We are getting close to finishing the whole series. The previous article was about US states that start with R. Well, actually, just one, as Rhode Island is alone on that list.
Now, it’s time to present to you the US States that start with S.
There are two of them, both with the prefix “south” in their names – South Carolina and South Dakota.
Let’s discover some fun facts that make these two states unique.
South Carolina
South Carolina feels old in the best way. You can walk through Charleston or a small town inland and sense the weight of everything that came before.
The land changes fast as you move across it. Mountains in the west, long flat fields in the center, and salt air on the coast.
History
The English crown granted the Carolina territory in the 1600s, and by 1712, the area was divided into North and South Carolina. Charleston became one of the wealthiest ports in colonial America, trading rice, indigo, and cotton.
The prosperity relied heavily on enslaved labor, creating social tensions that echoed across generations. The state joined the rebellion against British rule in 1776 and became a key site during the Revolution.
In 1860, it led the move to leave the Union, sparking the Civil War. After defeat, South Carolina faced years of rebuilding before turning its focus toward manufacturing and tourism in the twentieth century.
Geography
The state covers about 32,000 square miles and contains three main regions.
- The Coastal Plain runs along the Atlantic Ocean with beaches, marshes, and barrier islands.
- The Midlands stretch inland, filled with farms, forests, and the capital city of Columbia.
- The Upstate rises toward the Blue Ridge Mountains, where rivers and waterfalls attract travelers.
Major waterways such as the Santee, Savannah, and Pee Dee rivers support agriculture and wildlife. The warm climate allows long growing seasons, and the coastline remains a major attraction for residents and visitors.
Surprising Facts About South Carolina You Might Didn’t Know
- The state was the first to vote for independence from Britain in March 1776.
- The first public municipal college in the United States, the College of Charleston, opened in 1770.
- The Civil War’s first shots were fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor in 1861.
- South Carolina produces large amounts of peaches, ranking second in the nation after California.
- Myrtle Beach hosts one of the highest concentrations of golf courses in the world.
- The Palmetto tree appears on the state flag and represents strength and resilience.
- The Gullah culture along the coast preserves African traditions, language, and crafts.
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South Dakota
South Dakota sits in the northern plains, shaped by open land, cold winters, and a history tied to both Native nations and early settlers.
History
Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Sioux tribes lived across the region long before settlers arrived. They built rich communities that thrived through trade and tradition.
The mid-1800s brought railroads, miners, and towns that grew fast around the Black Hills after gold was found. Conflict followed as Native lands were taken and tribes were forced onto reservations.
Statehood came in 1889, when South Dakota joined the Union alongside North Dakota. Through drought, depression, and recovery, its people kept their work ethic and independence.
Geography
The Missouri River cuts the state in two halves.
- East River holds farms, lakes, and the largest cities such as Sioux Falls and Brookings.
- West River spreads across ranchland, prairie, and the Black Hills.
- Badlands National Park shows layers of eroded rock that reveal millions of years of natural history.
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The climate swings between hot summers and freezing winters, shaping a landscape that tests everyone who lives on it.
Surprising Facts About South Dakota You Might Didn’t Know
@cirruslyyesterday Havent even gotten into the Crazy Horse story yet #mountrushmore #crazyhorse ♬ original sound – Katie Tutrone
- Mount Rushmore took fourteen years to complete and features the faces of four US presidents carved into granite.
- The Crazy Horse Memorial, still under construction, aims to be the largest mountain carving in the world.
- The state ranks among the top in sunflower and corn production..
- South Dakota has no state income tax.
- The world’s largest naturally warm indoor pool sits in Hot Springs.
- The Corn Palace in Mitchell hosts murals made entirely of corn each year.
- Wind Cave National Park protects one of the longest cave systems on Earth.
Last Words
South Carolina and South Dakota could not look more different on a map, yet both carry something honest about America.
One breathes with the salt air of the Atlantic, the other with the wind that crosses endless prairie. Each built its character through hard seasons, strong people, and stories that never fade.
Together, they show how history, land, and endurance shape the country far beyond borders or size.
