Charleston County, South Carolina Records

Charleston County, South Carolina (Map It) was created on 1769 from Charleston District (formed in 1769) and includes the old St. Philip Parish, St. Michael Parish, Christ Church Parish, St. Andrew Parish, St. John Colleton Parish, and part of St. James Santee Parish.. The county was named in honor of King Charles II of England..

Charleston County is bordered by Berkeley County (north), Georgetown County (northeast), Colleton County (west), Dorchester County (northwest).

Charleston County Cities and Towns include Awendaw, Hollywood, James Island, Kiawah Island, Lincolnville, McClellanville, Meggett, Mount Pleasant, Ravenel, Rockville, Seabrook Island, Sullivan's Island.

A Map of Charleston County, South Carolina contains detailed information about roads and boundaries, these maps may include rural communities, churches, and cemeteries.

Charleston County, South Carolina Courthouse Records

The Charleston County Courthouse is located in Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston City Records are in Charleston County; Birth Records / Death Records from 1871 / 1821; Marriage Records from 1871; Land Records from 1858; Probate Records from 1790; Court Records from 1774. In searching for genealogy records be sure to check the following counties as they were created from Charleston County: Colleton County in 1800 andBerkeley County in 1882. Learn More About State of South Carolina Court, Tax, Land and Probate Records.

The Clerk's Office DOES NOT DO RESEARCH. Most staff will assist people in finding the materials, but it is up to the individual to do the research.

The following dates indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Charleston county. The date listed for each record is usually the earliest registration filed. The date does not indicate that there are alot records for that year and does not mean that all such events were actually filed with the clerk.

Records of Charleston Circuit Court and Equity Circuit Districts and the Province of South Carolina (1671—1785) are housed in Charleston County.

• Charleston County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1671. The County Register of Deeds records and maintain deeds, mortgages, plats, state and federal tax liens, mechanics liens, uniform commercial code filings, and other miscellaneous documents pertaining to real estate transactions.
• Charleston County Clerk of Probate Court has Marriage Records from 1911 and Probate Records from 1671. The County Clerk of Probate Court has original jurisdiction over actions concerning the issuance of marriage licenses, the estate of a deceased person, the will of an individual, the estate of a minor or incapacitated person, trusts, and involuntary commitments.
• Charleston County Clerk of Court has Court Records from 1700 and Divorce Records from since April 1949. The County Clerk of Court is divided into General Sessions and Common Pleas Court. The Circuit Court is a formal court of record.
• Charleston County Tax Assessor / Collector is responsible for the collection of taxes. Our office does not calculate a property’s taxable value (Assessor’s Office).
• Charleston County Health Department has birth and death records from 1915. Marriage records prior to 1950 are available from the Probate Court office. Divorce records since April 1949 are available from the County Clerk's office.

Charleston County, South Carolina Census Records

• Learn More: State of South Carolina Census Records
• U.S. Federal Population Schedules: 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragmented), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940
• U.S. Federal Census Slave Schedules: 1850 and 1860
• U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Agriculture Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Industry Schedules: 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880
• Union Veterans Schedules: 1890

Charleston County, South Carolina Vital Records

• Learn More: State of South Carolina Vital Records
• Birth and Death Records: from January 1915 to present
• Marriage Records: from July 1950 to present. Contact the Office of Probate for earlier records.
• Divorce Records: from July 1962 to present. Contact the Clerk of Court for earlier records.
• Locations: South Carolina Office of Vital Statistics
• Vital Records Online: USAVital or Social Security Death Index
• Vital Records by Mail: Birth and Death Certificate or Marriage and Divorce Certificate Applications.
• In Person:  List of Vital Records Services Office locations

Charleston County, South Carolina Resources

• Charleston Chapter South Carolina Genealogical Society
• Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, 125 Bull Street, Charleston, SC 29424; (843) 953-7609
• Charleston Library Society
• Christ Church Parish Preservation Society, Inc., P.O. Box 165, Mount Pleasant, SC 29465; Telephone: (843) 884-4265
• Church Street Historic Foundation, 59 Church Street, Charleston, SC 29401
• Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society
• Historic Charleston Foundation
• Preservation Society of Charleston
• St. James Santee Parish Historical Society, 2513 I'on Avenue, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482; (843) 883-3741
• The Huguenot Society of South Carolina , 138 Logan Street, Charleston, SC 29401.
• Jewish Historical Society Of South Carolina, 66 George Street, Charleston 29424-0001
• Charleston County, South Carolina Message Boards

Charleston County, South Carolina External Links

• South Carolina Historical Newspapers - Newspapers.com
• Historical Newspapers from South Carolina (1783 - 1975 )
• Charleston County, South Carolina Books - Amazon
• Charleston County Genealogy Books
• South Carolina Delayed Births, 1766-1900 and City of Charleston, South Carolina Births, 1877-1901
• Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina Black Deaths 1871-89
• Charleston, South Carolina, Marriage Records, 1877-1887
• Charleston Observer (South Carolina), Marriages and Deaths
• Index to Wills of Charleston County, South Carolina, 1671-1868
• South Carolina Archives Summary Guide to Charleston County Records
• The old Jewish cemeteries at Charleston, S.C.
• Charleston Co., South Carolina - FindaGrave
• The History and Family of Captain Jacob Milligan
• People and Professions of Charleston, South Carolina, 1782-1802
• Charleston : the place and the people
• The dwelling houses of Charleston, South Carolina
• The Siege of Charleston
• The Miles Brewton house
• This is Charleston
• A History of Charleston County
• Charleston County History
• Charleston County, South Carolina Links - Cyndi's List
• Charleston Co. SCGenweb
• Charleston County, South Carolina Ancestry Database Collections
• Passenger Arrivals at the Port of Charleston, 1820-1829
• South Carolina Revolutionary War Units
• On the Eve of the Civil War: the Charleston, SC Directories for the Years 1859 and 1860
• Charleston County, South Carolina Military Records
• Directory of Scots in the Carolinas, 1680-1830
• Charleston, South Carolina Directory, 1888-90
• City Directories for Charleston, South Carolina For the years 1803, 1806, 1807, and 1813
• The Charleston city guide : containing a full and accurate description of all places of interest in and around the city, and ot
• Directories for the City of Charleston, South Carolina for the Years 1816, 1819, 1822, 1825, and 1829