South Carolina 

         The first Africans arrived in 1526 as part of a large Spanish expedition from the West Indies, planting indigo and rice plantations. Africans were experienced in working with these crops and adapted well to South Carolina’s hot, humid climate. The black population outnumbered whites by 1708, and remained in the majority until the 1740s. The African population in the low country was closely tied to its African roots, developing the Gullah language, which is a type of pidgin language blending European and African dialects.