South Carolina

South Carolina
Nickname
The Palmetto State
Motto(s)
Dum spiro spero
"While I breathe, I hope"
Animis opibusque parati
"Prepared in mind and resources"
Anthem: "Carolina"
"South Carolina on my Mind"
Map of the United States with South Carolina highlighted
Map of the United States with South Carolina highlighted
CountryUnited States
Before statehoodProvince of South Carolina
Admitted to the UnionMay 23, 1788 (8th)
CapitalColumbia
Largest cityCharleston
Largest county or equivalentGreenville
Largest metro and urban areasGreenville (combined and metro)
Columbia (urban)
Government
 • GovernorHenry McMaster (R)
 • Lieutenant GovernorPamela Evette (R)
LegislatureGeneral Assembly
 • Upper houseSenate
 • Lower houseHouse of Representatives
JudiciarySouth Carolina Supreme Court
U.S. senatorsLindsey Graham (R)
Tim Scott (R)
U.S. House delegation6 Republicans
1 Democrat (list)
Area
 • Total32,020.49 sq mi (82,932.7 km2)
 • Land30,060.70 sq mi (77,856.9 km2)
 • Water1,959.79 sq mi (5,075.8 km2)  6.12%
 • Rank40th
Dimensions
 • Length260 mi (420 km)
 • Width200 mi (320 km)
Elevation
350 ft (110 m)
Highest elevation3,560 ft (1,085 m)
Lowest elevation
(Atlantic Ocean[1])
0 ft (0 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total5,118,425[2]
 • Rank23rd
 • Density170.27/sq mi (65.74/km2)
  • Rank19th
 • Median household income
$50,570[3]
 • Income rank
41st
DemonymsSouth Carolinian
Language
 • Official languageEnglish
Time zoneUTC– 05:00 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC– 04:00 (EDT)
USPS abbreviation
SC
ISO 3166 codeUS-SC
Traditional abbreviationS.C.
Latitude32°02′ N to 35°13′ N
Longitude78°32′ W to 83°21′ W
Websitesc.gov
State symbols of South Carolina
List of state symbols
Living insignia
AmphibianSalamander
BirdCarolina Wren
ButterflyEastern Tiger Swallowtail
Dog breedBoykin Spaniel
FishStriped bass
FlowerYellow jessamine
InsectCarolina mantis
MammalWhite-tailed deer
ReptileLoggerhead sea turtle
TreeSabal palmetto
Inanimate insignia
BeverageMilk
DanceCarolina shag
Food
FossilColumbian mammoth
(Mammuthus columbi)
MineralAmethyst
RockBlue Granite
ShellLettered olive
OtherHogna carolinensis
State route marker
Route marker
State quarter
South Carolina quarter dollar coin
Released in 2000
Lists of United States state symbols

South Carolina (/ˌkærəˈlnə/ KARR-ə-LIE-nə) is a state in the coastal Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia to the southwest across the Savannah River. Along with North Carolina, it makes up the Carolinas region of the East Coast. South Carolina is the 40th-largest and 23rd-most populous U.S. state with a recorded population of 5,124,712 according to the 2020 census.[4] In 2019, its GDP was $213.45 billion. South Carolina is composed of 46 counties. The capital is Columbia with a population of 136,632 in 2020;[5] while its largest city is Charleston with a 2020 population of 150,277.[6] The Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC Combined Statistical Area is the most populous combined metro area in the state, with an estimated 2023 population of 1,590,636.[7]

South Carolina was named in honor of King Charles I of England, who first formed the English colony, with Carolus being Latin for "Charles".[8] In 1712 the Province of South Carolina was formed. One of the original Thirteen Colonies, South Carolina became a royal colony in 1719. During the American Revolutionary War, South Carolina was the site of major activity among the American colonies, with more than 200 battles and skirmishes fought within the state.[9] South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on May 23, 1788. A slave state, it was the first state to vote in favor of secession from the Union on December 20, 1860. After the American Civil War, it was readmitted to the Union on July 9, 1868.

During the early-to-mid 20th century, the state started to see economic progress as many textile mills and factories were built across the state. The civil rights movement of the mid-20th century helped end segregation and legal discrimination policies within the state. Economic diversification in South Carolina continued to pick up speed during and in the ensuing decades after World War II. In the early 21st century, South Carolina's economy is based on industries such as aerospace, agribusiness, automotive manufacturing, and tourism.[10]

Within South Carolina from east to west are three main geographic regions, the Atlantic coastal plain, the Piedmont, and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwestern corner of Upstate South Carolina. South Carolina has primarily a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Areas in the Upstate have a subtropical highland climate. Along South Carolina's eastern coastal plain are many salt marshes and estuaries. South Carolina's southeastern Lowcountry contains portions of the Sea Islands, a chain of barrier islands along the Atlantic Ocean.

  1. ^ a b "Elevations and Distances in the United States". United States Geological Survey. 2001. Archived from the original on October 15, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2020CensusQuickFacts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Median Annual Household Income". The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  4. ^ "2020 Census Data" (PDF). Census.gov. April 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "QuickFacts: Columbia city, South Carolina". Archived from the original on June 11, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  6. ^ "QuickFacts: Charleston city, South Carolina". Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  7. ^ "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Population Totals: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  8. ^ N. C. Board of Agriculture (1902). A sketch of North Carolina. Charleston: Lucas-Richardson Co. p. 4. OL 6918901M.
  9. ^ Revolutionary War in South Carolina. Discover South Carolina. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  10. ^ 2019 Top Industries in South Carolina Archived June 15, 2021, at the Wayback Machine. greerdevelopment.com. Retrieved June 14, 2021.


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