Quick Facts: South Carolina

South Carolina is a state in the Southeastern United States. It is bordered to the west by Georgia; to the north by North Carolina, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south by Georgia.

ABBREVIATION: SC
NICKNAME: The Palmetto State
POPULATION: 5,478,831 (2024 est.)
CAPITAL: Columbia
STATE BIRD: Great Carolina Wren
STATE FLOWER: Carolina Yellow Jessamine
AREA: 32,020 sq. mi.
TIME ZONE: Eastern
ENTERED UNION: May 23, 1788
ALTITUDE: High, 3,560 ft. Sassafras Mountain
CLIMATE: Humid, with long hot summers, short mild winters. Some snow in mountains and upper Piedmont.

“The Palmetto State” acquired its nickname from the luxuriantly fringed trees that shadow Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Along the island-studded coast, cypresses soar, gum and bay trees tower, and spiky reeds jut up from across the swamps.

On the higher areas of the Coastal Plain, water oaks and longleaf pines arch against the soft skies. Far inland, the “up country” of the Piedmont Plateau boasts a timberland of yellow poplars, black walnuts, sycamores, and other soft and hard woods. On the western border, in the highest part of the state, the Appalachian ridges are adorned with laurel, hemlock, and majestic oak.

South Carolina’s profusion of trees makes the state a leader in the South’s growing forest industry, which is rising to challenge that of the Pacific Northwest.

Spaniards sailing from Santo Domingo in 1521 were the first Europeans to sight the virgin splendor of South Carolina. But the English, in 1670, founded the first permanent white settlement in the colony.

One hundred years of defending themselves against sporadic attacks by the Spanish, as well as the French, native Indians, and thieving Pirates, gave the colonists a sturdy sense of independence. Inevitably, South Carolina was a leader in the American Revolution, and in 1860, maintaining what it considered its tradition of self-determination, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union.

Fort Sumter National Monument, Charleston, SC

Agricultural distress blighted the state from the time of the Civil War, and the fortunes of the economy remained low until the after World War II. In the 1950’s the Savannah River Plant opened, a 250,000-arcre atomic production complex that created new jobs while hydroelectric power from the state’s many rivers drew textile and other industries in quantity.

The economy began to recover. Today, Tobacco remains closely woven into the economic life of South Carolina, no other crop brings so great a per acre profit to the State. More than half of South Carolina’s agricultural income is produced by livestock and livestock products, while chemical manufacturing and textile production continue to boost the economy.

Like every other State in the Union, South Carolina is in the slow process of recovering from the recent recession.

Fun Facts:

Sand-hills along the western edge of the coastal plain are the remains of beaches from an ancient sea that once covered the area.
Sullivan Island, off the coast of Charleston, is known as the Ellis Island of Slavery. It was here that more than 200,000 enslaved people from West Africa first set foot on American soil.
Before it became known as the Palmetto State, South Carolina was known as the Iodine State because of the large quantities of this mineral found in its plants.
Francis Marion earned the nickname Swamp Fox for his legendary ability to stage raids against the British and then disappear into the swamps of southern South Carolina during the Revolutionary War.
The first French settlement in South Carolina was Parris Island, founded in 1562.
Fort Sumter is home to the first battle of the Civil War.

History:

South Carolina, one of the original thirteen colonies, has a rich and complex history that has played a central role in shaping the United States. From early Native American civilizations to colonial settlement, the American Revolution, the Civil War, and beyond, South Carolina’s story is one of struggle, resilience, and transformation.

Long before European arrival, the land we now call South Carolina was inhabited by Native American tribes such as the Catawba, Cherokee, and Yamasee. These tribes developed sophisticated cultures based on agriculture, hunting, and trade. They lived in organized villages, cultivated crops like maize, and had extensive networks throughout the region.

European exploration began in the early 1500s with the Spanish and French, but it was the English who eventually established a lasting presence. In 1670, English settlers founded Charles Town (later Charleston) near the Ashley River, naming it in honor of King Charles II. The settlement quickly became the economic and cultural center of the colony due to its strategic coastal location.

South Carolina’s early economy relied heavily on agriculture, particularly rice, indigo, and later, cotton. These labor-intensive crops fueled the growth of large plantations, which in turn depended on the forced labor of enslaved Africans.

By the 18th century, South Carolina had one of the highest proportions of enslaved people in the colonies, and African culture had a profound influence on the region, particularly in areas like the Gullah coastal communities.

The colony was a hotbed of revolutionary sentiment in the 1770s. South Carolina played a significant role in the American Revolution, with numerous battles fought on its soil, including the Battle of Cowpens and the Siege of Charleston. The state’s patriots helped secure independence, and South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1788.

During the 19th century, South Carolina’s economy and political power were tightly linked to slavery and cotton. As tensions over slavery increased nationwide, South Carolina became a leader in the secession movement.

On December 20, 1860, it became the first state to secede from the Union, leading to the formation of the Confederate States of America. The first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor in April 1861.

The Civil War devastated South Carolina’s economy and infrastructure. During Reconstruction, the state experienced significant social and political change as formerly enslaved people gained rights and participated in government.

However, the end of Reconstruction brought the rise of Jim Crow laws, disenfranchisement, and segregation, which lasted well into the 20th century.

In the modern era, South Carolina has seen major developments in education, industry, and civil rights. The state was a significant location during the Civil Rights Movement and continues to reckon with its complex racial legacy.

Today, South Carolina is known for its historic cities, Southern culture, and economic growth in sectors like manufacturing, tourism, and aerospace. Its long and often turbulent history reflects the broader American experience—full of conflict, change, and the ongoing pursuit of justice and prosperity.