South Carolina (SC) is located in the southeastern part of the USA. Agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism are important to the state’s economy. The main attractions include beaches, with the most famous being Myrtle Beach, or Congaree National Park. The state capital is Columbia. South Carolina was the first state to vote to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860, which was one of the reasons for the outbreak of the Civil War.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name South Carolina Abbreviation SC Capital Columbia Largest city Charleston (Population: 155 369) Current time 13:04 Time zone EST (UTC-5), state observes Daylight Saving Time EDT (UTC-4) Population 5,118,422 (#23 most populous US state) Area 32,020 mi² (#40 largest US state) Admitted to the Union May 23, 1788 (#8 state to join) ⭐ Capital of South Carolina
The capital of the state of South Carolina is Columbia, which takes its name from Lady Columbia, who was known as the allegorical embodiment of the United States of America. The idea to build a new capital was conceived as early as March 22, 1786, when Columbia officially became the capital.
🏙️ Largest City in South Carolina
Charleston, with a population of 155,369 in 2023, is the largest city in South Carolina. The second largest city is the capital city of Columbia with 142,416 residents and the third is North Charleston with a population of 121,469.
🕒 Time in South Carolina
The current time in South Carolina is 13:04. The entire state uses Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5), with daylight saving time switching from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of South Carolina
As of 2023, South Carolina had a population of 5,118,422, making the state the 23rd most populous in the USA.
📍 Area of South Carolina
The total area of South Carolina is 32,020 mi², of which 30,061 mi² is land and 1,960 mi² is water. South Carolina is the 40th largest US state.
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Fun Facts About South Carolina
🧩 South Carolina Neighboring States
South Carolina borders only two US states: North Carolina to the north and Georgia to the south. In addition, it has a long coastline with the Atlantic Ocean to the east 187 mi.
📅 Date of South Carolina Statehood
South Carolina entered the Union on May 23, 1788 as the 8th state in line to ratify the United States Constitution.
📛 Nickname of the State of South Carolina
South Carolina is nicknamed “The Palmetto State”, referring to the state’s official tree. It is the 66 ft tall Sabal palmetto palm, which is found in Florida, the Bahamas, and Cuba in addition to South Carolina. The nickname was coined after the Battle of Fort Moultrie, where the palms were used to build Fort Sullivan.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in South Carolina
The highest mountain in South Carolina is 3,554 ft Sassafras Mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountains.
🏞️ Rivers in South Carolina
The longest river in South Carolina is the Savannah River, with a total flow length of 301 mi, with a portion of it running to the Georgia border. It is followed by the Pee Dee River (232 mi), the Catawba River (217 mi), the Edisto River (206 mi), and the Saluda River (199 mi).
🎓 Universities in South Carolina
The largest university in South Carolina is the University of South Carolina, which was founded in 1801 in the city of Columbia and is attended by around 30,000 students. The second largest university is Clemson University with around 25 thousand students, and the third largest is Coastal Carolina University with over 10 thousand young people.
✉️ South Carolina ZIP Codes
Addresses in South Carolina have a dedicated ZIP code range of 290xx-299xx. For more information, see the ZIP Codes in the USA article, and to look up the ZIP code for a specific address, visit the USPS website.
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Weather in South Carolina
The best time of year to visit South Carolina is spring or fall, when temperatures are pleasant and rainfall is relatively low. Traveling during these months will help you avoid the uncomfortable summer humidity.
Springtime in South Carolina is marked by average temperatures of 59°F to 77°F, and rainfall is common. Snowfall in the spring months is rather rare.
South Carolina summers are hot and humid, with temperatures generally ranging from 77°F to 90°F. High humidity can make temperatures seem even higher. Heavy rains and afternoon thunderstorms are very common and usually do not last long. Especially along the coast, there is an increased risk of tropical storms and hurricanes from June to November.
Autumn in South Carolina brings more pleasant temperatures of around 59°F to 77°F, and rain showers are less frequent compared to summer. The favorable weather forecast and the emerging colors of autumn create a pleasant atmosphere for traveling.
Winter in South Carolina is mild, with temperatures above freezing between 45°F and 54°F. Rainfall in the winter months is common, snowfall is rare.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in South Carolina
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Things to Do in South Carolina
1️⃣ Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park is known for its swamps and untouched forests, with some of the tallest trees on the entire East Coast of the United States. The marshes can be navigated in a rented kayak, and those who prefer to walk on solid ground can choose from a wide variety of hiking trails. Visitors can spot raccoons, alligators, or rare species of birds in the park.
2️⃣ Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach on the Atlantic coast is one of the most popular beach resorts in the eastern United States. Visitors will find a total of approximately 60 mi sandy beaches that offer great conditions for swimming, sunbathing or water sports. Along the beaches there are several amusement parks with a SkyWheel Ferris wheel, an aquarium and plenty of shops and restaurants.
3️⃣ Fort Sumter National Monument
Fort Sumter on the Atlantic coast is the site where the American Civil War began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate troops began shelling the fort. The fort is located on an island that is easily accessible by boat. A guided tour of the fort gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about the history of the fort, its significance and the circumstances leading up to the outbreak of the Civil War.
4️⃣ Historic Downtown Charleston
If you like history and urban architecture, you’ll find something for everyone in Historic Downtown Charleston. One of the oldest cities in the USA, it is known for its colonial architecture and well-preserved 18th and 19th century homes. Some of them now house museums, art galleries or restaurants.
