts of the United States housing market in over half of American states. Housing prices peaked in early 2006, started to decline in 2006 and 2007, and may not yet have hit bottom as of 2011. On December 30, 2008 the...
beginning in late 2007 had significantly slowed down the pace of development, the city has continued to grow due to continuous commitments from existing developers, and new investment related to industrial and commercial opportunities. These investments have allowed the city to make improvements to its existing areas in the form of streetscaping projects, improved community facilities, and general reinvestment.
Geography
Hardeeville is located at 32°17′2"N 81°4′43"W (32.283850, -81.078496).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 49.7 square miles (128.7 km²), all land in 2010. Nearly 90 percent of the city limits was annexed between 2000 and 2010, primarily to accommodate large, planned development communities located on former lands devoted to logging and timber harvesting.
The vast majority of the city is located on flat coastal plain land, with very few variations in elevation. The average elevation of the city is approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) above mean sea level. Most of Hardeeville is located within Jasper County, though a small portion of the city limits crosses into Beaufort County. Much of the city is bordered to the west by the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge is a 29,175 acre National Wildlife Refuge located in Chatham and Effingham counties in Georgia and Jasper County in South Carolina. Of the total area, is in Georgia and is in South Carolina...
, a large-scale nature preserve along the South Carolina and Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
sides of the Savannah River.
Downtown area
- "Downtown" or "Old Town Hardeeville" refers generally to the original city limit extents of the community, bound between Exits 5 and 8 along I-95 and between the interstate and the CSX rail line. Downtown consists mostly of one-story single-family homes along quiet and shaded streets. Main Street (S.C. 46) and Whyte Hardee Boulevard (U.S. 17) provide the majority of commercial development in downtown. Locally-oriented commerce is located along Main Street and northern portions of Whyte Hardee Boulevard.
- Car Moorer Acres , also known as Carmore Acres is often considered to be part of downtown Hardeeville but is located on the eastern side of Interstate 95. A small commercial area exists along Main Street and along Frontage Road.
- Jenny Greene is located about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of downtown Hardeeville. It is an affordable housing community of attached homes and apartments, developed by WODA.
- Deerfield Village is located approximately two miles (3 km) north of downtown Hardeeville. It is an affordable housing community of single-family homes and duplexes, developed by Jasper County Neighbors United, a local non-profit housing group. http://www.jcunited.org/
- Pine Arbor is an area with larger homes and properties east of the downtown core along Pine Arbor Road. The Heritage Place neighborhood is located along this corridor. Some of the properties along this road are not in the city limits.
U.S. 278 corridor
Much of Hardeeville's population growth can be attributed to the continuing development along the U.S. 278U.S. Route 278
U.S. Route 278 is a parallel route of U.S. Route 78. It currently runs for 1,074 miles from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina to Wickes, Arkansas at U.S. Highway 71/U.S. Highway 59. It might be notable that it is longer than its parent highway, US Hwy-78. US Hwy-278 passes through the states of...
corridor, which connects Hardeeville with Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, and Beaufort. Most of these areas of the city were formerly owned by the Argent Lumber Company and is divided into several large parcels which are slated for development. Included in this area are the following developments:
- Hilton Head Lakes at Hardeeville, a single-family residential development with lagoon-oriented lots. A future commercial and multi-family phase will be included within the development. In 2010, Hilton Head Lakes acquired the former Tradition Hilton Head property and renamed it Hilton Head Lakes North. The property is expected to be a mixed use development and includes additional lifestyle amenities, including a golf course. http://www.hiltonheadlakes.net
- Hampton Pointe, a residential golf course community by Toll BrothersToll BrothersToll Brothers is a Horsham, Pennsylvania based luxury homes builder.-Company Overview:Toll Brothers is a residential and commercial real estate development company with communities in 50 markets throughout 19 states...
. http://www.hamptonpointesc.com
- Courtney Bend, a luxury garden apartment community by ContraVest. http://www.courtneybend.com
- Sun CitySun City-South Africa:* Sun City, North West, a luxury casino resort, situated in the North West Province-United States:* The Sun City is a nickname or moniker for El Paso, TX because of the fact that sun shines for more than 302 days on average in the city....
Hilton Head, a new northern phase to the existing over-55 community by Pulte-Del Webb CommunitiesPulte HomesPulte Homes, Inc is a Bloomfield Hills, MI based company founded by Bill Pulte. Announced April 8, 2009, Pulte Homes has agreed to acquire Centex - creating the nation's largest homebuilding company in a stock transaction worth $3.1 billion, including $1.8 billion of debt...
