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South Carolina

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

South Carolina is a state in the Southeastern United States. It sits in the South Atlantic and Deep South regions.

Myrtle Beach, North Ocean Boulevard 100420-F-4155R-021
Myrtle Beach, North Ocean Boulevard 100420-F-4155R-021

To the north, it shares a border with North Carolina. The Atlantic Ocean sits to its southeast. Georgia is located to the west and south. The Savannah River helps mark that border with Georgia.

Lake Hartwell reservoir in Georgia and South Carolina includes parts of the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca rivers 01
Lake Hartwell reservoir in Georgia and South Carolina includes parts of the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca rivers 01

The state is made of 46 different counties. It is the 23rd most populous state in the country. According to the 2020 census, about 5,118,425 people live there.

South Carolina population density 2020
South Carolina population density 2020

The land changes as you move from the coast to the mountains. The eastern part is the Atlantic coastal plain. This area has salt marshes and many estuaries. It also includes the Sea Islands along the ocean.

Ravenel Bridge at night from Mt Pleasant
Ravenel Bridge at night from Mt Pleasant

Moving west, you reach the Piedmont region. In the northwestern corner, the land rises into the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Pinnacle Mountain (South Carolina) viewed from Caesars Head, June 2019
Pinnacle Mountain (South Carolina) viewed from Caesars Head, June 2019

The weather is mostly humid and subtropical. This means summers are hot and humid. Winters are usually mild. In the Upstate mountains, the climate is a subtropical highland type.

SCprecipitation
SCprecipitation

Long before settlers arrived, people lived in this area. Evidence shows human activity dating back 50,000 years.

Around the year 1600, many Native American nations lived here. The Cherokee and Catawba were among the largest groups. These tribes lived in villages and grew food like corn and beans. They used canoes to travel along the rivers.

Floride francaise Pierre du Val
Floride francaise Pierre du Val

Some tribes lived on the coast to harvest fish and oysters. Others lived in the mountains or near the rivers. Their names still live on in places like Edisto Island.

European explorers and settlers arrived later. The Spanish were the first Europeans to explore the area. They even founded a settlement called San Miguel de Gualdape in 1526.

Wpdms carolina colony grant
Wpdms carolina colony grant

Later, the English established the Province of Carolina. The state was named for King Charles I of England.

Recto South Carolina 20 dollars 1777 urn-3 HBS.Baker.AC 1104492
Recto South Carolina 20 dollars 1777 urn-3 HBS.Baker.AC 1104492

In 1712, the land split into North and South Carolina. South Carolina became a royal colony in 1719. It was one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Fort-sumter-from-battery-sc1
Fort-sumter-from-battery-sc1

During the American Revolutionary War, the state saw over 200 battles. It became the eighth state to join the United States in 1788.

Today, South Carolina has many different ways to make money. Its economy includes making cars and airplanes.

Afterburn overview
Afterburn overview

People also work in agribusiness and tourism. Many people visit the state for its beautiful sights. The capital city is Columbia, which has 136,632 people. Charleston is the most populous city with 150,227 people.

Broad Street Charleston South Carolina 1865
Broad Street Charleston South Carolina 1865

There is also a large metropolitan area near Greenville and Spartanburg. This area has about 1,590,636 people. The state has changed much over the years. It grew through textile mills and new industries. It also changed through the civil rights movement.

Joseph Rainey
Joseph Rainey
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🖼️ Images & Media (23)
File:Anonimo portoghese, carta navale per le isole nuovamente trovate in la parte dell'india (de cantino), 1501-02 (bibl. estense) 02.jpg
Anonimo portoghese, carta navale per le...
File:Floride francaise Pierre du Val.jpg
Floride francaise Pierre du Val.jpg
File:Wpdms carolina colony grant.png
Wpdms carolina colony grant.png
File:Recto South Carolina 20 dollars 1777 urn-3 HBS.Baker.AC 1104492.jpeg
Recto South Carolina 20 dollars 1777...
File:Millford Plantation HABS color 2.jpg
Millford Plantation HABS color 2.jpg
File:Broad Street Charleston South Carolina 1865.jpg
Broad Street Charleston South Carolina 1865.jpg
File:Joseph Rainey.jpg
Joseph Rainey.jpg
File:Some of the children who go to school half a day.jpg
Some of the children who go to school...
File:Myrtle Beach, North Ocean Boulevard 100420-F-4155R-021.jpg
Myrtle Beach, North Ocean Boulevard...
File:Pinnacle Mountain (South Carolina) viewed from Caesars Head, June 2019.jpg
Pinnacle Mountain (South Carolina) viewed...
File:Lake_Hartwell_reservoir_in_Georgia_and_South_Carolina_includes_parts_of_the_Savannah,_Tugaloo,_and_Seneca_rivers_01.jpg
Lake_Hartwell_reservoir_in_Georgia_and_Sou...
File:SCprecipitation.gif
SCprecipitation.gif

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