James Island (South Carolina)

James Island is one of South Carolina's most urban Sea Islands. The island is separated from peninsular downtown Charleston by the Ashley River, from the mainland by Wappoo Creek and the Wappoo Cut, and from Johns Island by the Stono River. It lies inshore of Morris Island and Folly Beach.

Fort Sumter is located on an island just off the eastern tip of James Island and is the site of the first battle of the Civil War. Bombardment of Fort Sumter was started from Fort Johnson which is located on the eastern portion of James Island.

For much of the period before and after the formation of the United States, James Island land was largely agricultural with close to 20 plantations making up much of the island. Growth accelerated after World War II and James Island became a suburban bedroom community to Charleston.

As of the 2000 census, the United States Census Bureau reported that 33,781 people lived on the island. Approximately one-half of the island lies within the city limits of Charleston, and the remainder of the island is unincorporated since the State Supreme Court deemed the Town of James Island was illegally formed.

There has been political discord concerning the incorporation of portions of the island into the City of Charleston. The town of James Island has been founded on three separate occasions. All three incorporation's were overturned as a result of legal suits filed by the city. The third incorporation attempt was in contention in another legal suit by the city, and on November 7, 2008, the town's incorporation was upheld by a Circuit Court judge. However, the city has filed an appeal of the decision to the South Carolina Supreme Court. Ultimately, this ruling was overturned by the Supreme Court.

Should someone attempt to form another town, citizens of the unincorporated areas can vote for it or remain in the County of Charleston by voting no. No date is currently set for approval of an incorporation effort. Proponents of the new town planned to increase it size through annexation, the very thing they objected to the City of Charleston doing.

As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of James Island is included within the Charleston-North Charleston Urbanized Area and the larger Charleston-North Charleston Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Samuel Smalls, the man upon whom the novel Porgy and subsequent opera Porgy and Bess are based, is buried in the cemetery beside James Island Presbyterian Church.

Comedian and political satirist Stephen Colbert, along with his 10 brothers and sisters, grew up on James Island. Mary Clark, Author, farmer, politician Football players Langston Moore of the Detroit Lions and Pro Bowler Roddy White of the Atlanta Falcons and Bo Patterson of Dartmouth College both attended James Island High School and played football while at school there. MLB player Gorman Thomas grew up up James Island and played baseball for original James Island High School (mascot Rams). The 2 schools merged in 1982.

The public schools on James Island are part of the Charleston County School District and include Harborview, Stiles Point, James Island and Murray-LaSaine, and Apple Charter Elementary Schools; James Island and Fort Johnson Middle Schools, and James Island Charter High School. The high school interscholastic teams are the Trojans and wear blue and orange uniforms.