List of counties in South Carolina

Last updated

Counties of South Carolina
Location State of South Carolina
Number46
Populations7,369 (Allendale) – 558,036 (Greenville)
Areas392 square miles (1,020 km2) (Calhoun) – 1,358 square miles (3,520 km2) (Charleston)
Government
Subdivisions

The U.S. state of South Carolina is made up of 46 counties, the maximum allowable by state law. [1] [2] They range in size from 392 square miles (1,015 square kilometers) in the case of Calhoun County to 1,358 square miles (3,517 square kilometers) in the case of Charleston County. The least populous county is Allendale County, with only 7,369 residents, while the most populous county is Greenville County, with a population of 558,036, despite the state's most populous city, Charleston, being located in Charleston County.

Contents

History

In the colonial period, the land around the coast was divided into parishes corresponding to the parishes of the Church of England. There were also several counties that had judicial and electoral functions. As people settled the backcountry, judicial districts and additional counties were formed. This structure continued and grew after the Revolutionary War. In 1800, all counties were renamed as districts. In 1868, the districts were converted back to counties. [3] The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has maps that show the boundaries of counties, districts, and parishes starting in 1682. [4]

Historically, county government in South Carolina has been fairly weak. [5] The 1895 Constitution made no provision for local government, effectively reducing counties to creatures of the state. Each county's delegation to the General Assembly, comprising one senator and at least one representative, also doubled as its county council. Under this system, the state senator from each county wielded the most power. [6] From the eighteenth century to 1973, counties in South Carolina performed limited functions such as the provision of law enforcement and the construction of transportation infrastructure. [5]

In 1964, the United States Supreme Court case Reynolds v. Sims required reapportionment according to the principle of "one man, one vote", which resulted in legislative districts crossing county lines. However, it was not until 1973 that the constitution was amended to provide for limited home rule at the county level. [7] This was finally enacted in 1975 with the Home Rule Act, [6] which provided for elected councils in each county. Further, in 1989, all counties were given the authority to exercise broad police powers. [8] Thus, they may enact regulations and ordinances related to the provision or preservation of security, health, peace, and order, so long as the regulation is not inconsistent with state law. [9] Nonetheless, all counties and municipalities in South Carolina lack “fiscal home rule,” meaning they may only enact taxes authorized by the General Assembly. [6]

County ordinances become applicable within municipal boundaries when the municipality and the county make a formal agreement, and the municipality formally adopts the ordinance. [10] Unincorporated areas are governed by the county's land use plans. [11]

County abbreviations

County NameAbbreviation [12] County NameAbbreviation [12]
AbbevilleABGreenwoodGN
AikenAKHamptonHA
AllendaleALHorryHR
AndersonANJasperJA
BambergBAKershawKE
BarnwellBRLancasterLA
BeaufortBULaurensLU
BerkeleyBKLeeLE
CalhounCLLexingtonLX
CharlestonCHMarionMA
CherokeeCKMarlboroML
ChesterCSMcCormickMC
ChesterfieldCTNewberryNB
ClarendonCROconeeOC
ColletonCNOrangeburgOR
DarlingtonDAPickensPN
DillonDNRichlandRD
DorchesterDRSaludaSA
EdgefieldEDSpartanburgSP
FairfieldFASumterSU
FlorenceFLUnionUN
GeorgetownGEWilliamsburgWG
GreenvilleGVYorkYK

