Entered Union May 23, 1788 (8th state)
South Carolina (5,188,422), Columbia (136,803), Charleston (150,288)
The granite capitol was originally completed in 1875 using the designs of John Niernsee. It is located on Gervais Street at Assembly Street. Interstate Highway 126 is 9 blocks northwest of the capitol. The Capitol is designed in Greek Revival style. The Supreme Court Building and the Court of Appeals Building, both in Columbia, are the supporting buildings. The state was officially created as the 8th state on May 23, 1788 from Native American lands and the Province of South Carolina. Columbia became the capital in 1786 assuming the role from Charleston. The state is named for King Charles I of England. Columbia is named for Christopher Columbus. Sassafras Mountain in Pickens County is the highest point and the lowest point is the sea level at the Atlantic Ocean.
South Carolina government, in the Executive, consists of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Comptroller, Superintendent of Education and Agriculture Commissioner. There are 46 Senators and 124 Representatives in the Legislature. Five Supreme Court Justices and Nine Court of Appeals Justices serve South Carolina in the Judicial. South Carolina is located in the southeast part of the United States on the coast. The geographic center is in Richland County 10 miles southeast of Columbia. The state is surrounded clockwise by North Carolina, the Atlantic Ocean, and Georgia.
The area is 32020 square miles. It is 40th largest state in the country. It is the 23rd most populated state in the country. It has a density of 159.9 persons per square mile making it 18th in the country. Its major rivers are the Savannah, the Pee Dee, the Santee, and the Edisto. Columbia is located in the center of the state.
Click here to link to the South Carolina county slideshow
Click below to link to a South Carolina county page