Rand McNally standard map of South Carolina, issued in 1930, distills the state’s geography and movement into a lucid, color-keyed portrait of counties, cities, and routes. Each county is distinctly shaded, its seat crisply labeled, while the state capital, Columbia, anchors a finely balanced hierarchy of towns and transport. A comprehensive index to principal cities encourages effortless orientation, guiding the eye from coastal lowcountry communities through the Sandhills to the Blue Ridge foothills. Railroads and electric lines form an elegant web across this framework, their alignments threading mills, depots, and ports with the same clarity that defines borders and waterways. The result is a cartographic composition where beauty and utility reinforce one another—an authoritative snapshot of South Carolina poised between tradition and a modernizing transportation age.

Created by Rand McNally and Company—America’s preeminent commercial cartographer of the era—the map reflects a house style famed for disciplined linework, refined color washes, and orderly typography. In the 1920s and 1930s, Rand McNally embraced the realities of multimodal travel; this sheet belongs to that moment, when the firm paired state maps with a pocket tourist guide rich in companion views, from motor road maps to an airway map of the United States. Symbols and legends bring coherence to complexity: junctions and terminals, county seats and coastal hamlets, all resolved with an economy of sign that rewards close reading. The inset of Charleston and vicinity—long a Rand McNally specialty—serves as an exquisite focus for urban and harbor detail.

Geographically, the map traces the state’s great organizing features: the Savannah River defining the western boundary; the Santee River system drawing together the Congaree, Saluda, and Broad; the Pee Dee coursing to the coast; and the Catawba and Wateree knitting the Piedmont uplands to the midlands. Counties step neatly from the Blue Ridge escarpment through textile country around Greenville and Spartanburg, across the midlands toward Columbia, then down to rice fields, marshes, and sea islands near Charleston. Cities and towns—Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Rock Hill, Spartanburg, Anderson, Florence, Sumter, Aiken, and the fast-growing coastal resort of Myrtle Beach—are situated with precision against this physiographic scaffold. The palette of county tints, cross-hatched rail alignments, and measured coastal soundings deliver a richly layered sense of place and purpose.

Transportation networks are the map’s animating thread. Railroads—Southern Railway, Atlantic Coast Line, Seaboard Air Line, Charleston & Western Carolina, and others—are listed and traced across the state, converging at strategic hubs: Columbia’s central position, Florence’s coastal-plain junction, Spartanburg and Greenville in the Upcountry, and the port of Charleston. Electric lines, notably the Piedmont & Northern system, underscore the era’s interurban ambitions. Major federal and state highways are plotted with care, tying mountain towns to mill villages, market centers, and harbors along routes such as the coastal corridor through Charleston and the midlands artery to Florence. Lighted and unlighted airways extend this web into the skies, linking South Carolina to the emerging national network of beaconed air routes.

As a 1930 artifact, the map captures South Carolina at a pivotal juncture—where the rhythm of rail commerce, the rise of motor travel, and the dawn of scheduled aviation briefly coexist in balance. The Charleston inset rewards scrutiny: the peninsula between the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, the harbor entrances and channels, rail yards, and adjoining communities are depicted with metropolitan finesse, illuminating how city, port, and hinterland interacted. For researchers, it pinpoints industrial corridors in the Piedmont, agricultural markets in the Pee Dee, and coastal trade funnels along the Atlantic. For collectors, it pairs Rand McNally’s celebrated clarity with a uniquely informative index and legend, offering a vivid, navigable portrait of a state on the move.

Cities and towns on this map

• Charleston
• Columbia (state capital)
• North Charleston
• Mount Pleasant
• Rock Hill
• Greenville
• Spartanburg
• Anderson
• Sumter
• Myrtle Beach
• Aiken
• Florence

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Detailed outline boundaries for counties within South Carolina.
• Major cities indicated, including the state capital.
• A network of railroads and electric lines illustrated throughout the state.
• Indexed list of railroads operating in South Carolina.
• Highlighted county seats and towns.
• Inset map of Charleston, displaying its geographical features.
• U.S. Interstates, state and county highways clearly marked.
• Lighted and unlighted airways represented on the map.

Historical and design context

• 1930 publication by Rand McNally and Company.
• Detailed railroad map with color-coded state and county boundaries; indexed to principal cities.
• Paired with a pocket tourist guide featuring motor road and U.S. airway maps, plus folded color maps of railroads and air trails.
• Highlights urban centers and multimodal transportation networks: highways, railroads, and air trails.
• Statewide coverage of South Carolina, subdivided by counties and major cities.
• Intricate Rand McNally design emphasizing the political and physical landscape through clear, color-coded boundaries.
• Documents South Carolina’s transportation infrastructure in 1930, offering historical insight into the development of the state’s travel networks.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.

Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.

We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.

• We can deliver directly to the recipient
• Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
• Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
• Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
• 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide

If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.

Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.

We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.

Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.

Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.

Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.

If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.

Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.

Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 5-year guarantee.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.