South Carolina

Settled by the English in 1670, the colony named for King Charles I was split into North and South Carolina in 1710. Largely agricultural, settlers relied heavily on the slave trade to work rice and indigo plantations, and by 1720 they made up a majority of South Carolina's population.

More battles and clashes were fought in South Carolina than any other state during the American Revolution, and in 1788 it became the eighth state to ratify the Constitution. During the next 80 years, South Carolina's agriculture and trade prospered.

By 1860, however, tensions had risen over President Abraham Lincoln’s call to abolish slavery and restrict free trade, and the Palmetto State became the first Southern state to secede from the union, adding a palmetto tree to its flag. In April 1861, Confederate troops fired on the federally held Fort Sumter in Charleston, plunging the nation into the Civil War – the bloodiest four years in American history.

The Civil War devastated South Carolina’s population and economy, but the state started to see change by the beginning of the 20th century. First textile and then additional manufacturing industry growth provided some economic relief, and with the civil rights movement of the 1960s, segregation and legal discrimination were brought to an end – though racial divisions remain a concern for the state today.

South Carolina's tourism industry has blossomed in recent years, with Charleston, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach all considered top East Coast vacation towns. The state is known for its family-friendly and affordable beaches, warm weather and hundreds of golf courses.

In addition to tourism and manufacturing, major South Carolina industries include government, professional and business services. Michelin North America, global technology product provider ScanSource and the Denny’s restaurant chain are all headquartered in the state.