South Carolina is a state in the Southern Region of the United States. More specifically, South Carolina is located in Appalachia, along with eight other U.S. states. With mountains in the west and an entire ocean to the east, South Carolina has a diverse array of landscape. The eighth state to receive admission into the United States, the Palmetto State was originally known as the Province of South Carolina. After becoming a state, South Carolina became recognized for its textiles, agriculture, and culture, not to mention its timeless historical significance.
Located at a latitude of 33.8361° N and longitude of 81.1637° W, South Carolina is situated along the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean. South Carolina boasts a coastline of approximately 187 miles. This close proximity to the ocean heavily contributes to the overall composition of South Carolina’s climate. The state is divided up into three main regions based on geography:
The Atlantic Coastal Plain in the east The Piedmont in central South Carolina The Blue Ridge Mountains in the west
The highest point of elevation is the Sassafras Mountain. With a peak of 3,560 feet above sea level, Sassafras Mountain is part of the Appalachian Mountain Range, located in the Blue Ridge Mountain Region. On the contrary, the lowest point of elevation in South Carolina is the Atlantic Ocean, reigning in with the lowest possible altitude of 0 feet above sea level. In other words, South Carolina is at sea level along its coast. On average, South Carolina has an elevation of 350 feet above sea level.
The total area of South Carolina is an estimated 32,030 square miles. As of 2018, there are 5,900,000 people living in South Carolina. For every square mile, there are about 157 people.
The dimensions of S.C. are 260 miles by 200 miles, meaning South Carolina is 260 miles long and 200 miles wide. Of this total area, approximately 30,108 miles are land. The remaining 1,922 miles – or 6% of the state – are made up of water.
While that might sound like a low percentage considering South Carolina’s position along a major ocean, remember that South Carolina itself does not extend into the Atlantic. South Carolina has miles upon miles of coastline, but this does not mean that the state’s boundaries include the water offshore.