Porch Construction in Ladson, SC

LADSON, S.C. (WCBD) – A small earthquake was recorded near Ladson late Sunday night.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division said the United States Geological Survey confirmed a 1.7 magnitude earthquake struck 5.8 miles south-southwest of “Centerville” around 11:17 p.m.

The tremor was likely too small for anyone to notice.

The United States Geological Survey often records small earthquakes with Centerville pinned as a geographical location. People often ask us, where is Centerville?

If you search “Centerville, South Carolina” on Google, the results will show you a community in Anderson, South Carolina. But a Lowcountry destination does exist — or at least it did.

Officials with the United States Geological Survey previously told counton2.com that it uses a database called “Geonames” to automatically locate the town nearest an earthquake. That database, which is not a USGS-owned product, is what pulls Centerville as the location identifier.

They believe there was once a historical placename from the 1700s or 1800s.

“We locate thousands of earthquakes per year, and it is only a few that end up with a problem like this,” said Dr. Thomas Pratt, a research geophysicist and Central and Eastern Region Coordinator for the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, when asked about the notification name.

While the community does not necessarily exist today, USGS said it is unlikely that the Geonames database would change the name because it’s such a rare occurrence.

So, where was Centerville?

The geography of that area includes portions of Summerville and Ladson in Dorchester County.

Roughly a year ago, historian Nic Butler, who hosts a weekly podcast called ‘Charleston Time Machine,’ reviewed documents to help us understand where Centerville might have come from.

Butler found no mention of the community in digitized newspapers from the 18th, 19th, or 20th centuries during his search. He said it is not referenced in the online index of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, nor does the name appear on any maps of the Charleston-Summerville area until the early twentieth century.

Some success came when looking at the USGS topographical map of the Ravenel Quadrangle, which Dr. Butler said was surveyed in 1918 and published in 1920. Centerville is seen at the present intersection of Gahagan Road and Miles Jamison Road.

A look at the topography map from the 1920 publication shows two neighboring areas called Stallsville and Centerville.

Butler explained that the placename “Stallsville” refers to an extinct unincorporated village that was once clustered around the intersection of Bacons Bridge Road and Old Trolley Road.

There is a historical marker that shares a story of the Stall family settling and farming that area in the early 1800s. The two villages, Stallsville and Centerville, were likely divided at the time.

Counton2.com did reach out to Dorchester County Government for a records check in December 2024; however, at the time, they were unable to provide any details.

More than 10 earthquakes have been reported in the area since 2021. The largest was a 0.9 in March 2022, and the strongest was a 2.53 earthquake on July 24, 2023.

QUAKES IN CENTERVILLE

11/9/25 – 1.712/11/24 – 0.8112/7/24 – 2.0911/20/24 – 1.047/14/2024 – 2.531/18/23 – 1.389/2/22 – 1.456/15/22 – 1.06/27/22 – 1.23/28/22 – 0.911/9/21 – 1.58/27/21 – 1.718/21/21 – 1.753/16/20 – 2.4

Still, emergency management officials in South Carolina say there is no need to worry as earthquakes are common here; however, they encourage everyone in the state to be prepared and have an action plan should a large quake strike.

LADSON, S.C. (WCSC) - The Coastal Carolina Fair concluded its 68th year Sunday at Ladson Exchange Park, with organizers emphasizing the event’s charitable mission and family fun.

The fair featured 65 rides across 180 acres, along with classic games, food vendors and a petting zoo that welcomed a new baby donkey.

“Why we have the fair here is to give to charities in the local Tri-County area,” Coastal Carolina Fair President Fred Whittle said.

Robert Patterson, owner of Top Shelf Catering and Beverage and Special Ops Events, said sales were up double digits this year.

“Every time we win, the community wins,” Patterson said. “When we’re up in sales, that gives us more proceeds to be able to give to those local charities. So, it has been a huge success.”

But the fair isn’t about profit. The fair runs on volunteers who say they get paid in a different way.

“The joy on the faces of children is the thing that is my pay. And I’m not paid as a volunteer. But that certainly is a rewarding thing for us to see.” Whittle said.

The baby donkey was already out, greeting visitors on the final day.

“I came out and I saw feet. So I knew I had to step in and help her, and it’s a healthy little girl,” Charles Beam, owner of All American Petting Zoo, said.

Local vendors said the fair provides both business opportunities and community connections.

“I make a living, so I keep coming back, plus all the directors here, they’re beautiful people,” John Koutoufaris, owner of John Greek Food Concessions, said.

While today was the final day of the fair, several people said this is proof that when a community comes together for fun, everyone wins, especially the local charities helping those in need with the donations.