South Carolina (IPA: /?s????k?r?'la?n?/) is a state
in the southern region of the United States of America. Originally
known as Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the
13 colonies that declared independence from the British Crown during
the American Revolution. It was the first state to secede from the
Union and was part of the Confederate States of America. The state
is named after King Charles II of England, as Carolus is Latin for
Charles. According to the 2006 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau,
the state's population is 4,321,249 ranked 24th.
Contents [hide]
1 Geography
1.1 Lakes
1.2 Climate
2 History
2.1 20th century
3 Demographics
3.1 Most Populated Counties
3.2 Religion
4 Economy
5 Transportation
5.1 Major Highways
5.2 Rail
5.2.1 Station stops
5.3 Major and regional airports
6 Government and politics
6.1 Executive branch
6.2 Legislative branch
6.3 Judicial branch
6.4 South Carolina Constitution
6.5 Law enforcement agencies
6.6 Federal representation
6.6.1 US Senate
6.6.2 US House of Representatives
7 Education
7.1 Institutions of higher education
7.2 Secondary education
8 Sports in South Carolina
9 National Parks
10 National Monuments
11 Miscellaneous topics
11.1 Famous people from South Carolina
11.2 Alcohol laws
11.3 South Carolina singularities
11.4 South Carolina firsts
12 Sister States
13 See also
14 References
15 Further reading
15.1 Textbooks and surveys
15.2 Scholarly secondary studies
15.3 Local studies
15.4 Political science
15.5 Primary documents
16 External links
[edit] Geography
Map of South CarolinaSouth Carolina is bounded to the north by North
Carolina; to the south and west by Georgia, located across the Savannah
River; and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean.
South Carolina is composed of four geographic areas, whose boundaries
roughly parallel the northeast/southwest Atlantic coastline. The
lower part of the state is the Coastal Plain, also known as the
Lowcountry, which is nearly flat and composed entirely of recent
sediments such as sand, silt, and clay. Areas with better drainage
make excellent farmland, though some land is swampy. The coastline
contains many salt marshes and estuaries, as well as natural ports
such as Georgetown and Charleston. An unusual feature of the coastal
plain is a large number of Carolina bays, the origins of which are
uncertain, though one prominent theory suggests that they were created
by a meteor shower. The bays tend to be oval, lining up in a northwest
to southeast orientation.
Palmetto State
State Capital: Columbia
State Mottos: Dum spiro spero
(While I breathe, I hope)
and Animis opibusque parati
(Prepared in Mind and Resources)
State Songs: "Carolina" and
"South Carolina On My Mind"
State Tree: Sabal palmetto
State Flower: Yellow Jessamine
State Bird: Carolina Wren
State Wild Game Bird: Wild Turkey
State Dog: Boykin Spaniel
State Animal: White-tailed Deer
State Reptile: Loggerhead Sea Turtle
State Amphibian: Spotted Salamander
State Fish: Striped Bass
State Insect: Carolina Mantis
State Butterfly: Eastern tiger swallowtail
State Fruit: Peach[2]
State Beverage: Milk[3]
State Hospitality
Beverage: Tea[4]
State Gemstone: Amethyst
State Stone: Blue Granite
State Popular Music: Beach Music
State Dance: Shag
State Snack: Boiled peanuts[5]
State Craft: Sweetgrass Basket weaving
Just west of the coastal plain is the Sandhills region, which is
thought to contain remnants of old coastal dunes from a time when
the land was sunken or the oceans were higher.
The Piedmont (Upstate) region contains the roots of an ancient,
eroded mountain chain. It tends to be hilly, with thin, stony clay
soils, and contains few areas suitable for farming. Much of the
Piedmont was once farmed, with little success. It is now reforested.
At the southeastern edge of the Piedmont is the fall line, where
rivers drop to the coastal plain. The fall line was an important
early source of water power. Mills built to harness this resource
encouraged the growth of several cities, including the capital,
Columbia. The larger rivers are navigable up to the fall line, providing
a trade route for mill towns.
The northwestern part of the Piedmont is also known as the Foothills.
The Cherokee Parkway is a scenic driving route through this area.
This is where Table Rock State Park is located.
Highest in elevation is the Upstate, containing an escarpment of
the Blue Ridge Mountains, which continue into North Carolina and
Georgia, as part of the southern Appalachian chain. Sassafras Mountain,
South Carolina's highest point at 3,560 feet (1,085 m) is located
in this area.[1] Also located in the Upcountry is Table Rock State
Park and Caesars Head State Park. The Chattooga River, located on
the border between South Carolina and Georgia, is a favorite whitewater
rafting destination.
Earthquakes do occasionally occur in South Carolina. The greatest
frequency is in the extreme southeastern corner of the state, in
the Charleston area. The greatest earthquake in South Carolina occurred
in Charleston on September 1, 1886. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake killed
60 people and destroyed much of the city. ( Abridged from Seismicity
of the United States, 1568-1989 (Revised), by Carl W. Stover and
Jerry L. Coffman, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1527,
United States Government Printing Office, Washington: 1993.) A 2007
earthquake affected the state capital, Columbia. The earthquake
was centered near Cayce. South Carolina averages 10-15 earthquakes
a year below magnitude 3 (FEMA). Multiple strikes are known to occur.
