Page 1 →1 Location
South Carolina is a small state, ranking fortieth among the fifty states in total area. It is situated in the southeastern United States and covers about 32,000 square miles. Today, travelers can cross the state in a few hours’ time. Its north–south distance is about 225 miles and its east-west distance is about 285 miles. The state lies between 35°15’ and 32°00’ north latitude and 78°30’ and 83°30’ west longitude.
The state is often divided into three general regions: the Upstate, the Midlands, and the Lowcountry. The Upstate was called the Back Country during the Colonial period and now consists of the Blue Ridge and Piedmont landform regions. The Midlands is a newer term, used since the 1950s, that encompasses the area surrounding Columbia in central South Carolina. The Lowcountry refers to the Coastal Plain. There is no specific or generally agreed upon boundary that separates the regions.
South Carolina’s size has been reduced over time since its original English charters. Eight Lords Proprietors received a grant in 1665 to the land between 29°00’ and 36°30’ north latitude that was situated between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The size of the colony was reduced when it was divided into northern and southern provinces in 1729 and the colony of Georgia was created in 1732.
Page 2 →Counties and County Seats
Politically, the state is subdivided into forty-six counties. Other political divisions have been used over the state’s history. These included parishes and districts. The present county structure has existed since 1919, the last year a new county—Allendale—was created. When county boundaries are disputed, occasionally minor changes are made, like between Berkeley and Dorchester counties in 2018. The center of government for each county is called the county seat. The county seat is often the largest city or town and is typically located near the middle of the county, but not all counties follow these rules. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County and has been the state’s capital city since 1786.
Robert Mills, one of the nation’s early architects, designed at least eighteen county courthouses in South Carolina. His architectural style created a familiar look among many county seats. His county courthouse in Winnsboro is shown here. Mills is best known for designing the Washington Monument in Washington, DC.