Preparing a Report on South Carolina?
Or simply interested in some facts? Here's a quick primer on the Palmetto State.
State Capital: Columbia
Motto: Dum Spiro Spero (While I breathe, I hope)
Nickname: The Palmetto State
Admitted to the Union: May 23, 1788 – the 8th State
Land Area: 31,113 square miles – ranked 40th
Coastline: 187 miles of coastline
Highest Point: Sassafras Mountain – 3,560 feet above sea level
Lowest Point: Sea level on the coastline
Highest Waterfall: Raven Cliff Falls – 400 feet
Population: About 4.6 million – according to the 2010 Census
South Carolina Borders: Atlantic Ocean, Georgia, North Carolina
Longest River: Savannah River – 238 miles
Oldest College: College of Charleston, est. 1770
Counties: 46 counties
State Parks: 47 state parks
Largest Counties by Area:
- Horry County – 1,133 square miles
- Orangeburg County – 1,105 square miles
- Berkeley County – 1,099 square miles
Smallest County by Area: McCormick County
Largest County by Population (2010 Census):
- Greenville County – 451,225
- Richland County – 384,504
- Charleston County – 350,209
Smallest County by Population (2010 Census): McCormick County 10,233
Top Agricultural Crops:
- Broilers
- Turkeys
- Corn
Visitor Spending From Tourists: $10.1 billion (2014 estimate)
How South Carolina Got Its Name: King Charles I of England granted the land on which South Carolina is located to Sir Robert Heath in 1629. The region was named Carolus, a word derived from the Latin form of Charles, in reference to King Charles. His son, King Charles II, changed the spelling of the region’s name to Carolina in 1663, when he gave the land to the eight Lords Proprietors. During the 17th century the land to the south, in this grant, came to be called South Carolina and the area to the north, North Carolina. The two sections remained a single colony until they separated in 1710. The name of the land located to the south remained South Carolina.
For more information:
Key Moments in South Carolina History
KnowItAll.org, South Carolina ETV internet resource for teachers and students