On September 22, 2006 a 3.5 magnitude earthquake occurred in Marlboro
county (in the Northeastern part of the state). On September 25,
2006 a second 3.7 magnitude earthquake struck less than 10 miles
from the first. Many homes near the epicenter, had cracks and a
few windows were broken. The 3.5 quake caused beds to slightly shake
about 15 miles to the south of the epicenter according to Geologist
Brian Schnirel from the Leeway Corucia Research Center (Marlboro
Shopper 9/06).
[edit] Lakes
South Carolina has several major lakes covering over 683 square
miles, or 437,672 acres (1,770 km²). The following are the
lakes listed by size.[6]
Lake Marion 110,000 acres (450 km²)
Lake Strom Thurmond 71,100 acres (290 km²)
Lake Moultrie 60,000 acres (240 km²)
Lake Hartwell 56,000 acres (230 km²)
Lake Murray 50,000 acres (200 km²)
Russell Lake 26,650 acres (110 km²)
Lake Keowee 18,372 acres (70 km²)
Lake Wylie 13,400 acres (50 km²)
Lake Wateree 13,250 acres (50 km²)
Lake Greenwood 11,400 acres (50 km²)
Lake Jocassee 7,500 acres (30 km²)
See also: Category: Rivers of South Carolina
[edit] Climate
South Carolina has a humid subtropical climate (Koppen climate classification
Cfa), although high elevation areas in the "Upstate" area
have less subtropical characteristics than areas on the Atlantic
coastline. In the summer, South Carolina is hot and humid with daytime
temperatures averaging between 86-103 degrees farenheit in most
of the state and overnight lows over 80 °F on the coast and
in the high 70s°F further inland. Winter temperatures are much
less uniform in South Carolina. Coastal areas of the state have
very mild winters with high temperatures approaching an average
of 60 °F (16 °C) and overnight lows in the 40s°F (5-8
°C). Further inland in the higher country, the average January
overnight low is normally at about 40 to 50 degrees farenheit. While
precipitation is abundant the entire year in almost the entire state,
near the coast tends to have a slightly wetter summer, while inland
March tends to be the wettest month.
Snowfall in South Carolina is not very excessive with coastal areas
receiving less than an inch (2.5 cm) on average. It isn't uncommon
for areas on the coast (especially the southern coast) to receive
no recordable snowfall in a given year, although it usually receives
at least a small dusting of snow annually. The interior receives
a little more snow, although nowhere in the state averages more
than 6 inches (15 cm) of snow a year.
Freezing Rain is in fact often more common in most of the state
(except the extreme Northwest corner of the state- the Upstate)
than snowfall. Due to the common borderline freezing conditions,
most bridges in South Carolina are marked -Bridge freezes before
road does-. This is due to the heat from the ground keeping the
road ice free longer than the surface of a bridge.
The state is prone to tropical cyclones. This is an annual concern
during hurricane season, which is from June-November. The peak time
of vulnerability for the southeast Atlantic coast is from early
August to early October when the Cape Verde hurricane season lasts.
Two memorable Category 4 Hurricanes to hit South Carolina were Hazel
(1954) and Hugo (1989). South Carolina averages around 50 days of
thunderstorm activity a year, which is less than some of the states
further south, and it is slightly less vulnerable to tornadoes than
the states which border on the Gulf of Mexico. Still, some notable
tornadoes have struck South Carolina and the state averages around
14 tornadoes annually.[7] There have been no F-5 tornadoes but over
a dozen F-4 tornadoes have occurred in many counties in South Carolina.
An F-2 Tornado (113-157 miles per hour) stuck 8 miles SE of Blenhiem,
S.C. in August 2004. This was a projection generated tornado from
a feeder band from Hurricane Charlie. This tornado uprooted a mature
oak tree and ripped heavy Greek pillars from a home and placed one
on top of the roof. Pine needles from an adjacent woods were stuck
up and spun around in a solid cloud of needles. Roof shingles were
torn off some homes. A Clayton Zone 3 (Hurricane resistance rating)
rated mobile home held up with only roof shingle and skirting damage).
As typical in a tornado, the skipping pattern produced results that
some homes received little or no damage whereas, adjacent property
was more heavily damaged. South Carolina's latitude often creates
a situation, when the air is unstable, to have very warm air at
the surface with very cold air aloft at the right height for significant
hail formation.
Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various South Carolina
Cities
City Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Charleston 59/37 62/39 69/46 76/52 83/61 88/68 91/72 89/72 85/67
77/55 70/46 62/39
Columbia 55/34 60/36 67/44 76/51 83/60 89/68 92/72 90/71 85/65 76/52
67/43 58/36
Greenville 50/31 55/34 63/40 71/47 78/56 85/64 89/69 87/68 81/62
71/50 61/41 53/34
[2]
[edit] History
Main article: History of South Carolina
The colony of Carolina was settled by English settlers, mostly from
Barbados, sent by the Lords Proprietors in 1670, followed by French
Huguenots. Most immigrants in the colonial period were African slaves,
who constituted a majority of the colony's population throughout
the period. The Carolina upcountry was settled largely by Scots-Irish
migrants from Pennsylvania and Virginia, following the Great Wagon
Road. The formal colony of "The Carolinas" split into
two in 1712. South Carolina became a royal colony in 1729. The state
declared its independence from Great Britain and set up its own
government on March 15, 1776. On February 5, 1778, South Carolina
became the first state to ratify the first constitution of the United
States - the Articles of Confederation. The current United States
Constitution was proposed for adoption by the States on September
17, 1787, and South Carolina was the 8th state to ratify it, on
May 23, 1788.
