1. On May 5, 1780, the British took control of the city of Charleston during the American Revolutionary War. This marked a significant turning point in the war, as it gave the British a key stronghold in South Carolina and allowed them to control much of the state for several years.

2. On May 5, 1821, the first state capital of South Carolina, Columbia, was officially incorporated. The city was named after Christopher Columbus and became the capital in part because it was centrally located within the state.

3. May 5, 1865, was the day that Confederate President Jefferson Davis was finally captured by Union forces in Georgia. Davis had been on the run for several weeks after the fall of Richmond, Virginia, and his capture marked the end of the Confederate government.

4. On May 5, 1938, construction began on the Santee Cooper Project, a massive hydroelectric project in South Carolina that created the largest lake in the state (Lake Marion) and helped to provide electricity to thousands of homes and businesses throughout the region.

5. May 5, 1966, marked the first time that the South Carolina State House flew the Confederate battle flag. The flag controversy has been a contentious issue in the state for many years, with some seeing it as a symbol of Southern heritage and others viewing it as a reminder of the state's troubled history of racism and oppression.