List of South Carolina state symbols

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Location of South Carolina in the United States of America

The

bumperstickers
and is often adapted throughout the state to show support for collegiate teams or interest in particular sports activities.

Symbols of sovereignty

The state has several symbols that represent its

Lord Halifax, a former British ambassador to the United States, and has been in use since 1951. The original sword of state was obtained in 1704 and used by the governor of the South Carolina Colony. The state flag originated to represent the militia that fought for independence in 1776. The Seal of South Carolina
was adopted in 1776. The seals of the Senate and House incorporate the sword of state and the mace respectively.

List of state symbols

State symbols (year adopted):[1][2][3]

  • State amphibian: spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) – The spotted salamander is the only amphibian indigenous to the whole state and was nominated by a third grade class from Woodlands Heights Elementary School, Spartanburg, as the state amphibian. (1999)
  • State animal: white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) – Every county in South Carolina features an open season on deer. (1972)
  • State beverages
    • State beverage: milk – Milk was selected as the official beverage of the state because of its dietary value and since dairy farms are found in 39 of 46 counties. The dairy industry in South Carolina generates $200 million in economic activity.[4] (1984)
    • State hospitality beverage: tea (Camellia sinensis) – The first place that tea was grown in the United States was in South Carolina in 1799. It continues to be grown at the Charleston Tea Garden on Wadmalaw Island.
  • State birds
    • State bird: Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) – The mockingbird was designated the state bird from 1939 until 1948, when the wren received the designation. The wren was chosen as the state bird because its song can be heard all year long. (1948)
    • State wild game bird: wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) – Hunted during a spring season, wild turkeys are found throughout the state. (1976)
    • State duck: wood duck (Aix sponsa) – The wood duck is also known as the summer duck and the Carolina duck. (2009)
  • eastern tiger swallowtail
    (Papilio glaucus) – English artist Mark Catesby painted the first picture of this butterfly in South Carolina in 1725. (1994)
  • State color: indigo blue – The color indigo blue comes from the uniforms of the 2nd South Carolina Regiment, led by Colonel William Moultrie. The state flag is indigo blue in remembrance of this regiment and the palmetto tree on the flag recalls their successful defense of Charleston using a fort built of palmetto logs. (2008)[5]
  • State craft: sweetgrass basket weaving – Sweetgrass (Muhlenbergia sericea), being native to the coastal dunes of the Carolinas, provided the perfect material for African slaves to utilize their traditional skills and produce a tightly-woven coiled basket. This handcraft has been passed down through generations and a high concentration of basket weavers is still found near Mount Pleasant. To this day, the form of the sweetgrass baskets woven in South Carolina closely resemble their African counterparts.[6]
  • State dances
Boykin Spaniel, state dog
  • State dog: Boykin Spaniel – The Boykin Spaniel was first bred in South Carolina near Camden, SC. It is a small dog with an often brown, curly coat and golden eyes. It was bred primarily for waterfowl hunting. The breed's popularity outside of the state is rising. The dog is known for its jovial personality and energy. It is also known as the "swamp poodle" and "the little brown dog."
  • State grass: Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) – The General Assembly wrote that Indian grass is "a native, nonnoxious plant, with a historical, continuing, widespread, and beneficial existence in South Carolina."[8] (2001)
  • State fish: striped bass or rockfish (Morone saxatilis) – Thirty to forty pound striped bass can be caught in the Santee Cooper lakes, making bass fishing a popular pastime. (1972)
  • State flowers
    • State flower:
      yellow jessamine
      (Gelsemium sempervirens) – The return of yellow jessamine each spring is thought to suggest the lesson of "constancy in, loyalty to and patriotism in the service of the State." It is very common and seen throughout the state.
    • State wildflower: goldenrod (Solidago altissima) – With a long bloom time and long lasting flowers, goldenrod was selected as the "official state wildflower".
  • State fossil: Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi)[9] (2014)
  • State fruit: peach (Prunus persica) – South Carolina is the second largest producer of peaches, behind California and ahead of Georgia (the Peach State).[10] (1984)
  • State gemstone: amethyst – South Carolina is one of a few U.S. states where good quality amethyst gems can be found. (1969)
  • State heritage horse: Carolina Marsh Tacky – "The Marsh Tacky, a rare colonial Spanish horse breed unique to South Carolina, has played a significant role in South Carolina's history. After abandonment by the Spanish on the South Carolina Sea Islands and along the South Carolina coast some five hundred years ago, the Marsh Tacky survived on its own and developed into a unique strain of colonial Spanish horse."[11] (2010)
  • State heritage work animal: mule (2010)
  • Carolina mantid
    (Stagmomantis carolina) – One reason that the Carolina mantid was selected as the state insect is for its use in agriculture in managing harmful insects. (1988)
  • State marine mammal: bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) – Both the state marine mammal and state migratory marine mammal were designated by Act Number 58 of 2009 (2009)
    • State migratory marine mammal: northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) – The right whale can be found off the South Carolina coast during the breeding and calving season. (2009)
  • State mottos
    :
    • Dum spiro spero (While I breathe, I hope) – It appears on one of the state's license plates.
    • Animis opibusque parati (Ready in soul and resource) – Both state mottos are shown on the state seal which depicts the defeat of the British on Sullivan's Island
      in 1776. (1777)
  • State music:
    St. Helena Island
    during the Civil War. (1999)
  • State pecan festival: The South Carolina Pecan Festival in Florence County. (2011)
  • State popular music: beach music – Beach music is closely associated with the state dance, the shag, and is also considered to have originated in Myrtle Beach. (2001)
  • State reptile: loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) – The loggerhead is a threatened species that nests on the shores of South Carolina. (1988)
  • State shell: lettered olive (Oliva sayana) – The lettered olive was found and named by a South Carolinian, Dr. Edmund Ravenel of Charleston. (1984)
Boiled peanuts, state snack

