Key Facts
- Per Capita Real GDP
- $28,894 Rank: 47/50 (2007)
- Population
- 4,479,800 Rank: 24/50 (2008)
- Per Capita Personal Income
- $29,515 Rank: 45/50 (2006)
- Unemployment Rate
- 6.10% Rank: 48/50 (2008)
- Business Tax Climate Index
- Rank: 26/50 (2008)
State Map
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South Carolina: Introduction
South Carolina is located in the southeastern part of the United States with access to the Atlantic Ocean. The state (along with North Carolina) was originally named after King Charles I of England. The name “Carolina” was derived from the Latin word form of Charles, “Carolana”. It was not until 1729 that South Carolina split from its northern neighbor and the two became separate states. South Carolina became the eighth colony to ratify the Constitution and declare independence from Great Britain in 1788.
South Carolina was primarily an agricultural state until the 20th century. Cotton has historically been South Carolina’s main cash crop. Today, the state also grows a substantial amount of tobacco and soybeans. Other agricultural products include poultry, cattle, dairy products, and hogs. These agricultural products also form foundation of the state’s manufacturing sector. The clothing and textile industries rely on the cotton grown in the state. Lumbering and the manufacturing of paper and pulp rely on the forestlands that are found in the state. Other major manufactures include chemicals, machinery, and automobiles.
Apart from manufacturing and agriculture, tourism and the military play a big role in the economy. Tourism is now the chief source of income for the state. U.S. military bases and nuclear facilities are more important to the local economies where they reside. These facilities include Fort Jackson in Columbia, the Marine Corps at Parris Island and Beaufort, and air force bases in Sumter and Charleston.
