🌴South Carolina

The Palmetto State

South Carolina was the first colony to vote for independence from Britain in 1776 and the first state to secede from the Union in 1860. The Civil War began when Confederate batteries in Charleston Harbor opened fire on Union-held Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. The state's geography runs from the sandy Lowcountry along the Atlantic coast to the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwest corner.

Colonial and Revolutionary Roles

The Province of Carolina was established in 1663 and split into North and South Carolina in 1729. South Carolina's economy was built on rice, indigo, and — by the late 1700s — cotton, all grown with enslaved labor. The colony had a Black majority population for much of its colonial history. More Revolutionary War battles were fought in South Carolina than in any other state, including decisive patriot victories at Cowpens and Kings Mountain.

First to Secede

South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union, on December 20, 1860 — weeks after Abraham Lincoln's election and before he took office. Six more Southern states followed within weeks. When Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor on April 12, 1861, the Civil War began. The war ended for the state in a particularly painful way: General Sherman's army swept through in 1865, burning much of Columbia.

Rice, Cotton, and the Gullah Geechee

South Carolina's Lowcountry was the center of American rice production in the 1700s and early 1800s. Enslaved Africans from rice-growing regions of West Africa brought the agricultural expertise that made Charleston one of the wealthiest colonial cities. Their descendants — the Gullah Geechee — still live along the Sea Islands and have preserved a distinctive creole language, cuisine, and crafts, including sweetgrass basket making.

Charleston

Charleston, founded in 1670, is one of the oldest cities in the South. Its historic district has been largely preserved — most neighborhoods have been continuously inhabited since the 18th century. The city's stately antebellum homes, cobblestone streets, and concentrated Revolutionary and Civil War history make it one of the most visited historic destinations in the United States.

South Carolina Facts

• Andrew Jackson was born in the disputed Waxhaws region; South Carolina claims him, as does North Carolina.
• Hilton Head Island was the first place in North America where English settlers landed a permanent colony (Charles Town, 1670).
• The Civil War's first shots at Fort Sumter were fired by Edmund Ruffin, an elderly Virginia secessionist.
• South Carolina is home to Fort Jackson, the largest U.S. Army Basic Training facility.
• The palmetto tree on the flag commemorates the Revolutionary War defense of Sullivan's Island, where a fort made of palmetto logs absorbed British cannonballs.

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