The Cooper River is a river in the U.S. state of South Carolina. Several major cities are located along the river, including Charleston and Mount Pleasant. Short and wide, the Wando River joins the Cooper, then it flows south and unites with the Ashley River in the estuary forming Charleston Harbor. The Cooper River is connected to the Santee River by an 18th century canal.

Several bridges span the Cooper River, including the Silas N. Pearman Bridge, the Grace Memorial Bridge, and the soon-to-be-completed Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. In service since August 8, 1929, the Grace Memorial Bridge is the oldest of the three. Named for the commissioner who inspired the state's highway system and parallel to the Grace Memorial Bridge, the Pearman Bridge opened on April 29, 1966. The Ravenel Bridge, which is higher than the two older bridges, may open to traffic during the summer of 2005. The Pearman and Grace Bridges are scheduled for destruction within 18 months of the new bridge's completion.

A very popular 10k run occurs each spring, the Cooper River Bridge Run and Walk.

Daniel Island and Drum Island are located in the river. Cargo terminals, a paper mill, and the former Charleston Navy Base line its shores. The USS Yorktown (CV-10), a World War II aircraft carrier that is now a museum, sits at the mouth of the river.

External links

• Cooper River Bridge
• Cooper River Bridge Run and Walk