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South Carolina Facts

South Carolina Facts
The State of South Carolina is located in the southeastern United States. It shares state borders with Georgia and Atlanta and borders on the Atlantic Ocean. South Carolina is the 40th largest state with 32,020 square miles. It is the 24th most populated state with approximately 4,774,839 residents and is ranked as the 19th most densely populated U.S. state. Originally inhabited by Native Americans, struggles for the region began in the 1500s with Spanish explorers, resulting in the Spanish retreating. The French failed as well and it wasn't until 1729, following years of military struggle for the region between European colonies that Carolina split into North and South Carolina. South Carolina became the 8th U.S. state when it joined the Union in 1788. In 1860 it seceded from the Union but rejoined in 1868.
Interesting South Carolina Facts:
South Carolina was named in honor of King Charles I. The Latin name for Charles is Carolus.
South Carolina's state nickname is the Palmetto State.
The state motto for South Carolina is 'Dum Spiro Spero' which means 'While I Breathe, I Hope'.
South Carolina's state song is "Carolina'.
Residents of South Carolina are referred to as South Carolinians.
South Carolina's capital city and largest city is Columbia.
South Carolina's state flag was officially adopted in 1861. The palmetto tree was added to the flag's design when South Carolina seceded from the Union.
South Carolina's state bird is the Carolina wren and the state butterfly is the eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly.
South Carolina's state anima is the white-tailed deer and the state game bird is the wild turkey.
The state fish for South Carolina is the striped bass and the state reptile is the loggerhead turtle.
South Carolina's state flower is the yellow jessamine and the state tree is the Sabal palmetto.
Major rivers in South Carolina include Savannah River, Edisto River and the Santee River.
Major lakes in South Carolina include Hartwell Lake, Lake Murray, Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion.
Major industry in South Carolina includes textiles, chemical manufacturing, food processing, machinery and electronics manufacturing and tourism.
Major agriculture in South Carolina includes tobacco farming, soybeans, cattle, broilers, corn, and greenhouse products.
The 7th United States President Andrew Jackson was born in Waxhaw, bordering both North and South Carolina in 1767. He served from 1829 to 1837.
The logs used to build the walls of an American fort on Sullivan Island were made of spongy palmetto wood and helped to bounce the British cannons off the walls during war.
The Grand Stand in South Carolina, stretching 60 miles from Georgetown to Little River, is one the most popular U.S. tourist destinations.
The oldest minor league stadium in the U.S. is Duncan Park Baseball Stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
It is believed that a water monster lives in Lake Murray. Some believe it to be a cousin of the Loch Ness Monster.
The Peach Capital of the World is Johnston, South Carolina.
The only remaining covered bridge in South Carolina is Campbell's Covered Bridge, near Gowensville. It was built in 1909.


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