This historic home is at "The Battery," a neighborhood/park
area at the Downtown Historic District of Charleston - a well-known
historical city in South Carolina. "The Battery" is also
known as White Point Gardens.South Carolina was the first state
to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860. On April 12, 1861,
Confederate batteries began shelling Fort Sumter and the American
Civil War began. Charleston was effectively blockaded and the Union
Navy seized the Sea Islands, driving off the plantation owners and
setting up an experiment in freedom for the ex-slaves. South Carolina
troops participated in the major Confederate campaigns, but no major
battles were fought inland. General William Tecumseh Sherman marched
through the state in early 1865, destroying numerous plantations,
and captured the state capital of Columbia on February 17. Fires
began that night and by next morning, most of the central city was
destroyed.
Coastal towns and cities often have hurricane resistant Live oaks
overarching the streets in historic neighborhoods, such as these
on East Bay Street, Georgetown.After the war, South Carolina was
reincorporated into the United States during Reconstruction. Under
presidential Reconstruction (1865-66) Freedmen (former slaves) were
given limited rights. Under Radical reconstruction (1867-1877),
a Republican coalition of Freedmen, Carpetbaggers and Scalawags
were in control, supported by Union army forces. The withdrawal
of Union soldiers as part of the Compromise of 1877 ended Reconstruction
and brought an era where conservative white "Redeemers"
and pro-business Bourbon Democrats were in control. The state became
a hotbed of racial and economic tensions during the Populist and
Agrarian movements of the 1890s. Blacks were disfranchised in 1890,
and "Pitchfork Ben Tillman" controlled state politics
from the 1890s to 1910 with a base among poor white farmers.
[edit] 20th century
In the 20th century, South Carolina developed a thriving textile
industry. By 2007, textile employment had dropped significantly.
The state also converted its agricultural base from cotton to more
profitable crops, attracted large military bases and, most recently,
attracted European manufacturers.
South Carolina Population Density MapSouth Carolina's center of
population is located in Richland County, in the city of Columbia
[3].
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2006, South Carolina
has an estimated population of 4,321,249, which is an increase of
74,316, or 1.7%, from the prior year and an increase of 309,237,
or 7.7%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since
the last census of 97,715 people (that is 295,425 births minus 197,710
deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 151,485 people into
the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in
a net increase of 36,401 people, and migration within the country
produced a net increase of 115,084 people. Based on the 2000 Census
South Carolina was ranked 21st in population density with just over
133 persons per sq. mi.[9]
Demographics of South Carolina (csv)
By race White Black AIAN Asian NHPI
AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native — NHPI is Native
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
2000 (total population) 68.88% 30.01% 0.69% 1.13% 0.10%
2000 (Hispanic only) 2.05% 0.26% 0.05% 0.03% 0.02%
2005 (total population) 69.12% 29.68% 0.69% 1.31% 0.10%
2005 (Hispanic only) 2.95% 0.27% 0.06% 0.04% 0.02%
Growth 2000–2005 (total population) 6.43% 4.89% 6.09% 23.49%
13.76%
Growth 2000–2005 (non-Hispanic only) 5.01% 4.87% 4.61% 23.16%
10.36%
Growth 2000–2005 (Hispanic only) 52.78% 7.64% 23.97% 34.25%
26.89%
The five largest ancestry groups in South Carolina are African
American (29.5%), American (13.9%), English (8.4%), German (8.4%)
and Irish (7.9%). For most of South Carolina's history, African
slaves, and then their descendants, made up a majority of the state's
population. Whites became a majority in the early 20th century,
when tens of thousands of blacks moved north in the Great Migration.
Most of the African-American population lives in the Lowcountry
(especially the inland Lowcountry) and the Midlands; areas where
cotton, rice, and indigo plantations once dominated the landscape.
6.6% of South Carolina's population were reported as under 5 years
old, 25.2% under 18, and 12.1% were 65 or older. Females made up
approximately 51.4% of the population in 2000.
[edit] Most Populated Counties
South Carolina Office of Research & Statistics
County Seat 2006 Population 2010 Projection
Greenville Greenville 417,166 431,630
Richland Columbia 348,226 354,380
Charleston Charleston 331,917 339,140
Spartanburg Spartanburg 271,087 280,000
Lexington Lexington 240,160 254,920
Horry Conway 238,493 251,390
York York 193,230 205,980
See also: List of South Carolina counties
[edit] Religion
South Carolina, like most other Southern states, is overwhelmingly
Protestant Christian, and has a significantly lower percentage of
non-religious people than the national average. The religious affiliations
of the people of South Carolina are as follows:
Christian – 92%
Protestant – 84%
Southern Baptist – 45%
Methodist – 15%
Presbyterian – 5%
Other Protestant – 19%
Roman Catholic – 7%
Other Christian – 1%
Other Religions – 1%
Non-Religious – 7%
Sephardic Jews have lived in the state for more than 300 years,[4]
[5] [6] especially in and around Charleston [7]. Until about 1830,
South Carolina had the largest colony of Jews in North America.
[edit] Economy
As of 2004, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, South
Carolina’s gross state product was $136 billion. As of 2000,
the per capita income was $24,000, which was 81% of the national
average.[citation needed]
Major agricultural outputs of the state are: tobacco, poultry,
cattle, dairy products, soybeans, and hogs. Industrial outputs include:
textile goods, chemical products, paper products, machinery, and
tourism.
