This is just true. The people of Mount Pleasant have a laid-back, casual style and love their flip-flops--and not just in the summertime at the beach, but pretty much anytime, anywhere, all year-round. And who can blame them? Have you tried to wear socks in this kind of humidity? It makes no sense.
There's a reason it's called Mount Pleasant--they take Southern hospitality to the next level, and are some of the most courteous, friendly, welcoming people around. Even if we've only just met you, we probably love you. Or at least, we'll convincingly pretend to...
Lemme break it down for you: According to a study conducted by "Forbes," South Carolina is rated No. 1 in the country for having "the most courteous people"--and Mount Pleasant takes the cake for the most friendly people around. Ohio, on the other hand, is rated No. 1 in the country for "most likely to curse." Needless to say, there's been some tension with the influx of potty-mouthed Ohioans to prim and proper Mount Pleasant. Here's some advice for you: Don't wear cargo shorts and high socks with tennis shoes around a Mount Pleasant native, as they will automatically assume you're from Ohio and judge you--a lot. If you are a Buckeye or OSU fan, Mount Pleasant has kindly made accommodations for you at the only bar you're safe to freely enjoy all things Buckeye and OSU--Matthew's Sports Bar. Other than that, try to blend in and trade in your tennis shoes for some flip-flops.
Let's be honest, it is not uncommon to see Fireball Whiskey drunk straight out of the bottle here. We'll be the first to admit it: We like to party. In fact, the word for "summer" in Mount Pleasant might as well be "party." With Patriot's Point hosting live music and drinks every Friday night (in the summer), and with one of the best Fourth of July celebrations in South Carolina, who wouldn't want to get a little tipsy in Mount Pleasant? Just brace yourself for the Fireball, and you should be fine.
Billy Murray is a resident of nearby Sullivan's Island, and so it's a running joke among Mount Pleasanters that everyone you know has seen him at the grocery store. He frequents local restaurants, he's been known to photobomb your graduation/wedding/selfie photos--he's basically omnipresent. And, thusly, he's your best friend...right?
There's no hiding this one--Mount Pleasant is definitely the "wealthy side of the bridge." Before becoming so populated, this city was mostly inhabited by people who were rich enough to afford summer homes outside of Charleston. Down in Old Village, there are multi-million mansions. (You know the kind, the ones with the quintessential front porches that wrap around the entire house, the Spanish moss draped over every tree in the yard, the picturesque views of the creek or tidal marshes, and, of course, Grandma sipping iced tea on her rocking chair.) It's definitely true: We do have "Old Money" here in Mount Pleasant, but that hasn't deterred "New Money" either--the people who have been making it rain in Mount Pleasant for generations have definitely welcomed those who have just started making their millions.
In Mount Pleasant, there's a strange phenomenon where no one can ever look bad. Ever. Even in your gym gear, you'll probably look like you just stepped out of the spa: full hair, make-up, and perfect manicure. We've got casual glam down to an art form. Sure, we'll wear our flip-flops proudly, but they're Tori Burch and we wear them with designer yoga pants.
The people of Mount Pleasant are very patriotic. It definitely has something to do with the U.S. military base being so close by. And the stereotype of all Southerners bleeding red, white, and blue proudly applies to Mount Pleasanters, as well. We're just one helluva patriotic city. Come to any Fourth of July celebration here and we'll prove it to y'all.
Feature Image Source: Wikimedia user Jan Kronsell
