According to babyinger, South Carolina is located in the southeastern United States, bordered by North Carolina to the north, Georgia to the southwest, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The state has a total area of 32,020 square miles and is divided into 46 counties. South Carolina has a diverse landscape with coastal plains in the east, rolling hills in the midlands, and mountains in the western part of the state.
The largest city in South Carolina is its capital Columbia, located near the geographic center of the state. Other major cities include Charleston on the coast and Greenville in upstate South Carolina. The state’s major rivers include Santee River which runs through Columbia and Charleston Harbor which flows into Charleston Bay.
The climate of South Carolina varies depending on location but generally features hot summers and mild winters throughout most of the state. Along coastal areas temperatures are moderated by ocean breezes while inland areas experience higher temperatures during summer months. Average temperatures range from lows of around 40°F in January to highs of around 90°F during July and August.
The geography of South Carolina is characterized by forests, wetlands, rivers, lakes, mountains, beaches and estuaries which provide important habitats for wildlife including deer, black bears, wild turkeys as well as many species of migratory birds like bald eagles and osprey. There are also several protected areas throughout South Carolina including Congaree National Park near Columbia which protects one of America’s largest remaining old-growth bottomland hardwood forests as well as Francis Marion National Forest near Charleston which provides recreational opportunities for visitors such as camping and hiking trails.
Administrative Regions in South Carolina
According to COUNTRYAAH.COM, South Carolina is divided into 46 counties, which are the primary administrative divisions of the state. The counties are further divided into 271 municipalities, which can be either cities, towns, or villages. These municipalities are governed by local elected officials and provide services to their communities such as public safety, health care, education, and infrastructure.
The state government of South Carolina is composed of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The executive branch is headed by the governor who is elected every four years and serves as the chief executive officer for the state. The legislative branch consists of two houses: the House of Representatives with 124 members and the Senate with 46 members who serve four-year terms. The judicial branch includes a Supreme Court as well as lower courts such as circuit courts and magistrate courts.
At a higher level than counties are seven geographic regions in South Carolina known as congressional districts which each have one member in Congress representing them in Washington DC. There are also several other special districts within South Carolina such as school districts which provide educational services to students in their areas or water management districts which manage water resources for their regions.
Finally, there are several federal entities located within South Carolina including military bases operated by the US Army or Air Force as well as national parks such as Congaree National Park near Columbia which protects one of America’s largest remaining old-growth bottomland hardwood forests. These entities provide important economic benefits to the state through jobs and tourism dollars they bring in from visitors who come to enjoy all that South Carolina has to offer.
Demographics of South Carolina
South Carolina is a diverse state with a population of over 5 million people. According to the 2019 US Census, the racial makeup of South Carolina is 64.9% White, 28.2% African American, 2.7% Asian, 1.2% Native American and Alaskan Native, 0.3% Pacific Islander, and 2.8% from two or more races. The Hispanic or Latino population is 6.6%.
The largest cities in South Carolina are Columbia (population 131,686), Charleston (population 134,385), North Charleston (population 108,304), Mount Pleasant (population 94,320), Rock Hill (population 77,944), Greenville (population 68,219), Summerville (population 50,222), Sumter (population 40,524) and Spartanburg (population 39,673).
South Carolina has a median age of 38 years old with 24.4% of the population under 18 years old and 15.5% over 65 years old. The gender ratio is approximately 51 percent female and 49 percent male with 46 percent of the population married and 54 percent single or never married. The median household income in South Carolina is $54,367 with 12 percent living below the poverty line and 9 percent without health insurance coverage according to the 2018 US Census Bureau estimates..
South Carolina’s economy is largely driven by manufacturing with major employers in this sector including Boeing South Carolina in North Charleston and BMW Manufacturing Company in Greer as well as several military bases throughout the state such as Fort Jackson near Columbia and Shaw Air Force Base near Sumter County which provide jobs for thousands of people each year. Other important industries in South Carolina include tourism which brings millions of visitors to the state each year to enjoy activities such as camping and hiking trails as well as agriculture which produces commodities such as cotton, soybeans, corn and tobacco among others.
Transportation in South Carolina
South Carolina has a well-developed transportation network, providing residents with multiple options for getting around the state. The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) maintains and manages over 41,000 miles of highway, including interstates, US highways, and state routes. There are also numerous bridges and tunnels throughout the state. Major interstate highways in South Carolina include I-20, I-26, I-77, and I-95.
Public transportation is provided in South Carolina by several different agencies such as the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA), the Greenville Transit Authority (GTA), the Coastal Area Regional Transit Authority (CARTA), and the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (CMRTA). These agencies provide bus service throughout their respective regions as well as some limited rail service.
South Carolina also has several airports located throughout the state that offer domestic and international flights. The largest airport is Charleston International Airport located near North Charleston which serves over 2 million passengers each year. Other major airports in South Carolina include Columbia Metropolitan Airport near Columbia which serves over 700 thousand passengers each year as well as Myrtle Beach International Airport near Myrtle Beach which serves over 400 thousand passengers each year.
In addition to air travel, South Carolina residents can also take advantage of Amtrak passenger rail services which provide connections to cities such as Charlotte NC, Raleigh NC, Atlanta GA, and New York City NY among others. There are also numerous ports in South Carolina that offer ferry services including Fort Sumter Ferry from Liberty Square in Charleston to Patriots Point on Sullivan’s Island as well as Palmetto Breeze ferry service from Isle of Palms to Mount Pleasant both operated by CARTA.