Gossypium hirsutum
Mature cotton almost ready to pick
Manning, South CarolinaThe state sales tax is 6% for non-grocery
goods and 3% for grocery goods. Counties have the option to impose
an additional 2% sales tax. [8] Citizens 85 or older get a one-percent
exclusion from the state's sales tax. Property tax is administered
and collected by local governments with assistance from the South
Carolina Department of Revenue. Both real and personal property
are subject to tax. Approximately two-thirds of county-levied property
taxes are used for the support of public education. The passage
of a recent state law will replace local property tax funding of
education with a statewide 1% sales tax increase.[citation needed]
Sales tax on groceries has been reduced to 3%. Municipalities levy
a tax on property situated within the limits of the municipality
for services provided by the municipality. The tax is paid by individuals,
corporations and partnerships owning property within the state.
South Carolina imposes a casual excise tax of 5% on the fair market
value of all motor vehicles, motorcycles, boats, motors and airplanes
transferred between individuals. The maximum casual excise tax is
$300. In South Carolina, intangible personal property is exempt
from taxation. There is no inheritance tax.
Even though the State of South Carolina does not allow legalized
casino gambling, it did allow the operation of Video Poker Machines
throughout the state with approximately $2 billion dollars per year
deposited into the state's coffers. However, at Midnight on July
1, 2000 a new law took effect which outlawed the operation, ownership
and possession of Video Poker Machines in the state with machines
required to be shut-off at that time and removed from within the
state's borders by July 8 or owners of such machines would face
criminal prosecution.[10][11]
[edit] Transportation
This short section requires expansion.
Map of South Carolina
[edit] Major Highways
Major interstate highways passing through the state include: I-20
which runs from Florence in the east through Columbia to the southwestern
border near Aiken; I-26 which runs from Charleston in the southeast
through Columbia to Spartanburg and the northern border in Spartanburg
County; I-77 which runs from York County in the north to Columbia;
I-85 which runs from Cherokee County in the north through Spartanburg
and Greenville to the southwestern border in Oconee County; I-385
which runs from Greenville and intersects with I-26 near Clinton;
and I-95 which runs from the northeastern border in Dillon County
to Florence and on to the southern border in Jasper County.
Interstate 20
Interstate 26
Interstate 73 (proposed)
Interstate 77
Interstate 85
Interstate 95
U.S. Highway 1
U.S. Highway 17
U.S. Highway 25
U.S. Highway 52
U.S. Highway 221
U.S. Highway 321
U.S. Highway 378
[edit] Rail
Amtrak operates four passenger routes in South Carolina: the Crescent,
the Palmetto, the Silver Meteor, and the Silver Star. The Crescent
route serves the Upstate cities, the Silver Star serves the Midlands
cities, and the Palmetto and Silver Meteor routes serve the Lowcountry
cities.
[edit] Station stops
Station Connections
Camden Silver Star
Charleston Palmetto
Silver Meteor
Columbia Silver Star
Clemson Crescent
Dillon Palmetto
Denmark Silver Star
Florence Palmetto
Silver Meteor
Greenville Crescent
Kingstree Palmetto
Silver Meteor
Spartanburg Crescent
Yemassee Palmetto
Silver Meteor
[edit] Major and regional airports
There are six significant airports in South Carolina, all of which
act at regional airport hubs. The largest by passenger volume is
Greenville/Spartanburg International Airport.
Columbia Metropolitan Airport - Columbia
Charleston International Airport - Charleston
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport - Greenville/Spartanburg
Florence Regional Airport - Florence
Myrtle Beach International Airport - Myrtle Beach
Hilton Head Airport - Hilton Head Island/Beaufort
[edit] Government and politics
South Carolina State HouseSouth Carolina's state government consists
of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. The bicameral
South Carolina General Assembly consists of the 46-member Senate
and the 124-member House of Representatives. The two bodies meet
in the South Carolina State House. The Judicial Branch consists
of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Circuit Court, Family
Court, and other divisions.
[edit] Executive branch
See also: List of Governors of South Carolina
The leader of the executive branch is the governor. The governor
is elected for a four-year term and may serve two consecutive terms.
The current governor is Republican Mark Sanford. Governor Sanford
was elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006.
South Carolina has historically had a weak executive branch. Before
1865, governors in South Carolina were appointed by the General
Assembly, and held the title "President of State." The
1865 Constitution changed this process, requiring a popular election.
In 1926 the governor's term was changed to four years, and in 1982
governors were allowed to run for a second term. In 1993 a limited
cabinet was created, all of which must be popularly elected.
The Constitution requires that the governor, lieutenant governor,
and most cabinet-level executive officers be elected separately.
Other elected positions include the Adjutant General, Attorney General,
Commissioner of Agriculture, Comptroller General, Secretary of State,
State Treasurer, and Superintendent of Education. Each officer is
elected at the same time as the Governor. The separately elected
positions allow for the possibility of multiple parties to be represented
in the executive branch. The Governor's Cabinet also contains several
appointed positions. In most cases, persons who fill cabinet-level
positions are recommended by the governor and appointed by the Senate.
