Historical Highlights
1526
The Spanish, led by Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon, make first attempt at establishing a settlement in South Carolina on Winyah Bay, near what is now the city of Georgetown. This settlement is abandoned due to a severe winter and Indian attacks.
1540
Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto crosses the Savannah River from the south in search of the village of Confitachiqui which archaeologist believe today is located on the Wateree River near Camden. When gold was not found he and his band made their way across the mountains by way of the French Broad and Tennessee Rivers.
1562
A group of French Huguenots, led by Jean Ribaut, land and settle on Parris Island. Ribaut leaves the colonists and heads back to France. The settlers, feeling deserted, build a boat and sail for home.
1566
The Spanish build Fort San Felipe on Parris Island and make a new settlement known as Santa Elena.
1576
Native Americans attack Santa Elena and it is abandoned.
1577
The Spanish return and build a mission known as a San Marcos not far from the former fort site. Spanish missions existed in South Carolina as far north as the South Edisto River until 1686.
1663
Carolina Charter of 1663 granted by Charles II of England to the eight lords proprietors.
1670
First permanent English settlement established at Albemarle Point, near Charleston.
1672
The first rice was sent to the colony by the Lords Proprietors and may have been used as seed to begin rice cultivation in South Carolina which would truly prosper after the introduction of Madagascar rice in the 1680s.
1680
Albemarle Point colony is moved to the site of present-day Charleston.
1710
The colony of Carolina is divided into North and South Carolina.
1715
Native Americans attempt a final revolt against settlers in Yemassee War, but fail.
1729
South Carolina becomes a royal colony.
1744
Eliza Lucas Pinckney perfects method of growing indigo equal to that grown in the West Indies, proving the young colony with a second major crop for export.
1760
The backcountry was set ablaze when the Cherokee attacked settlers and burned settlements. The Cherokee War ended the following year when British regulars with support of militia quelled the fight.
1768
The Regulator Movement pitted backcountry settlers against established Low Country representation in the Assembly and access to judicial system. The following year accomodations reached to increase representation and number of courts in backcountry.
1775
On July 12, the initial overt act of the Revolution occurs at Fort Charlotte in McCormick County. This is the first British property seized by force by the American Revolution forces.
1776
On June 28th, the first decisive victory of the Revolutionary War is won at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island.
1776
South Carolina declares its independence from England and adopts its first state constitution.
1780
Battle of Kings Mountain (turning point of the Revolution).
1781
Battle of Cowpens (turning point of the Revolution).
1786
Columbia is selected as the site of the state capital.
1788
On May 23rd, South Carolina becomes the 8th state to ratify the Constitution and enters the Union.
1790
The state capital is moved to Columbia, and the first major state constitution is adopted.
1816
A treaty with the Cherokees secured the northwestern corner of the state rounding out its present-day boundaries.
1822
A slave revolt lead by a free black, Denmark Vesey, was uncovered. Vesey and other conspirators were captured, convicted and later hanged.
1825
The Marquis de Lafayette, the French hero of the American Revolution, makes a triumphal tour of the state.
1830
The first U.S. steam locomotive is built for railroad use and put into service in South Carolina.
1831
The Ordinance of Nullification is passed declaring federal tariff acts to be null and void in South Carolina.
1842
The Citadel, the state military college, is established in Charleston.
1850
State's rights and nullification advocate, John C. Calhoun dies shortly after making his final speech in the US Senate in hopes of saving the Union.
1858
Senator James Henry Hammond coins the phrase "Cotton is King" during a debate in the US Senate.
1860
On December 20th, South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union. The Ordinance of Secession is passed in Charleston.
1861
On April 12th, the first shots of the Civil War are fired by Confederate troops on
Fort
Sumter in
Charleston
Harbor.
1863
The attack on Fort Wagner on Morris Island in Charleston by the African American 54th Massachusetts regiment made famous in the movie "Glory" took place on July 18.
1865
General William T. Sherman marches his troops through South Carolina burning the capital,
Columbia.
1868
South Carolina is readmitted to the
Union. The second major state constitution is adopted, and a free public school system is established.
1871
Benedict Institute was founded as a Baptist college in Columbia. It would be one of several institutions of higher learning established in the state for African Americans following the Civil War.
1877
President Rutherford Hayes orders federal troops to withdraw from Columbia after having occupied the city for a decade. Former Confederate Cavalry General Wade Hampton III becomes governor.
1880
The cotton mill industry begins rapid expansion.
1886
Major earthquake strikes Charleston causing extensive damage to property and the loss of 92 lives.
1889
Furman defeated by Wofford in state's first intercollegiate football game.
1892
The legilature limits the number of hours of work in cotton or woolen mills to 64 per week or 11 per day.
1893
Killer hurricane hits the state with exensive property damage and the loss of over 1,000 lives.
1901
The Interstate and West Indies Exposition is held in Charleston through May 1902.
1908
Electrocution replaces hanging as the means of state executions.
1912
Sumter adopts the nations first city-manager type of government.
1917
The first boll weevil discovered in the state. This small insect was to devastate the cotton crop and lead to the redefining of agriculture in the state.
1920
Women vote for the first time in the state after the adoption of the 19th amendment. SC did not ratify until 1969.
1929
Scarlet Sister Mary wins Pulitzer Prize for Julia Peterkin.
1930
Charleston City Council passes the nation's first historic preservation ordinance.
1939
The palmetto is officially adopted as the state tree.
1940
Camp Jackson reactivated and becomes a permanent army post as Fort Jackson.
1948
"Dixiecrats," dissident southern Democrats, meet in Birmingham and nominate Strom Thurmond as the presidential candidate for the States' Rights Party.
1950
Savannah River Plant of the Atomic Energy Commission is built near Aiken.
1954
The legislature passes "Right to Work" legislation outlawing closed shops.
1960
The first modern civil rights demonstration in state held at Greenville airport.
1963
Integration of public schools begins in South Carolina.
1964
Charles Townes from Greenville awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
1970
South Carolina celebrates its Tri-Centennial (300th) anniversary.
1973
Record snowfall with heaviest in central part of the state with 24 inches.
1976
Congaree Swamp National Monument created by Congress and in 2003 becomes state's first National Park.
1980
George Rogers, University of South Carolina football player, wins Heisman Trophy.
1989
Hurricane Hugo devastates the South Carolina coast and the city of Charleston, claiming 13 lives and causing $3.7 billion in damage.
1992
BMW announces it will build its first automobile factory outside Germany in Greenville County.
2000
Confederate flag removed from atop the State House and placed on the grounds next to the Confederate Monument.
2003
Senator Strom Thurmond ends his career in the US Senate as the oldest senator at age 100 and at the time the longest served at 48 years. Thurmond dies this year and is buried in Edgefield.