What Do You Know About South Carolina?

What do you know about South Carolina?

Below you'll find information about South Carolina, including famous South Carolinians, important dates in South Carolina history, general information about the state, and more. There are also two quizzes about South Carolina. Some of the answers to the quiz questions can be found on this page. Quiz takers can either preview this page before taking the quiz...or test their knowledge with the quizzes first to find out what they already know! Have fun!

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About 500 square miles of Blue Ridge Mountains can be found in the northwest corner of the state. Sassafras Mountain, which is part of the Appalachian Mountain chain, is the highest point in South Carolina. It's elevation is 3,560 ft.

South Carolina has about 2,976 miles of coastline, counting it's many islands and bays. 300 miles of this are beautiful sandy beaches!

Carolina Wrens are small birds (around five inches long) with a white throat and a light colored chest. They have a distinctive white stripe above each eye. They often hold their long tails upright. Male Carolina Wrens love to sing.

Carolina Wrens often build their nests in the holes of trees, on top of fence posts, or in the eaves of houses and barns. But they also frequently find flower pots, boxes, shoes left outside, and other unusual places to be suitable for their nests!

Carolina Jasmine, also called Yellow Jessamine, is a climbing vine with yellow flowers. It blooms in late winter, almost as an announcement of spring being soon to follow.

Columbia is the capital of South Carolina. The seat of government was moved to Columbia from Charles Town in 1790 since Columbia is in the middle of the state.

Six bronze stars on the State House mark places where canyon balls hit the building during the Civil War.

South Carolina is bordered by North Carolina and Georgia. Columbia, the state capitol, is located in the middle of the state. The Atlantic coast, with many beautiful beaches, borders the east side of the state. The foothills and mountains are located in the northwestern part of the state.

1497 John Cabot, from England, explored the coast of what is now called South Carolina.

1521 The area was visited by Spaniards from Santo Domingo

1663 A charter was issued by King Charles II for a colony in Carolina.

1670 English settled in Charles Town, along the banks of the Ashley River.

1698 The first library in the colonies opened in Charleston.

1776 Signing of the Declaration of Independence

1780 and 1781 The battles of Kings Mountain and Cowpens, both of which took place in South Carolina, are considered by many historians to be the turning points in the Revolutionary War.

1788 South Carolina became the 8th state to join the Union

1860 South Carolina seceded (left) the Union. It was the first state to do so.

1861 The first shots of the Civil War were fired upon Fort Sumter in Charleston by the Confederates.

1866 Earthquake injured thousands in Charleston. The tremors were felt 600 miles away.

1868 Orangeburg Massacre took the lives of three Black college students, and injured 27 other people. Segregation of a bowling alley was the issue.

1989 Hurricane Hugo wreaked havoc in South Carolina, causing $5 billion in damage, and killing 17 people.

Francis Marion (1732-1785) - The "Swamp Fox." He was an American Revolutionary War hero. He received his nickname from the British because of his habit of attacking at night and then disappearing into the swamps.

Andrew Jackson (1767 - 1845) - 7th president of the United States

Shoeless Joe Jackson (1887-1951) was a baseball player who hit such hard line drives they could supposedly tear the gloves off the infielders! He got his nickname from playing in a minor league game in his socks.

Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) was an educator who worked to improve the educational opportunities for blacks.

John Birks 'Dizzy' Gillespie (1917 - 1993) has been referred to as the greatest jazz trumpeter of all time.

Larry Doby (1923-2003) was the first black baseball player, as well as the first black manager, in the American League.

James Brown (1933- 2006) - the "Godfather of Soul."

Chubby Checker (1941 -) Was asked to record "The Twist." It was a huge hit! The song had originally been written recorded by Hank Ballard.

Jessi Jackson (1941 - ) a Baptist Minister, civil rights leader, and politician.

Joe Frazier (1944 - ) 1964 Olympic heavyweight champion and the world heavyweight champ from 1970-1973. He defeated Muhammad Ali in Madison Square Garden, earning himself the title of heavyweight champ.

Charles F. Bolden Jr (1946-) an astronaut who helped launch the Hubble Telescope. He is currently the Administrator of NASA.

Dr. Ronald McNair (1950-1986) was one of the seven astronauts that died when the Space Shuttle "Challenger" exploded shortly after take-off in 1986.

William Perry, "The Refrigerator," was a player for the Chicago Bears Super Bowl team in 1986.

Leeza Gibbons - host for Entertainment Tonight, as well as her own show, "Leeza."

Eartha Kitt, a singer and actress, was nominated twice for a Tony Award and a Grammy Award, and once for an Emmy.

Robert Mills designed the first fireproof building in America, as well as the Washington Monument, US Post Office, and the US Treasury Building.

Darius Rucker is the lead singer and guitarist for Hootie and the Blowfish. This Grammy-winning contemporary band is from Columbia, SC.

Vanna White is best known for her role of hosting the Wheel of Fortune game show.

So how well do you know South Carolina? Which quiz was easiest? Which one was most interesting? Did you learn anything new?