Historians estimate that people arrived in the area now known as South Carolina over 50,000 years ago. Indigenous tribes like the Cherokee, Creek, and Santee have lived there for thousands of years.
The first European settlement on the North American continent was established in 1526, though it lasted only three months. After the English arrived in the late 1600s, they officially established the colony of South Carolina.
It and the city of Charleston were both named after King Charles I of England. In 1788, South Carolina officially became a state and played a key role in battles during both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
Let’s learn some more fun South Carolina facts!
1. Trees are South Carolina’s Thing
South Carolina is home to the Angel Oak tree, which is the largest live oak tree east of the Mississippi River. Experts estimated the tree is approximately 400 years old. It’s 65 feet tall, with a circumference of over 25 feet, with a shaded area of around 17,000 square feet.
If you want to see even more amazing trees, you can visit Congaree National Park, which is home to over two dozen champion trees, which means the trees are the largest specimens of their kind. Congaree has the highest concentration of champion trees in the United States, and one of the highest in the world.
2. The Palmetto State
Speaking of trees, South Carolina’s nickname is the Palmetto State in honor of the state tree, the sabal palmetto. Palmetto trees are an important part of South Carolina’s history because the trees were used during the Revolutionary War to build forts. One of the state’s most famous forts, Fort Moultrie, was originally built from palmettos.
3. Sweet Tea is the Best Tea
Sweet tea is a South Carolina staple. Not only is the state the birthplace of this delightful beverage, it’s also home to the first tea plants ever planted in America. South Carolina is also the home to the oldest and largest commercial tea farm in the country.
4. The Battle That Sparked the Civil War
South Carolina was the first state to secede from the United States and join the Confederacy. Fort Sumter, an incomplete sea fort located in Charleston Harbor, was the site of the first battle of America’s Civil War. Confederate forces attacked the fort on April 12, 1861, and caused great damage to the already compromised structure. Union forces surrendered and left the next day.
5. Speaking of Charleston Harbor…
At Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, visitors can explore several naval vessels, including the USS Laffey destroyer and the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier. The USS Yorktown, also called “The Fighting Lady,” played a significant role in World War II.
The USS Laffey is often referred to as “The Ship That Would Not Die.” It’s the most decorated World War II-era destroyer still standing. (Or floating, if you will.)
6. A Center for Golf
Today, the Palmetto State boasts some of the best golf courses in the world, which makes sense given the state’s history with the sport. Legend has it that the first shipment of golf clubs arrived in Charleston in 1739, and the first golf club in the United States was founded in the city in 1786. The club played on the first golf course in America, also in Charleston.
7. Mini Golf, Anyone?
Though South Carolina is legendary for its incredible traditional golf courses, it’s also known for its miniature golf. The city of Myrtle Beach is considered the mini golf capital of the world. It is home to the US Pro Mini Gold Association Master’s National Championship course. Fore!
8. Born in the Palmetto State
Curious about people of note who were born in South Carolina? Baseball legend Shoeless Joe Jackson, musicians James Brown, Chubby Checker, and Dizzy Gillespie, actors Eartha Kitt, Viola Davis, and Chadwick Boseman, and civil rights activist Marian Wright Edelman were all born in the state
9. The Mystery of Sea Pines Shell Ring
On Hilton Head Island, you can find the Sea Pines Shell Ring, a mysterious circle of shells dating back about 4,000 years. Some historians believe the circle may have been a ceremonial area for Indigenous peoples. However, its origins remain shrouded in mystery.
10. The Story Behind Sweetgrass Weaving
The sweetgrass basket weaving technique was brought to South Carolina by enslaved people from West Africa. Today, their descendants, called the Gullah people, keep this important art form alive. They have a unique culture and a Creole language, also called Gullah.
More Fun Facts About South Carolina
Yellow Jessamine: State Flower
Sabal Palmetto: State Tree
Carolina Wren: State Bird
State Mottoes: “Animis Opibusque Parati” (“Prepared in Mind and Resources”) and “Dum Spiro Spero” (“While I Breathe I Hope”)