5️⃣ Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Historic Magnolia Plantation was established in 1676, making it one of the very oldest in all of South Carolina. Today, it is best known for its beautiful gardens dominated by azaleas and camellias. The gardens include a museum that educates visitors about plantation life during and after the slave era.
6️⃣ Caesars Head State Park
Caesars Head State Park is located in the northwestern part of the state and is known for its spectacular views of the Appalachian Mountains. The park has a network of hiking trails of varying difficulty, the most famous of which is the 3.8 mi long Raven Cliff Falls Trail, which leads to beautiful waterfalls. The best time to visit the park is in the fall, when the leaves on the trees turn to shades of red and orange.
7️⃣ Patriots Point Maritime Museum
The Patriots Point Maritime Museum is home to the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, which was deployed in the Pacific during World War II. Visitors can explore not only the interiors of the huge aircraft carrier, but also the submarine USS Clamagore and the destroyer USS Laffey. The museum includes interactive exhibits on U.S. naval history, including the Vietnam and Korean wars.
8️⃣ Old Slave Mart Museum
The museum is located in a building that served as a slave market in the pre-Civil War era. Today, visitors can learn about the history of slavery in South Carolina through photographs and interactive exhibits. The lives of slaves in a dark era of American history are presented through an audio guide.
9️⃣ Drayton Hall
Drayton Hall is one of the oldest surviving plantation buildings in the USA. You can see it in a suburb of Charleston. The plantation house was built in 1738 and is the only one in the broader area to survive the Civil War unscathed. The house hasn’t been modernized, so it offers an authentic look into life in the 18th century. Guided tours of the house provide an interesting insight into the history of slavery.
🔟 Rainbow Row
Rainbow Row in the city of Charleston is a photogenic row of 13 historic houses in various pastel colors. All of the houses were built during the 18th century and, after sensitive renovations, are considered emblematic of Southern coastal architecture. Those with a love of history can take a guided tour focusing on the course of Charleston’s post-Civil War reconstruction.
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Largest Cities in South Carolina
The table below shows the ten largest cities in the state of South Carolina in 2023, the source of the data is the United States Census Bureau, a federal agency whose main job is to count the population.
City County Population 1 Charleston Charleston, Berkeley 155,369 Map of Charleston 2 Columbia Richland, Lexington 142,416 Map of Columbia 3 North Charleston Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester 121,469 Map of North Charleston 4 Mount Pleasant Charleston 95,232 Map of Mount Pleasant 5 Rock Hill York 75,654 Map of Rock Hill 6 Greenville Greenville 72,824 Map of Greenville 7 Summerville Dorchester, Berkeley, Charleston 51,884 Map of Summerville 8 Goose Creek Berkeley 49,249 Map of Goose Creek 9 Greer Greenville, Spartanburg 44,387 Map of Greer 10 Sumter Sumter 42,766 Map of Sumter -
Sports Teams in South Carolina
🏒 Ice Hockey (NHL)
There are no teams from South Carolina in the NHL.
🏈 American football (NFL)
There is no team in South Carolina that plays in the NFL.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
South Carolina is not represented in the NBA basketball league.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
There is no team from South Carolina in the MLB baseball league.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
No team from South Carolina plays in the MLS.
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South Carolina State Symbols
South Carolina has many state symbols, some of which are directly enshrined in law. Only a selection of some of the symbols are listed in this article.
State Flag of South Carolina
The current form of the flag was adopted on 28 January 1861, the flag’s motif is simple. It consists of an indigo field with a palm tree typical of South Carolina on top of which is a crescent moon in the upper left corner. The design of the flag is based on a design used as early as the late 18th century.
Great Seal of South Carolina
The Great Seal of South Carolina was adopted in 1776 and is quite interesting in appearance. Inside the seal are two ellipses that connect the leaves of a palm tree. In the left ellipse is a tall palm tree and an oak tree that is broken, referring to the battle just in 1776 between the defenders of the fort on Sullivan’s Island and the British fleet. In the right ellipse is the Roman goddess Spes walking along a coastline covered in weapons.
State Tree
The official tree and one of the most famous symbols of South Carolina is the Sabal palm (Sabal palmetto), which grows mainly in the lowland areas of the state. The palm became the state’s symbol after a battle in 1776, when it was used to build Fort Sullivan, which saved the city of Charleston from attack by the British.
State Animal
In 1972, the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was declared the official state animal, and hunting is allowed in every county of South Carolina at certain times of the year.
State Color
South Carolina even has an official state color in its legislation. Indigo blue is based on the uniform of the 2nd South Carolina Regiment, commanded by Colonel William Moultrie, who was able to defend the city of Charleston with a fort built of palm wood.
State Dog
The state dog breed of South Carolina is the Boykin Spaniel, which was bred near the town of Camden on the Wateree River. The Boykin Spaniel is used for hunting wild ducks and turkeys.
State Fish
In 1972, the state symbol included the striped bass (Morone saxatilis), growing to a length of up to 100 cm was planted in lakes such as Lake Murray in central South Carolina.
State Amphibian
The official amphibian of South Carolina since 1999 has been the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), chosen at the suggestion of third-grade students at an elementary school in Spartanburg.
State Flower
The symbol of South Carolina is the Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens), which blooms yellow in the spring. It is meant to symbolize constancy, loyalty and patriotism in service to the state.
State Fruit
Peaches have been the official state fruit since 1984, with South Carolina being the second largest producer in the United States after California.
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