| South Carolina is a state of great natural beauty, interesting history and plenty of true Southern charm. With its sunny beaches, crystal lakes, historic towns, and scenic mountains, South Carolina boasts some some of the most inviting natural, cultural and recreational destinations in the nation. |
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The first colony in South Carolina was founded in 1670 at Charles Towne, on the Ashley River. It prospered by trading with indigenous Indians. Prosperity grew with imaginative advertising by the region’s proprietors luring many foreigners seeking vast expanses of land and freedom from religious persecution.
Many battles of the American Revolution were fought on South Carolina’s soil and once the war was over the economy regained momentum and grew, mostly due to slavery on the cotton plantations. Due to conflicts with federal regulations concerning cotton tariffs, South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860. The Civil War erupted and did not end until General William Tecumseh Sherman blazed a trail through the state and burned Columbia in 1865. All told, one-fourth of the state’s troops were killed.
Recovery from the war was slow, due in part to the lack of able bodied men. Without men to farm the state shifted its emphasis from farming to textiles. This change was slow, taking forty years to fully develop. World War I boosted agricultural production again, particularly cotton. After the war, boll weevils all but destroyed the cotton crop and the Great Depression crippled the state economy once again.
World War II brought a tremendous growth in industry, which lasted for almost forty years. Then, the state went into economic collapse once again in 1989, due to hurricane Hugo, the most devastating hurricane in its history. Pride, determination and stamina shown through as South Carolina rebuilt itself and continues to exude the charm and vitality that have been its hallmark through its often tumultuous past.
The shift from agricultural to an industry economy brought many businesses to the state. Clothing, meat packing, furniture, chemical and paper industries burgeoned. Textiles emerged in Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg ranking them among the nation’s primary textile centers. Tourism is the second largest industry and continues to grow. Farming is still viable, but tobacco and sugar cane have overtaken cotton and rice.
The statewide sales tax is 6 percent plus an additional 1 percent on everyone under the age of 85. Counties may impose an additional 1 percent increment. There is also an admissions tax of 5 percent and an accommodations tax of 2 percent.
The sun, sand and surf draws thousands of vacationers to South Carolina’s beaches. Myrtle Beach, Isle of Palms, Hilton Head and Seabrook are a few of the most popular tourist spots. The obvious activities are sunbathing, swimming, boating and fishing. In recent years the state has transformed itself into one of the premier golfing areas in the world.
