South Carolina The United States of America "Prepared in mind and resources " "While I breath, I hope" Carol A. Haberkern Columbia I Save A Tree Electronic Books C 2003 I Save A Tree Inc. ISBN# 0-9714299-1-X
Table of Contents Location 5 History before statehood 7 History since statehood 9 State government 11 State flag 13 Current facts 15 Industry today 17 State landmarks 19 Weather and land 21 Animals in South Carolina 23 State bird 25 State tree 27 State flower 29 Famous people from South Carolina 31 Things to do in South Carolina 33 Popular sports in South Carolina 35 Fast facts 37 Glossary 39 Web sites / books for information 41 Index 43 Credits 45
Location South Carolina is a southern state located on the Atlantic coast. Georgia borders it to the west. North Carolina forms the northern and part of the eastern border. The Atlantic Ocean is to the east. The capital of South Carolina is Columbia, which is located almost in the center of the state. Columbia 6
History Before Statehood Red coats In 1670, English settlers arrived and founded Charles Town. I t was the first English settlement in South Carolina. Rice and indigo were grown on the plantations. I t became an important port for trade. Charles Town is now called Charleston. England placed heavy taxes on its colonies. Charles Town cemeter y Unhappy colonists rose up against England and thus began the Revolutionary War (1775-1783).The colonies won the war and their independence. South Carolina was the eighth state admitted into the Union. 8
History Since Statehood Tobacco field South Carolina became a state in 1788. In the 1800s, many slaves were needed to work in the fields of the cotton plantations. M any of the northern states were against slaver y. The Civil War (1861-1865) started in South Carolina at Fort Sumter. During the war, many plantations and farms were destroyed. Af ter the war, South Carolina went through Reconstruction. Tex tile fac tories grew. In the early 1900s, the cotton crop was ruined by boll weevils. Farmers began to grow tobacco, fruits and soybeans. Fort Sumter 10
Government State capitol building The state government of South Carolina is divided into three branches. Mark Sanford is head of the executive branch. This branch is in charge of carrying out the laws. The legislative branch is the General Assembly. It makes the laws. The General Assembly has two parts, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The third branch is the judicial branch. This branch interprets the laws. South Carolina has 46 counties. Each has its own government. Governor Mark Sanford 12
State Flag During the Revolutionary War, soldiers from South Carolina wore blue uniforms. The blue background of the South Carolina state flag honors these soldiers. A crescent is in the upper left hand corner of the flag. This crescent is a symbol for the soldiers' hats. A palmetto tree is in the center of the flag. 14
Current Facts Hilton Head Myrtle Beach Today, South Carolina is one of the fastest growing southern states. Over 4,012,012 people live in the state. It is ranked the 26th largest for the number of people living in it. South Carolina covers 30,111 square miles. Compared to other states, it ranks 40th in total area. The resort area of Hilton Head has more than 20 golf courses and 200 tennis courts. 16
Industry Today Chemical companies are a major industry in the state. They make dyes, plastics, soaps and medicines. Over 500 textile mills make cloth and cloth products. Textiles Tobacco, soybeans, cotton, fruits and vegetables are grown on farms. Farmers also raise beef cattle, hogs, chickens and turkeys. Tourism, mining and fishing also bring money into South Carolina. Beef cattle 18
Landmarks Fort Sumter In 1861, South Carolina troops bombarded Fort Sumter. Today the fort is a national monument. Each year many tourists enjoy visiting it. The Congaree Swamp National Monument is another famous landmark. Visitors can see the park by canoeing or walking on the many trails. Slaves were used to create the beautiful Middleton Place Gardens. It is one of the oldest gardens in the United States. Congaree Swamp 20
Weather & Land Thunderstorm Summers are hot and humid in the low country. The winters are usually mild. In the mountains, the summers and winters are cooler. Average temperatures range from 80 Fahrenheit in the summer to a low of 45 in the winter.the average yearly precipitation is 48 inches. South Carolina has mountains, rolling hills, swamps and a flat sandy plain. Congaree Swamp 22
Animals In South Carolina Ducks The state animal is the white-tailed deer. It roams in the forests of South Carolina. Bears, rabbits and foxes are some of the other animals that inhabit the forest. Alligators, snakes and other reptiles live in the swamps. Bass, bream, trout and rockfish swim in the many lakes and rivers. The brown pelican, eastern cougar and alligator are endangered, which means there aren't many left. Over 450 types of birds make their home in South Carolina. Alligator 24
