Richland County lies in the South Carolina midlands. Its county seat, Columbia, also serves as the state capital.
The county was founded in 1785 within the Camden District, and its name most likely refers to the “rich land” of the county. In 1791, Richland County became smaller when land previously belonging to this county was added to Kershaw County.
During the Civil War, Sherman entered Richland County and occupied Columbia before setting it on fire.
Since its founding, Columbia has served as an economic hub for the state, especially in terms of trade and manufacturing. The county is home to Fort Jackson, Congaree National Park, and multiple lakes and rivers. Notable county residents include Senator Wade Hampton and President Woodrow Wilson.
SOURCES: About Richland County.
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The lower lobby offers an excellent example of the intricate craftsmanship of early South Carolina brickwork. To construct the multi-arched ceiling, which is made of red clay bricks, the builders and...
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The stone columns of the lower lobby, as well as all of the stone in the State House building, are blue granite, the state stone of South Carolina. Ninety percent of the blue granite used in the...
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The pink and white floors of the lower lobby are over 100 years old. The white marble, like that of the walls, is from Georgia. The pink marble is from Tennessee.
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A result of the State House renovations, a significant change to the lower lobby has been the addition of white Georgian marble to the walls.
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The unveiling of this African American History Monument on March 26, 2001, made South Carolina the first of the fifty states to have a monument dedicated to black history on the grounds of its state...
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The inscription reads: “Captain Swanson Lunsford, a native of Va., and for many years a resident of Columbia. Died August 7, 1799 . . . Aged about 40 years. He was a member of Lee’s Legion in the...
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This city of Columbia bicentennial time capsule was sealed December 31, 1986. It is to be opened March 22, 2036, on Columbia’s 250th birthday.
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The Palmetto Regiment Monument, or the Iron Palmetto, was erected in 1858. It is the oldest monument on the State House grounds. Designed to honor the soldiers of the Palmetto Regiment for their...
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The inscription reads: “This gun came off the Battleship Maine. The sinking of the Maine resulted in the Spanish American War 1898.”
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The bronze stars on the outer walls of the State House mark the spots where cannonballs struck the granite walls. The shots were fired by northern artillerymen on February 17, 1865, during General...
