Is South Carolina a Commonwealth? Yes—Like All US States Except Virginia by Name

Yes, South Carolina is a commonwealth.

Clarification: In the US, "commonwealth" = "state" legally. Four states use the word in their official name:

1. Commonwealth of Kentucky
2. Commonwealth of Massachusetts
3. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4. Commonwealth of Virginia

The other 46 (including South Carolina) are states—but all 50 are commonwealths in the political science sense: a body politic founded on law for the common good. The term distinguishes republican government from monarchy.

Virginia's case: It's officially "Commonwealth of Virginia" but doesn't use "Commonwealth" in daily style (e.g., "Virginia Department of..." not "Commonwealth Department of..."). Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania do.

Puerto Rico & Northern Mariana Islands are US territories designated as commonwealths—a different legal status (unincorporated).

So: South Carolina = state = commonwealth (lowercase). No legal difference.