Population:

24th largest U.S. State by population, with 4,561,242 people (2009 estimate).
40th largest state in the country by area, at 32,020 square miles.

Largest city: Columbia

Median income:$44,625 (2008 estimate)

Climate:
Yearly rainfall: 51.6 inches per year
Yearly snowfall: 2 inches per year in Columbus
Temperatures (High/Low) in capital city of Columbus:
January, 55/34; July, 92/72

Foreclosures:
Foreclosure activity for 2009 increased in South Carolina over the prior year. There was a total of 25,163 properties with filings. That works out to a rate of one filing for every 80 households, which compares to the United States average of 45, and is a little more than one percent of the state’s housing units.

Those figures represent a 67 percent increase over 2008 and a 492 percent increase over 2007.

In 2008 there were about 80,300 existing homes (including condos, co-ops, and single-family homes but excluding new homes) sold in South Carolina, compared to about 105,000 sold in 2007.

Economy:
During the 2008 recession, South Carolina job losses were among the highest in the country. South Carolina's manufacturing and agricultural industries have long been intertwined, with the state specializing both in cotton and textiles, and lumber and paper. The state's strong agricultural sector also produces rice, tobacco, soybeans, hogs, livestock, pecans and peaches, among others. Its manufacturing sector produces cars, machinery and chemicals. Tourism is also amongst South Carolina's biggest industries.

Noteworthy:
South Carolina is home to many major antebellum historical sites including historic Charleston and Fort Sumter.