South Carolina: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 14, 2026

News •

Deputy working security at South Carolina gun show fatally shoots customer who shot him • Nov. 14, 2026, 4:54 PM ET (AP)

Memorial opens honoring victims of the 2015 Charleston church massacre • Nov. 14, 2026, 2:15 AM ET (AP)

Bond denied for South Carolina man accused of burying his 11-month-old son alive • Nov. 12, 2026, 3:43 PM ET (AP)

Father of boy who survived being buried alive is charged with attempted murder in South Carolina • Nov. 12, 2026, 7:19 AM ET (AP)

JuJu Watkins returns as South Carolina and USC meet again in a fast-growing rivalry • Nov. 10, 2026, 11:57 AM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Palmetto State
Capital	Columbia
Population¹	(2020) 5,118,425; (2025 est.) 5,570,274
Governor	Henry McMaster (Republican)
Date Of Admission	May 23, 1788²
U.S. Senators	Lindsey Graham (Republican) • Tim Scott (Republican)
State Nickname	Palmetto State
State Motto	“Animus Opibusque Parati (Prepared in Mind and Resources)”
State Bird^3,⁴	Carolina wren • wild turkey • wood duck
State Flower⁵	yellow jessamine • goldenrod
State Song	“Carolina” • “South Carolina on My Mind”
Seats In U.S. House Of Representatives	7 (of 435)
Time Zone	Eastern (GMT − 5 hours)
Total Area (Sq Km)	82,933
Total Area (Sq Mi)	32,020
¹Excluding military abroad.²Original state; date shown is that of ratification of Constitution.³The wild turkey is the state game bird.⁴The wood duck is the state duck.⁵The goldenrod is the state wildflower.

Photos and Videos

South Carolina: flag

Seal of South Carolina

Illustration of a Carolina wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus, showing a small brown bird with a white eyebrow stripe, barred wings and tail, and buff underparts.

Yellow jasmine is the state flower of South Carolina.

Political map of South Carolina showing county boundaries, major cities, and county seats, with the state capital Columbia marked. The map includes neighboring states Georgia and North Carolina, and highlights coastal areas along the Atlantic Ocean. An inset locator map shows South Carolina's position within the United States.

Battery Street in Charleston

Map of South Carolina highlighting physical features such as major rivers, lakes, and mountain ranges. Notable features include the Blue Ridge in the northwest, several large lakes like Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, rivers such as the Santee, Savannah, and Pee Dee, and protected areas including Congaree Swamp National Monument and Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge. The map also shows state boundaries with Georgia and North Carolina and marks the Atlantic Ocean coastline. An inset loca

Regional map of the Deep South in the United States, highlighting the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and parts of Arkansas, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The map shows major cities, state capitals, rivers, lakes, and physical features such as the Mississippi Delta, Appalachian Mountains, and swamps like the Okefenokee and Atchafalaya. Insets indicate the region's location within the continental United States.

Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge

Satellite view of Hurricane Hugo, showing a large, swirling white cloud mass with a distinct eye approaching the South Carolina coast near Charleston.

Hear experts discussing Charleston's history and America's oldest museum, the Charleston Museum

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Topics

Confederate States of America U.S. state We Damn Your Memory! The Confederate Statue Controversy Nullification Crisis current U.S. governors list of U.S. states’ dates of admission to the union list of cities and towns in the United States Allen University Coker University Charleston Southern University California New York Hawaii Texas Washington Alaska Florida Massachusetts New Jersey Virginia

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