[9]
[edit] Legislative branch
South Carolina has historically operated a weak executive which
is countered by a strong, bi-cameral legislative branch known as
the General Assembly. The General Assembly is composed of two branches,
the House of Representatives and the Senate. There are 124 House
members who serve two-year terms, and there are 46 Senators serve
who four-year terms. [10]
[edit] Judicial branch
The Family Court deals with all matters of domestic and family relationships,
as well as generally maintaining exclusive jurisdiction over cases
involving minors under the age of seventeen, excepting traffic and
game law violations. Some criminal charges may come under Circuit
Court jurisdiction.
The Circuit Court is the general jurisdiction court for South Carolina.
It comprises the Civil Court, the Court of Common Pleas, and the
Court of General Sessions, which is the criminal court. The court
maintains limited appellate jurisdiction over the Probate Court,
Magistrate's Court, Municipal Court, and the Administrative Law
Judge Division. The state has sixteen judicial circuits, each with
at least one resident circuit judge.
The Court of Appeals handles Circuit Court and Family Court appeals,
excepting appeals that are within the seven classes of exclusive
Supreme Court jurisdiction. The Court of Appeals is selected by
the General Assembly for staggered, six-year terms. The court comprises
a chief judge, and eight associate judges, and may hear cases as
the whole court, or as three panels with three judges each. The
court may preside in any county.
The Supreme Court is South Carolina's highest court. The Chief
Justice and four Associate Justices are elected to ten year terms
by the General Assembly. Terms are staggered, and there are no limits
on the number of terms a justice may serve, but there is a mandatory
retirement age of 72. The overwhelming majority of vacancies on
the Court occur when Justices reach this age, not through the refusal
of the General Assembly to elect a sitting Justice to another term.
[edit] South Carolina Constitution
South Carolina has had seven constitutions:
1776 - SC's first constitution
1778 - Disestablished the Anglican Church, created a popularly elected
upper house
1790 - Expanded upcountry representation, further established General
Assembly control over all aspects of government
1861 - Confederate constitution
1865 - Required to be readmitted to the Union, abolished property
owning qualifications to vote, created popularly elected governor
and granted veto power
1868 - Only constitution to be ratified by popular vote, provided
for public education, abolished property ownership as a qualification
for office holding, created counties, race abolished as limit on
male suffrage
1895 - established attempts to disenfranchise black voters such
as the option for poll taxes, literacy tests, etc
Since 1895, there have been many calls for a new Constitution, one
that is not based on the politics of a post-Civil War population.
The most recent call for reformation was by Governor Mark Sanford
in his 2008 State of the State speech. Several hundred amendments
have been made to the 1895 Constitution (in 1966 there were 330
amendments). Amendments have been created to comply with Federal
acts, and for many other issues. The most recent was in 1988. The
volume of amendments makes South Carolina's Constitution one of
the longest in the nation. [12]
Other Laws
The South Carolina Constitution contains provisions which, when
compared to the Constitutions of other States, are unusual. For
example, a constitutional amendment must be approved by two-thirds
of each house of the legislature, approved by the people in an election,
and then ratified by a majority of each house of the legislature.
If the legislature fails to ratify it, the amendment does not take
effect, even though it has been approved by the people. See S.C.
Const. art. XVI, s. 1.
Prior to April 15, 1949, Article XVII, Section 3, of the South Carolina
Constitution prohibited divorce for any reason. Since that date,
South Carolina permits divorce for certain reasons. It is believed
that South Carolina is the only State in the Union that lists the
grounds for divorce in its Constitution. The effect of doing so
is that the Legislature is prohibited from creating additional grounds
for divorce beyond those specified in the South Carolina Constitution.
See S.C. Const. art. XVII, Section 3.
Due to extremely strict annexation laws passed by the General Assembly
in 1976, incorporated municipalities in South Carolina are usually
much smaller in area and population than those elsewhere in the
fast-growing Southeast. However, when a South Carolina city's proximal
suburbs that would otherwise be annexed into their city limits are
blended in with its core population, they exhibit similar sizes
and rates of growth as many municipalities in neighboring states,
such as Georgia and North Carolina. This takes many first-time visitors
to South Carolina's main cities by surprise, as many are expecting
much less urbanization in what has historically been thought of
as an almost completely rural state.
[edit] Law enforcement agencies
South Carolina Department of Public Safety
South Carolina Highway Patrol Division
South Carolina State Transport Police Division
South Carolina Bureau of Protective Services
South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy
South Carolina Department of Corrections
South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services
South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED)
Homeland Security
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
[edit] Federal representation
Like most Southern states, South Carolina consistently voted Democratic
in the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century as a
part of the Democrats' Solid South. The Republican Party became
competitive in the 1960 presidential election when Richard Nixon
lost the state to John F. Kennedy by just two percentage points.
In 1964, Barry Goldwater became the first Republican to win the
state since Reconstruction. Since then, South Carolina has voted
for a Republican in every presidential election from 1964 to 2004,
with the exception of 1976 when Jimmy Carter, from neighboring Georgia,
won the state over Gerald Ford. George W. Bush won the state in
2004 with 58% of the statewide vote over Senator John Kerry. Republicans
now hold the governor's office and eight of nine statewide offices,
control both houses of legislature, and include both U.S. Senators,
and four of six members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Every
presidential election year, the South Carolina primary is the first
such primary in the South and holds importance to both the Republicans
and the Democrats. The primary is important to the Republicans because
it is a conservative testing ground, and it holds importance to
the Democrats because of the large proportion of African-Americans
that vote in that primary. From 1980 to 2004 the winner in the Republican
primary has gone on to become the party nominee.
