History of South Carolina in Timeline
South Carolina, situated in the southeastern United States, shares borders with North Carolina, Georgia, and the Atlantic Ocean. As the 23rd most populous state, it boasts a population exceeding 5.1 million and a GDP of $213.45 billion. The state comprises 46 counties, with Columbia as its capital and Charleston as its largest city. The Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area stands out as the most populous metropolitan region.
1900: 1900 Census Shows Impact of Disenfranchisement
The 1900 census revealed the significant impact of disenfranchisement policies in South Carolina. Despite making up over 58% of the state's population, African Americans held virtually no political power in the established Jim Crow system.
1910: Start of the Great Migration
Between 1910 and 1970, a period known as the Great Migration, approximately 6.5 million African Americans left the South, seeking improved employment prospects, better opportunities, and greater freedom from racial discrimination in northern and western cities outside the former Confederate states.
1910: End of "Pitchfork Ben" Tillman's Dominance
Governor "Pitchfork Ben" Tillman, a prominent figure in South Carolina politics who significantly contributed to the disenfranchisement of Black and poor white voters, ended his dominance over the state's Democratic party in 1910.
1920: 19th Amendment Grants Women's Suffrage
The Nineteenth Amendment was passed in 1920, granting women the right to vote across the United States.
1924: Virginia Adopts One-Drop Rule
Virginia enacted a one-drop rule in 1924, overlooking the substantial presence of individuals with mixed ancestry who identified as white within the state.
1930: South Carolina Achieves White Majority
For the first time since 1708, South Carolina's population became predominantly white in 1930, primarily due to the Great Migration of African Americans to other regions of the United States.
1954: Hurricane Hazel Impacts South Carolina
Hurricane Hazel, a significant tropical cyclone, made landfall in South Carolina in 1954 during the state's annual hurricane season, which spans from June 1st to November 30th.
July 1, 1969: South Carolina Ratifies 19th Amendment
South Carolina officially ratified the Nineteenth Amendment on July 1, 1969, granting women the right to vote in the state.
1970: End of the Great Migration
Between 1910 and 1970, a period known as the Great Migration, approximately 6.5 million African Americans left the South, seeking improved employment prospects, better opportunities, and greater freedom from racial discrimination in northern and western cities outside the former Confederate states.
1975: Home Rule Enacted
South Carolina implemented home rule in 1975, granting counties a degree of self-governance after decades of being primarily controlled by the state government.
1976: South Carolina's Voting Pattern in Presidential Elections
Since the 1976 presidential election of Jimmy Carter, South Carolina has consistently voted for Republican candidates in every subsequent presidential election.
January 21, 1985: Record Low Temperature
The lowest temperature ever recorded in South Carolina was -19°F (-28°C) at Caesars Head on January 21, 1985.
1989: Hurricane Hugo Hits South Carolina
Hurricane Hugo, a powerful tropical cyclone, struck South Carolina in 1989 during the state's annual hurricane season, which runs from June 1st to November 30th.
1990: Baseline Year for Emissions Reduction
South Carolina's Climate, Energy, and Commerce Committee released its Final Report in 2008, proposing a voluntary statewide goal of cutting emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2020 and recommending key policies like renewable portfolio standards and increased use of local agricultural products.
1994: BMW Establishes Production Facility in South Carolina
BMW, a German automotive manufacturer, set up a production facility in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, in 1994.
1995: Carolina Panthers' Inaugural Season
The Carolina Panthers, while based in Charlotte, North Carolina, played their first season's home games at Clemson's Memorial Stadium in South Carolina in 1995. The team aimed to represent both Carolinas, branding themselves as "The Carolinas' Team."
1996: Zapp Group Commences Operations in South Carolina
The Zapp Group began its operations in Summerville, South Carolina, in 1996.
1997: South Carolina's GSP and Per Capita Real GDP in 1997
In 1997, South Carolina's gross state product (GSP) was $97 billion, and its per capita real GDP was $26,772, representing 85% of the national average.
