South Carolina ( The Palmetto State ) South Carolina is the southern portion of the original 1629 land grant made by England's King Charles I, which was named in his honor (Carolus is Latin for Charles). Settled by the English in 1670, South Carolina was based on a plantation culture with an aristocratic, wealthy society that was dependent on black slave labor. One of the original 13 colonies, South Carolina was first formed in 1729 when the Carolina colony was divided in two to form North and South Carolina. The attack on Fort Sumter in the Charleston harbor launched the Civil War. Today, South Carolina is a growing research center and banking state. South Carolina has retained many features of the South of pre-Civil War days. Graceful buildings, erected before the war, stand in Charleston, Beaufort and other cities. Large plantations, which were once the backbone of the South's economy, still remain in parts of South Carolina. The state's mountains, seashores and historic sites make the state an ideal vacationland. Some of the famous celebrities that were born in South Carolina include: Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Frazier, Chris Rock, Stanley Donen, The Flag of South Carolina Ratified the Constitution on 1788 as the eighth State; flag adopted in 1861. Troops defending harbor forts during the Revolutionary War displayed a blue flag with a white crescent. The state tree was added to the flag when South Carolina proclaimed its independence in 1861.   Largest Cities in the State (2000) Columbia, 116,278; Charleston, 96,650; North Charleston, 79,641; Greenville, 56,002; Rock Hill, 49,765; Mount Pleasant Town, 47,609; Spartanburg, 39,673; Sumter, 39,643; Hilton Head Island town, 33,862; Florence, 30,248   Business and Trade in South Carolina Agriculture: Tobacco, poultry, cattle, dairy products, soybeans, hogs. Industries: Textile goods, chemical products, paper products, machinery, tourism. State Symbols and Emblems Bird: Great Carolina Wren Flower: Yellow Jessamine (gelsemium sempervirens) Tree: Cabbage Palmetto (sabal palmetto) Song(s): Carolina Motto: Animis Opibusque Parati (Prepared in Soul and Resources) Dum Spiro Spero (While I Breathe, I Hope) South Carolina Travel - Vacation Destinations & Recreation National parks and historic locations suitable for family vacations or day trips. • Charles Pinckney National Historic Site - Sullivans Island • Orangeburg National Fish Hatchery - Orangeburg • Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge - Pinckney Island • Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway - Greenville • Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center - Awendaw

Capital: Columbia     Local Weather  Statehood: 1788-05-23  Population: 4,012,012 (133.2 mi2)   Geographic Area (mi2)     Total 32,020.20     Water 1,910.73     Land 30,109.47     Rank 40th Largest   State Education:     Pub & Prv Schools     College & University     Libraries   Border States: Georgia, North Carolina   Health Information:     Illicit Drug Use     Youth Risk Survey   Housing: In South Carolina, there are 1,753,670 housing units, averaging to 58.2 per sq mile.   Related Magazines:     South Carolina Game & Fish   Posters and Artwork Old Charleston Gate, Charleston, South Carolina Pre-Matted Print 11" x 14" • Scene of Old Charleston, South Carolina Art Print 17" x 11" • Trees on a Beach, South Forest Beach, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA Photographic Print 24" x 8" • White Egret at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, South Carolina, USA Photographic Print 16" x 12" • Hotel Greenville, Greenville, South Carolina Art Print 11" x 17" • Charleston, South Carolina, USA Photographic Print 24" x 18"