SC RESOURCES
STATE QUICKLINKS
OTHER GENEALOGY RESOURCES
Charleston County,
South Carolina History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Charleston County, South Carolina Facts
When was Charleston County, SC Created?
Charleston County was established 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..
What is the County Seat of Charleston County, SC?
The County Seat of government is situated in Charleston plus the county government website is www.charlestoncounty.org/
What counties are adjacent to Charleston County, SC?
Bordering counties are Berkeley County, Georgetown County, Colleton County, Dorchester County.
Charleston County, SC Vital Records
Where can find Charleston County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Charleston County vital records can be found at the South Carolina Department of Health has copies of birth records after 1913 and death records after 1930, copies of marriage since Jan 1962 and a Divorce records since 1958. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in South Carolina for current fees and application process.
Charleston County Health Department has birth and death records from January 01, 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. There were no South Carolina birth or Death “certificates” before January 01, 1915
You can search online for Charleston County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for South Carolina Birth and Death Certificate, Marriage and Divorce Certificate Application to mail.
- See Also Statewide Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in South Carolina
- South Carolina Vital Records Research Guide
- 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
- Social Security Death Index
- South Carolina Marriages, 1688-1799
- South Carolina Marriages, 1800-1820
- South Carolina Marriages, 1641-1965
- South Carolina Death Index, 1950-1952
- South Carolina, Death Records, 1821-1955
Charleston County, SC Census Records
What Charleston County, SC census records are available?
County census records consists of Federal Census Schedules to aid in finding out about your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1790-1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Charleston Co. Slave Schedules can be acquired for 1850 & 1860. Charleston Co. Mortality Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Charleston Co. Industry and Agriculture Schedules can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Charleston Co. Union Veterans Schedules can be acquired for 1890. One can find free downloadable not to mention printable census forms to help you with your research.
Charleston County, SC Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Cherokee County, SC?
- Charleston County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401
- 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
- Charleston County Register of Deeds
- Address: 101 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401-2249
- Phone: (843) 958-4800
- Land Records: 1671
- Charleston County Clerk of Probate Court
- Phone: (843) 958-5180
- Marriage Records: 1911
- Probate Records: 1671
- Charleston County Clerk of Court
- Phone: (843) 958-5000
- Court Records: 1700
- Divorce Records:since April 1949
In searching for genealogy records be sure to check the following counties as they were created from Charleston County: Colleton County in 1800 and Berkeley County in 1882.
Charleston County, SC Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Charleston County, SC?
A list of Charleston County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives.
- Charleston Chapter South Carolina Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 20266, Charleston, SC 29413
- Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, 125 Bull Street, Charleston, SC 29424; (843) 953-7609
- Charleston Library Society, 164 King Street, Charleston, SC 29401; (843) 723-9912
- 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, 8123 Chisolm Plantation Rd., Edisto Island, SC 29438; (843) 869-1954
- Historic Charleston Foundation, 40 East Bay St., Charleston, SC 29401; (843) 723-1623
- Preservation Society of Charleston, PO Box 521, Charleston, SC 29402; (843) 722-4630
- 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
- USGenWeb Archives for Charleston County (usgwarchives.net)
- South Carolina Department of Archives and History, 8301 Parklane Road; Columbia, SC 29223-4905; Tel: (803) 896-6100
- South Carolina State Library, 1500 Senate Street, PO Box 11469; Columbia, South Carolina 29211; Voice: (803) 734-8666
- South Carolina Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 16355, Greenville, SC 29606
- South Carolina Historical Society, 100 Meeting Street, Charleston 29401
- South Carolina Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies Guide
Where can I connect with other Charleston County, SC Researchers through message boards and forums?
- https://www.archives.gov/research/census
- South Carolina State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Charleston County, South Carolina Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Charleston County
- Charleston County, South Carolina Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Charleston County, SC?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources related to Charleston County. These genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Business oriented Sites, Private Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some have to have a payment. This is just a directory that has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another.
Charleston Co. SC Books, Newspapers & Publications
- South Carolina Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- South Carolina historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from South Carolina (1783 – 1975 ) (genealogybank.com)
- Charleston County, South Carolina Books (amazon.com)
- Search South Carolina Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
- Charleston County Genealogy Books (books.google.com)
Charleston Co. SC Church / Bible Records & Cemeteries / Graveyards
- The old Jewish cemeteries at Charleston, S.C. : a transcript of the inscriptions on their tombstones, 1762-1903 (search.ancestry.com)
- Charleston Co., South Carolina Graves (findagrave.com)
- Charleston County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Charleston Co., South Carolina Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Charleston Co., South Carolina Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Charleston County, South Carolina Church Books (amazon.com)
Charleston Co. SC Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- South Carolina Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
- The History and Family of Captain Jacob Milligan (milliganfamily.org)
- People and Professions of Charleston, South Carolina, 1782-1802 (search.ancestry.com)
- Nichols and Related Families (nicholsgenealogy.com)
Charleston Co. SC General and History Websites
- Charleston County, South Carolina Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Charleston : the place and the people (search.ancestry.com)
- The dwelling houses of Charleston, South Carolina (search.ancestry.com)
- The Siege of Charleston : by the British fleet and army under the command of Admiral Arbuthnot and Sir Henry Clinton, which ter (search.ancestry.com)
- The Miles Brewton house (search.ancestry.com)
- This is Charleston : a survey of the architectural heritage of a unique American city (search.ancestry.com)
- A History of Charleston County (carolana.com)
- Charleston County, South Carolina Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Charleston Co. SC Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Charleston County History (statelibrary.sc.gov)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Charleston County, South Carolina (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – South Carolina – Counties – Charleston (cyndislist.com)
- Charleston County South Carolina (genealogytrails.com)
- Charleston Co. SCGenweb (sciway3.net)
- Charleston County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Charleston Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Charleston Co. SC Immigration & Naturalization
- See Also Statewide Immigration and Naturalization Links for South Carolina
- Passenger Arrivals at the Port of Charleston, 1820-1829 (search.ancestry.com)
- South Carolina Naturalizations 1783-1850 (search.ancestry.com)
Charleston Co. SC Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of South Carolina Links and Information
- Charleston Co. D.O.T. Maps (scdot.org)
- 1895 Charleston County Map (livgenmi.com)
Charleston Co. SC Military Records
- South Carolina Military Records Research Guide
- South Carolina Revolutionary War Units (revolutionarywar101.com)
- On the Eve of the Civil War: the Charleston, SC Directories for the Years 1859 and 1860 (search.ancestry.com)
- South Carolina Military Records (Fold3.com) provides access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the South Carolina women and men which served. Great for Perfect for Charleston County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.
Charleston Co. SC Schools & Directories
- Directory of Scots in the Carolinas, 1680-1830 (search.ancestry.com)
- Charleston, South Carolina Directory, 1888-90 (search.ancestry.com)
- City Directories for Charleston, South Carolina For the years 1803, 1806, 1807, and 1813 (search.ancestry.com)
- The Charleston city guide : containing a full and accurate description of all places of interest in and around the city, and ot (search.ancestry.com)
- Directories for the City of Charleston, South Carolina for the Years 1816, 1819, 1822, 1825, and 1829 (search.ancestry.com)