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South Carolina State: Population, Rankings, and Facts

#44 in Overall Ranking out of 50 in 2021

South Carolina has a natural and scenic beauty. Its diverse culture, rich history, premium hospitality, and numerous attraction sites welcome millions of visitors every year. The cost of living here is cheap. The tax rates are relatively low, and grocery prices are lower compared to many other states. In all, it is an exciting place to be in 2021.

Updated: April 21, 2021
  • Area
    5,148,714
  • Capital
    Columbia
  • Population
    5,148,714
  • Income
    $50,570
  • Home Value
    $206,647
  • Crime
    26,323
  • Unemployment
    5.6%
  • Education
    27.0%
  • Medicine
    42
  • Poverty
    14.1%
  • Environment
    61
  • Infrastructure
    4.4%

South Carolina is located in the Southeastern region of the United States. It has North Carolina as a neighbor on its northern side and Georgia by the southwestern end. On the southeast, it lies along the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. 

By area, it is the 11th-smallest province in the United States. Its geography uniquely divides into three parts by the Atlantic coastal plain, Piedmont, and Blue Ridge Mountains. These regions have unique properties ranging from soil composition to vegetation, and terrain. Similarly, the South Carolina weather is hot and humid. During winter, it is mild and rarely snows.

In its early history, SC was home to several European natives. First, it was the Spanish people, then the French, and the English. The territory soon became a stronghold for the slave trade. It was made a crown colony in 1719, and ten years later, North Carolina split away to become an independent territory. It also took an active part in the political history of the United States: the American civil war, states’ rights, segregation, among others. 

The region’s economy hinges on the manufacturing of paper and chemical products, automotive, and aerospace parts. The textile and agricultural industries also contribute significant amounts of revenue to the GDP. Its agricultural products are tobacco, soybeans, rice, cotton, dairy products, poultry, and cattle.

SC has a vibrant creative industry with numerous theaters for virtual and performing arts. Some several historic sites and museums capture its rich history and artistic prowess.

How We Figured Out Which Were the Best States to Live In

All data used to prepare this report on the best states to live in were sourced from relevant and reliable authorities. Some of them include the National Census Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Labor and Statistics, and several other government departments and agencies.

The information gathered was then sorted, analyzed, and scheduled into ten measurable metrics. These indicators evaluate the state’s performance in population density, education rating, income, unemployment, etc. After grading, the states were then ranked based on their performance in these metrics.

South Carolina Rankings

  • Population
    #23
    Population
    Data: 5,148,714

    Data from the U.S. Census Bureaus reveals that there are about 157 residents per square mile. The demographic analysis reveals that 68.5% of South Carolinians are White, 27.1% are Black, and 0.5% are from Native American ancestry. The most populous cities in the territory are Charleston and Columbia.

  • Median Income
    #33
    Income in $
    Data: $50,570

    SC has the 8th-lowest median income in the country. Some friendly tax rates adequately compensate for the low income. The property tax (0.56%) is among the lowest in the country, and the top corporate income tax (5.0%) is pretty standard too. The sales tax is 6.0%.

  • Home Value
    #36
    Home Value
    Data: $206,647

    There are over 2.2 million housing units in the region. About 69.4% of that number are owner-occupied, while over 588,000 are rented. Plus, there are about 371,360 mobile homes in the area. Statewide, the median gross rent is $894.

  • Unemployment Rate
    #23
    Unemployment
    Data: 5.6%

    Out of a total of 2,355,062 civilian labor force, 131,582 people are unemployed. A majority of the population work in the trade and transport industry. The government has about 362,300 employees, while manufacturing, education, and health provide nearly 497,300 jobs.

  • Poverty
    #40
    Poverty
    Data: 14.1%

    SC has about 726,000 poor people living within its boundaries. Such high figures make it the 11th-poorest region in the United States. Beaufort (Hilton Head Island) is the wealthiest county, with a median income of $65,400. The poorest is Allendale county, with $26,900 median earnings per month.

  • Education
    #37
    Education
    Data: 27.0%

    A significant percentage of the SC population is averagely educated. North Carolina (29.9%; #24) and Georgia (29.9%; #24), its neighbors, sit higher on the ranking table. There are 61 colleges in the region. The University of South Carolina, Columbia is the largest of them (in size and number of students).

