South Carolina Railroad

The South Carolina Railroad was an early American railway, notable for being one of the longest in the world when it opened in 1833, stretching 130 miles. Merchants in Charleston, South Carolina, sponsored its construction with the goal of diverting cotton trade from Savannah, Georgia, to their port. The railroad was built very affordably, with some sections supported by short posts to allow for surface wash. It began operation with a single locomotive, and the hope was that profits would fund necessary improvements and expansion to reach a wider hinterland.1

While railway mileage in South Carolina has declined overall, the state is now well-connected by interstate highways and served by major air carriers and port facilities in Charleston, Georgetown, and Port Royal.2