. http://www.delwebb.com
Media
Hardeeville's weekly newspaper is Hardeeville Today, http://www.hardeevilletoday.com which is a subsidiary of the Savannah Morning NewsSavannah Morning News
The Savannah Morning News is a daily newspaper in Savannah, Georgia. It is published by Morris Communications, Inc. The motto of the paper is "Light of the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry"...
. Other local newspapers that serve the community include the Jasper County Sun, and the Island Packet.
The city of Hardeeville also owns and operates a public affairs channel (HTVN Channel 9) on local cable networks. Broadcast channels shown on local services originate in the Savannah market.
Community facilities
- Hardeeville City Hall
- Hardeeville Museum (inside City Hall)
- Hardeeville Community Library
- Senior Citizens Center
- Coastal Carolina Hospital
- Hardeeville Recreational Park (sports and recreation fields & courts)
- Hardeeville Veterans Park & Argent Lumber Company Engine 7
- Sgt. Jasper County Park
- The Sarge Disc Golf Course
Festivals and events
The city hosts celebrations throughout the year to garner community involvement and interest. Among the more notable celebrations include:- Easter Egg Hunt (March/April)
- Relay for LifeRelay For LifeRelay For Life is the main volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. Originating in the United States, the Relay For Life event has spread to 21 countries. Relay events are held in local communities, campus universities, military bases, and in cyberspace...
(April/May) - Fireworks & Fun Fourth of July Celebration (June/July)
- National Night OutNational Night OutNational Night Out is a community-police awareness-raising event in the US, held the first Tuesday of August....
(August) - CatfishCatfishCatfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
Festival (September/October) - ChristmasChristmasChristmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
Parade (December)
Sports and recreation
Through the city's recreation department, Youth and Adult athletics are sponsored year-round. Activities include football, flag football, basketball, softball, soccer, and cheerleading. Most recreational events take place at the city's recreation complex located behind City Hall.The city is currently home to the University of South Carolina Beaufort
University of South Carolina Beaufort
Located in the heart of the Carolina Sea Islands, the University of South Carolina Beaufort is a senior institution of the University of South Carolina system serving the southeast coast of Georgia and South Carolina...
Sand Sharks baseball team. The Sand Sharks have played at the Richard Gray Baseball Complex since 2008 and will continue games at the facility until a new facility is built on the USCB's south campus in Beaufort County. The University of South Carolina Beaufort Sand Shark softball team also plays home games at the Richard Gray Baseball Complex, holding their inaugural season in 2012.
Religion
The city is home to several Christian denominations, with most churches located in the downtown area. Other religious faiths have houses of worship in surrounding communities, especially in Beaufort, Hilton Head, and Savannah.Economy
Hardeeville's central location from other fast growing areas including Hilton Head Island, BeaufortBeaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
, and Bluffton
Bluffton, South Carolina
The weather in the Bluffton, SC area is typical of the Southeast with generally mild temperatures from Fall through Spring and a warm and humid Summer. There can be occasionally snow flurries in the winter but that is quite unusual....
make it a prime site commercial and industrial development. Large land tracts, good access to downtown Savannah, the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, the Port of Savannah
Port of Savannah
The Port of Savannah is a major U.S. seaport located at Savannah, Georgia. Its extensive facilities for oceangoing vessels line both sides of the Savannah River approximately from the Atlantic Ocean...
, and a future container port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
to be built on the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
are additional features that the city capitalizes on to attract investment. Upon final build-out of major projects and other developments, the city will likely become one of the ten largest cities in South Carolina based on population and land area.
The Hardeeville Industrial Park has served the City for several years, allowing a location for light industrial development and distribution. The industrial park is connected both to road and rail networks. Additional light industrial development is occurring in other areas of the city, especially along the Argent Boulevard and Highway 170 corridors.
RiverPort is a major new industrial development that will focus on logistics, transportation, and port-related industrial uses. This development will occur along the U.S. Highway 17 corridor south of the downtown area. http://www.riverportsc.com
Downtown Hardeeville has traditionally been the center of commercial activity in the city, with traveler services along U.S. 17 mixing together with more local-oriented businesses along Main Street. Hardeeville's two exits along Interstate 95 are some of South Carolina's more popular stopping points, with traveler-oriented commercial services. Although Exit 5 has been in existence longer and has more commercial activity, Exit 8 has experienced recent commercial growth as well. Exit 8 also is the access point to the local hospital and a popular county park located within 1 miles (1.6 km) of the exit. A future exit 3 is planned to facilitate industrial development in RiverPort and alleviate truck congestion through downtown Hardeeville.