  • Medicine
    #39
    Medicine
    Health Outcomes: 42

    The data above reflects the shallow standard of healthcare. Several social and economic factors affect the quality delivery of health to its low ranking. Some of these variables include the high South Carolina unemployment rate, poor community safety, and social support. The most prevalent causes of death are cancer, heart disease, respiratory disorders, diabetes, among others.

  • Crime Rate
    #41
    Crime
    Violent Crime: 26,323

    It is the 10th-most criminal province in the United States with a violent crime rate of 511.3 per 100,000 people. Aggravated assault (20,105), burglary (27,461), property crimes (151,389), and larceny (108,953) are common in the area. Neighboring provinces, Georgia (#31) and North Carolina (#30), have high crime levels but at lesser rates than SC.

  • Natural Environment
    #33
    Environment
    Air: 61

    Air pollution is pretty common in the region. Similarly, it records significant cases of contaminated drinking water and poor application of pesticides. However, SC has a beautiful natural environment. It experiences cyclones occasionally and hurricanes yearly, especially between August and October. There are 47 South Carolina state parks and a few national parks spread across its cities.

  • Infrastructure
    #25
    Infrastructure
    Poor Roads: 4.4%

    Infrastructure in SC is sound, with excellent roads, bridges, dams, and rail lines. Hence, per driver, the highway spending is as low as $313. Also, the average travel work is 24.60 mins. There are eight major airports in SC, three of them being international: Charleston, Greenville-Spartanburg, and Myrtle Beach. It also has one key water port at its southern end.

South Carolina Facts

  • The official abbreviation for South Carolina is SC.
  • The capital is Columbia city.
  • The population living in the region is called South Carolinians.
  • The official nickname is the Palmetto State.
  • The state flower is Yellow Jessamine.
  • The state bird is Carolina Wren.
  • The South Carolina flag consists of three segments. On the left side, the blue section occupies one-third of the design. The remaining part divides horizontally two rectangles: an upper blue and a lower white area.
  • SC has a history of voting for Republican candidates in every presidential election since 1980.
  • Yearly, the province hosts several fairs in different counties. The largest is the state fair which is held during the Autumn season in Columbia.
  • Individuals can obtain their desired fishing license online via the government website or through the toll-free number: +18667143611. It is also available at SCDNR offices in Charleston, Clemson, Florence, York & the farmer’s market.
  • It is illegal to carry a handgun openly. However, the gun laws allow individuals to carry concealed weapons provided they have a permit.

South Carolina in Photos

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FAQ Section

  • What Time Zone is South Carolina in?

    The entire territory uses Eastern Time. This zone comes in two variants: the standard and the daylight time.

    The Eastern Standard Time (UTC -5) is used during the summer months, while the Daylight variant (UTC -4) is used during the fall season.

  • What is South Carolina Known for?

    It is renowned for its natural beauty. It has several scenic beaches, attraction sites, and golf courses. Examples include Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Plantations, Hilton Head Island, etc.

    The region is known to manufacture aerospace and automotive parts. It also has the only commercial tea plantation in the United States. Aside from those, the state popularly appreciates visual and performing arts. It hosts the Spoleto Festival (a major national performing arts event) every year in Charleston.

    Some famous people from SC are James Brown and Chubby Checker (musicians).

  • What To Do in SC?

    There’s a host of exciting things to do. Tourists can visit a beach as the state has several top-notch options. Golfers have a variety of world-class courses around the province. Similarly, individuals can go hiking at the Table Rock State Park, Pickens County. People also go there to enjoy the scenic terrains and to view the state from such heights.

    Further, tourists can rent a boat and cruise on a lake. Fish lovers may watch dolphins and other wild sea-life species. Plus, the five-star resorts and delicious cuisines add a premium experience to the entire trip.

  • What Is Minimum Wage in the Palmetto State?

    The base pay for labor is $7.25 per hour. Therefore, a minimum wage worker will receive $490 for a 40-hour week. That amounts to $15,080 per year.

    For overtime, employees are entitled to receive 150% of their regular pay rate per hour.

  • How Many Counties In SC?

    There are 46 counties. The largest county in the territory is Charleston, with an area of 1,358 sq mi, while the smallest is McCormick (394 sq mi). Greenville County has the most census among all districts in the region, with 507,003 residents.

    Plus, the entire territory splits into 412 postal regions, each with a unique SC zip code.