About South
Carolina (SC) State HISTORY
Settled by the English in 1670, the region of Carolina became a royal colony in
1729. In 1776, Carolina proclaimed its independence from Great Britain in order
to operate its own government and on May 23rd of 1778, South Carolina became the
8th U.S. State. South Carolina was among the original 13 colonies that revolted
against the British in the American Revolution and was the first to secede from
the Union. On December 20, 1860, South Carolina moved toward the formation of
the Confederate States of America.
After years of fighting the American Civil War, the United States Reconstruction
proceeded to reincorporate South Carolina into its ranks. Several more decades
of economic and racial unrest throughout the 1800?s paved the way to the South
Carolina we know today. The agricultural industry reigned supreme until the 20th
century brought with it an expansive textile industry. Numerous manufacturing
companies, military bases and tourist attractions are the driving force behind
SC?s 21st century economy.
DEMOGRAPHICS According to Census 2000 Data, South Carolina has a population of more than
4 million residents. Estimates from 2004 report the population as 4,255,082,
which shows on increase of 57,191 or 1.4 % from the previous year and 243,267 or
6.1% since the 2000 Census. These figures indicate a natural increase of 97,715
individuals (which includes 295,425 births minus 197,710 deaths) and growth due
to the net migration of 151,485 people into SC. Foreign immigration accounted
for net increase of 36,401 people and migration from within the U.S resulted in
net increase of 115,084 people.
South Carolina?s five largest groups of ancestry include African American
(29.5%), American (13.9%), German (8.4%), English (8.4%) and Irish (7.9%). Many
individuals claiming American ancestry likely descended from the early
Scots-Irish settlers that concentrated in the upstate region. African American
slaves comprised a large portion of SC?s population for many years. Today,
African American residents are heavily concentrated in the Lowcountry and
Piedmont areas. A large convergence of Caucasian residents of American and
British ancestry exists in certain urban and suburban areas of upstate SC.
GEOGRAPHY South Carolina, the Palmetto State, covers more than 32,000 square miles. SC
shares its borders with North Carolina and Georgia. Natural borders include the
Atlantic Ocean and the Savannah River. South Carolina?s capital city is
Columbia. Additional major cities include Charleston, Florence, Greenville,
Hilton Head Island, Mount Pleasant, Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill, Spartanburg and
Sumter.
South Carolina consists of four distinct geographical regions with borders that
approximately correspond with the Atlantic coastline. The Lowcountry, also
called the Coastal Plain, is the flat area with natural ports and a significant
number of bays. The Sand Hills region lies to the west, where the remains of old
coastal dunes exist. The Piedmont region features stony clay soils, unsuitable
for farming and a large concentration of hills. The edge of the Piedmont
contains a fall line, where rivers travel down towards the Coastal Plain. The
Upcountry, which is part of the southern Appalachians, contains SC?s highest
elevation. Sassafras Mountain, at 3,560 feet, is the highest point in the state.
ECONOMY South Carolina boasts a prosperous economy, which, according to 2004 Bureau
of Economic Analysis statistics, included a gross state product of $136 billion.
Historically, agricultural products were the predominant industry driving the
economy; however, manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and other service
providers procure the majority of SC?s current base of employment. Government
sectors, such as the U.S. military facilities at Fort Jackson in Columbia and
the Air Force Base in Charleston, also serve as significant sources of
employment for the SC workforce.
Manufacturing, which annually produces $19 million, produces wares such as
chemicals, clothing and textiles, electronic equipment, industrial machinery,
paper, plastics and rubber. Additional fabricated products include clay, glass,
stone and metal products, lumber and processed food. South Carolina ranks third
in the U.S. in annual textile output. The apparel and textile industries provide
employment for more than a third of SC?s manufacturing workforce. Major
industrial centers in South Carolina include Charleston, Columbia, Greenville,
Rock Hill and Spartanburg. Tourism is another important contributor to the
thriving economy in South Carolina. Tourists spend at least $4.5 billion in SC
each year. In 2000, the per capita income of SC residents was $24,000, which was
81% of the national average.
AGRICULTURE
South Carolina produces approximately $1.2 billion in farming income each year,
with over half of the income from the sale of crops. SC is home to more than
24,000 farms, each of which has an average size of 213 acres. The major
agricultural products include cattle, dairy wares, hogs, poultry, soybeans and
tobacco. Additional crops such as apples, barley, cotton, peaches, peanuts and
wheat also play a large role in the economy.
TRANSPORTATION South Carolina operates a massive transportation network that includes more
than 64,000 miles of roads, nearly 760 miles of which are interstate highways.
The major interstate highways that pass through South Carolina include I-20,
I-26, I-77, I-85 and I-95. Interstate 85 is South Carolina?s most heavily
traveled highway, while Interstate 95 serves as a major tourist route that runs
between the nation?s northeastern states southward through Florida.
More than 2,000 miles of Class I railroad track serves the state, with the major
centers located in Columbia Charleston and Spartanburg. Amtrak runs through the
cities of Columbia, Greenville, Florence and Charleston. Charleston also acts as
SC?s primary port, with Georgetown and Port Royal available to handle
significant amounts of water freight. South Carolina?s most heavily traveled
airports are the Greenville-Spartanburg, Columbia and Charleston airports. SC is
home to 128 airports and 22 heliports in total.
EDUCATION South Carolina operates eight public universities with nearly 39,000
students enrolled. The University of South Carolina is the most extensive
higher learning institution in the state and includes campuses in Aiken,
Beaufort, Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter, Union and the Upstate Campus. In
addition, South Carolina is home to numerous public and private higher learning
facilities. These include Clemson University, The Citadel, Francis Marion
University and Wofford College.
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