The People

Most persons in South Carolina are descended from families that have been in the state since colonial times. Many families, both white and black, have lived on the same land for generations. Most whites are of English descent, but there are also many of German, Scottish, Irish, and French ancestry. There was no significant influx to South Carolina during the period of heavy immigration from Europe to the United States in the late 19th and the early 20th century. South Carolina's small Indian population consists of Catawbas, Lumbees (or Croatans), Red Legs (Red Bones), and Brass Ankles.

Numerous early settlers were dissenters from the Church of England, and today Baptists and Methodists are the largest denominations. South Carolina has one of the highest percentages of church membership in the nation.

Annual events in South Carolina
January-June
Lowcountry Oyster Festival in Charleston (February); Garden Tours, statewide (February-May); Aiken Triple Crown in Aiken (March); Canadian-American Days in Myrtle Beach (March); Plantation Tours, statewide (March-May); Carolina Cup in Camden (March); Verizon Heritage in Hilton Head (April); Governor's Frog Jump Festival in Springfield (Saturday before Easter); Family Circle Cup in Charleston (April); Carolina Dodge Dealers 500 in Darlington (May); Bravo Arts Festival in Hilton Head (May); Gullah Festival in Beaufort (May); Pontiacs Freedom Weekend Aloft in Anderson (May); Spoleto Festival U.S.A. in Charleston (May-June); Sun-Fun Festival in Myrtle Beach (June).
July-December
Pageland Watermelon Festival in Pageland (July); Jubilee Festival of Heritage in Columbia (August); Aiken's Makin' in Aiken (September); Scottish Games and Highland Gathering in Mount Pleasant (September); Come Horse Around Festival in Camden (September); Beaufort Shrimp Festival in Beaufort (October); State Fair in Columbia (October); Colonial Cup in Camden (November); Chitlin Strut in Salley (November); Colonial Christmas in Camden (December).