[edit] US Senate
In the 110th United States Congress, the South Carolina delegation
to the U.S. Senate are:
Lindsey Graham (R)
Jim DeMint (R)
[edit] US House of Representatives
South Carolina currently has six representatives in Congress.
District 1 - Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R)
District 2 - Joe Wilson (R)
District 3 - J. Gresham Barrett (R)
District 4 - Bob Inglis (R)
District 5 - John M. Spratt, Jr. (D)
District 6 - James Clyburn (D)
[edit] Education
[edit] Institutions of higher education
(In order of foundation date)
South Carolina hosts a diverse cohort of institutions of higher
education, from large state-funded research universities to small
colleges that cultivate a liberal arts, religious or military tradition.
Founded in 1770 and chartered in 1785, the College of Charleston
(C of C) is the oldest oldest institution of higher learning in
South Carolina, the 13th oldest in the United States, and the first
municipal college in the country. The College is in company with
the Colonial Colleges as one the original and foundational institutions
of higher education in the United States. Its founders include three
signers of the United States Declaration of Independence and three
signers of the United States Constitution. The College's historic
campus, which is listed on the U.S. Department of the Interior's
National Register of Historic Places, forms an integral part of
Charleston's colonial-era urban center. As one of the leading institutions
of higher education in the Southeastern United States,[citation
needed] the College of Charleston is celebrated nationally for its
focus on undergraduate education with strengths in Marine Biology,
Classics, Art History and Historic Preservation. The Graduate School
of the College of Charleston, offers a number of degree programs
and coordinates support for its nationally recognized faculty research
efforts. According to the Princeton Review, C of C is one of the
nation's best institutions for undergraduate education and U.S.
News and World Report regularly ranks C of C among the best masters
level universities in the South. C of C presently enrolls approximately
10,000 undergraduates and 2,000 graduate students.
The University of South Carolina (USC) is a public, co-educational,
research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United
States. The University's campus covers over 359 acres (1.5 km²)
in the urban core less than one city block from the South Carolina
State House. The institution was founded in 1801 as South Carolina
College in an effort to promote harmony between the Lowcountry and
the Upstate. The College became a symbol of the South in the antebellum
period as its graduates were on the forefront of secession from
the Union. From the Civil War to World War II, the institution lacked
a clear direction and was constantly reorganized to meet the needs
of the political power in office. In 1957, the University expanded
its reach through the University of South Carolina System.
Main article: History of the University of South Carolina
Furman University is a private, coeducational, non-sectarian, liberal
arts university in Greenville, South Carolina. Founded in 1826,
Furman enrolls approximately 2,600 undergraduate and 500 graduate
students. Furman is the oldest, largest and most selective private
institution in South Carolina. The university is primarily focused
on undergraduate education (only two departments, education and
chemistry, offer graduate degrees).
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, is a state-supported,
comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina. Founded
in 1842, the college is best known for its undergraduate Corps of
Cadets military program for men and women, which combines academics,
physical challenges and military discipline. In addition to the
cadet program, civilian programs are offered through the Citadel's
College of Graduate and Professional Studies with its evening undergraduate
and graduate programs. The Citadel enrolls almost 2,000 undergraduate
cadets in its residential military program and 1,200 civilian students
in the evening programs.
Presbyterian College is a private liberal arts college founded
in 1880 in Clinton, South Carolina, USA. Presbyterian College, or
PC, is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA, and enrolls
around 1300 undergraduate students.
Clemson University, founded in 1889 is a public, coeducational,
land-grant research university located in Clemson, South Carolina.
Clemson The University currently enrolls more than 17,000 students
from all 50 states and from more than 70 countries.
Anderson University, founded in 1911 is a selective comprehensive
university located in Anderson, South Carolina, offering bachelors
and masters degrees in approximately 50 areas of study. Anderson
University currently enrolls around 1800 undergraduate students.
See also: List of colleges and universities in South Carolina
[edit] Secondary education
According to a survey of recent studies conducted by the University
of South Carolina's Institute for Public Service and Policy Research
South Carolina ranks at or near the bottom of the United States
in terms of secondary school graduation rates.While Woodruff, South
Carolina ranks in the top 10 in the nation for highest scores and
meeting the No Child Left Behind Act every year. U.S. News &
World Report gave Woodruff High School a bronze ranking for best
high schools in the U.S.[13]
This short section requires expansion.
[edit] Sports in South Carolina
South Carolina has no major professional franchise of the NFL, NHL,
NBA, or MLB located in the state; however the NFL's Carolina Panthers
(based in Charlotte, NC), and the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes (based
in Raleigh, NC) represent both Carolinas. In addition, the Panthers
played their first season in Clemson, and the team's training camp
takes place every year at Wofford College in Spartanburg. In addition,
the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats maintain their training facilities near
Fort Mill in York County.
Tthere are numerous minor league teams that are either based in
the state, or play much of their schedule within its borders. The
highest level of minor league sports played in South Carolina is
the USL Division 1 Soccer team, the Charleston Battery. The team
plays in the soccer-specific Blackbaud Stadium, located on Daniel
Island in Charleston. Currently, only Greenville, Myrtle Beach,
and Charleston still boast any other level (in each case single-A)
of professional baseball. Curiously enough, for a state where natural
ice is a rarity, professional ice hockey has been popular in a number
of areas of the state since the 1990s. Though 4 teams competed at
one time in South Carolina, the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL)
currently oversees operations of only two franchises, one, the Columbia
Inferno, the other, the South Carolina Stingrays (who play in North
Charleston). According to the league, however, Myrtle Beach is slated
to receive a franchise when their new arena is completed in 2008/9.
