The City of Charleston annexed its first West Ashley tract in 1960, and the area has been growing ever since. The population doubled from 1960 to 1990 and was approaching 60,000 at last count.
West Ashley is a patchwork of old and new neighborhoods and businesses that line the major traffic arteries (U.S. Highway 17 S. and S.C. Highway 61).

Many of the older neighborhoods have graceful old live oaks and spacious, well-tended lawns. In fact, there's a new movement afoot to do some strategic planning aimed at preserving this "village" atmosphere--especially in the area surrounding the foot of the Ashley River Bridge. And please note, the local residents don't live in West Ashley or at West Ashley, they simply "live West Ashley."

West Ashley is home to Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, a nature/historic theme park on the site of the original English settlement. It also claims the beautiful

By far, the largest employer West Ashley (you'll get used to saying it that way) is Bon Secours-St. Francis Hospital, which relocated to a new facility in December 1996. This huge, 32-acre medical complex added 875         new jobs to the area economy, and many other spin-off businesses have followed suit. Another major employer is Dillard's, a department store chain.

CAROLINA BAY	GRAND OAKS
BYRNES DOWN	THE CRESCENT
SHAWDOW MOSS	VILLAGE GREEN
HUNT CLUB	SYLVAN SHORES

Drayton Hall