1. South Carolina Secedes from the Union - On February 14, 1861, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union in response to the election of President Abraham Lincoln.

2. Charleston Massacre - On February 14, 1929, seven members of a rival gang were killed in a shootout with the infamous Prohibition-era gangster and bootlegger Charles “Lucky” Luciano and his associates at the corner of King and Mary Streets in Charleston.

3. African American History Month - In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month. This celebration of African American achievements and contributions to American history and culture is observed in South Carolina and across the country.

4. Senator Strom Thurmond's Birthday - South Carolina celebrated the birthday of Senator Strom Thurmond on February 14. He was born in 1902 and served as a Republican senator for 48 years, making him the longest-serving senator in U.S. history.

5. Hurricane Hazel - The deadliest hurricane of the 1954 Atlantic season, Hurricane Hazel, hit the South Carolina coast on October 14, causing widespread damage and claiming the lives of 98 people. However, its effects were felt well into February of the following year, as many residents were still working to rebuild their homes and communities.