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Table of Contents
South Carolina is a state on the southeastern coastline of the United States and consists of 46 counties. The 23rd most populous state in the US, it has a population of over 137,300, while its capital city, Charleston, had a population of 150,277 in 2020.
See the fact file below for more information on South Carolina, or you can download our 30-page worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
- Before Europeans arrived in South Carolina, various Native American tribes lived there. The Catawba and Cherokee were the two most significant tribes.
- The Cherokee inhabited the state’s west, near the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Catawba people resided in the state’s northern section, around Rock Hill.
- The British established the colony of Jamestown in Virginia in 1607. Carolina was the name given to the territory south of Virginia.
- In 1521, Spanish adventurer Francisco Gordillo was the first European to arrive in South Carolina. He abducted several Native Americans before fleeing.
- In 1526, the Spanish returned to occupy the country, hoping to discover gold. The village, however, did not endure, and the residents departed.
- The French landed in 1562 and established a hamlet on Parris Island. This colony, too, failed, and the French were forced to return home.
- In 1670, they established the first permanent British settlement in South Carolina. It would subsequently be known as Charleston.
- Settlers quickly moved into the area to cultivate crops on huge plantations. Enslaved people from Africa were brought in to work on the plantations. Rice and Indigo, which were used to manufacture blue dye, were two of the principal crops.
- As the territory expanded, the inhabitants of South Carolina desired a government apart from that of North Carolina. They had their own governor in 1710 and became a British colony in 1729.
- South Carolina joined the thirteen other American colonies in proclaiming independence from Britain when the American Revolution started.
- South Carolina endured a lot of combat, including significant engagements like King’s Mountain and Cowpens, which helped alter the tide of the war. South Carolina saw more engagements and battles in the fight for independence than any other state.
- On May 23, 1788, South Carolina became the eighth state to join the United States following the Revolutionary War. The initial capital was Charleston, but it was transferred to Columbia in 1790 to be closer to the state’s center.
- With the advent of the cotton gin in 1793, numerous South Carolina plantations began cultivating cotton. Cotton made the state extremely wealthy. Plantation owners hired enslaved people to work in the fields. South Carolina had about 400,000 enslaved people by the mid-nineteenth century.
- As Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, South Carolina plantation owners were terrified that he would abolish slavery.
- South Carolina was, therefore, the first state to separate from the Union and create the Confederate States of America. The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, with combat at Fort Sumter in Charleston.
- When the war finished in 1865, much of South Carolina had been damaged and needed rebuilding.
- In 1868, the state was readmitted to the Union after ratifying a new constitution that abolished slavery.
GEOGRAPHY
- South Carolina is approximately triangular in shape, with North Carolina to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and Georgia to the south and west. There are three regions in the state.
- Northwestern South Carolina is home to the Blue Ridge Mountain Province. Sassafras Mountain, the state’s highest point, is among its wooded summits.
- The Piedmont Province runs southeastward from the mountains to the province’s heartland, covering one-third of the territory. Its mountains climb higher to the west.
- The Sandhills runs along its eastern boundary and are covered with gritty sand that experts think was formed by prehistoric seas.
- The other two-thirds of the state is covered by the Atlantic Coastal Plain, which extends west from the coast and is mainly flat with rivers and wetlands.
- Along the coast is Myrtle Beach, a major tourist center with its warm subtropical weather, and further inland, Pine Barrens is a fertile wooded area in the plain’s center.
Natural Resources
- South Carolina’s woods encompass more than 67% of the state and are a primary natural resource, notably loblolly pine.
- South Carolina is also a significant producer of kaolin (natural clay), mica, and vermiculite, a mineral commonly used for insulation or plant growth.
Climate
- The climate in South Carolina is subtropical, with hot, humid summers and typically moderate winters. Temperatures in July average in the low 70s °F (low 20s °C) in the highlands northwest to the midlands and along the coast.
- Average winter temperatures range from approximately 38 °F (3 °C) in the highlands to about 45 °F (7 °C) in the midlands to about 50 °F (10 °C) near the coast, which the Gulf Stream warms.
