James Island, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
James Island is a former town in Charleston County
, South Carolina
, United States
. It is located in the central and southern parts of James Island
. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes only, James Island is included within the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville metropolitan area and the Charleston-North Charleston Urbanized Area.
http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/06/21/2232097/court-again-turns-down-james-island.html
. Island residents created the corporation of the Town of James Island on January 8, 1993 and sought recognition by the South Carolina
state legislature. A lawsuit was filed by Charleston as the city sought the right to freely annex additional areas for expansion. A second attempt at recognition in 2002 also failed.
South Carolina changed the state laws affecting incorporation, effective on July 1, 2005. A third attempt to become a town was successful in June 2006, when about 3,000 voted to incorporate. The day after the vote, Charleston
mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.
filed a lawsuit against the town for the third time saying that it was unconstitutional. The town administration continued its operations while awaiting the court ruling. Mary Clark was elected mayor of the town for the third time in August 2008. Soon after taking office, Mayor Clark seems to have set about to provide all services required under the South Carolina Incorporation law.
On November 7, 2008 the City of Charleston lost its lawsuit against the Town of James Island in State Appellate Court. On June 20, 2011, the South Carolina Supreme Court reversed the lower court's ruling, once again invalidating the existence of the town. The Town has stated that this decision will be further appealed.
The town uses the Charleston County Sheriff for police and the James Island Public Service District (JIPSD) for fire protection, refuse collection, and sewer service. Each resident of the town pays taxes to the county and the JIPSD.
James Island does not levy a property tax millage, instead it receives income from business licenses, building permit fees, and sales tax revenue refunds. A portion of sales tax revenues are returned to the cities for property tax relief. The Town uses local option sales tax revenues to provide a tax credit against the property taxes paid by its citizens to the James Island Public Service District.
While the town has been incorporated in the past, the former town limits do not incorporate the entire island of James Island, as the City of Charleston has annexed land on James Island before the original incorporation of the town and between subsequent reincorporations. There are approximately 18,000 residents in what were the town boundaries and approximately 20,000 in Charleston's city limits as of the 2010 US Census.
The Town of James Island provides planning and zoning, building inspections, and code enforcement services. Public works, including drainage ditch maintenance, road repairs (filling potholes,) and earth road maintenance are provided through the use of both private contractors and Charleston County public works.
During the second term of Mayor Clark, there was also some concern over a relatively large contract the town let to Clark's son for computer services. Clark defended this because he was the only bidder for the work, and some $2,000 had already been spent advertising the bid proposal.
In an election on August 3, 2010, incumbent Clark lost to Bill Woolsey, an economics professor who was a former town councilman. Woolsey is the third Mayor of the Town of James Island, the first being Joan Sooy, who was its founding mother, and who was followed by Mary Clark.
James Island is the home of many historical events and areas. The last remaining Sea Island cotton plantation, McLeod Plantation, is on James Island and was recently sold by Historic Charleston Foundation to the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission. Ft. Johnson is the site of the first shot of the Civil War, and the remains of Ft. Lamar are nearby. Recent renovations of historical places include the Seashore Farmer's Lodge on Sol Legare Road.
along Wappoo Creek and the inland waterway. The neighborhood boasts a public boat landing, Charleston Municipal Golf Course, a playground, five restaurants and antique shops. Leading into the neighborhood is the Avenue of Oaks, consisting of 73 live oak trees believed to be over 100 years old. They once led to Wappoo Hall Plantation on the Stono River. A Civil War fortification known as Fort Pemberton, built in 1862, remains today.
Charleston County, South Carolina
Charleston County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, its population was 330,368. Its county seat is Charleston. It is the third-most populous county in the state . Charleston County was created in 1901 by an act of the South...
, South Carolina
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...
. It is located in the central and southern parts of James Island
James Island (South Carolina)
James Island is one of South Carolina's most urban Sea Islands. The island is separated from peninsular downtown Charleston by the Ashley River, from the mainland by Wappoo Creek and the Wappoo Cut, and from Johns Island by the Stono River...
. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes only, James Island is included within the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville metropolitan area and the Charleston-North Charleston Urbanized Area.
http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/06/21/2232097/court-again-turns-down-james-island.html
History
Long settled as a semi-rural area, this island has been affected by increasing urbanization and the expansion of the city of CharlestonCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. Island residents created the corporation of the Town of James Island on January 8, 1993 and sought recognition by the South Carolina
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...
state legislature. A lawsuit was filed by Charleston as the city sought the right to freely annex additional areas for expansion. A second attempt at recognition in 2002 also failed.
South Carolina changed the state laws affecting incorporation, effective on July 1, 2005. A third attempt to become a town was successful in June 2006, when about 3,000 voted to incorporate. The day after the vote, Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.
