Founding of the South Carolina Colony
When was the colony of South Carolina founded? The South Carolina Colony was founded in 1633 by eight English nobles with a Royal Charter from King Charles II - refer to Lords Proprietors and theCharter of Carolina. North and South Carolina were one colony until 1729.

The Naming of the South Carolina Colony
Meaning of State name: Carolina is derived from the Latin name Carolus, translated as "Charles." The state was named in honor Charles IX of France and then King Charles I and Charles II of England.

South Carolina Colony - The Carolinas
During the 1660's the Proprietors of the vast colony and land named Carolina realized that it was not possible for one governor and one assembly to manage a colony as big as Carolina. The major settlements in the Carolinas were Cape Fear, Charles Town and Albemarle were miles apart and travelling between the settlements was time consuming and difficult. In 1691, the Colonial Proprietors of Carolina appointed a governor for the whole of Carolina and a deputy governor for the North of the colony. In 1712, North Carolina and South Carolina were officially divided.

Information and Facts - South Carolina Colony Fact File
Fast facts and interesting information about the founding, establishment, geography, climate, religion, history, natural resources, raw material, industries (refer to Colonial Times) and the famous historical people associated with the South Carolina Colony of Colonial America. Information and facts at a glance about the South Carolina Colony via this fast fact file.

Year Founded: 1663 by English colonists

Major Towns / Cities: Charleston

Climate: The Southern colonies were the warmest of the three regions, winters not difficult to survive, but the hot and humid summers gave rise to the spread of disease. The warm climate made it possible to grow crops throughout the year and was ideally suited for plantations

Religion: Not dominated by a specific religion which gave way to religious freedom for Baptists, Anglicans and others. Refer to Religion in the Colonies

Natural Resources: Fish, forests (timber) and good agricultural land. Farming and Plantations were important. Exported agricultural products to other colonies

Economics and Trade: Concentrated on agriculture and developed the plantations exporting tobacco, cotton, corn, vegetables, grain, fruit and livestock

Government: By 1775 North Carolina was governed as a Royal Colony.
Original Name: The original name of the colony was the Province of South Carolina, later South Carolina

The Southern Colonies had the largest slave population who worked on the plantations. Plantations grew cotton, tobacco, rice, sugar, indigo (a purple dye), and other crops

Some of the plantations were massive and consisted of the main house, slave quarters, a dairy, blacksmith's shop, laundry, smokehouse and barns which made the plantations to large degree, self-sufficient

Crops were traded for items that could not be produced on the plantations including shoes, lace, thread, farm tools and dishes

In 1712 South Carolina becomes a separate Colony