Charleston’s rich history is known far and wide. But within the Holy City’s limits lies a neighborhood younger than its median resident.
Kissed by the Wando and Cooper rivers, Daniel Island (DI) doesn’t have a lot in common with neighbors like Avondale, the East Side, Hampton Park or South of Broad. And unlike North Charleston and Mount Pleasant, DI is the only part of the city of Charleston that belongs entirely to Berkeley County.
It’s also the youngest community in Charleston.
The mostly unpopulated island was purchased by the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation in 1947 and primarily used for farming and cattle ranching. But completion of Interstate 526 in 1992 changed everything. The farmland was sold and construction began on Daniel Island. The planned community will celebrate its 30-year anniversary in 2026.
But Daniel Island’s rapid expansion hasn’t stripped the neighborhood of its charm: Charleston newcomers see real beauty in DI.
Influx of new residents
Terry of DI florist Blume Designs moved to the area in 2021. Her daughter, who went to the College of Charleston, recommended the island as a great place to relocate.
Terry, who asked that her last name not be used, fell in love with the island and didn’t look back: “The island is lovely. It’s well-developed and well cared for,” she said.
Home to local businesses and chain stores, Daniel Island has everything the everyday consumer needs and more. Laid out in a clever grid design, the neighborhood’s shopping arenas are accessible but separate from the residential areas, whose narrow streets give the island a cozy feel.
But the island’s personality isn’t the only thing that attracted Terry right away: “We’re in a great location — we’re 15 minutes from the airport, 15 to 20 minutes from downtown. We’re right in the middle,” she said.
More development on the way
Everything has a cost: The island’s convenient location is attracting more families — and more development — every year. Daniel Island currently is home to around 11,000 residents. That number is growing.
Erin Hanhauser moved to the island in 2008, where she started her real estate brokerage company Ever Haus Properties. She has seen the island grow.
“I used to see my colleagues and friends at Publix and at area restaurants all the time when I first moved here,” she said, recalling the small population of the island of two decades ago. “The population has grown quite a bit so now I feel like a smaller fish in a bigger sea.”
Cozy, tight-knit community
Daniel Island residents have worked hard to create a close-knit community in their fast-developing neighborhood. A mostly residential area, DI has a number of clubs and societies that locals can take part in.
From golf to boating to book to sports clubs, Daniel Island has one for every resident. And one club for newcomers.
“The East Cooper Newcomers Club (ECNC) was created to provide a friendly and welcoming means of enabling women who are newcomers to our area,” said incoming First Vice President Ellen Vance.
Through participating in social, educational and philanthropic activities, DI newcomers can create connections with their new community, Vance said.
The ECNC, however, is not unique in welcoming new families to Daniel Island: “The neighbors are welcoming and ready to lend a hand if you need it,” she said.
Some glue that holds DI neighbors close is Bishop England High School (BEHS).
BEHS President Patrick Finneran said he is thankful for the year-round support the school receives from the community.
“Many of the school’s neighbors attend sporting and other events at the school,” he said.
BEHS relocated to DI from downtown in 1998 to expand its athletic facilities and green space, Finneran said.
“The school is one of the original residents of the island, so many of the faculty and staff have watched the island grow,” he said.
Growth for the better
Daniel Island’s clubs and schools keep the island lively. Eleven-year island resident Bill Payer agrees: “There is an active young family dynamic,” he said.
Like many Daniel Island retirees, Payer moved there to be close to his son’s family, he said. He now works with the Daniel Island Historical Society.
“In the 10 years we’ve been here, growth has continued and traffic is heavier as a result,” said Payer, adding that he loves listening to “old timers” recall years when the island was less crowded with nostalgia.
But Payer isn’t mad about the new residents.
“There is a wide range of people from other parts of the country and plenty of local activities for all ages,” he said. “I find it a very vital lifestyle,” Payer said.
Broker Hanhauser is similarly glad for both fresh and longtime DI residents.
“For the most part, the people here are all very friendly and down to earth. We love our neighbors and everyone at our daughter’s school,” she said.
Through the years, she said she has seen Daniel Island grow for the better.
“Most of the residents are here full-time and everyone is committed to ensuring our Island stays beautiful and welcoming.”
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