State Bird Carolina wren The Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) was named the state bird in 1948. The Carolina wren is famous for its musical song. The little bird moves around quickly looking for insects and berries to eat. The Carolina wren is easy to identify. It is brownwithatan chest and has a white strip over each eye. Carolina wren 26
State Tree Sabal palm Sabal palms In 1939, the palmetto (Sabal palmetto), or sabal palm, was named thestatetreeof South Carolina. It has fan-shaped leaves. This tree played an important part in South Carolina's history. During the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), the colonists built a fort on Sullivans Island using palmetto logs. The fort helped the colonist withstand the British attack. 28
State Flower Yellow jessamine The fragrant yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) was named the state flower of South Carolina in 1924. It grows in every part of the state. The yellow flowers are shaped like a funnel. This woody vine is an evergreen and can grow quite long. The yellow jessamine is a poisonous plant. Animals and people will get sick if they eat it. Yellow jessamine 30
Famous People Joe Frazier Many talented people were born in South Carolina. Dizzy Gillespie, who helped create the bebop jazz style, was born in Cheraw. Television's "Wheel of Fortune" star, Vanna White, was born in Conway in 1957. Championship boxer Joe Frazier and tennis champion Althea Gibson also come from the Palmetto State. Many military leaders, political figures and religious leaders came from South Carolina. Dizzy Gillespie 32
Things to Do In South Carolina Fishing Many yearround resorts offer tennis, golf and water activities. Charleston has many historical buildings to visit. Fortyseven state parks and two national forests offer outdoor fun. The state parks sponsor fishing tournaments. They also offer nature trails, hiking and camping. Many beaches, museums and festivals provide plenty of activities throughout the year. Camping 34
Sports In South Carolina Pit crew Carolina's football and basketball teams at Clemson University and the University of South Carolina have many loyal fans. South Carolina doesn't have any major league professional sports teams. However, several minor league hockey and baseball teams prepare players for the major leagues. Golf, polo and stock car racing are also enjoyed. One of the most famous sporting events in South Carolina is the Mountain Dew Southern 500 NASCAR race. Polo 36
Swamp Fast Facts Governor: Mark Sanford Capital: Columbia Population: 4,012,012, 26th in the U.S. Size, 30,111 square miles, 40th in the U.S. Major cities: Columbia, Charleston, North Charleston, Florence Nickname: "Palmetto State" State bird: Carolina wren State animal: white-tailed deer State tree: palmetto State flower: yellow jessamine State song: "South Carolina on my Mind" State motto: "Prepared in mind and resources, " "While I breathe, I hope" Sculpture 38
Glossary boll weevil, a beetle that kills the cotton plant. bombarded, to attack with gunfire. crescent, shaped like a smiley moon. identify, to recognize something. indigo, a plant that is used to make blue dye. low country, a flat, sandy plain. port, a place where ships can load and unload products. Reconstruction, the period from 1865-1877, when states rebuilt after the Civil War. resor t, a place where people go on vacation. tournament, a contest to see who wins the championship. 40
Links & Books For more information Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 TITLE: South Carolina AUTHOR: Paul Joseph PUBLISHER: ABDO & Daughters COPYRIGHT: 1998 TITLE: South Carolina Facts and Symbols AUTHOR: Bill McAuliffe PUBLISHER: Hilltop Books COPYRIGHT: 1999 TITLE: South Carolina AUTHOR: R. Conrad Stein PUBLISHER: Children's Press COPYRIGHT: 1998 Visit our website @ www.isaveatree.com 42
Index boll weevil, 10 Charles Town, 7 cotton, 9, 10, 18 deer, white-tail, 23 endangered, 24 Fort Sumter, 9, 19 Frog Jumping Contest, 36 Gillespie, Dizzy, 31 Hilton Head, 16 S anford, Mark, 11 Jessamine, yellow, 29, 30 palmetto, 14, 27, 28 plantations, 9, 10 Revolutionary War, 8, 28 slavery, 9 Sullivans Island, 28 tobacco, 10, 17, 18 White, Vanna, 31 wren, Carolina, 25, 26 44
Credits Written by Carol A. Haberkern Edited by Linda Coyner Technologies Doug Meyers Design Dan Mader Produced by Robert Rance Photo credits South Carolina Department of Natural Resources www.arttoday.com I Save A Tree Inc. reserves the right to remove or exchange any photo/illustration at any time without notice. 46