1. In 1836, the South Carolina Railroad was chartered on March 2. This marked the beginning of a major transportation network that connected the state's major cities and contributed to the growth of its economy.
2. On March 2, 1861, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the United States, sparking the start of the American Civil War.
3. In 1925, Strom Thurmond graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law on March 2. Thurmond would go on to become one of the state's most famous politicians, serving as both governor and U.S. senator.
4. The South Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was established on March 2, 1947. The agency is responsible for investigating and solving major crimes in the state and has been instrumental in bringing many criminals to justice.
5. In 1963, the first public library in South Carolina to be integrated was established in Spartanburg on March 2. This marked an important step forward in the state's civil rights movement and paved the way for greater integration throughout the southern United States.