Cooper River/Santee Delta

Rural conservation and recreational land is plentiful in the Cooper River / Santee Delta region of South Carolina. Featuring plantations, swamps, wildlife, beaches, Cypress Gardens, and the Francis Marion National Forest, this area of Berkeley and Charleston Counties provides a multitude of rural environments in which to live and play.

The Cooper River, flowing down from Moncks Corner to Charleston harbor, features large, intact, historic rice plantations. Towns and points of interest along the river include Old Santee Canal State Park, Tail Race Canal, South Pinckney Plantation, Mepkin Abbey, Childsbury Towne Heritage Preserve, Bluff Plantation, Rice Hope Plantation, Deer Hall Plantation, Cypress Gardens, and Bonneau Ferry Plantation.

Stretching farther to the north is the Francis Marion National Forest, a federally protected long leaf forest. Along and among the 250,000 acre forest are Cordesville, Huger, Macedonia, Richmond Plantation, Hallahan Plantation, Turkey Creek, Hell Hole Bay, Bethera, Shulerville, Jamestown, and Honey Hill.

The Santee Delta, anchored by the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and the Santee Coastal Reserve, boasts a large saltwater estuary, perfect for crabbing, fishing, and visiting the most beautiful beaches in South Carolina. Up the South Santee River and North Santee River, large historic rice plantations can be found.

Savannas, swamps, and creeks are plentiful throughout the region, and waterfowl, raptors, alligators, bobcats, foxes, deer, and turkeys all call the Cooper River / Santee Delta area their home. Recreational activities in the region are abundant for the outdoor enthusiast, with hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, horseback riding, and bird-watching the most common. The Palmetto Trail, which eventually will enable hikers and bikers to travel to the upstate, snakes through the region.

Typically, tracts in this area range from ten to 1,000 acres. Whether you are interested in plantation land, inholding tracts, a country estate, or a horse farm, the Cooper River / Santee Delta region has something for every rural style.