Discover the Palmetto State: Top 14 Fun Facts About South Carolina You Can't Miss

1. The Fertile Paradise of Barnwell County

If peaches, pecans, and the scent of fresh agricultural delights make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, Barnwell County might just be your paradise on Earth: Fondly known as the "Garden City" of South Carolina, this fertile wonderland is home to an abundance of farms and orchards, where visitors can indulge in a mouthwatering assortment of local produce or embark on a picturesque journey along the Barnwell County Ag + Art Trail to witness the splendor of its verdant landscapes.
Source => wikiedit.org

2. UFO Welcome Center in Bowman

If E.T. ever phones home from South Carolina, he might just find a friendly place to land: The UFO Welcome Center in Bowman, created by local resident Jody Pendarvis, offers intergalactic travelers a cozy spot to rest their little green heads. Made from scrap wood, metal, and assorted junk, the welcome center features two silver UFOs atop a scrap metal fence, complete with amenities such as a toilet, shower, television, and air conditioning. Although Pendarvis hopes to host alien guests one day, Earthlings are more than welcome to explore his otherworldly creation - for a small fee, of course.
Source => atlasobscura.com

🛩️ Discover the birthplace of modern aviation in North Carolina, where the Wright Brothers took to the skies, forever changing the way we travel. Learn about their groundbreaking flight and its lasting impact on our world!

=> Fun Facts about North-Carolina

3. Luxurious Free-Range Dairy Farms

Holy cow! South Carolina's bovine beauties are living the cream of the crop life and lactating luxury: The state's free-range dairy farms, like Milky Way Farm and Happy Cow Creamery, let their cows graze on lush grass, resulting in an udderly delicious 1,919 gallons of milk per cow annually, with fan-favorite products including Clemson Blue Cheese and Belue Farms' raw milk.
Source => sciway.net

4. Charleston: The Unincorporated Market Town

Picture Charleston as the ultimate squatter of the 17th century, refusing to commit to any form of government while still leaving its mark on history like an eccentric, rule-dodging uncle: Charleston was actually an unincorporated market town for the first 113 years of its existence, lacking any municipal government. The true first European settlement in South Carolina was established in 1670 by around 200 Europeans at Albemarle Point, which later came to be known as Charles Town in honor of King Charles II of England.
Source => ccpl.org

5. Aiken's Annual Fall Steeplechase

Hold onto your hats and break out the crumpets: it's time for some high-stakes, high-class equine escapades in Aiken, South Carolina! Behold the annual Fall Steeplechase, where horses compete amidst fancy tailgates and friendly banter, bringing delight to both equestrian enthusiasts and social butterflies alike: Celebrating 29 years of tradition, this thrilling event kicks off with gates opening at 8 AM and the first race starting at 1 PM, featuring an array of contests and hospitality tents, for a day filled with excitement and southern charm.
Source => visitaikensc.com

6. South Carolina's Rich Musical Legacy

In the Palmetto State, where they dance to the beat of their own drum, the tunes flow smoother than sweet tea on a hot summer day: South Carolina boasts not one, but several official state dances such as the Shag, Square Dance, and Richardson Waltz, alongside Beach Music as the state popular music, Spiritual as the state music, and even Porgy and Bess as their official opera – all while dancing under the poetic eye of Marjory Wentworth, the state's Poet Laureate.
Source => scstatehouse.gov

7. The Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp

Get ready to scale it up on South Carolina's strangest mystery: In the late '80s, the Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp, a reptilian humanoid creature, slithered his way into Lee County's lore, attracting media attention and spawning souvenir sales and even radio station rewards for his capture.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. The Mighty Angel Oak Tree

If trees could talk, this one would have some wild tales to share from its younger days, and a tree-mendous amount of wisdom: The mighty Angel Oak tree in South Carolina is one of the oldest living organisms in the United States, boasting over 400 years of existence, stretching up to 66 feet tall, and holding court on Johns Island as a popular tourist destination.
Source => satelliteinternet.com

9. The Majestic Saluda Dam

If dams could be dammed beautiful, South Carolina hosts an earthen celebrity in disguise: The Saluda Dam, alias Dreher Shoals Dam, is the world's largest earthen embankment dam, constructing the whopping Lake Murray which covers 50,000 acres and holds a staggering 2.2 million acre-feet of water, all while offering flood control, hydroelectricity, recreation, and water supply just 10 miles west of Columbia on the Saluda River.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Charleston's Quirky Bed Race

Who needs horses when you've got beds on wheels? Put the "bed" in "bedlam" and hit the gas at South Carolina's quirkiest race: The Charleston Bed Race is an annual charity event where spirited teams craft creative racing beds, raising money for Camp Happy Days to support children affected by cancer, while dashing for the finish line in categories like "Fastest Bed" or "People's Choice Award."
Source => charlestoncvb.com

11. The Impressive Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

Get ready to cross "Eye Spy Longest Bridges" off your bucket list: The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the United States, with a main span of 1,546 feet (471 m), diamond-shaped towers reaching 575 feet (175 m), and 128 individual cables suspending the deck 186 feet (57 m) above the Cooper River.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

12. South Carolina's Dance Battle Prowess

If there was a dance battle among the states, South Carolina would sweep the floor with its moves: South Carolina boasts an impressive musical heritage, with the Shag as the official State Dance, Square Dance as the State Folk Dance, two State Songs ("Carolina" and "South Carolina on My Mind"), Spiritual as the official State Music, Beach Music as the official State Popular Music, and even the opera Porgy and Bess, which portrays African American life in Charleston, as the official Opera of the State.
Source => scstatehouse.gov

13. Darlington Raceway: NASCAR Legends

Start your engines and watch out for mullets: South Carolina is home to none other than the Darlington Raceway! Since 1950, this legendary NASCAR track has been making necks crane and rubber burn with epic races like the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 and the Cook Out Southern 500. Sign up for their email newsletter, and you'll be racing towards good times faster than you can say "vroom!"
Source => darlingtonraceway.com

14. South Carolina's Bountiful Minerals

Well, slap some cement shoes on me and call me Tony Soprano: South Carolina is a top-notch contributor as the 28th largest producer of industrial minerals in the US! With a staggering value of $659 million back in 2005, it offers a bountiful spread of cement, crushed stone, kaolin, and vermiculite — talk about having your mineral shindig catered by the Palmetto State!
Source => dnr.sc.gov