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James Island South Carolina Map

Explore James Island, South Carolina, with this interactive street and satellite map.

This page also offers TOPO MAPS — the official USGS topographic sheets — plus USGS aerial imagery, a labelled USNG grid overlay, a distance and bearing tool, and a GPS grid-reference readout. See How to Use This Map below.

Interactive Map of James Island, South Carolina

How to Use This James Island, South Carolina Map

This interactive map shows the street layout and satellite imagery for James Island, South Carolina. Use the Map and Satellite buttons above to switch between street map and aerial imagery views. Use the + and − buttons to zoom in or out, or scroll your mouse wheel while holding the Control key to zoom. On a touchscreen, use a two-finger pinch gesture. Drag the map to pan to any area of South Carolina or beyond.

Click ⛶ Fullscreen to expand the map to fill your screen. To return to the normal page view, press the Escape key, click the ✕ Exit Fullscreen button that appears above the map, or on a mobile device tap the back button (Android) or the close icon (iOS).

TOPO MAPS — NEW. Click the green 🔍 Search Maps button below the map to open a second map with a Base map row offering three choices. OSM is the standard OpenStreetMap street map. Topo shows the official USGS topographic maps from The National Map — contours, hydrography, land cover and shaded relief, the same mapping used for hiking, hunting and back-country navigation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Finger Lakes. Imagery shows USGS aerial photography, mostly 1-metre NAIP. The search box finds any US town, county or landmark by name, so you are not limited to James Island.

Reading the map like a paper quad. Click Grid to overlay the U.S. National Grid (USNG), labelled along the edges exactly as a printed topographic sheet is — at normal zoom the squares are one kilometre across, so you can read a six-figure grid reference by eye and judge distance directly off the map. Click Measure, then tap two points, to get the distance between them together with the grid bearing in degrees and mils, the true bearing, and the magnetic bearing to set on a compass.

Click 📍 My position to take a single GPS reading from your device. It marks where you are and reports your position as a USNG grid reference as well as plain latitude and longitude — USNG being the format FEMA and US search and rescue teams work from — with a Copy position button so you can paste it straight into a text message. It takes one reading and stops, rather than tracking continuously, to conserve your battery. Note that map tiles need cell coverage, but a GPS reading does not — your coordinates stay correct even where the map itself cannot load.

City	James Island
State	South Carolina (SC)
County	Charleston County
Country	United States of America
Timezone	Eastern Time (America/New_York)

Latitude	32.736122
Longitude	-79.937184
Population	11,621
Density	945.8 /km²
Incorporated	Yes
ZIP Code	29412
Area Code	864
County Seat	Charleston
School District	Charleston County School District

🌦 Goto James Island Weather Page: James Island, South Carolina — Weather Warnings, Forecast, Radar, Satellite & Current Conditions

About James Island, South Carolina

James Island is a locality in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. It has a population of 11,621. The population density is 945.8 people per km². James Island is located at 32.7361°N, 79.9372°W. It observes the Eastern Time (America/New_York) timezone. James Island is an incorporated locality. ZIP code: 29412.

James Island stretches across a flat, low-lying landscape where the salt-heavy air clings to the moss-draped oaks. It lies 3.5 miles south-southwest of Charleston, SC (from Charleston, SC: bearing 197°T), and is situated 8.9 miles south of North Charleston. Simpson Creek winds through the terrain, its tidal waters rising and falling with a slow, rhythmic pulse that dictates the pace of the afternoon. While the Atlantic Ocean remains five miles to the east, its presence is felt in the saline dampness that settles over the marsh grasses at dusk. Beyond the immediate canopy of greenery, the horizon remains stubbornly level, lacking the jagged silhouette of Long Ridge, which lies far to the distant west. Residents find solace within the boundaries of Stephen Washington Park, where the earth feels soft and yielding underfoot. James Island holds a quiet stillness, defined by the way the fading light turns the tidal flats into a mirror of bruised purple and gray.

