The Town of Awendaw, established in 1992 and home to 1,200 residents, sits nestled along the eastern edge of the Francis Marion National Forest and the western edge of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. This unique setting offers abundant outdoor experiences for its residents and visitors.
The Awendaw Passage, the terminus of the SC Palmetto Trail, located on the northern end of town, intersects with the East Coast Greenway which runs from Maine to Miami. Awendaw is working to enhance the East Coast Greenway to take it through the Francis Marion Forest and connect it to future parks—the Town of Awendaw's 300-acre park and the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission's 65-acre Doar Road Park adjacent to the Indian Shell Mound.
The Town of Awendaw is centrally located along the Gullah Geeche Cultural Heritage Corridor and has been designated the pilot project for the newly formed partnership between the Gullah Geeche Cultural Heritage Corridor and the East Coast Greenway. Awendaw is excited about the opportunities this partnership and demonstration project presents to preserve and increase awareness of the Gullah/Geechee language, traditions, arts, crafts and resources that have influenced this region as it also promotes the use of the East Coast Greenway. The hope is that a wide variety of partners will facilitate cultural interpretive experiences in Awendaw.