Folly Beach, South Carolina

Folly Beach, South Carolina
Folly Beach
Location of Folly Beach in South Carolina
Coordinates: 32°38′48″N 79°58′41″W / 32.64667°N 79.97806°W / 32.64667; -79.97806[1]
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Carolina
CountyCharleston
Incorporated1938 (town), 1973 (city)
Area
 • Total
18.87 sq mi (48.87 km2)
 • Land12.51 sq mi (32.39 km2)
 • Water6.36 sq mi (16.48 km2)
Elevation0 ft (0 m)
Population
 • Total
2,078
 • Density166.1/sq mi (64.15/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
29439
Area code843, 854
FIPS code45-26035[4]
GNIS feature ID2403628[1]
Websitewww.cityoffollybeach.com

Folly Beach is a public city on Folly Island in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Folly Beach had a population of 2,078.[5] Folly Beach is within the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville metropolitan area and the Charleston-North Charleston Urbanized Areas.

History

The Folly North Site (38CH1213) and Secessionville Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]

Geography

Folly Beach is 11 miles (18 km) south of downtown Charleston along the Atlantic Ocean.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 18.9 square miles (48.9 km2), of which 12.5 square miles (32.4 km2) is land and 6.4 square miles (16.5 km2), or 33.72%, is water.[7]

Known to Charleston locals as "the Edge of America",[8] Folly Beach is home to numerous surf spots, the most popular being the Washout, 10th Street and the Folly Beach Pier. Despite its usually calm conditions, Folly Beach has gained prominence as one of the more popular surf spots along the East Coast. Folly Beach is an eclectic beach community with surf shops, restaurants, gift shops, offices, and bars along Center Street; the main road and gateway to the community.[9]

Endangered North Atlantic right whales, the state animal of Georgia and South Carolina, migrate along the coast during the migration seasons.[10]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19601,137
19701,1571.8%
19801,47827.7%
19901,398−5.4%
20002,11651.4%
20102,61723.7%
20202,078−20.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[11][3]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Folly Beach had a population of 2,078, 1,057 households, and 716 families residing in the city.[12]

The median age was 57.4 years, with 12.0% of residents under the age of 18 and 32.4% aged 65 years or older.[12]

For every 100 females there were 94.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.2 males age 18 and over.[12]

91.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 8.3% lived in rural areas.[13]

Of the 1,057 households in Folly Beach, 13.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 50.2% were married-couple households, 19.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present; 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]

There were 2,391 housing units, of which 55.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.9%.[12]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[14]
Race Number Percent
White 1,954 94.0%
Black or African American 19 0.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native 7 0.3%
Asian 9 0.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0%
Some other race 10 0.5%
Two or more races 79 3.8%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 28 1.3%

Government

The city is run by an elected strong mayor-council government system.

Mayor

Tim Goodwin

Council members

DJ Rich, Katherine Houghton, E.D., William Farley, Billy Grooms, Eddie Ellis, and Chris Bizzell

Voting patterns

In 2006, the city's residents voted against Amendment 1, which sought to ban same-sex marriage in South Carolina. Statewide, the measure passed by 78% to 22%, but the voters of Folly Beach rejected it by a vote of 503 (48.8%) to 528 (51.2%).[15]

County parks

The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) operates numerous facilities in Charleston County. In Folly Beach, the county operates Folly Beach County Park, Folly Beach Fishing Pier and the Folly River Boat Landing.

Education

There is one school district in the county, Charleston County School District.[16]

It is zoned to James Island Elementary School,[17] Camp Road Middle School,[18] and James Island Charter High School.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Folly Beach, South Carolina
  2. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  6. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  7. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Folly beach city, South Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved June 25, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ^ Pisarro, Marcelo (2024). Pasajes sonoros: Escritos sobre música, volumen I. AZ Editora. p. 146. ISBN 9789873507939.
  9. ^ "En el borde de América". La Agenda - Ideas y cultura en la Ciudad. Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  10. ^ "Rare right whale spotted off Folly Beach - Post and Courier". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on January 19, 2016.
  11. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d e "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  13. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  14. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  15. ^ "Charleston County election results by precinct: 2006 general election".
  16. ^ "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Charleston County, SC" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2024. - Text list
  17. ^ "Elementary school for Folly Island" (PDF). Charleston County School District. Retrieved February 8, 2024. - Generated from here.
  18. ^ "Middle school for Folly Island" (PDF). Charleston County School District. Retrieved February 8, 2024. - Generated from here.
  19. ^ "High school for Folly Island" (PDF). Charleston County School District. Retrieved February 8, 2024. - Generated from here.