Situated in the elbow of where Lake Moultrie meets the Francis Marion National Forest is the quickly growing Berkeley County town of Moncks Corner (zip code 29461). The famed Cooper River also begins in Moncks Corner. Named for Thomas Monck, Moncks Corner traces its trading-post roots back to 1728 and incorporated as a town in 1909. Highway 52 runs through Moncks Corner into Goose Creek, Hanahan and North Charleston. Highway 17 connects Moncks Corner with Summerville and Interstate 26. Downtown Charleston is a 45-minute drive from Moncks Corner. Taking Highway 402 in Moncks Corner to Cainhoy Road or Highway 41 provides a rural back-road route into Daniel Island or Mount Pleasant, which can be used in the case of bridge or interstate closures.
The incorporated parts of Moncks Corner cover 4.46 square miles, while the entire 29461 zip code covers 174.5 square miles.
With a history that dates so far back, Moncks Corner is abundant in historic sites to visit, including Old Santee Canal Park and Stony Landing Plantation, Belle Island Plantation and the tomb of Francis Marion, the old Northeastern Railroad depot, and Mepkin Plantation and Botanical Gardens, which is owned by the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists monks) and run as a monastery. Moncks Corner bears the Capital of Santee Cooper Country trademark, which recognizes the area as a leading spot in the South for outdoor recreation, including horseback riding, hiking, watersports, boating and fishing. Numerous parks and the gorgeous Cypress Gardens afford all these recreation opportunities.
Housing opportunities in Moncks Corner are extremely diverse, ranging from homes on multi-acre lots with deepwater access to affordable tract subdivision residences. Homes built in the 1980s–2000s that measure from 2,500 to 4,500 square feet with acreage can run from $300,000 up to $1 million. Large, historic homes built in the 1800s–1900s can be found in the $400,000 price range. Large (starting at 3,000 square feet), new homes on smaller lots can be found in the planned subdivisions for around $250,000–$350,000. Also available in the $100,000–$200,000 price range are 1,700–2,800-square-feet homes. Most homes in this price range are newer tract subdivision homes, but some homes built in the 1960s–1980s can also be found.
Jobs Providers in Moncks Corner include the Santee Cooper electric company, Berkeley Electric Co-op, Gates Corp rubber and plastics manufacturing, CR Brand Inc. medical supplies, Parker Gas Turbine Fuel Systems, Carolina Nurseries, Sea Fox Boat Company, Dak Americas LLC, DuPont, Roper Berkeley Day Hospital and Unihealth Postacute Care. Other big employers in Moncks Corner include numerous construction companies, the Berkeley County school district and restaurants and retailers (including Wal-Mart).