Sullivan’s Island Communities

A charming, seaside town, Sullivan’s Island is an Atlantic barrier island that encompasses just over three square miles and neighbors popular Isle of Palms. Home to approximately 2,000 residents, Sullivan’s Island is well-known for its flat beaches, gentle waves, and friendly people. Residents and tourists alike enjoy exploring Fort Moultrie, a focal point in the American Revolution War and later the Civil War. Here, patrons can climb up the historical landmark, watch dolphin frolic in the harbor, and take in the sensational sunsets over the Charleston peninsula and the lighthouse. For dinner, residents can easily walk to a number of acclaimed restaurants such as the Obstinate Daughter, Home Team, Mex 1, or Poe’s Tavern, an eclectic establishment centered around the legacy of author Edgar Allen Poe, who spent time writing works at nearby Goldbug Island. For a sleepy, salt-enthused town, Sullivan’s Island surprisingly has a vibrant, albeit early, nightlife. Dunleavy’s, an Irish Pub, is a local favorite, and frequently features live music, while other restaurants have happy hour specials or weekly events such as trivia night.

In an effort to protect its charm, the town of Sullivan’s Island does not permit home renovations greater than 50 percent of the original structure. In this way, the town controls the amount of development so that it remains quiet, tranquil, and characteristically “Sullivan’s.” Real estate is comprised of beachfront estates, Intracoastal homes, single family homes, cottages, and a few low-level condominiums. Parents in this quaint town are pleased to send their children to Sullivan’s Island Elementary School, a spectacular public school that is located just one block from the beach. A partial magnet school for coastal sciences, the school promotes hands-on learning activities and weekly classes on the beach itself. Next to the school is Edgar Allan Poe Library, an underground structure that is just as cool and mysterious as the writer himself. Students at Sullivan’s Island School regularly use this public library for assignments, projects, and research activities. After 5th grade, students residing on Sullivan’s graduate to Laing Middle School and Wando High School, both of which are located in Mt. Pleasant.

A true treasure, Sullivan’s Island is one of the most desirable places to live in the Charleston area. From kitesurfing in the ocean to biking along the scenic island, this town has an organic charm that can not be replicated anywhere else.