Is it just us, or do you also think people who don’t live in South Carolina sometimes think we’re only about beaches and that mid-19th century battle that started here? Well, we’re about to offer up some facts to debunk those notions. Here are 11 reasons why South Carolina could be considered the most underrated state in the country. There’s definitely more to the Palmetto State than JUST beaches and history…

  1. Sweet Tea

Flickr/Brianna Lehman Summerville, SC is the birthplace of Sweet Tea. Thank you, Mother Summerville…

  1. Spanish Moss

Flickr/grahamvphoto Ok, so it’s possible you might find spanish moss on our beaches or at our Civil War sites. But that doesn’t make it part of that stereotype.

  1. Gators

Flickr/Tony Crescibene The mountains in North Carolina may be overrun by bears, but we have our own nuisance creatures. Don’t underrate the value of being aware of alligators in South Carolina. Check out who’s ringing the doorbell in this video taken last week in Moncks Corner.

  1. Grits

Flickr/Selena N. B. H. Yes, grits. And not just because we make ’em better than any other state. (Well THAT too…) But St. George, South Carolina happens to be the World Grits Capital, according to Quaker Oats. Folks in St. George purchase more grits per capita than any other place in the world.

  1. Shrimp & Grits

Flickr/protoflux While we’re on the subject of GRITS…no one makes Shrimp & Grits as tasty as we do in South Carolina.

  1. The Shag

Flickr/North Charleston Boy, do we love to dance! And not just any dance; we learn to shag from almost the time we start walking.

  1. Sunrise

Flickr/Nancy Anne L. Merolle “Who can take a sunrise and sprinkle it with dew?” Some might say it’s the Candy Man, but we say South Carolina can. We have the most beautiful sunrises in the country.

  1. The Water

Flickr/David Pitts What? There must be something in the water, right? How else can we explain this gorgeous majestic tree on Johns Island that is likely the oldest living Oak Tree east of the Mississippi? And it’s right here in South Carolina.

  1. Rivalry and PRIDE

Flickr/Richland Library Ok, so rivalry and pride could also be associated with the Civil War, but we think the rest of America might sometimes overlook the other PRIDE we have in the Palmetto State. Like dedication to our alma maters. Take this photo of the annual Clemson/USC matchup from 1942. We’ll bet if you went to one of those schools you’re either cringing or cheering over this two-on-one takedown right now.

  1. BBQ

Facebook/Smokin’ Pig Hands down, South Carolina serves up the best BBQ in U.S. (P.S., if you’re from North Carolina, well, bless your heart.)

  1. The heat

Flickr/jeffreyw In South Carolina, when we say turn up the heat we’re usually talking about adding hot sauce or hot peppers to our food. Especially if we say it anytime between April and November. (No way is the thermostat going up in my house in those months.)

What are some reasons you think South Carolina is the most underrated state in the US? We’d love to hear them over in our comments on Facebook.

Flickr/Brianna Lehman

Summerville, SC is the birthplace of Sweet Tea. Thank you, Mother Summerville…

Flickr/grahamvphoto

Ok, so it’s possible you might find spanish moss on our beaches or at our Civil War sites. But that doesn’t make it part of that stereotype.

Flickr/Tony Crescibene

The mountains in North Carolina may be overrun by bears, but we have our own nuisance creatures. Don’t underrate the value of being aware of alligators in South Carolina. Check out who’s ringing the doorbell in this video taken last week in Moncks Corner.

Flickr/Selena N. B. H.

Yes, grits. And not just because we make ’em better than any other state. (Well THAT too…) But St. George, South Carolina happens to be the World Grits Capital, according to Quaker Oats. Folks in St. George purchase more grits per capita than any other place in the world.

Flickr/protoflux

While we’re on the subject of GRITS…no one makes Shrimp & Grits as tasty as we do in South Carolina.

Flickr/North Charleston

Boy, do we love to dance! And not just any dance; we learn to shag from almost the time we start walking.

Flickr/Nancy Anne L. Merolle

“Who can take a sunrise and sprinkle it with dew?” Some might say it’s the Candy Man, but we say South Carolina can. We have the most beautiful sunrises in the country.

Flickr/David Pitts

What? There must be something in the water, right? How else can we explain this gorgeous majestic tree on Johns Island that is likely the oldest living Oak Tree east of the Mississippi? And it’s right here in South Carolina.

Flickr/Richland Library

Ok, so rivalry and pride could also be associated with the Civil War, but we think the rest of America might sometimes overlook the other PRIDE we have in the Palmetto State. Like dedication to our alma maters. Take this photo of the annual Clemson/USC matchup from 1942. We’ll bet if you went to one of those schools you’re either cringing or cheering over this two-on-one takedown right now.

Facebook/Smokin’ Pig

Hands down, South Carolina serves up the best BBQ in U.S. (P.S., if you’re from North Carolina, well, bless your heart.)

Flickr/jeffreyw

In South Carolina, when we say turn up the heat we’re usually talking about adding hot sauce or hot peppers to our food. Especially if we say it anytime between April and November. (No way is the thermostat going up in my house in those months.)

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.