2000: Rapid Growth of Foreign-Born Population
Between 2000 and 2005, South Carolina witnessed a faster growth rate in its foreign-born population than any other state, as per the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health, Consortium for Latino Immigration Studies.
2005: End of Rapid Growth Period for Foreign-Born Population
Between 2000 and 2005, South Carolina witnessed a faster growth rate in its foreign-born population than any other state, as per the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health, Consortium for Latino Immigration Studies.
2005: Departure of Last Democratic Senator from South Carolina
Fritz Hollings, the most recent Democratic senator representing South Carolina, left office in 2005.
2007: South Carolina's GSP and Per Capita Real GDP in 2007
By 2007, South Carolina's GSP had grown to $153 billion, with a per capita real GDP of $28,894, which was 76% of the national average.
2008: Per-Student Spending on Education in South Carolina (2008-2009)
During the 2008-2009 school year, South Carolina allocated $9,450 per student for education, ranking it 31st in the nation for per-student spending.
2008: Climate, Energy, and Commerce Committee Report
South Carolina's Climate, Energy, and Commerce Committee released its Final Report in 2008, proposing a voluntary statewide goal of cutting emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2020 and recommending key policies like renewable portfolio standards and increased use of local agricultural products.
2009: South Carolina's K-12 Education System in 2009
In 2009, South Carolina's K-12 education system comprised 1,144 schools across 85 school districts, with a total enrollment of 712,244 students.
2009: South Carolina Arts Participation
In 2009, a poll revealed that a significant majority (67%) of South Carolina residents engaged in some form of art. The average resident participated in arts-related activities 14 times throughout the year.
2010: South Carolina's Stance on International Education Standards
As of 2010, South Carolina stood out as one of three states in the US that had not adopted competitive international standards for math and language education.
2010: Foreign Direct Investment in South Carolina (2010)
In 2010, foreign direct investment (FDI) significantly contributed $1.06 billion to South Carolina's economy.
2010: Religious Demographics in South Carolina
In 2010, the largest religion in South Carolina was Christianity, with the Southern Baptist Convention being the largest denomination. The Baháʼí Faith had the highest per capita proportion of followers in the state, making it the second largest religion at the time.
2010: Population Growth Since 2010
Since 2010, South Carolina experienced a substantial population surge of 523,350 residents, marking an 11.31% increase.
2010: Baseline for Population Growth
The 2020 census revealed a 10.7% population increase in South Carolina since the 2010 census.
2011: Boeing Opens Aircraft Manufacturing Facility in South Carolina
In 2011, Boeing, a multinational aerospace company, established an aircraft manufacturing facility at Charleston International Airport in South Carolina. This facility became one of the two final assembly sites for the 787 Dreamliner.
March 2012: Employment Landscape in South Carolina (March 2012)
As of March 2012, South Carolina had 1,852,700 nonfarm jobs. The service sector was the largest contributor to the state's economy, accounting for 83.7% of it.
June 29, 2012: Record High Temperature
South Carolina experienced its highest recorded temperature of 113°F (45°C) on June 29, 2012, in both Johnston and Columbia.
2012: South Carolina's State Debt in 2012
In 2012, South Carolina's state debt was calculated to be $22.9 billion, equivalent to $7,800 per taxpayer.
November 20, 2014: Same-Sex Marriage Legalized
South Carolina became the 35th state to legalize same-sex marriage on November 20, 2014, following a federal court order mandating the change.
2014: South Carolina Supreme Court Ruling on Education
In a significant ruling in 2014, the South Carolina Supreme Court determined that the state had failed to provide an adequate level of education to children across all parts of the state, as mandated by the state's constitution.
2015: SAT Scores in South Carolina (2015)
In 2015, the average SAT score in South Carolina was 1442, which was 48 points lower than the national average of 1490.
December 2016: South Carolina's Aging School Bus Fleet
By December 2016, South Carolina's school bus fleet consisted of 5,582 buses, with an average age of fifteen years, significantly older than the national average of six years. Some buses were reported to be as old as 30 years.
