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Sunrise at Folly Beach
Photograph: William B. Folsom |
South
Carolina's thriving cultural center of Charleston, and the luxurious
coastal island resorts belie the state's turbulent history. Raging against
British taxation, South Carolina sent delegates to the Continental
Congresses of 1774 and 1775. Throughout the Revolutionary War, the state
fought and suffered through 137 battles on her soil. When the British were
quashed at the Battle of King's Mountain in 1780, the tides were turned.
The almost legendary figure Francis Marion (the Swamp Fox), also
contributed to the British retreat. Marion and his men would hide in the
swamps and strike out in surprise at British troops, only to vanish again
into the unwelcoming swampland. British forces finally withdrew from
Charleston in 1782.
In
1861, when Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor was fired upon, the Civil War
began, and South Carolina was again engaged in war.
Today,
the coastal region thrives as tourists and residents enjoy the splendor of
the sandy beaches and islands, and Charleston serves as the state's
impressive cultural center.
For 475 years of South Carolina History, purchase Walter B. Edgar's
" South
Carolina: A History ". Edgar uses letters and diaries to help
share, in human terms, the story of this illustrious state.
| THE NAME:
North and South Carolina were one colony until 1729. Carolina was named to honor Charles IX of France and then
Charles I and Charles II of England. Carolina is rooted in Latin and comes from the word Caroliinus.
This word is derived from the name Carolus, translated as "Charles."
Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S.
State
Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994 |
| THE NICKNAMES:
The Palmetto State: This nickname refers to South Carolina's official State Tree, the Sabal Palmetto.
The Palmetto is rooted in historical significance dating back to the Revolutionary War. On June 28, 1776,
the British fleet's attack on Sullivan's Island was repulsed. The palmetto-log fort, under Colonel William
Moultrie, withstood the barrage of British cannons until the fleet retreated. The Sabal Palmetto (Inodes
Palmetto), commonly referred to as the Cabbage Palmetto, was added to the "National"
flag of South Carolina, after it seceded from the Union in 1861.
The Palmetto is South Carolina's official State Tree. It also appears on the South Carolina
State Seal and in the salute to the flag of South Carolina written in
1950 by Mrs. John Raymond Carson and adopted by the General Assembly in 1966: "I salute the flag of South
Carolina and pledge to the Palmetto State love, loyalty and faith."
The Rice State: The production of rice in South Carolina led to this nickname for the state.
The Swamp State: South Carolina is known for the swamps and marshy areas where rice is grown.
Keystone of the South Atlantic Seaboard: South Carolina's wedge shape is the basis for the "Keystone of
the South Atlantic Seaboard."
The Iodine State: South Carolina has been referred to as "The Iodine State" because of the large percentages
of iodine found in the vegetation growing in the state.
The Sand-lapper State: This derogatory name probably referred to the poorer residents of the state living on
the sandy ridges where scrubby pine forests grew. It was said, in jest, that they lapped up sand to stay alive.
Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State
Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994
Shankle, George Earlie, Phd State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers and
Other Symbols H. H. Wilson Company, New York - 1938 (Reprint) |
THE CITIZENS:
People who live in South Carolina or who come from South Carolina are called South Carolinians. |
THE QUARTER:
The South Carolina quarter design was officially unveiled in a ceremony in Columbia, South Carolina on May 26, 2000.
This quarter was the eighth released in the 50 State Quarters series and the third released in 2000.
The design of the quarter highlights the South Carolina State Bird, the Carolina Wren, and the South Carolina State
Tree, the Sabal Palmetto. Commonly called the Cabbage Palmento, this tree also lends itself to the nickname
of South Carolina, The Palmetto State. Its significance dates back to the Revolutionary war, where it
played an integral part in the protection of Charleston Harbor from the attacking British fleet.
In addition to the State Bird and the State Tree, the design highlights the state's nickname and the date that
South Carolina, one of the original 13 colonies, joined the Union. All of the elements are backed by an
outline of the state with a star representing South Carolina's capital, Columbia.
For more on the state commemorative quarters, visit this page.
This 50 State Quarter Map is a great way to collect and display all 50 State Quarters. |
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