December 31 is the last day of the year, and it holds special significance in the history of South Carolina. Here are five interesting facts about December 31 in South Carolina history:

1. The Emancipation Proclamation was read in South Carolina on December 31, 1862. This decree by President Abraham Lincoln declared that all slaves in Confederate territory were to be set free on January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation marked a turning point in the Civil War and paved the way for the eventual abolition of slavery throughout the country.

2. South Carolina was the site of the deadliest tornado outbreak on record for December 31. On December 31, 1953, a series of tornadoes struck parts of the southeastern United States, including South Carolina. In all, there were 11 confirmed tornadoes, and 12 people lost their lives in South Carolina alone.

3. The University of South Carolina football team won its first bowl game on December 31, 1946. The Gamecocks defeated Wake Forest in the Gator Bowl, 26-14. Since then, the team has gone on to play in numerous bowl games, including the Capital One Bowl and the Outback Bowl.

4. December 31, 1999, was the eve of the new millennium, and South Carolina celebrated in style. The state hosted a variety of events, including a Millennium Ball in downtown Columbia and a fireworks show over Lake Murray. Despite fears of widespread computer failures due to the so-called "Y2K bug," the transition to the new millennium was relatively smooth in South Carolina and throughout the United States.

5. The last Confederate fort to fall during the Civil War was located in South Carolina, and it happened on December 31, 1864. Fort Fisher, which guarded the entrance to Wilmington, North Carolina, was bombarded by Union forces for several days before finally surrendering on December 31. The fall of Fort Fisher sealed the fate of the Confederacy and paved the way for the eventual reunification of the United States.