January 5, 2017: EPA Grant for School Bus Replacement in South Carolina
On January 5, 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded South Carolina over $1.1 million to replace 57 outdated school buses with newer, environmentally friendly models as part of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program.
2018: Hurricane Florence Impacts South Carolina
South Carolina experienced the effects of Hurricane Florence, a major tropical cyclone, in 2018 during the state's yearly hurricane season, which extends from June 1st to November 30th.
2019: South Carolina's GDP in 2019
In 2019, South Carolina's GDP reached $249.9 billion, ranking it as the 26th largest economy in the United States.
2019: Population Increase from Previous Year
In 2019, South Carolina's estimated population reached 5,148,714, reflecting an increase of 64,587 residents compared to the year prior.
2020: South Carolina's Ranking in Voting Accessibility
A 2020 study by the Election Law Journal ranked South Carolina as the 7th most difficult state for citizens to vote in.
2020: Racial Composition of South Carolina
According to the 2020 census, South Carolina's racial composition consisted of 63.4% White (with 62.1% being non-Hispanic white), 25.0% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 3.5% identifying with another race, and 5.8% belonging to two or more races. Additionally, 6.9% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
2020: Religious Landscape of South Carolina in 2020
In 2020, Christianity remained the largest religion in South Carolina, with evangelical Protestantism being the majority among Christians. The irreligious community made up 18% of the population. Southern Baptists were still the largest denomination, followed by Roman Catholics and United Methodists.
2020: Non-Christian Religions in South Carolina (2020)
In 2020, a study by ARDA found a notable presence of non-Christian religions in South Carolina, including Muslims, Orthodox Jews, Reform Jews, and Hindus.
2020: Target Year for Emissions Reduction
South Carolina's Climate, Energy, and Commerce Committee released its Final Report in 2008, proposing a voluntary statewide goal of cutting emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2020 and recommending key policies like renewable portfolio standards and increased use of local agricultural products.
2020: 2020 Census
The 2020 Census recorded South Carolina's population at 5,118,425, making it the 40th largest state by population. The capital, Columbia, had 136,632 residents, while Charleston, the most populous city, had 150,227 residents.
2020: Population Growth Since 2010
The 2020 census revealed a 10.7% population increase in South Carolina since the 2010 census.
July 1, 2021: Start of Earthquake Monitoring Period
Between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2022, South Carolina experienced 74 recorded earthquakes, with six registering magnitudes greater than 3, highlighting the state's position as the most seismically active on the East Coast.
July 1, 2022: End of Earthquake Monitoring Period
Between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2022, South Carolina experienced 74 recorded earthquakes, with six registering magnitudes greater than 3, highlighting the state's position as the most seismically active on the East Coast.
November 8, 2022: Registered Voters in South Carolina (November 8, 2022)
As of November 8, 2022, there were 3,740,743 registered voters in South Carolina.
2022: Low Representation of Women in State Legislature
In 2022, South Carolina had one of the lowest percentages of women serving in state legislature among all states, with only 17.6% representation.
2022: Healthcare Ranking and Statistics for South Carolina (2022)
In 2022, South Carolina ranked 37th out of 50 states in overall healthcare, according to The Commonwealth Fund. The state's teen birth rate was higher than the national average, while the infant mortality rate also exceeded the national average.
2022: Religious Identification in South Carolina (2022)
In 2022, the Public Religion Research Institute estimated a slight increase in the Christian population and the unaffiliated population. Judaism represented 1% of the population, while New Agers constituted 3%.
2022: Homeless Population Estimate
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report approximated that 3,608 individuals in South Carolina were experiencing homelessness.
April 2023: Public Opinion in South Carolina (April 2023)
An April 2023 Winthrop University poll revealed that a significant majority of South Carolinians supported legalizing medical marijuana, believed in the separation of church and state, and favored same-sex marriage, legalized recreational marijuana, sports gambling, and an independent commission for congressional redistricting.
