Goose Creek, South Carolina

Goose Creek is the most populous city in Berkeley County in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 45,946 at the 2020 census, making it the 7th-most populous city in the state. Most of Naval Support Activity Charleston is in Goose Creek. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used only by the U.S. Census Bureau and other federal agencies for statistical purposes, Goose Creek is included within the Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Although the city of Goose Creek was established in 1961, its history dates back many centuries. In the 1670s the Etiwan moved to the area to escape the Westo, seeking protection among the plantations of early colonists who were often referred to as the "Goose Creek men", mostly settled a few miles north of Charleston near a stream called Goose Creek, a tributary of the Cooper River. The Goose Creek men became leaders of the early Indian trade, and by the 1690s many held important offices in the colonial government. At first the Goose Creek men dealt mainly in Indian slaves, while later the deerskin trade dominated. Several colonial governors were Goose Creek men, such as James Moore and Robert Daniell. Other prominent men included brothers Daniel and Pierre Bacot.

The Otranto Plantation Indigo Vats and St. James Church are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Goose Creek is located in southern Berkeley County. It is bordered to the east by the Cooper River and the Back River, to the southeast by an outer portion of the city of Charleston, to the southwest by the city of Hanahan and (farther to the west) the city of North Charleston in Charleston County, and to the west by the unincorporated community of Ladson.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (1.14%) is water.

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Goose Creek had a population of 45,946 people and 10,341 families. The median age was 33.1 years; 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 104.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.9 males age 18 and over.

As of the 2020 census, 96.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 4.0% lived in rural areas.

As of the 2020 census, there were 16,298 households in Goose Creek, of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.8% were married-couple households, 15.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

| White || 27,725 || 60.3%

| Black or African American || 9,995 || 21.8%

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 292 || 0.6%

| Asian || 1,620 || 3.5%

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 66 || 0.1%

| Some other race || 2,244 || 4.9%

| Two or more races || 4,004 || 8.7%

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 4,349 || 9.5%

2010 census

At the 2010 census

Education

There are three high schools that serve the Goose Creek area. Goose Creek High School and Stratford High School serve students inside Goose Creek, while Cane Bay High School is located outside Goose Creek city limits and serves students from both in and out of Goose Creek's city limits. Goose Creek High School is the home of the Berkeley County School of the Arts (BCA) Program.

Goose Creek has a public library, a branch of the Berkeley County Library System.

Notable people

Curtis Campbell, president and CEO of H&R Block
Madelyn Cline, actress
Sean McPherson, South Dakota state legislator
Brandon Shell, offensive lineman, New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks
Justin Smoak, Major League Baseball player
Thomas Porcher Stoney, 53rd Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina
Matt Wieters, Major League Baseball player
Joseph Young, orchestra conductor
OsamaSon, Underground rapper