MONCKS CORNER
Historians believe that the origins of Moncks Corner dates back to about 1738. Taking its name from landowner Thomas Monk, the town developed on the southeast corner of his Mitton Plantation as a trading post where the area’s Santee River planters went to sell their crops. It was not until 1856 when the Northeastern Railroad laid its tracks over portions of the former Mitton and Fairlawn plantations that five acres were set aside for a depot and town center for Moncks Corner.
Located just a short drive from historic downtown Charleston, S.C. and only minutes from I-95 and I-26, this small but thriving town serves as the county seat for Berkeley County. Long synonymous with mysterious swamps and country living, this area’s history is rooted in its pre-Revolutionary War role in America’s fight for independence. Called the unofficial capital of the Hell Hole Swamp region, the area’s boggy terrain is where Gen. Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, outwitted and eluded his British adversaries.
The history of Moncks Corner and Berkeley County is preserved at the Old Santee Canal Park, a commemoration of the state’s beautiful natural resources and a testament to the tremendous historical significance of the Santee Canal, America’s first true canal. The park is also home to the Berkeley Museum, which documents 12,000 years of the region’s history. Exhibits and artifacts focus on Gen. Francis Marion, the first American inhabitants, colonial life, the Civil War, and rural electrification.
Moncks Corner and Berkeley Country are considered a “sportsman’s paradise” because of the area’s abundance of lakes and forests which create a haven for outdoor activities of all kinds. Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie provide boating and water-skiing opportunities, and are world-famous for fishing, with state- and world-record catches for catfish, shellcracker, shad, bass and others. The Francis Marion National Forest offers great opportunities for hunting, as well as bird watching, camping, biking and exploring.
With a population of nearly 6,000, Moncks Corner boasts two modern medical facilities and a high-rise office complex. Of course, the mild climate year-round makes Moncks Corner and Berkeley County a highly desirable place to live.
| MOSS GROVE | OAKLEY POINT |
| INGLEWOOD | OAK HILL PLANTATION |
| FOXBANK PLANTATION | |
