South Carolina carries the dubious distinction of being the first state to secede from the Union, a fact somewhat tempered by the state’s earlier inclusion among the original 13 colonies that declared independence from the British Crown at the start of the American Revolution. In one battle of that revolution, British ships bombarded the American fort on Sullivan Island with cannon fire, but the palmetto-log fort withstood the barrage, repelling the Brits, and from that incident South Carolina took its official State Tree, the Sabal Palmetto, and its nickname The Palmetto State.
South Carolina’s economy is powered by the tobacco, poultry, and cattle industries as well as by the production of textile goods, chemical products, and automotive products. In addition, the state is sometimes known as The Swamp State for the ample swamps that are home to its burgeoning rice industry. With its plentiful golf resorts and historic sites, South Carolina is a destination of choice for millions of tourists every year. Four Amtrak passenger routes operating in South Carolina supplement the state’s extensive Interstate highway system and South Carolinians also enjoy the convenience of six airports including Charleston International Airport.
Roads
Interstate 20: A major link to cities to the north, south, and west of South Carolina, I-20 is also known as the J. Strom Thurmond Freeway.
Interstate 26: I-26 is a major route for South Carolina and for the entire Southeastern United States. Running from Tennessee to Charleston, South Carolina, I-26 is noteworthy for occasionally running counter to its signage. Crossing the French Broad River, I-26 West actually travels east.
Interstate 77: Part of the Columbia Beltway, I-77 runs from Cayce, South Carolina, through or around the cities of Charleston, Columbia, and Rock Hill among others.
Interstate 85: I-85 travels northeast by southwest from the Georgia state line into South Carolina, linking the cities of Greenville and Spartanburg before proceeding to the North Carolina state line.
Interstate 95: This massive Interstate Highway links points along the eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine. Along its way, I-95 spans about 50 miles of South Carolina from Hardeeville to Dillon.