New commercial opportunities will continue to expand along the U.S. 278 corridor in future years.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 2,952 people, 642 households, and 428 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 419.8 people per square mile (162.1/km²). There were 1,292 housing units at an average density of 26.0 per square mile (10.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 33.06% White, 34.52% African American, 0.61% Native American, 1.90% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.42% of the population.
As of the census of 2000, there were 642 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 111.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,977, and the median income for a family was $31,625. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $20,781 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $11,795. About 27.7% of families and 31.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.3% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Hardeeville is governed by an elected, non-partisan city councilCity council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
, with one mayor and four council members. All members are elected to staggered four-year terms and are considered at-large (not representing geographic districts). The city council as of June 2010 was represented by the following officials:
- Bronco Bostick, Mayor (term ends 2012)
- Michael Foskey, Mayor Pro-Tem (term ends 2012)
- Roy Powell, Councilman (term ends 2012)
- Sal Arzillo, Councilman (term ends 2014)
- Sherry Carroll, Councilman (term ends 2014)
The city also has an Election Commission, a Planning Commission, a Board of Zoning Appeals. Meetings from these boards as well as community events and news are broadcast by the city's Public-access television
Public-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
and Government-access television (GATV) cable TV station, HTVN Channel 9.
Since 2006, Hardeeville operates under a council-manager form of government. City departments include finance, fire and EMT, planning & development, police, parks & recreation, and public works.
Education
Hardeeville presently has three schools (two public, one private). Hardeeville Elementary School and Hardeeville Junior/Senior High School are technically two separate public schools (run by the Jasper County School District) operating on one campus. The "Hardeeville South Campus" as it is officially known was opened in October 2007 and serves students in Hardeeville and southern Jasper County. Abundant Life Academy, a private, Christian-affiliated K-12 school is also located in the city limits. The Hardeeville Community Library serves residents in Hardeeville and southern Jasper County. Additional schools are planned in the future through development agreements signed by private developers and the city.Two local institutions comprise the current extent of higher education in the Hardeeville area. Both the University of South Carolina Beaufort
University of South Carolina Beaufort
Located in the heart of the Carolina Sea Islands, the University of South Carolina Beaufort is a senior institution of the University of South Carolina system serving the southeast coast of Georgia and South Carolina...
South Campus and the Technical College of the Lowcountry
Technical College of the Lowcountry
The Technical College of the Lowcountry is a comprehensive, two-year community college serving the Lowcountry region of South Carolina. The main campus is located in Beaufort along Ribaut Road...
New River Campus are located just outside the city limits in Beaufort County.
Transportation
Hardeeville serves as a major transportation hub for the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire regions, with several major regional transportation links. Listed below are some of the major transportation links that are located in the city. Interstate 95Interstate 95 in South Carolina
Interstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In South Carolina, I-95 runs approximately parallel to the Atlantic Ocean shore although about inland, from Hardeeville in the south to Dillon in the northeast.-Route...
, the major north-south highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
on the Eastern Seaboard
Eastern seaboard
An Eastern seaboard can mean any easternmost part of a continent, or its countries, states and/or cities.Eastern seaboard may also refer to:* East Coast of Australia* East Coast of the United States* Eastern Seaboard of Thailand-See also:...
runs through Hardeeville. Exits 5 and 8 are located in the city and provide numerous motorist services. A South Carolina welcome center is located in the city, shortly before Exit 5 on the northbound lanes. The four-lane interstate is expected to be widened to six lanes from Exit 8 to the state line to help with increasing congestion. A future exit 3 is being planned and will help assist in the flow of traffic around the city and to Bluffton and Hilton Head Island.
U.S. Highway 17U.S. Route 17 in South Carolina
In the U.S. state of South Carolina, U.S. Route 17 is a north–south highway located near the Atlantic Ocean. The route enters the state from Georgia at the Savannah River and serves Charleston and Myrtle Beach before entering North Carolina near Calabash.-Route description:US 17 enters into...
