Formation of South Carolina Counties
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| County | Year | Origin, Notes |
| Abbeville | 1785 | County of Ninety-six District. County became District 1798. |
| Aiken | 1871 | Edgefield, Orangeburg, Barnwell, Lexington. |
| Allendale | 1919 | Barnwell, Hampton. |
| Anderson | 1826 | Pendleton District. |
| Bamberg | 1897 | Barnwell. |
| Barnwell | 1798 | Orangeburg District. |
| Bartholomews* | 1785 | County of Charleston District. Abolished 1798. |
| Beaufort | 1769 | Original District. |
| Berkeley* | 1682 | Proprietary County. Abolished 1769. |
| Berkeley* | 1785 | County of Charleston District. Abolished 1798. |
| Berkeley | 1882 | Charleston. |
| Calhoun | 1908 | Lexington, Orangeburg. |
| Camden* | 1769 | Original District. Abolished 1798. |
| Carteret* | 1685 | Proprietary County. Name changed to Granville 1708. |
| Charleston | 1769 | Original District. |
| Charleston* | 1785 | County of Charleston District. Abolished 1798. |
| Cheraws* | 1769 | Original District. Abolished 1798. |
| Cherokee | 1897 | Union, York, Spartanburg. |
| Chester | 1785 | County of Camden District. Became part of Pinckney District in 1791. County became District 1798. |
| Chesterfield | 1785 | County of Cheraws District. County became District 1798. |
| Claremont* | 1785 | County of Camden District. Abolished 1798. |
| Clarendon* | 1785 | County of Camden District. Abolished 1798. |
| Clarendon | 1855 | Sumter District. |
| Colleton* | 1682 | Proprietary County. Abolished 1769. |
| Colleton* | 1785 | County of Charleston District. Abolished 1798. |
| Colleton | 1798 | Charleston District. |
| Craven* | 1682 | Proprietary County. Abolished 1769. |
| Darlington | 1785 | County of Cheraws District. County became District 1798. |
| Dillon | 1910 | Marion. |
| Dorchester | 1897 | Berkeley, Colleton. |
| Edgefield | 1785 | County of Ninety-six District. County became District 1798. |
| Fairfield | 1785 | County of Camden District. County became District 1798. |
| Florence | 1888 | Marion, Darlington, Clarendon, Williamsburg. |
| Georgetown | 1769 | Original District. |
| Granville* | 1708 | Name changed from Carteret. Abolished 1769. |
| Granville* | 1785 | County of Beaufort District. Abolished 1798. |
| Greenville | 1786 | County of Ninety-six District. Became part of Washington District 1791. County became District 1798. |
| Greenwood | 1897 | Abbeville, Edgefield. |
| Hampton | 1878 | Beaufort. |
| Hilton* | 1785 | County of Beaufort District. Abolished 1798. |
| Horry | 1801 | Georgetown District. |
| Jasper | 1912 | Beaufort, Hampton. |
| Kershaw | 1791 | County of Camden District. County became District 1798. |
| Kingston* | 1785 | County of Georgetown District. Abolished 1798. |
| Lancaster | 1785 | County of Camden District. County became District 1798. |
| Laurens | 1785 | County of Ninety-six District. County became District 1798. |
| Lee | 1902 | Darlington, Sumter, Kershaw. |
| Lewisburg* | 1785 | County of Orangeburg District. Abolished 1791. |
| Lexington* | 1785 | County of Orangeburg District. Abolished 1791. |
| Lexington | 1804 | Orangeburg District. |
| Liberty* | 1785 | County of Georgetown District. Abolished 1798. |
| Lincoln* | 1785 | County of Beaufort District. Abolished 1798. |
| Marion* | 1785 | County of Charleston District. Abolished 1798. |
| Marion | 1798 | Georgetown District. |
| Marlboro | 1785 | County of Cheraws District. County became District 1798. |
| McCormick | 1916 | Greenwood, Abbeville. |
| Newberry | 1785 | County of Ninety-six District. County became District 1798. |
| Ninety-six* | 1769 | Original District. Abolished 1798. |
| Oconee | 1868 | Pickens. |
| Orange* | 1785 | County of Orangeburg District. Abolished 1791. |
| Orangeburg | 1769 | Original District. |
| Pendleton* | 1789 | County of Ninety-six District. Became part of Washington District 1791. County became District 1798. Divided into Anderson, Pickens in 1826. |
| Pickens | 1826 | Pendleton District. |
| Pinckney* | 1791 | Camden, Ninety-six District. Abolished 1798. |
