South Carolina

South Carolina
State
Flag Seal
Nickname:  The Palmetto State
Motto(s):  Dum spiro spero "While I breathe, I hope" Animis opibusque parati "Prepared in mind and resources"
Anthem: "Carolina" "South Carolina on my Mind"
Map of the United States with South Carolina highlighted
Country	United States
Before statehood	Province of South Carolina
Admitted to the Union	May 23, 1788 (8th state)
Capital	Columbia
Largest city	Charleston
Largest county or equivalent	Greenville
Largest metro and urban areas	Greenville (combined and metro) Columbia (urban)
Government
• Governor	Henry McMaster (R)
• Lieutenant governor	Pamela Evette (R)
Legislature	General Assembly
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Representatives
Judiciary	South Carolina Supreme Court
U.S. senators	Lindsey Graham (R) Tim Scott (R)
U.S. House delegation	6 Republicans 1 Democrat (list)
Area
• Total	32,020.49 sq mi (82,932.7 km2)
• Land	30,060.70 sq mi (77,856.9 km2)
• Water	1,959.79 sq mi (5,075.8 km2)  6.12%
• Rank	40th
Dimensions
• Length	260 mi (420 km)
• Width	200 mi (320 km)
Elevation	350 ft (110 m)
Highest elevation (Sassafras Mountain[1][a])	3,560 ft (1,085 m)
Lowest elevation (Atlantic Ocean[1])	0 ft (0 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,118,425[2]
• Rank	23rd
• Density	170.27/sq mi (65.74/km2)
• Rank	19th
• Median household income	$50,570[3]
• Income rank	41st
Demonyms	South Carolinian
Language
• Official language	English
• Spoken language	English 93.82% Spanish 4.62 % German 0.26% Chinese 0.25% French 0.23% Tagalog 0.18% Vietnamese 0.16% Russian 0.15% Portuguese 0.12% Hindi 0.11% Gujarati 0.10% [4]
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (EDT)
USPS abbreviation	SC
ISO 3166 code	US-SC
Traditional abbreviation	S.C.
Latitude	32°02′ N to 35°13′ N
Longitude	78°32′ W to 83°21′ W
Website	sc.gov

State symbols of South Carolina

List of state symbols
Flag of South Carolina
Seal of South Carolina
Living insignia
Amphibian	Spotted Salamander
Bird	Carolina Wren
Butterfly	Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Dog breed	Boykin Spaniel
Fish	Striped bass
Flower	Yellow jessamine
Insect	Carolina mantis
Mammal	White-tailed deer
Reptile	Loggerhead sea turtle
Tree	Sabal palmetto
Inanimate insignia
Beverage	Milk
Dance	Carolina shag
Food	Fruit: Peach Snack: Boiled peanuts Vegetable: Collard greens
Fossil	Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi)
Mineral	Amethyst
Rock	Blue Granite
Shell	Lettered olive
Other	Hogna carolinensis
State route marker
State quarter
Released in 2000
Lists of United States state symbols

South Carolina (/ˌkærəˈlaɪnə/ ^ⓘ KARR-ə-LY-nə) is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia to the west and south across the Savannah River. Along with North Carolina, it makes up the Carolinas region of the East Coast. South Carolina is the 40th-largest and 23rd-most populous U.S. state with a recorded population of 5,118,425 according to the 2020 census.^[2] In 2019^[update], its GDP was $213.45 billion. South Carolina is composed of 46 counties. The capital is Columbia with a population of 136,632 in 2020;^[5] while its most populous city is Charleston with a 2020 population of 150,227.^[6] The Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC Combined Statistical Area is the most populous combined metropolitan area in the state, with an estimated 2023 population of 1,590,636.^[7]

South Carolina derives its name from King Charles I of England, who was instrumental in establishing the English colony, with Carolus being the Latin equivalent of "Charles".^[8] The Province of South Carolina was officially created in 1712. As one of the original Thirteen Colonies, it transitioned to a royal colony in 1719. Throughout the American Revolutionary War, South Carolina witnessed significant military engagement, hosting over 200 battles and skirmishes.^[9] On May 23, 1788, South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. As a slave state, it was the first to vote for secession from the Union on December 20, 1860. Following the American Civil War, South Carolina was readmitted to the Union on July 9, 1868.

In the early to mid-20th century, South Carolina experienced significant economic development with the establishment of numerous textile mills and factories throughout the state. The civil rights movement during the mid-20th century played a crucial role in dismantling segregation and discriminatory laws in the state. Following World War II, South Carolina's economic diversification accelerated, leading to a broader range of industries. By the early 21st century, the state's economy had evolved to include sectors such as aerospace, agribusiness, automotive manufacturing, and tourism.^[10]

South Carolina features three primary geographic regions stretching from east to west: the Atlantic coastal plain, the Piedmont, and the Blue Ridge Mountains located in the northwestern part of Upstate South Carolina. The state predominantly experiences a humid subtropical climate characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters. In the Upstate region, the climate shifts to a subtropical highland type. The eastern coastal plain is dotted with numerous salt marshes and estuaries. The southeastern Lowcountry of South Carolina includes parts of the Sea Islands, a series of barrier islands along the Atlantic Ocean.

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