Joseph P. Riley, Jr.
Joseph P. Riley, Jr. is an American politician who is the long-time Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina. He is the longest serving mayor in the United States that is still living and in office.-Biography:...
filed a lawsuit against the town for the third time saying that it was unconstitutional. The town administration continued its operations while awaiting the court ruling. Mary Clark was elected mayor of the town for the third time in August 2008. Soon after taking office, Mayor Clark seems to have set about to provide all services required under the South Carolina Incorporation law.
On November 7, 2008 the City of Charleston lost its lawsuit against the Town of James Island in State Appellate Court. On June 20, 2011, the South Carolina Supreme Court reversed the lower court's ruling, once again invalidating the existence of the town. The Town has stated that this decision will be further appealed.
The town uses the Charleston County Sheriff for police and the James Island Public Service District (JIPSD) for fire protection, refuse collection, and sewer service. Each resident of the town pays taxes to the county and the JIPSD.
James Island does not levy a property tax millage, instead it receives income from business licenses, building permit fees, and sales tax revenue refunds. A portion of sales tax revenues are returned to the cities for property tax relief. The Town uses local option sales tax revenues to provide a tax credit against the property taxes paid by its citizens to the James Island Public Service District.
While the town has been incorporated in the past, the former town limits do not incorporate the entire island of James Island, as the City of Charleston has annexed land on James Island before the original incorporation of the town and between subsequent reincorporations. There are approximately 18,000 residents in what were the town boundaries and approximately 20,000 in Charleston's city limits as of the 2010 US Census.
The Town of James Island provides planning and zoning, building inspections, and code enforcement services. Public works, including drainage ditch maintenance, road repairs (filling potholes,) and earth road maintenance are provided through the use of both private contractors and Charleston County public works.
During the second term of Mayor Clark, there was also some concern over a relatively large contract the town let to Clark's son for computer services. Clark defended this because he was the only bidder for the work, and some $2,000 had already been spent advertising the bid proposal.
In an election on August 3, 2010, incumbent Clark lost to Bill Woolsey, an economics professor who was a former town councilman. Woolsey is the third Mayor of the Town of James Island, the first being Joan Sooy, who was its founding mother, and who was followed by Mary Clark.
James Island is the home of many historical events and areas. The last remaining Sea Island cotton plantation, McLeod Plantation, is on James Island and was recently sold by Historic Charleston Foundation to the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission. Ft. Johnson is the site of the first shot of the Civil War, and the remains of Ft. Lamar are nearby. Recent renovations of historical places include the Seashore Farmer's Lodge on Sol Legare Road.
Prominent people
- Stephen ColbertStephen ColbertStephen Tyrone Colbert is an American political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor. He is the host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, a satirical news show in which Colbert portrays a caricatured version of conservative political pundits.Colbert originally studied to be an...
, comedian and television host, spent some of his childhood on James Island and attended Stiles Point Elementary School. He has frequently mentioned both CharlestonCharleston, South CarolinaCharleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
and South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth 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...
on his television program The Colbert Report. - Roddy WhiteRoddy WhiteSharod Lamor White is an American football wide receiver playing for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League...
, Atlanta FalconsAtlanta FalconsThe Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
wide receiver - Samuel Smalls, the man on whom DuBose HeywardDuBose HeywardEdwin DuBose Heyward was a white American author best known for his 1925 novel Porgy. This novel was the basis for the play by the same name and, in turn, the opera Porgy and Bess with music by George Gershwin.-Life and career:Heyward was born in 1885 in Charleston, South Carolina and was a...
based his novel PorgyPorgyPorgy is a novel written by American author DuBose Heyward in 1925, as well as a play Dorothy Heyward helped him to write which debuted in 1927....
and its subsequent George GershwinGeorge GershwinGeorge Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
written opera Porgy and BessPorgy and BessPorgy and Bess is an opera, first performed in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. It was based on DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy and subsequent play of the same title, which he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy Heyward...
, is buried next to James Island Presbyterian Church. - Gorman Thomas, Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
center fielder and designated hitter.
Neighborhoods
One of James Island's oldest neighborhoods, Riverland Terrace, was developed in the 1940s. The Terrace is located 10 minutes west of downtown Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
along Wappoo Creek and the inland waterway. The neighborhood boasts a public boat landing, Charleston Municipal Golf Course, a playground, five restaurants and antique shops. Leading into the neighborhood is the Avenue of Oaks, consisting of 73 live oak trees believed to be over 100 years old. They once led to Wappoo Hall Plantation on the Stono River. A Civil War fortification known as Fort Pemberton, built in 1862, remains today.