| Richland | 1785 | County of Camden District. County became District 1798. |
| Salem* | 1792 | County of Cheraws District. Abolished 1798. |
| Saluda | 1896 | Edgefield. |
| Shrewsbury* | 1785 | County of Beaufort District. Abolished 1798. |
| Spartanburg | 1785 | County of Ninety-six District. Became part of Pinckney District 1791. County became District 1798. |
| Sumter | 1798 | Camden District. |
| Union | 1785 | County of Ninety-six District. Became part of Pinckney District 1791. County became District 1798. |
| Washington* | 1785 | County of Charleston District. Abolished 1798. |
| Washington* | 1791 | Ninety-six District. Abolished 1798. |
| Williamsburg | 1785 | County of Georgetown District. County became District 1804. |
| Winton | 1785 | County of Orangeburg District. Abolished 1798. |
| Winyaw* | 1785 | County of Georgetown District. Abolished 1798. |
| York | 1785 | County of Camden District. Became part of Pinckney District in 1791. County became District 1798. |
NOTES:
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1. South Carolina was part of the Province of "Carolina" until 1710 when North and South Carolina were made separate provinces. In the early years of South Carolina (1682-1769) Counties were only used for geographical divisions, and did not have governmental functions. In 1706 Parishes were set up and coexisted within the various counties. These Parishes remained until after 1790. In 1769 South Carolina was divided into seven Judicial Districts, which served as the Governmental units. Later these districts were subdivided into counties, which rarely served any official function. Many of these counties later became districts and took on governmental duties. It was not until 1868 that South Carolina re-designated all of the Districts as "Counties".
2. In 1682 three Proprietary counties were set up: Berkeley, Colleton and Craven. In 1685 Carteret County was added. Carteret was renamed Granville County in 1708. These four counties remained until 1769 when they were abolished in favor of the new Judicial Districts.
3. In 1706 Parishes were set up within the bounds of the existing Counties. Neither the Counties nor the Parishes were divisions of the other, they just coexisted, with the Parish actually having the record keeping authority. The original Parishes of 1706 were Saint John's, Saint James Goose Creek, Saint Thomas, Saint Denis, Christ Church, Saint Philip's, Saint Andrew's, Saint James Santee, Saint Bartholomew's and Saint Paul's. In 1712 Saint Helena's Parish was created from part of St. Bartholomew's Parish. In 1717 Saint George's Parish was created from part of St. Andrew's. In 1721 Prince George Parish was created from St. James Santee Parish. In 1734 Prince Frederick Parish was created from Prince George Parish. Also in 1734 Saint John's Colleton Parish was created from St. Paul's Parish. In 1745 Prince William Parish was created from St. Helena's Parish. In 1747 Saint Peter's Parish was created from Prince William Parish. In 1751 Saint Michael's Parish was created from St. Philip's Parish. In 1754 Saint Stephen's Parish was created from St. James Santee Parish. In 1757 Saint Mark's Parish was created from Prince Frederick Parish. In 1767 All Saint's Parish was created from Prince George Parish. Also Saint Luke's Parish was created from Saint Peter's Parish. In 1768 Saint David's Parish was created from Saint Mark's Parish. Also Saint Matthew's Parish was created from St. George's Parish and St. James Santee Parish. The parishes fell out of use after 1769, but in some cases were still used.
4. In 1769 Seven Judicial Districts were created that abolished the four existing old counties. The Districts coexisted with the various Parishes. In 1785 the Districts were divided into counties, many of which never became functional. At various times, many of the counties became Districts and in some cases abolished their old Districts in the process. In some cases the counties themselves were abolished in favor of the parent District.
