SOUTH CAROLINA, a State in the South Atlantic Division of the North American Union; bounded by North Caro lina, Tennessee, Georgia, and the Atlan tic Ocean; one of the original 13 States; number of counties, 40; capital, Colum bia; area, 30,170 square miles; popula tion (1910) 1,515,400; (1920) 1,683,724.
Topography.—The State has a sea board of 210 miles, and running W. from this is a low, sandy, and in places, marshy plain, from 80 to 100 miles wide. Beyond the plain is what is known as the middle country, consisting of low sand hills. A series of terraces rises W. of this and terminates in the Blue Ridge Mountains, passing through the N. W. of the State. The highest elevation in South Carolina is Table Mountain, 4,000 feet, on the Tennessee border. The prin cipal river, the Santee, is 150 miles long, i and is formed by the junction of the Wateree and Congaree. This latter river is formed by the union of the Broad and Saluda rivers. Other important rivers are Cooper and Ashley, emptying into Charleston harbor; the Edisto and Cam babee into St. Helena Sound; the Great Pedee, Little Pedee, Waccamaw, and Black, emptying into Wingah Bay; and the Oosawhatchie into Port Royal Harbor.
Geology and Mineralogy.—A geological break passing through the center of the State divides it into two distinct forma tions. The "up country" in the W. is of Primary origin, and the "low country" in the E. is of Tertiary, with occasional outcroppings of the Cretaceous. The mountain region in the N. W. has gneiss as its characteristic rock, with granite, hornblende, slates, limestones and clay. The chief mineral products are phos phate rock, granite, and clay products. A small amount of gold is produced, as well as some silver, iron ore and lime. The total value of the mineral output is about $1,500,000 annually.
Agriculture.—The soil is, as a rule, either loam or clay, rich in phosphate, lime, and potash. Cotton, maize, wheat, rice, and sweet potatoes are the chief staples. The magnolia and palmetto grow abundantly along the coast, pine and cypress characterize the low coun try, and hardwoods the highlands. The acreage, production, and value of the principal crops in 1919 was as follows: corn, 2,340,000 acres, production 37,440, 000 bushels, value $73,757,000; oats, 510,000 acres, production 11,730,000 bushels, value $12,903,000; wheat, 204, 000 acres, production 1,836,000 bushels, value $4,737,000; tobacco, 135,000 acres, production 81,000,000 pounds, value $18, 468,000; hay, 275,000 acres, production 358,000 tons, value $11,098,000; pea nuts, 13,000 acres, production 585,000 bushels, value $1,708,000; potatoes, 27, 000 acres, production 2,295,000 bushels, value $4,590,000; sweet potatoes, 84,000 acres, production 7,560,000 bushels, value $11,189,000; cotton, 2,881,000 acres, pro duction 1,475,000 bales, value $263,288, 000.
Manufactures.—In 1914 there were 1,885 manufacturing establishments in the State. These gave employment to 71,914 wage-earners. The capital invest ed was $203,211,000, the amount paid in wages was $24,173,000, the value of the materials used $91,009,000, and the value of the finished product $138,891,000. The principal industries were cotton manufactures, lumber and timber prod ucts, fertilizers, cottonseed oil and cake, flour and grist mill products, planing mill products, rice cleaning and polish ing, turpentine and rosin, railroad cars, cotton ginning, and brick and tile.
Banking.—On Oct. 31, 1919, there were reported 79 National banks in operation, having $9,605,000 in capital; $7,008,000 in outstanding circulation; and $27,599, 000 in United States bonds. There were also 342 State banks, with $13,286,000 capital, and $6,062,000 surplus.
Commerce.—The imports of merchan dise at the port of Charleston in the fiscal year 1920 aggregated in value $13, 941,871; and the exports $32,474,625.
Education.—School attendance in the State is not compulsory, but the employ ment of illiterate children in factories or mines is restricted. Separate schools are maintained for white and colored children. In 1918 there were 194,687 white and 199,780 colored children enrolled in the schools. There were 2,464 public schools for white children and 2,408 schools for negro children. There were 5,620 white teachers and 3,013 negro teachers. The State appropriated in that year for schools $497,500. In 1909 there was en acted an elaborate general school law. The colleges include Claflin College, at Orangeburg; Woffard College, at Spar tanburg; Furman University, at Green ville; South Carolina College, at Colum bia; and Newberry College, at Newberry.