College sports in particular are very big in South Carolina. Clemson
University's Tigers and the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks
regularly draw more than 80,000 spectators at the schools' home
football games. Smaller universities located in South Carolina also
have very competitive sports programs, including The Citadel, Coastal
Carolina, College of Charleston, Francis Marion, Furman, North Greenville
University, Presbyterian College, Lander University, SC State, Southern
Wesleyan University, Spartanburg Methodist College, USC Upstate,
Winthrop, Wofford.
NASCAR racing was born in the South, and South Carolina has in
the past hosted some very important NASCAR races, mainly at the
Darlington Raceway. Darlington Raceway still has the one NASCAR
race weekend, usually Mother's Day weekend. All four of NASCAR's
series come to Darlington including Feather light, Craftsman Trucks,
Busch Cars, and NEXTEL Cup cars.
South Carolina is known as a golfing paradise.[neutrality disputed]
Myrtle Beach/Grand Strand has more than a hundred golf courses.
Myrtle Beach has more public golf courses per capita than any other
place in the country.[14] Some have hosted PGA and LGPA events in
the past, but most have been designed for the casual golfer. Hilton
Head & Kiawah Island has several very nice golf courses and
hosts professional events every year. The upstate of South Carolina
also has many nice golf courses, most of the nicer courses are private
including the Cliff's courses and Cross Creek Plantation (the Cliff's
courses host the annual BMW PRO/AM that brings many celebrities
and professionals to South Carolina. Cross Creek Plantation located
in Seneca, also private hosted a PGA Qualifier in the 90's). Oconee
Country Club also in Seneca, is an extremely nice course, very well-kept,
and is open to the public. In 2007, "The Ocean Course"
On Kiawah Island was ranked #1 in Golf Digest Magazine's "America's
50 Toughest Golf Courses"[15] and #38 on their "America's
100 Greatest Golf Courses".[16]
Watersports are also an extremely popular activity in South Carolina.
With a large coast line, South Carolina has many different beach
activities such as surfing, boogie boarding, deep sea fishing, and
shrimping. The Pee Dee region of the state offers exceptional fishing.
Some of the largest catfish ever caught were caught in the Santee
Lakes. The Upstate of South Carolina also offers outstanding water
activities. The Midlands region also offers water-based recreation
revolving around Lakes Marion and Murray and such rivers as the
Congaree, Saluda, Broad, and Edisto.
While there are no race tracks with betting in South Carolina there
is significant horse training activity, particularly in Aiken and
Camden, which hold steeplechase races.
[edit] National Parks
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site at Mt. Pleasant
Congaree National Park in Hopkins
Cowpens National Battlefield near Chesnee,
Fort Moultrie National Monument at Sullivan’s Island
Fort Sumter National Monument in Charleston Harbor
Kings Mountain National Military Park at Blacksburg
Ninety Six National Historic Site in Ninety Six
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
[edit] National Monuments
Fort Moultrie National Monument
Fort Sumter National Monument
[edit] Miscellaneous topics
[edit] Famous people from South Carolina
Main article: Famous people from South Carolina
Some of the most influential individuals in American life from South
Carolina include:
James Brown (born May 4, 1933 in Barnwell, died December 25, 2006).
The "Godfather of Soul," legendary singer and member of
the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
John C. Calhoun (1782-1850), born near Abbeville, a statesman and
political philosopher. From 1811 until his death, Calhoun served
in the federal government successively as congressman, secretary
of war, vice president, senator, secretary of state and again as
senator.
Chubby Checker, singer, born Ernest Evans in Spring Gulley, on October
3, 1941.
John Edwards, former N.C. Senator & 2004 Democratic Vice Presidential
candidate, born in Seneca in 1953.
Joe Frazier, 1964 Olympic heavyweight champion and the world heavyweight
champ 1970-73; fought Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight title three
times. He is most remembered for the fight at Madison Square Garden
in March 1971, where he defeated Ali to become the undisputed heavyweight
champ. Frazier was born in Beaufort on January 12, 1944.
Althea Gibson (1927-2003), the first black female player to win
the Wimbledon singles tennis title, was born in Silver.
Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993), John Birks 'Dizzy' Gillespie, considered
by some to be the greatest jazz trumpeter of all time, was born
in Cheraw.
Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), President of the United States; born
near Lancaster but emigrated to Tennessee as an adult. He was the
hero of the Battle of New Orleans and 7th President, from 1829 to
1837.
Jesse Jackson, famous political and social figure, originally from
Greenville, born on October 8, 1941.
'Shoeless' Joe Jackson (1887–1951). Considered to be one of
the most outstanding hitters in the history of baseball, his career
.356 batting average is the third highest in history, after Ty Cobb
and Rogers Hornsby. He was born in Brandon Mills.
Kerry Mullis, born in Lenoir, North Carolina on December 28, 1944,
and grew up in Columbia, South Carolina; received Nobel Prize for
DNA amplification research. There is public controversy regarding
credit for this research.