List of state holidays and observances

Holidays for South Carolina (when state government offices are closed) include[14]

South Carolina observes numerous special days and weeks throughout the year.[15]

List of additional state designations

Camden Military Academy, state military academy
  • The pledge to the flag of South Carolina is "I salute the flag of South Carolina and pledge to the Palmetto State love, loyalty and faith."
  • The South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson University is designated the state botanical garden.
  • The South Carolina Tobacco Museum[16] in Mullins is the official tobacco museum.
  • The South Carolina Railroad Museum
    railroad
    museum.
  • Camden Military Academy is designated as the official military academy.
  • The South Carolina Hall of Fame
    hall of fame
    .
  • The South Carolina Artisans Center,[19] in Walterboro, is the official folk art and crafts center of the state of South Carolina.
  • In 2001, the Abbeville Opera House received the designation of the official state rural drama theater.

See also

  • Index of South Carolina-related articles
  • Lists of United States state insignia
  • State of South Carolina

References

  1. ^ a b South Carolina General Assembly (2007). Charles F. Reid (ed.). 2007 South Carolina Legislative Manual (88th ed.). Columbia, South Carolina: South Carolina General Assembly.
  2. ^ "South Carolina Code of Laws, State Emblems, Pledge to the Flag, Official Observances". South Carolina General Assembly. Archived from the original on 2007-06-30. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
  3. ^ "SC Statehouse Student's web page, State Symbols and Emblems". South Carolina General Assembly. Archived from the original on 2007-06-22. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
  4. ^ "Virtual Farm Tour – Milk Production". South Carolina Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
  5. ^ "Act 200 of 117 Session of the General Assembly of South Carolina". South Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  6. ^ Dufault, Robert J.; Mary Jackson; Stephen K. Salvo. "Sweetgrass: History, Basketry, and Constraints to Industry Growth". Retrieved 2007-07-17.
  7. ^ "South Carolina State House | South Carolina State Symbols". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  8. ^ "South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 1-1-677". South Carolina General Assembly. Archived from the original on 2007-06-30. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
  9. ^ "2013-2014 Bill 4482 Text of Previous Version (May. 13, 2014)". scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Virtual Farm Tour – Peaches". South Carolina Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
  11. ^ "Act 240, 2009-2010 Session, South Carolina".
  12. ^ S.C. Code Ann. § 1-1-682
  13. ^ "Act 38, 2011-2012 Session, South Carolina".
  14. ^ "South Carolina Code of Laws, Legal Holidays". South Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
  15. ^ "South Carolina Code of Laws, Special Days". South Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
  16. ^ "South Carolina Home Page". mullinssc.us. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  17. ^ "SCRMWelcome". scrm.org. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  18. ^ "The Official South Carolina Hall of Fame". theofficialschalloffame.com. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  19. ^ ShinRa. "- お肌と毛処理とアレルギー". southcarolinaartisanscenter.org. Retrieved 23 June 2015.

External links