South Carolina QuickInfo Est. Pop.: 4,013,577 Capital: Columbia Statehood: 1788 Nickname: Palmetto State Motto: Animis Opibusque Parati and Dum Spiro Spero Official Website Census Info Fun SC Factoid The walls of the American fort on Sullivan Island, in Charleston Harbor, were made of spongy Palmetto logs. This was helpful in protecting the fort because the British cannonballs bounced off the logs.