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By Traci Magnus
When people think of South Carolina, images of shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, Palmetto trees and college football games usually come to mind. However, this great Southern state has a rich history with quite a few interesting facts that take some people by surprise. The most popular tourist destination in the state is the city of Charleston. If you’re planning on vacationing in Charleston, you’ll learn many interesting stories about how the city came to be, but the rest of the state has some truly unique claims to fame as well. Here are some of our favorite surprising facts about The Palmetto State.
South Carolina Produces More Peaches than Georgia
Contrary to popular belief, Georgia is not actually the largest producer of peaches in the Southeast. We may talk a lot about Georgia peaches (the state even has peaches on their license plates), but South Carolina actually has more peaches than its southern neighbor. California is still the top peach producer in the country, but South Carolina comes in second with a total of 10,400 tons gathered in 2017. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture even poked fun at the state of Georgia by tweeting this statistic along with the caption, “We know Georgia gets all the credit, but SC actually harvests three times more peaches than GA.” Take that, Georgia.
Charleston Is Home to One of the Oldest Trees in the Country
Just outside the city of Charleston resides one of the country’s oldest living trees—The Angel Oak. Located on the beautiful Johns Island, this live oak is estimated to be around 500 years old and counting. This is truly one of the most amazing sights to see while visiting Charleston. The limbs of the tree sprawl across more than 187 feet and stands at a height of 66.5 feet. There’s no cost for admission when you make the trip out to see the Angel Oak, and it’s well worth the short drive. The entire area seems to possess an almost mystical ambience around this unique and natural phenomenon.
Barbecue Was Born in South Carolina
This fact could be debated, but the way that we think of American barbecue, it definitely originated in the South. Although there are many theories about where the idea of smoking pig meat over an open fire began, many people believe that the Native Americans living in South Carolina showed colonists this delicious cooking technique.
The Legend of the Lizard Man
This is probably one of the most unusual state legends in South Carolina. The story of the lizard man originated more than 30 years ago in Bishopville, SC, when a young high school boy named Christopher Davis had his car break down near Scape Ore Swamp. According to his report to the county police, when Davis got out of his car to change hisflat tire, he was approached by a seven-foot-tall green, scaly man with three fingers and red eyes. The creature then proceeded to attack his car, leaving behind deep scratch marks. Since this first report of a life-sized lizard man in 1988, many others have come forward with similar stories about a humanoid creature destroying their vehicles or belongings.
The First to Secede
South Carolina played a major role in the Civil War. The city of Charleston is actually where the first shots of the war rang out as Citadel cadets opened fire on a Union ship entering the harbor to bring supplies to soldiers at Fort Sumter. Later in the war, Fort Sumter would become a major setting for several battles between Union and Confederate troops. Although much of the conflict itself took place in South Carolina, many people don’t realize that South Carolina was actually the first state to secede before the battles broke out. Over the next six months, ten more southern states decided to announce their secession as well, and the Confederate States of America was born–led by Jefferson Davis, the former Mississippi Senator.
South Carolina Has a Monkey Colony
The Lowcountry of South Carolina is full of beautiful barrier islands and marshland. Stretching from Berkley to Jasper county, the Lowcountry encompasses Charleston, Dorchester and Beaufort. Each of these areas shares similar landscape scenes and wildlife inhabitants, but one small barrier island off the coast of Beaufort has an unusual population of furry residents. On Morgan Island’s 2,000 acres of land roams a colony of more than 3,000 Rhesus monkeys. Although the island is inaccessible to humans, you can take a boat out near the colony and catch a glimpse of the monkeys from a distance. The island is so unique that it’s actually the only place in the country where this species of monkey roams freely.
Edgar Allen Poe Was Stationed at Fort Moultrie
One of the greatest American Romantic period writers who popularized both detective fiction and horror fiction, Edgar Allan Poe, actually spent some time in South Carolina. Poe is known for writing evocative, dark short stories, and one in particular, The Gold Bug, was inspired by his experience living in Charleston, South Carolina. The famous writer enlisted in the military and spent nearly a year being stationed at Fort Moultrie, though it seems that he tried to cover up some of the evidence that he had been enlisted. Today, people visiting Charleston can pay homage to Poe when you dine at Poe’s Tavern on Sullivan’s Island–complete with Edgar Allan Poe-Esque decorations and a menu packed with allusions to his work.
Uncover the Secrets of South Carolina
South Carolina is a unique state with a rich history. Whether you’re travelling to the South to visit Charleston or you’re headed to Clemson to catch a football game, there is so much to explore in the Palmetto State. During your trip, try exploring some of the state’s most unusual areas to learn even more interesting facts—and keep an eye out for the legendary lizard man. Don’t forget to grab a bite to eat in the state where the barbecue was born, and head out to the Angel Oak on Johns Island for a truly majestic experience. No matter where you go in South Carolina, you’re sure to have a one-of-a-kind experience.
This piece was prepared online byPanuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media
