By John Lindell
South Carolina became the eighth state of the Union on May 23rd, 1788. Located along the Atlantic Coast, South Carolina has been home to historic events such as the start of the Civil War, when the Confederate side attacked Fort Sumter on the 12th of April, 1861. Known as the Palmetto State, South Carolina has a population as of 2007 of 4,407,709 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Geography
The area of South Carolina is 31,113 square miles, ranking it as the 40th largest state in the U.S. The state is bordered on the north by North Carolina and to the west and south by Georgia, with the Atlantic to its east.
Capital
The city of Columbia is both the largest city in South Carolina and its capital. Columbia was founded in 1786 and is located in the center of the state.
Agriculture
South Carolina is divided into 46 different counties. The major agricultural crops produced by the state are tobacco, soybeans, hogs, cattle and poultry.
Religion
Eighty-four percent of South Carolinians are Protestant, with 45 percent of those calling themselves Southern Baptists. Seven percent of the population is Roman Catholic.
Trivia
The state bird of South Carolina is the Carolina wren, while the state animal is the white-tailed deer. The nickname of the state comes from the palmetto tree, which is common throughout the state; it is a palm tree that can grow 65 feet high.
Resources
About the Author:
John Lindell has written articles for "The Greyhound Review" and various other online publications. A Connecticut native, his work specializes in sports, fishing and nature. Lindell worked in greyhound racing for 25 years.
