The state of South Carolina gained popularity for filming notable Hollywood movies. Some of South Carolina’s movie collections are: “The Notebook,” “Forrest Gump,” “The Patriot,” and “Sleeping with the Enemy,” among others.
The state is also home to many famous celebrities, such as Bill Murray, who co-owns a local minor league baseball team, “The River Dogs,” “Darius Rucker, Stephen Colbert, and Reese Witherspoon.
South Carolina Facts Trivia Question and Answers
The Sabal Palmetto tree is the official state tree symbol of South Carolina. The cabbage palmetto is displayed proudly on the state flag. In the ancient Revolutionary War, Palmetto trees were used to manufacture hats, flooring, and hammocks.
Fort Moultrie was also built out of palmetto logs mounted on sand walls. The Palmetto’s spongy consistency hugely helped the fort repel cannon attacks. The cannonballs fired by the British bounced off the spongy palmetto walls.
Below are South Carolina’s trivia questions to jog your mind.
1. South Carolina is sometimes affected by tropical cyclones which is of concern during what season?
2. South Carolina is bordered to the north by what state?
3. How many days of thunderstorms does South Carolina usually average per annum?
4. What body of water forms the eastern border of South Carolina?
5. How many tornadoes does South Carolina experience per year on average?
6. South Carolina was the first state to ratify what document?
7. Slaves imported from rice-growing regions of Africa created the dams and canals used to irrigate South Carolina what?
8. What is the state fruit of South Carolina?
9. The cultivation and processing of a blue flowering plant, Indigo, became an important commodity crop for what?
10. South Carolina later became the first state to vote to do what?
11. What type of labor was necessary for the economic success of the rice and indigo crops in South Carolina?
12. On what date was South Carolina readmitted to the Union?
13. After 1708, what group of people made up the majority of the population of South Carolina?
14. How many counties does South Carolina have?
15. What city is the capital of South Carolina?
16. South Carolina was the 8th state to ratify what, on May 23, 1788?
17. What is South Carolina’s highest point?
18. The American Revolution disrupted slavery in the South, and thousands of slaves fled to British authorities to obtain what?
19. On the border between South Carolina and Georgia, lies the Chattooga River which is a favorite destination for what activity?
20. Many of the slaves that escaped during the Revolutionary war left with who in the last days of the war?
21. Earthquakes do happen in South Carolina, which averages 10–15 earthquakes a year below what magnitude?
22. By 1800, South Carolina had the largest population of what type of people in the country?
23. What was the name of the largest earthquake to hit the Southeastern United States?
24. In 1856, what Democrat South Carolina congressman, in the United States Senate chamber beat Republican Senator Charles Sumner with his metal-tipped cane?
25. The Charleston Earthquake of 1886 had a 7.2 magnitude and killed how many people?
26. What began on April 12, 1861, when the Confederate batteries began shelling Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor?
27. What is the highest ever recorded temperature in South Carolina?
28. The South Carolina troops suffered how many military deaths during the Civil War, almost one-third of the white male population of fighting age?
29. The College of Charleston, founded in 1770 is the oldest institution of higher learning in South Carolina and the first in the country?
30. Where did South Carolina rank in the rate of women who were killed by men?
31. Furman University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian, liberal arts university in Greenville and is the largest in South Carolina?
32. South Carolina became the last US state to remove its flag from its statehouse?
33. Where is South Carolina ranked for overall health care compared with the other US States?
34. In 2014, how was South Carolina rated in terms of public cleanliness?
35. South Carolina is the only state in the union that has mandatory videotaping by the arresting officer of any what?
36. According to the Census Bureau the population of South Carolina on July 1, 2012, was how many people?
37. South Carolina ranks where in fresh peach production in the US?
38. How many passenger routes in South Carolina does Amtrak operate?
39. Since 1860’s South Carolina, how many varieties of peaches?
40. By passenger volume, the busiest airport in South Carolina is what?
41. What was born in South Carolina?
42. Name any invention coming from South Carolina?
43. What is South Carolina’s staple dish?
44. What is the state flower of South Carolina?
45. What is the state animal?
46. What is the state amphibian?
47. What is the state crop?
48. What is the state fish?
49. What is the state tree?
50. What is the state mammal?
51. What is the state reptile?
52. What is the state vegetable?
53. What is the state insect?
54. What is the state nickname?
55. What is the state bird?
56. What is the state motto?
57. What is the Source of the Edisto River?
58. What is the state fossil?
59. Where is South Carolina’s highest point?
60. What is the Longest River in South Carolina?
61. What is the state gemstone?
62. Which tree appears on South Carolina’s flag?
63. Who led a slave revolt in Charleston in 1822?
64. When was the Battle of Kings Mountain?
65. Who was South Carolina’s governor in 1890-1894?
66. Where did Daniel Morgan defeat Banastre Tarleton on 17 January 1781?
67. Who issued the charter to establish the colony of Carolina?
68. Which year did North Carolina and South Carolina become separate royal colonies?
69. In what city would you find the landmark called The Giant Peach?
70. In what county would you find the truck-stop tourist attraction South of the Border?
71. Who was the long-seated US senator from South Carolina?
72. Well-known and long-seated U.S Senator Strom Thurmond was from what South Carolina county?
73. What year did Hurricane Hugo hit the coast of South Carolina?
74. Which one of these swamps would I be able to visit while on vacation in South Carolina?
75. One of the most popular beaches to visit in South Carolina is?
76. Which ship, which sits in the harbor at Mount Pleasant, South Carolina is said to be one of the most haunted locations in the state?
