Summerville is...Flowertown in the Pines
Mid March and everything is starting to bloom, especially the azaleas in Summerville. Known as Flowertown in the Pines, Summerville hosts the Flowertown Festival, an annual arts and crafts festival the first weekend in April, this year the event is being held Friday March 30, Saturday March 31 and Sunday April 1 to coincide with traditional peak foliage. It is a great event that draws a quarter million visitors to the Historic downtown square, with South Main Street blocked off from automobile traffic so everyone can walk safely toward the heart of the festival in Azalea Park.
Summerville is a historic town, founded in the 1700's by wealthy Charlestonians who traveled 21 miles to seek respite from the heat of the city. It was thought the pines found in abundance in the Summerville area also offered some healing properties from the diseases of the day. The many flowers have now given Summerville its nickname of Flowertown in the Pines.
Charleston real estate can be somewhat expensive but some of the most affordable housing in the Charleston area can be found in Summerville and Dorchester County. The historic district of Summerville still has many original cottages (actually, some are really very large homes) from the 1700's and while prices can reach close to $1 million and a little higher, there is so much growth in Summerville that there are good housing choices for almost any budget starting in the mid $100's with nice neighborhoods and new subdivisions at all popular price points. Affordability is but one reason that Dorchester County has been the fastest growing county in the State of South Carolina during the decade. All the suburban amenities including shopping, dining and conveniences are also available and one additional reason for the growth is the reputation of the Dorchester II school district, considered the finest in the Charleston area.
I was out the other day and got some great pictures of the azaleas in Summerville. Enjoy.
