South Carolina

Population
	2000	2007
Population	4,012,012	4,407,709
State Rank	26	24
Median Age	35.4	37.3
Total 8 year-olds	58,574	55,818
Boys	29,661	28,493
Girls	28,913	27,325
Total 9 year-olds	60,632	55,998
Boys	31,187	29,028
Girls	29,445	26,970
Total 10 year-olds	61,349	55,339
Boys	31,412	28,663
Girls	29,937	26,676
Total 11 year-olds	58,909	56,292
Boys	30,057	28,773
Girls	28,852	27,519
Total 12 year-olds	57,198	57,302
Boys	28,936	29,575
Girls	28,262	27,727

How People Get to Work:
Drive Alone	79%	81%
Car Pool	14%	11%
Public Transportation	1%	1%

Geography
Capital	Columbia
Largest City	Columbia
Second Largest City	Charleston
Persons per square mile	133

Business
	2000	2006
Dentist Offices	1,283	1,375
Amusement Parks	8	8
FastFood Restaurants	3,045	3,559
Toy Stores	131	126
Video/Disc Rental Stores	313	258
Zoos & Botanical Gardens	5	9
Candy & Nut Stores	35	31
Pet & Pet Supply Stores	104	112
Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Makers	5	2

Note: As is the case with all surveys, statistics from sample surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error.

A value of NA indicates that data are not available for the indicated time period, or is not applicable for the current region.

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History

Date of Statehood: May 23, 1788
Population 1800: 345,591
Population 1860: 668,507
Population 1900: 1,340,316
Population 1950: 2,117,027

I never knew that! *

Nickname: Palmetto State
Flower: Carolina Yellow Jessamine
Tree: Palmetto
Bird: Great Carolina Wren
Dance: The Shag
Snack: Boiled Peanuts
Fruit: Peach
Dog: Boykin Spaniel
Hospitality Beverage: Sweet Tea

Teachers: Download the Picture Your State lesson plan. [pdf]

Who told you this stuff?

The U.S. Census Bureau takes a census of the population every 10 years, and censuses of economic activity and governments every five years. And every year, the Census Bureau conducts more than 100 other surveys. Data on this page come from Population Estimates, the Census of Population and Housing, the American Community Survey, and County Business Patterns.

How are these data collected?

The U.S. Census Bureau sends questionnaires in the mail or contacts businesses and households to participate in its surveys.

* State symbol information was obtained from various non-Census Bureau resources including state web sites, educational web sites, and commercial entities.