South Carolina is a state within the Deep South region of the United States of America. It borders North Carolina to the north, Georgia to the southwest, and the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast. As of 2026, South Carolina has a population of 5,570,274 residents. Divided into 46 counties, South Carolina’s capital city is Columbia, though the largest city is Charleston. The Upstate Region, located in the northern part of the state, is home to the cities in Spartanburg and Greenville.
South Carolina was one of the thirteen British colonies along the Eastern Coast of North America. During the American Revolution, British forces captured the city of Charleston. After the revolution, South Carolina was a slave state during the Early Nineteenth Century. It was the first state to secede from the Union, later joining the Confederacy during the American Civil War. South Carolina wouldn’t be re-admitted to the Union until 1868.
Following World War Two, South Carolina began to industrialized and diversify its economy. In the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement ended legal discrimination in the state, leading to racial equality and more jobs. Ever since the 2010s, the Republican Party has dominated politics of South Carolina.
Today, South Carolina is mostly known as an alternative tourist area to Florida, with Myrtle Beach in particular being popular among tourists. Other major sectors in South Carolina’s economy are aerospace and automotive production. The state’s subtropical climate is also vital to its various salt marsh habitats. The Sea Islands, a chain of barrier islands, are located along the Atlantic Coast of South Carolina.