South Carolina Education

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Following exploration of the coast in 1521 by Francisco de Gordillo, the Spanish tried unsuccessfully to establish a colony near present-day Georgetown in 1526 and the French also failed to colonize Parris Island near Fort Royal in 1562. The first English settlement was made in 1670 at Albemarle Point on the Ashley River, but poor conditions drove the settlers to the site of Charleston (originally called Charles Town). South Carolina, officially separated from North Carolina in 1729, was the scene of extensive military action during the Revolution and again during the Civil War. The Civil War began in 1861 as South Carolina troops fired on federal Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor and the state was the first to secede from the Union. Once primarily agricultural, South Carolina today has many large textile and other mills that produce eight times the output of its farms in cash value. Charleston makes asbestos, wood, pulp, steel products, chemicals, machinery, and apparel. Farms have become fewer but larger in recent years. South Carolina grows more peaches than any other state except California; it ranks fifth in overall tobacco production. Other farm products include cotton, peanuts, sweet potatoes, soybeans, corn, and oats. Poultry and dairy products are also important. Points of interest include Fort Sumter National Monument, Fort Moultrie, Fort Johnson, and aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in Charleston Harbor; the Middleton, Magnolia, and Cypress Gardens in Charleston; Cowpens National Battlefield; the Hilton Head resorts; and the Riverbanks 200 and Botanical Garden in Columbia. Nickname: Palmetto State Origin of name: In honor of Charles I of England 10 largest cities (1999 est.): Columbia, 111,821; Charleston, 89,063; North Charleston, 84,106; Greenville, 56,873; Rock Hill, 48,474; Sumter, 46,111; Mount Pleasant, 44,785; Spartanburg, 40,704; Hilton Head Island, 31,181; Florence, 30,053 Land area: 30,111 sq mi. (77,988 sq km) Geographic center: In Richland Co., 13 mi. SE of Columbia Number of counties: 46 Largest county by population and area: Greenville, 358,936 (1999 est.); Horry, 1,134 sq mi. State forests: 4 (124,052 ac.) State parks: 50 (61,726 ac.) Residents: South Carolinian 1999 resident population est.: 3,885,736 1990 resident census population (rank): 3,486,703 (25). Male: 1,688,510; Female: 1,798,193. White: 2,406,974 (69.0%); Black: 1,039,884 (29.8%); American Indian: 8,246 (0.2%); Asian: 22,382 (0.6%); Other race: 9,217 (0.3%); Hispanic: 30,551 (0.9%) 1990 percent population under 18: 26.4; 65 and over: 11.4; median age: 31.9.

Capital: Columbia Governor: Jim Hodges, D (to Jan. 2003) Lieut. Governor: Robert L. Peeler, R (to Jan. 2003) Senators: Ernest Hollings, D (to Jan. 2005); Strom Thurmond, R (to Jan. 2003) Secy. of State: Jim Miles, R (to Jan. 2003) Comptroller General: Jim Lander, D (to Jan. 2003) Atty. General: Charles M. Condon, R (to Jan. 2003) Entered Union (rank): May 23, 1788 (8) Present constitution adopted: 1895 Mottoes: Animis opibusque parati (Prepared in mind and resources) and Dum spiro spero (While I breathe, I hope) State Symbols: flower Carolina yellow jessamine (1924) tree palmetto tree (1939) bird Carolina wren (1948) song "Carolina" (1911)

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