South Carolina 2019
According to Countryaah.com, the largest city in South Carolina is Columbia, which has a population of 133,451. It is also the capital of the state and is located in the center of South Carolina. Columbia is home to a number of universities and colleges, including University of South Carolina, Benedict College, and Columbia College. The city also features several museums, parks, and historical sites such as the South Carolina State House.
The second largest city in South Carolina is Charleston. Located on the Atlantic coast, this bustling city has a population of 134,385. It was founded in 1670 and was one of the first cities to be established in America. It is known for its cobblestone streets and historic architecture as well as being a major port city for both imports and exports. Charleston is also home to many attractions such as Fort Sumter National Monument and Magnolia Plantation & Gardens.
Politics of South Carolina in 2019
In 2019, South Carolina politics were characterized by a Republican majority in both houses of the state legislature and a Republican governor. This political landscape was bolstered by the fact that South Carolina has been a reliably red state since 1980, with voters consistently favoring Republican candidates in presidential elections.
The 2018 mid-term elections saw Republicans maintain their majority in the state legislature, with Republicans holding a 25-18 lead in the State Senate and a 77-48 lead in the House of Representatives. The Governor’s office was also held by Republican Henry McMaster who had been re-elected for his second term.
Throughout 2019, the Republican majority Legislature passed several bills that sought to reduce government regulation and lower taxes. These measures included legislation that cut taxes on small businesses, eliminated certain occupational licensing requirements, and lowered income tax rates for individuals earning over $100,000 per year.
The Governor also signed several bills into law during this time period including one that allowed South Carolinians to carry concealed weapons without a permit as well as another that banned abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
At the same time, Democrats attempted to push back against this conservative agenda by introducing bills such as one that would have raised South Carolina’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $10 per hour. Although these bills failed to pass due to lack of support from Republicans, Democrats were able to score some victories such as passing legislation that expanded Medicaid access for low-income citizens and increased funding for public schools.
Overall, 2019 saw South Carolina politics remain firmly under conservative control while Democrats attempted to advance their own agenda unsuccessfully due to lack of support from Republicans.
Population of South Carolina in 2019
According to allunitconverters, as of 2019, South Carolina had a population of 5.14 million people. The population is diverse, with the majority being White (67.3%), followed by African Americans (27.6%), Hispanics and Latinos (5.3%), and Asians (2%). Other ethnicities such as Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and those of two or more races make up the remaining 0.8%. The median age in South Carolina is 39 years old, with 24% of the population under 18 years old and 13% over 65 years old. Women make up 51% of the population while men make up 49%. In terms of educational attainment, 30% have a high school diploma or less, 22% have some college education but no degree, 17% have an associate’s degree or some college credit, 25% have a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education, and 6% are not high school graduates. See liuxers for school codes in South Carolina. In terms of income levels in South Carolina, the median household income is $50,570 which is slightly higher than the national average of $50,321. However, there are still large disparities in income between different groups. For example, African Americans earn an average annual household income that is only 60 percent that of whites in South Carolina. Additionally, poverty rates are higher among racial minority groups than among white residents in South Carolina; 19 percent of African Americans live below the poverty line compared to 11 percent for whites.
Economy of South Carolina in 2019
The economy of South Carolina in 2019 is largely driven by agriculture, manufacturing, and the service sector. Agriculture is the largest sector of the state’s economy with crops such as soybeans, cotton, tobacco, and peanuts being major commodities. In terms of manufacturing, South Carolina is home to some of the largest tire makers in the world and also has a strong presence in automotive production. The service sector makes up about half of the state’s economy and includes tourism, finance, healthcare, information technology services, and logistics.
In terms of employment rate in South Carolina in 2019, it was 4.8 percent which was slightly below the national average of 3.7 percent. The largest employers in South Carolina are BMW Manufacturing Co., Michelin North America Inc., Boeing Co., Amazon Fulfillment Services LLC., and Volvo Car USA LLC. Additionally, there are several higher education institutions that also employ a significant number of people such as University of South Carolina System (USC), Clemson University System (CU), Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), College of Charleston (COFC), Furman University (FU).
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for South Carolina in 2019 was estimated at $233 billion with a growth rate of 2.6 percent compared to 1.9 percent for the nation as a whole. The GDP per capita for 2019 was $45,195 which is slightly lower than the national average ($60,378). Furthermore, median household income for South Carolina residents was estimated at $50,570 which is slightly lower than the national average ($61,937).
Overall, economic conditions for South Carolina have improved since 2008 with unemployment rates dropping from 10 percent to 4.8 percent in 2019 along with an increase in GDP per capita from $40k to nearly $45k during that same time period. Despite these improvements there remain large disparities between different groups living within the state; African Americans have an unemployment rate twice that of whites while poverty rates amongst African Americans are nearly twice that of whites living within South Carolina.
Events Held in South Carolina in 2019
2019 was an exciting year for events in South Carolina. From music festivals to sporting events, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
The biggest event of the year was the South Carolina State Fair. Held in Columbia from October 9-20, 2019, the fair featured a variety of activities such as carnival rides and games, live music and entertainment, a petting zoo, and agricultural displays. Attendees could also enjoy dozens of food vendors offering everything from classic fair food to gourmet cuisine.
The Charleston Wine + Food Festival took place from March 6-10, 2019 and showcased the region’s culinary delights. The festival featured a variety of events such as cooking demonstrations by top chefs, wine tastings, and educational seminars on topics like wine pairing and food history. Attendees could also explore Charleston’s vibrant restaurant scene with special dinners at some of the city’s most popular eateries.
For sports fans, the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament was held in South Carolina with games taking place at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia and Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville from March 21-24. The tournament saw some exciting matchups between top teams from around the country including Duke University taking on North Dakota State University in a thrilling first round game that ended with Duke advancing to the next round after making a buzzer beater shot at the end of regulation time.
Music lovers were treated to several festivals throughout 2019 including Awendaw Green’s Barn Jam Series which ran every Wednesday evening from May through August featuring local bluegrass bands performing live music under a large tent on Awendaw Green’s property outside Charleston city limits. Other popular music festivals included Park Circle Music Festival which took place April 6th featuring local acts such as Shovels & Rope and Susto alongside national acts like Deer Tick; and Beaufort Water Festival held July 12-21 with performances by Grammy award winning artists including Little Big Town and Charlie Wilson along with other regional acts across multiple genres such as rock, blues, folk, country, hip hop and more.
Finally, there were numerous cultural events throughout 2019 celebrating South Carolina’s rich history including Spoleto Festival USA held May 24-June 9 featuring over 120 performances showcasing opera, theater productions, dance performances,and classical music concerts; Taste of Summerville held June 13-15 celebrating local vendors offering samples of their finest creations; Edisto Island Shrimp Festival held August 23-25 honoring one of South Carolina’s most beloved seafood dishes; Okra Strut celebrated October 5th in Irmo highlighting everything okra related including cooking contests; Swamp Fox Festivals showcasing Revolutionary War history November 2nd in Marion; and Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Celebration December 5th & 6th celebrating African American culture on Hilton Head Island among many others.
Overall, there were plenty of exciting events taking place throughout South Carolina during 2019 that provided something for everyone to enjoy no matter their interests or hobbies.
