North Charleston, SC - A Lowcountry neighborhood is ranked as one of the coolest places to live in the nation.

The June edition of Men’s Journal, North Charleston’s Park Circle was chosen as one of the nation’s 30 coolest communities.

Many residents feel their community is beginning to get the kind of recognition it deserves.

"I live two blocks away. A lot of fun, good neighbors, nice merchants, places to go in the evening," Marty Dukes said.

Marty Dukes owns Dukes Garden Center, which is in the center of town.

He says it's been a group effort to turn Park Circle into the community it is today.

"Just the fact that everybody is trying really hard,” Dukes said.

Down the street, Christopher Gaff works at the circle's Big City Barbecue. He commutes, but hopes that will soon change.

"If I had the money, I'd like to build,” Gaff said.

Gaff said it's the constant activity from the farmer's markets to art shows that has him hooked. 

The same feeling Mayor Keith Summey (web | news | bio) believes will attract others.

He said the title will put the city in a spotlight free of charge.

“This type of advertisement that goes to all the magazines would be very difficult to pay for," Mayor Summey said.

The article describes Park Circle as "left leaning and long under the radar." But no matter what its slant it's now standing out in the state and nationwide.

North Charleston's crime rate is one of the worst in the state and nation, but Mayor Summey said it's a problem the city has attacked head on.

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