About two-thirds of the land is forested, and South Carolina has more swampland than any other state except Louisiana. The state's elevation slopes downward from west to east, starting with a tiny section of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west. Likewise, rivers flow from west to east until they reach the Atlantic Ocean. The hilly Piedmont Plateau, called upcountry by natives, comes next and occupies about one-third of the land. The rest of the land, called lowcountry, is part of the flat Atlantic Coastal Plain. Along the coast are beautiful beaches, which are popular with the tourists. The animals that live in the state are just as diverse as the land. Deer, bobcats, and beavers live in forested areas, and snakes, alligators, and turtles make their homes in the swamps or along the coast.
Although South Carolina is one of the poorer states in the nation, the economy is growing and improving. Agriculture used to provide the most income for South Carolinians. Today, it plays a lesser role in the economy. Tobacco, soybeans, and cotton are the largest crops, and more peaches are grown there than in any state except California and Georgia. Manufacturing has become the state's leading industry, and products include chemicals (like medicine, dyes, and fertilizers) and heavy machinery. Cotton from local farms is used to make fabric. The forests provide paper and wood products, and the streams are a source of hydroelectric power. Limestone, granite, and clay are some of the state's mineral resources.
4,407,709
Capital:
State Abbreviation: SC
Governor: Mark Sanford (Republican)
U.S. Senators: 2
Jim DeMint (Republican)
Lindsey Graham (Republican)
U.S. Representatives: 6
Republicans: 4
Democrats 2
State Senators: 46
State Representatives: 124
Counties: 46