Dorchester County Government

Dorchester County, SC is a fast‐growing county in the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Part of the three‐county Charleston metropolitan area, Dorchester County offers a mix of suburban and rural lifestyles with Charleston and North Charleston nearby. The population was 136,555 in the 2010 Census, an increase of 41.6% from the 2000 Census. Nearby to Dorchester County are the South Carolina beaches (30‐60 minutes), the Santee Cooper lakes (30 minutes), and the Blue Ridge Mountains (3‐4 hours). Dorchester County offers numerous outdoor recreation opportunities, including the terminus of the Edisto River Canoe Trail at Givhans Ferry State Park and the 16,000+ acre Beidler Forest. Minor league baseball, hockey, and soccer teams are in the metropolitan area, and the annual Family Circle Cup tennis tournament is held in adjoining Berkeley County. Dorchester County operates under a Council Administrator form of government and has 766 full‐time positions. A seven‐member County Council is elected by district and provides policy direction to the County. The County Council appoints the County Administrator, the County Clerk, the County Attorney, and the Delinquent Tax Collector. The County Administrator is responsible for the administration of all departments under the control of the County Council. Functions under the County Administrator include Fire; Emergency Medical Services; Building Services; Human Resources; Budget and Finance; Risk Management; Purchasing; Assessor; Water and Sewer; Emergency Management; Public Works; Planning and Zoning; Airports; Procurement; Information Technology; Economic Development; and Facilities, Grounds, and Recreation. The present County administrator has been in the position since 2004 and is assisted by a Deputy County Administrator and a Chief Financial Officer. For other updates, follow Dorchester County Governement on Facebook and Twitter: www.facebook.com/dorchestercountygov/ @DorchesterSCGov