South Carolina - The Palmetto State

Capital City:

Columbia

Nickname:

Palmetto State

Mottoes:

Animis Opibusque Parati (Prepared in Soul and Resources)Dum Spiro Spero (While I breathe, I hope)

Statehood:

May 23, 1788 (8th)

Origin of State's Name:

Taken from"Carolus," the Latin word for Charles and named after England's King Charles I

Largest Cities:

Columbia, Charleston, North Charleston, Greenville, Spartanburg

Border States:

Georgia, North Carolina

Land Area:

30,111 sq. mi., 40th largest

State Bird:

Great Carolina Wren

State Flower:

Yellow Jessamine (gelsemium sempervirens)

State Tree:

Cabbage Palmetto (sabal palmetto)

State Song:

Carolina

Settled by the English in 1670, South Carolina was based on a plantation culture with an aristocratic, wealthy society that was dependent on black slave labor. One of the original 13 colonies, South Carolina was first formed in 1729 when the Carolina colony was divided in two to form North and South Carolina. The attack on Fort Sumter in the Charleston harbor launched the Civil War. After the war, the structure of the state changed. Today South Carolina honors its history and culture while also working to become a global business center. It is fitting that the state tree of the "Palmetto State" is the cabbage palmetto, which also appears on the state flag. The flower is the yellow jessamine, and the capital is Columbia.