South Carolina
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
South Carolina is a mid-sized, triangle-shaped U.S. state located in the southeast region of the country. The majority of the state is covered with coastal plain which is used primarily for farmland, either for grains or tobacco. The northwestern section is mostly foothills, except in the extremity, where there are a number of small mountains.
The largest cities in South Carolina include, in whatever order I think of them, Greenville, Spartanburg, Florence, Anderson, Columbia (the state capital), Charleston and North Charleston. The majority of tourist sites (from which a large chunk of S.C. income comes) are along the coast. Edisto, Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, Isles of Palms, Hilton Head, and historic Charleston are all near or in the city of Charleston. Further north near the coast is Myrtle Beach, a summer hub of tourist activity, and Brookgreen Gardens. Further from the coast are Cowpens Civil War Battlefield near Spartanburg, and Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia.
South Carolina is also the site of a number of fine educational institutes. Clemson University, in the northwest corner about 30 miles from Greenville, is a large school with an enrollment of around 17,000 (larger than most of the towns in the area) which specializes is textile majors but also offers a wide variety. In Greenville itself if Furman University, a much smaller liberal arts college. In Spartanburg is Wofford College, another small liberal arts school with enrollment just over one thousand. With an enrollment of 10,000, the College of Charleston (in Charleston amazingly enough) is widely known as a party school. Centered in Columbia, but branched throughout the state in Aiken, Charleston, and Spartanburg, the University of South Carolina offers a wide variety of courses depending on the location. Also in Charleston is the well-known Citadel, a military institution which was, until a few years ago, all male.
A small number of large businesses have centered themselves in South Carolina. BSAF, an electronics company, has a large office near Anderson. Internationally, in Greenville is a Michelin tires plant, and also, between Greenville and Spartanburg, is a BMW car manufacturing plant.
The people of South Carolina are very diverse within the region. The largest percent of the population, throughout, tends to be friendly and hospitable. However, in the northwest area and around Charleston, the population grows more xenophobic, particularly to people from the northern U.S. (resulting from post-Civil war sentiment and resentment), non-European nationals (due to apparent large-scale migration), and citizens from the opposite part of South Carolina (I'm not even going to guess). They also tend to be very traditionally (and religiously) conservative. The largest sector of the population is Southern Baptist and almost all are vocal about their beliefs. While this is never a bad thing, it often creates heated debates on local ideals whether anyone wants it to or not.
As for the climate, it is hot. Winter lasts usually for two months with a quick autumn and spring and a long summer. The temperature rarely dips below 32°F (0ºC) below the mountainous region, and snow is very rare. In the summer, the temperature often rises above 100ºF (38ºC) and rain is almost as rare as snow with drought conditions being reported for most years of the last two decades, though the humidity throughout most of the state in the summer is usually above 80%. It is predicted the area will be savanna within a century.
Recently, South Carolina has become a focus of U.S. attention due to the flag of the Confederate States of America (one of the two factions in the U.S. Civil War) formerly flying above the dome of the State Capitol in Columbia. The flag was taken down and placed on a statue on the grounds of the Capitol, partially due to a tourism boycott by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), however, the issue has not been put to rest, and it is doubtful that it ever will be.
In summary -- it is hot, with heated sectionalism, but with good tourist areas. In my opinion, as a citizen of South Carolina, I advise anyone who is not a student, a resident, or a visiting business or government official to stay within the tourist tracks. The rest of the state is not worth the gasoline, the time, or the heat exhaustion.
The largest cities in South Carolina include, in whatever order I think of them, Greenville, Spartanburg, Florence, Anderson, Columbia (the state capital), Charleston and North Charleston. The majority of tourist sites (from which a large chunk of S.C. income comes) are along the coast. Edisto, Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, Isles of Palms, Hilton Head, and historic Charleston are all near or in the city of Charleston. Further north near the coast is Myrtle Beach, a summer hub of tourist activity, and Brookgreen Gardens. Further from the coast are Cowpens Civil War Battlefield near Spartanburg, and Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia.
South Carolina is also the site of a number of fine educational institutes. Clemson University, in the northwest corner about 30 miles from Greenville, is a large school with an enrollment of around 17,000 (larger than most of the towns in the area) which specializes is textile majors but also offers a wide variety. In Greenville itself if Furman University, a much smaller liberal arts college. In Spartanburg is Wofford College, another small liberal arts school with enrollment just over one thousand. With an enrollment of 10,000, the College of Charleston (in Charleston amazingly enough) is widely known as a party school. Centered in Columbia, but branched throughout the state in Aiken, Charleston, and Spartanburg, the University of South Carolina offers a wide variety of courses depending on the location. Also in Charleston is the well-known Citadel, a military institution which was, until a few years ago, all male.
A small number of large businesses have centered themselves in South Carolina. BSAF, an electronics company, has a large office near Anderson. Internationally, in Greenville is a Michelin tires plant, and also, between Greenville and Spartanburg, is a BMW car manufacturing plant.
The people of South Carolina are very diverse within the region. The largest percent of the population, throughout, tends to be friendly and hospitable. However, in the northwest area and around Charleston, the population grows more xenophobic, particularly to people from the northern U.S. (resulting from post-Civil war sentiment and resentment), non-European nationals (due to apparent large-scale migration), and citizens from the opposite part of South Carolina (I'm not even going to guess). They also tend to be very traditionally (and religiously) conservative. The largest sector of the population is Southern Baptist and almost all are vocal about their beliefs. While this is never a bad thing, it often creates heated debates on local ideals whether anyone wants it to or not.
As for the climate, it is hot. Winter lasts usually for two months with a quick autumn and spring and a long summer. The temperature rarely dips below 32°F (0ºC) below the mountainous region, and snow is very rare. In the summer, the temperature often rises above 100ºF (38ºC) and rain is almost as rare as snow with drought conditions being reported for most years of the last two decades, though the humidity throughout most of the state in the summer is usually above 80%. It is predicted the area will be savanna within a century.
Recently, South Carolina has become a focus of U.S. attention due to the flag of the Confederate States of America (one of the two factions in the U.S. Civil War) formerly flying above the dome of the State Capitol in Columbia. The flag was taken down and placed on a statue on the grounds of the Capitol, partially due to a tourism boycott by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), however, the issue has not been put to rest, and it is doubtful that it ever will be.
In summary -- it is hot, with heated sectionalism, but with good tourist areas. In my opinion, as a citizen of South Carolina, I advise anyone who is not a student, a resident, or a visiting business or government official to stay within the tourist tracks. The rest of the state is not worth the gasoline, the time, or the heat exhaustion.