Agriculture and maritime labor once defined the daily existence of those who cleared these fields, leaving behind a legacy of endurance that still informs the local economy. The soil, enriched by generations of careful cultivation, eventually gave way to a modern network of service-oriented businesses and residential expansion. While the industrial centers of the region have shifted, James Island maintains a connection to its past through the preservation of traditional Gullah-Geechee practices and artisanal crafts. The local commerce relies on a steady flow of trade, supported by a workforce that navigates the intersection of suburban growth and historical respect. Economic life here is rarely frantic, preferring a measured tempo that allows for the maintenance of long-standing family businesses. Even the distant, shimmering surface of Colonial Lake serves as a reminder of the quiet, inland water management that supports the stability of the entire region.

Cultural identity on James Island is a deep, layered experience, often expressed through the enduring influence of Gullah-Geechee heritage and the persistent, humid warmth of the coastal climate. The residents celebrate their history through community gatherings that emphasize shared meals and the preservation of local stories, maintaining a distinct character separate from the urban bustle of nearby cities. Notable landmarks are less about grand architecture and more about the endurance of natural spaces like Stephen Washington Park, which serves as a communal anchor. While the area has hosted many individuals of local significance, it is perhaps most widely recognized for the contributions of figures like the renowned musician Edwin McCain, who drew inspiration from the subtle rhythms of this specific geography. On quiet evenings, the air carries a weight that feels both ancient and immediate, grounding those who live here in the simple, inescapable reality of the tide and the turning season.

Nearby Outdoor Places

James Island Recreation Complex (Local Recreation) — 0.0 mi, 013° N
Harbor Woods Tract (Local Recreation) — 0.0 mi, 018° N
Bayview Park (Local Park) — 0.5 mi, 167° S
Stephen Washington Park (Local Park) — 0.6 mi, 212° SW
Fort Johnson Marine Resources Center (State Resource Management Area) — 2.0 mi, 069° E
Thirteen-Inch Mortar Marker (Monument) — 2.3 mi, 009° N
13-inch Mortar (Attraction) — 2.3 mi, 009° N
USS Hobson Monument (Monument) — 2.3 mi, 008° N
USS Amberjack (SS-219) Memorial (Monument) — 2.3 mi, 008° N
The Little Dancer (Public Artwork) — 2.3 mi, 009° N
The Fake (Attraction) — 2.3 mi, 011° N
The Brooke Rifle (Attraction) — 2.3 mi, 011° N
World War I Howitzer (Attraction) — 2.3 mi, 008° N
The Williams Mansion (Museum) — 2.5 mi, 009° N
Nathaniel Russell House Museum (Museum) — 2.6 mi, 008° N
Heyward-Washington House (Museum) — 2.7 mi, 010° N
The Parapet (Historic Ruins) — 2.8 mi, 012° N
McLeod Plantation Historic Site (Museum) — 2.8 mi, 311° NW
Mary Martin Gallery (Gallery) — 2.8 mi, 005° N
Postal Museum (Museum) — 2.8 mi, 007° N
Dog & Horse Fine Art (Gallery) — 2.8 mi, 010° N
Simpatico Gallery (Gallery) — 2.8 mi, 009° N
Castle Pinckney (Historic Castle / Fort) — 3.0 mi, 030° NE
Fort Sumter National Monument (Marine Protected Area) — 3.2 mi, 068° E
Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary (Marine Protected Area) — 4.2 mi, 043° NE
Francis Marion National Forest (National Forest) — 15.1 mi, 025° NE · 264k acres
Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge (National Wildlife Refuge) — 19.2 mi, 057° NE · 132k acres
Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.Wilderness Area (Wilderness Area) — 19.2 mi, 057° NE · 30k acres
Sewee Purchase Unit (National Forest) — 20.3 mi, 045° NE · 964 acres
Ernest F. Hollings Ace Basin National Wildlife Refuge (National Wildlife Refuge) — 23.3 mi, 264° W · 36k acres

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