, a principal route connecting Charleston, Savannah and beyond enters Hardeeville shortly after crossing the Savannah River from Georgia and remains in the city limits for 15 miles (24.1 km). The road is known locally as Speedway Boulevard for points south of I-95 and as Whyte Hardee Boulevard north of the interstate. U.S. 17 is exit 5 off I-95. The road is mainly four lanes wide, with some segments having a suicide lane, whereas other segments are limited-access. Sections of two-lane configurations exist in the northern and southern areas of the city.
U.S. Highway 278U.S. Route 278
U.S. Route 278 is a parallel route of U.S. Route 78. It currently runs for 1,074 miles from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina to Wickes, Arkansas at U.S. Highway 71/U.S. Highway 59. It might be notable that it is longer than its parent highway, US Hwy-78. US Hwy-278 passes through the states of...
, also known as Independence Bouleveard, is a heavily traveled thoroughfare connecting Hardeeville and Interstate 95 with Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. As mentioned above, most of the city's major large-scale developments are occurring along this corridor. U.S. 278 is exit 8 off I-95. Heading north, the route runs concurrent with U.S. 17 until Ridgeland
Ridgeland, South Carolina
Ridgeland is a town in Jasper County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,518 at the 2000 census. It has been the county seat of Jasper County since its formation in 1912, prior to which it was in Beaufort County. As defined by the U.S...
, before veering west towards Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
and Atlanta.
U.S. Highway 321U.S. Route 321
U.S. Route 321 is a spur of U.S. Route 21. It runs for 526 miles from South Carolina to Tennessee. The northern terminus of U.S. 321 is between Lenoir City and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, at Interstate 40 exit 364, which is about 4 miles west of Interstate 40's junction with Interstate 75...
, also known as Deerfield Highway is a lightly traveled route for cars, yet serves as a commercially important link for trucks heading for the Port of Savannah. From its starting point/terminus at U.S. 17 near Interstate 95, the route heads northward toward Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
, and Knoxville.
S.C. Highway 46South Carolina Highway 46
South Carolina Highway 46 is a 17.2 mile state highway in Beaufort and Jasper counties in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina, connecting the rapidly growing communities of Bluffton and Hardeeville and serving as a parallel route to U.S. Highway 278.-Route description:From the eastern...
, known locally as Main Street, runs eastward from its starting point at U.S. 321 over the CSX rail line, intersects at U.S. 17, goes under I-95, and continues eastward towards Bluffton, passing by the hamlet of Pritchardville
Pritchardville, South Carolina
Pritchardville is an unincorporated community in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States, located between Hardeeville and Bluffton on South Carolina Highway 46. The community takes its name from nearby Pritchard Farms....
and the new development of Palmetto Bluff. The route provides a more scenic and less traveled alternative to U.S. 278.
S.C. Highway 170, known locally as Okatie Highway, Freedom Parkway, and Alligator Alley, runs generally northeast to southwest, connecting Hardeeville with Beaufort and northern Beaufort County as well as Port Wentworth and the northern suburbs of Savannah. The highway also goes through the neighboring rural communities of Okatie and Levy, as well as the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.The CSX Railway, (also known as the Charleston-Savannah Railway) currently operates both freight trains and passenger trains (via Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
) along the lines, but do not stop at Hardeeville.
Local public transportation and dial-a-ride service is provided by Palmetto Breeze, a regional transportation authority run by the Lowcountry Council of Governments, which serves as the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization
Metropolitan planning organization
A metropolitan planning organization is a federally-mandated and federally-funded transportation policy-making organization in the United States that is made up of representatives from local government and governmental transportation authorities...
(MPO). http://www.firsttransit.com/FirsttransitView.php?id=106
Utilities
Since 2005, water and sewer services are provided by the regional Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer AuthorityBeaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority
The Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority is a public, non-profit corporation which handles water and wastewater operations for many areas in Beaufort and Jasper counties in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina...
(BJWSA), based in Okatie. South Carolina Electric and Gas Company
SCANA
SCANA Corporation is a $9 billion Fortune 500 energy-based holding company, based in Cayce, South Carolina, whose businesses include regulated electric and natural gas utility operations and other energy-related businesses...
(SCE&G) and Palmetto Electric Cooperative are the major suppliers of power to the city. Hargray
Hargray
Hargray is an ILEC/CLEC, MSO, and ISP that services the Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia regions. Current products offered are land line telephone service, high speed Internet, cable television, and cellular phone service through Cricket Communications.-Coverage...
provides telephone and broadband services. Waste Pro provides solid waste services.