Originally settled by Huguenot refugees from France in the 17th century, the area was established as St. James Santee in 1706, the first parish of the Church of England in Carolina outside Charleston.

[6] Jamestown is located in northeastern Berkeley County at 33°17′03″N 79°41′42″W / 33.284063°N 79.695076°W / 33.284063; -79.695076,[7] 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the Santee River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Jamestown has a total area of 0.62 square miles (1.6 km2), all of it land.

A 10k Gator Run began in 1976 and is billed as the oldest road race in South Carolina; winners get real alligator heads as trophies.

[10] Jamestown uses its placement along an alternate route to popular vacation destination Myrtle Beach to trap unwary drivers.

Jamestown police officers often sit in convenience store or church parking lots near the intersection of SC Route 41 and U.S. Highway 17-A, particularly at night, and catch drivers as they slow down to turn.

Speeding tickets in Jamestown generally run anywhere from $180 to $300, and drivers can usually avoid having points added to their license by paying anywhere from $50 to $200 extra.