Located on the outer edge of the Charleston region in Dorchester County, the town of Summerville offers quaint, small town charm coupled with easy access to the amenities of Charleston and area beaches.

Summerville’s Town Square is a step back in time with its antique shops, community theater and boutiques. Even the pharmacy still uses an old-fashioned soda fountain. Once a month you can take a walking tour of the area’s 12 antique shops – known as the Sweet Tea Trail.

Summerville boasts 700 homes and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places so getting a glimpse into the past isn’t hard. The town retains its charm and reputation as place where Charleston plantation owners in the 18^th century came to escape the summertime heat.

One of the town’s true gems is the 12-acre Azalea Park right in the heart of downtown. The park has butter?y ponds, an amphitheater, ornamental bridges, a water garden, gazebo and several sculptures. In fact, public sculptures are scattered throughout downtown Summerville, an initiative of Sculpture in the South. Since 1999, this organization has installed more than 20 bronze figures throughout the town.

Azalea Park is home to the annual Flowertown Festival, a springtime arts and crafts festival put on by the Summerville Family YMCA. The event attracts hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors to take in the blooming azaleas that fill the park.

Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site offers a glimpse into the early history of colonial South Carolina. Archeologists continue to sift through the remains of this 17^th-century trading town that flourished along the Ashley River.

Mingled with its history are the modern conveniences of shopping centers, restaurants and a thriving business community. The town is home to several golf courses and an extensive recreation complex with ball fields, playgrounds and tennis courts. The Summerville Family YMCA also has three facilities so residents have easy access to fitness classes, pools and sporting programs.

Residential options abound with many new communities offering a range of prices to accommodate first-time homebuyers and growing families. Students attend Dorchester School District Two, which has three high schools. Summerville is also home to independent schools like Pinewood Preparatory School.