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South Carolina: State Flag, Bird and Facts

The Carolina wren is the state bird of South Carolina, and the yellow jessamine is its state flower.

Capital
Columbia
Nickname
The Palmetto State
State bird
Carolina wren
State flower
Yellow jessamine
State tree
Sabal palm
Admitted
May 23, 1788
Population
5,118,425 (2020 census)
Mottos and slogans
Animis opibusque parati; Dum spiro spero
Region
South
Area
82,931 km² (32,020 sq mi)
Highest point
Sassafras Mountain (3,554 ft)

About South Carolina

South Carolina was named for King Charles I of England, since Carolus is Latin for Charles. It became a royal colony in 1719, and more than 200 battles and skirmishes of the Revolutionary War were fought on its soil. In 1788 it was the eighth state to approve the Constitution. Columbia is the capital, while Charleston is the largest city.

North Carolina wraps the north, Georgia sits across the Savannah River, and the Atlantic lines the southeast. The state has 46 counties, and the Upstate area around Greenville and Spartanburg is the biggest metro. On the blue flag, a white palmetto tree stands beside a white crescent. Versions of the design go back to 1775 and one of the first Revolutionary War flags.

Did you know?

  • Sassafras Mountain is the highest point in South Carolina, at 3,554 feet.
  • The sabal palm is South Carolina's official state tree, matching its Palmetto State nickname.
  • Dum spiro spero is one of the two Latin mottoes of South Carolina.

Questions about South Carolina

What is on the South Carolina flag?

It shows a white crescent moon and a white palmetto tree on blue.

When did South Carolina become a state?

South Carolina ratified the Constitution on May 23, 1788, as the eighth state.

Other South states

Sources

Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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