Located off the shore of Lake Murray and only ten miles from Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, Irmo was a sleepy little town of 500 people in the early 1970's. Today with more than 12,000 residents Irmo is one of the country's most sought after places to live.

The Cherokee Indians first roamed the waterways and woodlands of this area while following the Cherokee Trail. Later German and Swiss immigrants were the first Westerners to settle the area bounded by the Broad and Saluda Rivers and extending to the Newberry county line. Germans, using land grants from the King of England, settled the Dutch Fork area in the mid 18th century. Self-sufficient farms were established in spite of the rocky, red clay that was unsuitable for plantation farming.

The origin of Irmo tells the story of the railroad's influence.  Irmo was incorporated in 1890 and flourished along the tracks of the Columbia, Newberry and Laurens railroads on the high ridge between the rivers. The town was named by combining the first two letters of the names of two railroad company men - C.J. Iredell and H.C. Moseley.

A quarter of a century later, the largest earthen dam in the world (at that time) was built across the Saluda River, forming Lake Murray. The dam, along with the construction of I-26 adjacent to Irmo in the late 1950's, made possible the continuing rapid growth of the greater Irmo area. The beautiful Lake Murray provides much sought after real estate along its 528 miles of shoreline and provides a recreational paradise for the residents of Irmo - truly the "Gateway to Lake Murray".

Happenings
 

Projects

• The design (Phase III) of the St. Andrews Road Sidewalk Project has begin with SCDOT managing the project.  This is the final portion that will connect the two existing sidewalks in front of Shopper's Walk.  Construction is planned for late 2011.
   
• The Town has been awarded $80,000 of stimulus funds to construct a sidewalk on Charing Cross Road from Royal Tower to Columbiana Drive.  Construction is expected to begin in early fall. 
   
• The Town has been approved for a Federal Grant in the amount of $157,850.00 to construct a sidewalk along S. Royal Tower Drive between Friarsgate Boulevard and Chadford Road.  Funds will be available in late 2011.
  
   

• This year's Okra Strut will be held on Friday and Saturday September 24-25, 2010
  
   

                         Summer Concert Schedule 
    
             Concerts begin at 6:00PM and generally last till 7:30PM       

                                            Date                                            Performers
                                                  
                                                                    The 2011 Schedule will be published at a later date                                                        
           

Demographics