77. If NASCAR is your cup of tea, which race tracks can you visit while in South Carolina?
78. The beautiful Lake Wylie is called a ‘reservoir’ which indicates what?
79. One of the most popular tourist attractions in South Carolina is known as the Atalaya Castle, which was originally built as?
80. What is the South Carolina State Butterfly?
81. What breed has been named the South Carolina State Dog?
82. The Carolina wolf spider is the South Carolina State Spider. True or false?
83. To get from the port city of Charleston to the fun and sun of Myrtle Beach, what US highway would the weary traveler take?
84. The Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, which runs from Gaffney to Walhalla, bears what state highway (SC) number?
85. Exit 116, where US 15 crosses I-20 south of Bishopville, is named for what famed athlete?
86. A portion of I-77 in Columbia is named for which space shuttle-era astronaut?
87. Conway Bypass, which carries traffic around the seat of Horry County to North Myrtle Beach, bears what state highway number?
88. The southern terminus of SC 381 is in the community of Blenheim, at SC 38, in Marlboro County. What foodstuff is Blenheim famous for?
89. Aviation Parkway, the road that connects Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport to I-85, bears what highway number?
90. Although it is possible to get from Greenville to Clemson by interstate, what US highway provides a more direct route between the two cities?
91. The beltway that forms a half-circle around Charleston is named for which US Army general?
92. In spite of earthquakes and fires, Charleston has a smorgasbord of fine antebellum architecture. Born in 1781, Robert Mills, a native son of Charleston, was the first professionally trained architect in the United States. One of his best-known works is this structure in Washington, D.C. Which is it?
93. Another “first” for Charleston was the first shot fired of “The War Between the States”. During the War, the Confederacy managed to hold onto the fort until 1865, but it was reduced to rubble by the end of the war.
94. Since 1977, the Spoleto festival has been an integral part of the cultural life of Charleston. This arts festival is the companion to the Festival dei Due Mondi, in the town of Spoleto. In which European country would you find Spoleto?
95. Speaking of great forts, Ft. Moultrie served the defense of the U.S. coast for 171 years. The fort has been rebuilt three times, the last time in 1809. It was here that the first decisive victory of the American Revolution was won. It was also from here that shots were fired upon Ft. Sumter in 1861. When it was built in 1776 to fight the British, what were the primary construction materials used?
96. One of the many “firsts” that can be found in Charleston is the Dock Street Theater, which was the first building in the United States built specifically for theatrical performances. Opening night was February 12, 1736, with the play “The Recruiting Officer”. Other notable productions have taken place there, one of which was the play “Porgy and Bess”, written by the noted Charlestonian, Dubose Heyward. Who wrote the musical version of “Porgy and Bess”?
97. The gardens in Charleston are amongst the finest to be found anywhere. Which of these is NOT a noted Charleston Garden?
98. Naturally, Charleston has a fine airport to welcome her guests. Charleston is not a stranger to fine transportation, having offered the first scheduled passenger train service in the U.S. The “Best Friend of Charleston”, debuted in 1830, on Christmas Day. Sadly, it was destroyed by the carelessness of the fireman on board a few months later. Most of the “Best Friend” was salvaged and made into the aptly named “Phoenix”, another train. What do you suppose happened to the leftover scrap?
99. Spanish moss hanging from live oaks is a familiar sight in coastal South Carolina. It isn’t moss and isn’t from Spain. Oddly, it is closely related to what plant?
100. Another great “first” was the first planting of which crop in America? Uncle Ben would be so proud!
101. St. Philip’s Episcopal church, established in 1680, continues to be a house of worship to many Charlestonians, even though its first location was where St. Michael’s is today. St. Michael’s was built to handle the overflow from St. Philip’s. Of course a church operating that long has had quite an opportunity to intern famous people both inside the church as well as in the adjacent cemeteries. Which of these famous South Carolinians is NOT buried on the St. Philip’s grounds?
102. Early Charlestonians were all about creating clubs. In fact, the South Carolina Jockey Club was the first of its kind in the United States. Other interesting early clubs of Charleston included the Ugly Club, the Sons of Erin, the Golf Club, the Hibernian Society, and the KolfBaan club. Of note was the “Three Paces Club”. What do you suppose it was about?
103. At the Battle of Sullivan’s Island in June 1776, SC patriots fought from Ft. Moultrie rebuffed the British in their attempt to take Charleston. Palmetto trees, used to build the fort, gave what unique additional protection?
104. Many of SC’s geographical features have unique names, frequently mispronounced by folks from “away”. Winyah Bay, the Pee Dee, Santee, Ashepoo, Waccamaw Rivers and Edisto and Kiawah Islands are just a few examples. What is the commonality?
105. What is the climate of South Carolina?
106. Which governor of South Carolina was elected twice?
107. What is on the state flag of South Carolina?
108. Which African-American leader was from South Carolina?
109. What is the name of the Performing Arts Center in downtown Greenville?
110. Where is Greenville, SC located?
111. Spartanburg, South Carolina, is home to what major automobile plant?
112. If you wanted to do some heavy shopping in Greenville, SC what mall would probably be recommended to you?
113. What is the name of the river that flows through the heart of downtown Greenville?
114. What are the two main community theaters in Greenville?
115. Which is one of the main hospitals in Greenville?
116. What is the state stone?
117. What is the state game bird?
118. What is the state soil?
119. Which is the largest city in South Carolina?