South Carolina

Key Details

• The capital and the largest city of South Carolina is Columbia.
• South Carolina is shaped like an inverted triangle and is bounded by North Carolina on the north, the Atlantic Ocean on the southeast, and Georgia on the southwest.
• As of 2023, South Carolina's estimated population is over 5 million.
• The current governor of South Carolina is Henry McMaster of the Republican Party.
• South Carolina became the 8th State to join the union in May 1788.
• The state played a key role in the American Revolution and the Civil War as the first state to secede from the Union in 1860.
• The life expectancy in South Carolina is 76.8 years at birth.
• 50.4% of its residents have a high school diploma, and about 16.9% have a bachelor's degree.

South Carolina Population Demographics

Due to migration from neighboring states and nations, the state has seen consistent population growth. At 65.6% of the state's population, white people make up the majority of South Carolina's racial and ethnic population. Approximately 6% of the population is Hispanic or Latino, 2% is Asian, and 26.16% is Black or African American.

Immigrants are vital to the state, especially in the labor force.

Over 80% of South Carolina's population reports speaking English fluently, and about 5% of the state's citizens are immigrants who have integrated well. The top immigration source nations are Mexico, India, Germany, Honduras, and the Philippines.

Elections and Voting

The Republican Party is the dominant force in South Carolina; however, the Democratic Party is still significant, particularly among certain demographics and in urban areas, despite historically being less powerful than Republicans. Historically a Democratic stronghold, South Carolina saw the Republican Party gain ground in the late 20th century.

The Election Commission of South Carolina is responsible for managing voter registration, election procedures, and results. There are deadlines for voter registration and voting procedures unique to the state. Electronic voting machines and paper ballots are both used in South Carolina. The state has put in place procedures, such as post-election audits, to guarantee the security and precision of these systems.

Housing, Income, Employment

According to the most recent data, the average cost of a home in South Carolina is approximately $280,000. The location impacts prices; rural areas are less expensive than urban ones, like Greenville and Charleston. While the average monthly rent for an apartment in South Carolina varies from $1,200 to $1,800 based on the size and location, the state has a relatively high homeownership rate of about 70%.

In South Carolina, the average household income is roughly $60,000. However, there is a discernible difference in income distribution, with average incomes in cities higher than in rural areas.

The unemployment rate in South Carolina is typically between 3.5% and 4.5%. This is due to the state's recent experience of consistent job growth, especially in industries like technology, healthcare, and education.

Crimes rates in South Carolina

The total number of violent crimes is about 4.91 per 1000 residents. These crimes include murder, rape, robbery, and Assault. Property crime, which includes burglary and theft, is 23.08 per 1000 residents. This means that the property crime rate in South Carolina is slightly higher than the national average, as the chances of becoming a violent crime victim is 1 in 204 and 1 in 43 for property crime.

How to Find People in South Carolina

SC Public Records Online Directory portal allows you to search for recorded documents like deeds, mortgages, and tax records, which might give you an address history. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) helps perform a criminal background check through SLED, but it requires an exact match of last name, first initial, and date of birth.

People Search Websites can help locate people by name, address, phone number, etc., but often require a subscription fee.

Offline methods like mutual friends or acquaintances and professional licensing boards can help locate people.

Interesting facts about South Carolina