As with so many states in the US South, the Palmetto State has a rich tradition of participation in and support for the US armed services. As of 2016, South Carolina was home to more than 50,000 active duty personnel. Important entries include Fort Jackson, . Learn more »

People have lived in South Carolina for nearly 15,000 years. The state features thirteen state-recognized tribes, as well as one federally-recognized tribe, the Catawba. The history and culture of Native peoples richly adds to the story of South Carolina. Learn more »

Nineteenth-century South Carolina attorney general and jurist James L. Petrigu said of the state’s politics, “South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum.” In its long and colorful political history, the state has boasted a number of important figures on the national stage, including John C. Calhoun, Robert Smalls, James F. Byrnes, Strom Thurmond, and Ernest “Fritz” Hollings. In addition to entries on those figures, check out entries on the Democratic Party and the Learn more »

The state’s famous native sons and daughters include the legendary Godfather of Soul James Brown; Darius Rucker from the pop band Hootie and the Blowfish; boxer Joe Frazier; and jazz trumpeter Dizzie Gillespie. Learn more »

Whether in hunting or fishing or other sports such as baseball or football, South Carolinians have a rich heritage of outdoor recreational activities and competitive team sports. The entries on hunting, fishing, baseball, and football are good starting points, but you might also like the entries on horse racing or the Darlington Raceway. Learn more »

According to a study by the Pew Research Center, 78 percent of South Carolinians identify as Christian, with Baptists constituting the highest group at 35 percent. The state is also home to those of other faiths, including Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus. You will find more specific information in entries on various Christian denominations as well as entries on Jews and Asian religions. Learn more »

Four South Carolinians, including Robert Francis Furchgott, Joseph Leonard Goldstein, Charles Hard Townes, and Kary Banks Mullis, have won Nobel prizes. Additionally, the state’s three major research universities – Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the University of South Carolina – all have strong programs in science and medicine. Learn more »

More than just the story of moving residents from one point to another, transportation history also tells the stories of how and why moving those residents is important. From the Cherokee Path of the early 18th century to the roads, highways, and airways of the 20th and 21st centuries, transportation arteries have had major impacts on economic development and cultural dissemination. Learn more »

According to the 2010 US Census, 51.4 percent of South Carolinians are women. As in the rest of the United States, women have had to overcome a number of barriers as they seek equality in legal rights, education, and employment. Noteworthy Palmetto women include abolitionist Sarah Grimké; Henrie Monteith, the first African American female student at the University of South Carolina; and Jean Toal, the first chief justice of South Carolina. Learn more »