Strom Thurmond (1902-2003), born in Edgefield in 1902. South Carolina
governor from 1947-1951, and in 1954 became the first and only United
States Senator elected by a write-in vote. In 1997, Senator Thurmond
became the oldest and longest serving member of the U.S. Senate.
In January 2003, at age 100, Thurmond retired from public service
after his eighth term. He returned to his hometown where he died
June 26, 2003.
[edit] Alcohol laws
Prohibition was a major issue in the state's history. Voters endorsed
prohibition in 1892 but instead were given the "Dispensary
System" of state-owned liquor stores, They soon became symbols
of political corruption controlled by Ben Tillman's machine and
were shut down in 1907. Today, most counties in South Carolina do
not allow the sale of alcohol on Sunday, but counties and cities
can apply referendums to overturn this. Six counties currently allow
Sunday alcohol sales; Richland County, Lexington, Georgetown, Charleston,
Beaufort and Horry. Cities and towns that have passed laws allowing
Sunday alcohol sales include Spartanburg, Greenville, Aiken, Rock
Hill, Summerville, Santee, Daniel Island and Tega Cay.
While there are no dry counties in South Carolina, certain counties
enforce time restrictions for alcohol sales in stores (e.g., no
sales after 2 AM in Pickens County) while others do not (in-store
alcohol sales are allowed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in Charleston,
excluding liquor which must be purchased before 7 PM). Columbia,
the state's capital and largest city and the home of the University
of South Carolina, takes one of the more relaxed stances on alcohol
sales in bars. Many bars, especially those catering to younger crowds
in the busy Five Points district, serve alcohol until sunrise, and
it is not unheard of for bars and clubs to serve alcohol until 6
AM, although the per-se legality of this practice is debatable.
In Greenville city limits, it is illegal to serve alcohol after
2am at bars and restaurants unless the establishment continues to
serve food. There are a few bars that take advantage of this fact.
Before 2006, South Carolina was infamous amongst tourists and residents
alike for being the last state in the nation to require cocktails
and liquor drinks to be mixed using minibottles, like those found
on airplanes, instead of from free-pour bottles. The original logic
behind this law was twofold: it made alcohol taxation simpler and
allowed bar patrons to receive a standardized amount of alcohol
in each drink. However, minibottles contain 1.75 OZ (52 ml) of alcohol,
approximately 30% more than the typical 1.2 OZ (35 ml) found in
free-pour drinks, with the obvious result of overly strong cocktails
and inebriated bar customers. The law was changed in 2006 to allow
both free-pour and minibottles in bars, and the vast majority of
bars quickly eschewed minibottles in favor of free-pour.[17]
South Carolina also requires that duly licensed in-state liquor
stores prominently display three red dots on the outside of the
storefront and on at least two of the four sides of the building,
which must be visible from the common road.
[edit] South Carolina singularities
Adjutant general: The head of the state's national guard, the adjutant
general, is a statewide elected official.[18]
Driving Under the Influence: South Carolina is the only state in
the nation with mandatory videotaping by the arresting officer of
the DUI arrest and breath test.[19]
Fire Safety Regulations: South Carolina is the only state that allows
fire officials to sidestep a federal regulation requiring that for
every employee doing hazardous work inside a building, one must
be outside.[20]
School Buses: South Carolina is the only state in the nation that
owns and operates its own school bus fleet.[21][22]
Strokes: South Carolina has the highest rate of stroke deaths in
the nation.[23]
Black Water River: With the Edisto River, South Carolina has the
longest completely undammed / unleveed blackwater river in North
America.[24]
Outdoor Sculpture: South Carolina is home to the world's largest
collection of outdoor sculpture located at Brookgreen Gardens.[25]
Landscaped Gardens: South Carolina is home to the oldest landscaped
gardens in the United States, at Middleton Place near Charleston.[26]
[edit] South Carolina firsts
[11]
First ship built in America to cross the Atlantic Ocean - Port
Royal, 1562
First indigo planted, 1671
First free library established - Charleston, 1698
First Black Baptist Church established - Silver Bluff, 1773
First mutual fire insurance company - Friendly Society for the Mutual
Insurance of Houses Against Fire, 1735
First opera performed in America - Charleston, February 18, 1735
First slave insurrection - Stono area near Charleston, 1739
First public museum - Charleston Museum, organized January 12, 1773
[27]
First building to be used solely as a theater - Dock Street Theatre
in Charleston, constructed in 1736
First cotton exported to England, 1764
First business publication - South Carolina Price Current in Charleston,
1774
First independent government formed among American colonies, March
1776
First cotton mill built - James Island, 1789
First tea planted - Middleton Barony, 1802.
First fireproof building built - Charleston, 1822
First steam locomotive built in the United States to be used for
regular railroad service - "Best Friend of Charleston",
1830
First municipal college - College of Charleston, opened April 1,
1838
First state to secede from the Union, December 20, 1860
First shot fired in Civil War on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor,
April 12, 1861
First Medal of Honor awarded to a Black recipient- W. H.Carney (Army),
July 18, 1863
First Black Associate Justice of a state supreme court - J. J. Wright,
February 2, 1870
First commercial tea farm - Summerville, 1890
First textile school established in a college - Clemson, 1899
First U.S. Senator elected by a write-in vote - Strom Thurmond,
November 2, 1954
[edit] Sister States
Queensland, Australia
Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Bergamo, Italy
CONTACT
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