5. Beaufort District was created in 1769. In 1785 Beaufort was divided into four counties: Granville, Hilton, Lincoln and Shrewsbury. These counties never became functional, and in 1798 these counties were abolished. Beaufort District became Beaufort County in 1868.
6. Camden District was created in 1769. In 1785 Camden was divided into seven counties: Chester, Claremont, Clarendon, Fairfield, Lancaster, Richland, and York. In 1791 Kershaw County was created in Camden District from parts of Claremont, Fairfield, Lancaster and Richland Counties. Also in 1791 Pinckney District was formed taking Camden Districts counties of Chester and York. In 1792 Salem County was formed from parts of Claremont and Clarendon Counties and then placed in the Cheraws District. In 1798 Sumter District was formed taking Claremont and Clarendon Counties. Also Richland County became Richland District. In 1798 Camden District was abolished and the remaining counties of Fairfield, Kershaw, and Lancaster became Districts.
7. Charleston District was created in 1769. In 1785 Charleston was divided into six counties: Bartholomews, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Marion and Washington. These counties never became functional, and in 1798 these counties were abolished. Charleston District became Charleston County in 1868. In the 1790 Census, Charleston District was divided up by Parish.
8. Cheraws District was created in 1769. In 1785 Cheraws District was divided into four counties: Chesterfield, Darlington and Marlboro. In 1792 Salem County was formed from part of Camden District, but placed in Cheraws District. In 1798 Cheraws District was abolished and the counties of Chesterfield, Darlington and Marlboro became Districts. Salem County became part of Sumter District.
9. Georgetown District was created in 1769. In 1785 Georgetown District was divided into four counties: Kingston, Liberty, Williamsburg and Winyaw. These counties never became functional, and in 1798 were abolished. In 1798 Marion District was formed from Georgetown District taking the entire county of Liberty. Georgetown District became Georgetown County in 1868. In the 1790 census, Georgetown District was divided up by Parish (Prince George, Prince Frederick and All Saints). The 1800 census, Georgetown District was divided up by Counties: Kingston, Williamsburg and Winyaw.
10. Ninety-six District was created in 1769. In 1785 Ninety-Six District was divided into six counties: Abbeville, Edgefield, Laurens, Newberry, Spartanburg and Union. In 1786 Greenville County was created. In 1789 Pendleton County was created. In 1791 Pinckney District was formed from parts of Ninety-six and Camden Districts, taking the counties of Spartanburg and Union. Also in 1791 Washington District was formed from Ninety-six District taking the counties of Greenville and Pendleton. In 1798 Ninety-six was abolished when all of it's counties became Districts: Abbeville, Edgefield, Laurens and Newberry.
11. Orangeburg District was created in 1769. In 1785 Orangeburg District was divided into four counties: Lewisburg, Lexington, Orange and Winton. In 1791 Lewisburg, Lexington and Orange Counties were abolished. In 1798 Barnwell District was created taking most of Winton County, which was abolished. Orangeburg District became Orangeburg County in 1868.
12. Pinckney District was created in 1791 from parts of Camden and Ninety-six District. It took the counties of Chester, Spartanburg, Union and York. In 1798 Pinckney District was abolished by all of it's counties becoming Districts: Chester, Spartanburg, Union and York.
13. Washington District was created in 1791 from Ninety-six District, taking the counties of Greenville and Pendleton. In 1798 Washington District was abolished when Greenville and Pendleton Counties both became Districts.
REFERENCES:
"The Handy Book for Genealogists", Eighth Edition. The Everton Publishers, Inc., Logan, UT 1991
"Map Guide to the Federal Censuses, 1790-1920", William Thorndale and William Dollarhide, Baltimore. Genealogical Publishing Co., 1987
"The AniMap County Boundary Historical Atlas", Adrian B. Ettlinger from The Gold Bug, Alamo, CA. (Computer Software). * They have maps showing the progression of County Boundary changes for each state. Excellent program! Available for purchase at the link above (excellent program!)