Information obtained from infoplease.com
State abbreviation/Postal code: S.C./SC
Governor: Mark Sanford, R (to Jan. 2011)
Lieut. Governor: R. Andre Bauer, R (to Jan. 2011)
Senators: Jim DeMint, R (to Jan. 2011); Lindsey Graham, R (to Jan. 2009)
Historical biographies of Congressional members
Secy. of State: Mark Hammond, R (to Jan. 2011)
Treasurer: Thomas Ravenel, R (to Jan. 2011)
Atty. General: Henry McMaster, R (to Jan. 2011)
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)
| flower | Carolina yellow jessamine (1924) |
| tree | palmetto tree (1939) |
| bird | Carolina wren (1948) |
| song | “Carolina” (1911) |
Nickname: Palmetto State
Origin of name: In honor of Charles I of England
10 largest cities (2005 est.): Columbia, 117,088; Charleston, 106,712; North Charleston, 86,313; Rock Hill, 59,554; Mount Pleasant, 57,932; Greenville, 56,676; Sumter, 39,679; Spartanburg, 38,379; Summerville, 37,714; Hilton Head Island, 34,497
Land area: 30,109 sq mi. (77,982 sq km)
Geographic center: In Richland Co., 13 mi. SE of Columbia
Number of counties: 46
Largest county by population and area: Greenville, 407,383 (2005); Horry, 1,134 sq mi.
State forests: 4
State parks: 47 (80,000+ ac.)
Residents: South Carolinian
2005 resident population est.: 4,255,083
2000 resident census population (rank): 4,012,012 (26). Male: 1,948,929 (48.6%); Female: 2,063,083 (51.4%). White: 2,695,560 (67.2%); Black: 1,185,216 (29.5%); American Indian: 13,718 (0.3%); Asian: 36,014 (0.9%); Other race: 39,926 (1.0%); Two or more races: 39,950 (1.0%); Hispanic/Latino: 95,076 (2.4%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 74.8; 65 and over: 12.1; median age: 35.4.
Selected famous natives and residents:
- Bernard Baruch statesman;
- Mary McLeod Bethune educator;
- James F. Byrnes senator, jurist and secretary of state;
- John C. Calhoun statesman;
- Mark Clark general;
- Joe Frazier prize fighter;
- Althea Gibson tennis champion;
- Dizzy Gillespie jazz trumpeter;
- DuBose Heyward poet, playwright, and novelist;
- Andrew Jackson president;
- Jesse Jackson civil rights leader;
- Eartha Kitt singer;