Wildlife
- South Carolina is a small state, but with three geographical regions, mild winters, and hot and humid summers, it is a wildlife haven for everything from small rodents to badgers, mink, spiders, long-tailed weasels, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.
- The state is home to strange and familiar animals, predators and herbivores, some of the country’s rarest animals, and those seen and heard daily.
- The Carolina wren, an assertive small bird with a loud and strong voice, is South Carolina’s official state bird. The wild turkey is the state’s wild game bird and is as common as white-tailed deer. The wood duck, often known as the Carolina duck, is the state duck of South Carolina.
- The bottlenose dolphin is frequently observed off the state’s coast. The northern right whale is the official migratory marine animal that comes to the coastal waters to give birth.
About
LANDMARKS
Charleston Pineapple Fountain
- Charleston is sometimes nicknamed the “Holy City” because of its many churches, and it has long been noted for its religious tolerance.
- Although pineapples are not native to the region, they have historically represented hospitality and luxurious Carolinian history.
South Carolina Statehouse
- The 167-year-old Classical Revival-style tower currently houses the South Carolina General Assembly and the offices of South Carolina’s Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
- Daily tours of the building and grounds are available to visitors.
- Recognizing its significance during Reconstruction, the State House was declared a National Historic Landmark.
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, Mount Pleasant
- This two-and-a-half-mile long cable-stayed bridge over Cooper River completed the Charleston skyline and was one of North America’s longest bridges when it opened in 2005.
- The bridge’s design is not only aesthetically pleasing but also high enough to accommodate ships and strong enough to withstand hurricanes.
Peachoid in Gaffney
- Whether you’re a lover of the fruit or the Netflix series “House of Cards,” which features this South Carolina monument prominently, the sight of a 135-foot-tall (41-meter) water tower is a sure clue you’re in the “Peach State.”
- Gaffney is South Carolina’s peach capital, and the economy once depended on peach orchards.
Rainbow Row and the Charleston Historic District
- This eye-catching collection of 13 historic homes painted in pastel colors is a must-see South Carolina landmark.
- A Charleston historic district tour would be incomplete without a view of Rainbow Row.
FUN FACTS
- The Sea Pines Shell Ring is a fascinating circle of 4,000-year-old shells on Hilton Head Island. It might have been a place of worship for Native Americans.
- At Patriots Point in Charleston Harbor, tourists may view navy ships such as a submarine, a destroyer, and the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown.
- South Carolina is the birthplace of baseball star Shoeless Joe Jackson, civil rights activist Marian Wright Edelman, and artists James Brown, Chubby Checker, and Dizzy Gillespie.
- Wadmalaw Island, near Charleston, South Carolina, is home to the sole commercial tea plantation in the lower 48 states.
- Since the American Revolutionary War, the palmetto tree has been an iconic symbol of South Carolina. When the British stormed a fort on Sullivan’s Island near Charleston, cannonballs bounced off the outside wall’s spongy palmetto wood.
South Carolina Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about South Carolina across 30 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about South Carolina. South Carolina is a state on the southeastern coastline of the United States and consists of 46 counties. The 23rd most populous state in the US.
Download includes the following worksheets:
- South Carolina Facts
- StateBook
- Crossword
- One Lie, Two Truths
- State Symbols
- SC Flag
- Area Mapping
- A Past of War
- The A-List
- Postcard
- Anthem Song
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capital of South Carolina?
The capital of South Carolina is Columbia.
What is the nickname of South Carolina?
South Carolina is known as “The Palmetto State” because of the state tree, the sabal palmetto, which is also featured on the state flag.
What is South Carolina’s state bird?
South Carolina’s state bird is the Carolina wren.
What is one major industry in South Carolina?
One major industry in South Carolina is tourism, with attractions such as Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and the state’s many historic sites drawing millions of visitors each year.
What major event in American history occurred in South Carolina in 1861?
South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union in December 1860, leading to the start of the Civil War in 1861.
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Link will appear as South Carolina Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 19, 2017
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