Alphabetical list

County
FIPS code [13] County seat [14] Est. [14] Origin [15] EtymologyPopulation
(2023) [16]
Area [17] Map
AbbevilleCounty 001 Abbeville 1785 Ninety-Six District Abbeville, France 24,434512 sq mi
(1,326 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Abbeville County.svg
AikenCounty 003 Aiken 1871 Barnwell County, Edgefield County, Lexington County, and Orangeburg County William Aiken, founder of the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company 177,1301,080 sq mi
(2,797 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Aiken County.svg
AllendaleCounty 005 Allendale 1919 Barnwell County and Hampton County P.H. Allen, first postmaster of the new county7,369412 sq mi
(1,067 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Allendale County.svg
AndersonCounty 007 Anderson 1826 Pendleton District Robert Anderson, American Revolutionary War general and Southern surveyor213,076756 sq mi
(1,958 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Anderson County.svg
BambergCounty 009 Bamberg 1897 Barnwell County Francis Marion Bamberg (1838–1905), Confederate general in the American Civil War 12,974396 sq mi
(1,026 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Bamberg County.svg
BarnwellCounty 011 Barnwell 1798 Orangeburg County John Barnwell, South Carolina State Senator and prisoner of war during the American Revolution20,447557 sq mi
(1,443 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Barnwell County.svg
BeaufortCounty 013 Beaufort 17691769 Judicial District Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort, colonial proprietary landowner198,979923 sq mi
(2,391 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Beaufort County.svg
BerkeleyCounty 015 Moncks Corner 1882 Charleston County William Berkeley, colonial proprietary governor and landowner255,2171,234 sq mi
(3,196 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Berkeley County.svg
CalhounCounty 017 St. Matthews 1908 Lexington County and Orangeburg County John C. Calhoun, U.S. senator from South Carolina14,186392 sq mi
(1,015 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Calhoun County.svg
CharlestonCounty 019 Charleston 17691769 Judicial DistrictKing Charles II of England 424,3671,358 sq mi
(3,517 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Charleston County.svg
CherokeeCounty 021 Gaffney 1897 Spartanburg County, Union County, and York County Cherokee Native Americans56,714397 sq mi
(1,028 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Cherokee County.svg
ChesterCounty 023 Chester 1785 Camden District Chester, Pennsylvania 32,226586 sq mi
(1,518 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Chester County.svg
ChesterfieldCounty 025 Chesterfield 1798 Cheraws District Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, an Enlightenment-era scholar, government official, and member of the British House of Lords 44,031806 sq mi
(2,088 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Chesterfield County.svg
ClarendonCounty 027 Manning 1855 Sumter County Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, colonial proprietary landowner31,004696 sq mi
(1,803 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Clarendon County.svg
ColletonCounty 029 Walterboro 1800 Charleston County John Colleton, colonial proprietary landowner38,8741,133 sq mi
(2,934 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Colleton County.svg
DarlingtonCounty 031 Darlington 1785 Cheraws District Unknown; possibly Darlington, England 62,416566 sq mi
(1,466 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Darlington County.svg
DillonCounty 033 Dillon 1910 Marion County James William "J.W." Dillon (1826-1913), founder of the Wilson Short Cut Railroad27,698407 sq mi
(1,054 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Dillon County.svg
DorchesterCounty 035 St. George 1897 Berkeley County and Colleton County Dorchester, Massachusetts 169,833571 sq mi
(1,479 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Dorchester County.svg
EdgefieldCounty 037 Edgefield 1785 Ninety-Six District Disputed; either its location on the edge of the state or Edgefield, Norfolk, England 27,607507 sq mi
(1,313 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Edgefield County.svg
FairfieldCounty 039 Winnsboro 1785 Camden District The county's fair fields, as described by colonial Governor Charles Cornwallis 20,422710 sq mi
(1,839 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Fairfield County.svg
FlorenceCounty 041 Florence 1888 Clarendon County, Darlington County, Marion County, and Williamsburg County Florence Harllee (1848-1927), daughter of Wilmington and Manchester Railroad founder W.W. Harllee137,214804 sq mi
(2,082 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Florence County.svg
GeorgetownCounty 043 Georgetown 17691769 Judicial District George III of the United Kingdom [18] 65,7311,035 sq mi
(2,681 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Georgetown County.svg
GreenvilleCounty 045 Greenville 1786 Washington District Nathanael Greene, Revolutionary War general558,036796 sq mi
(2,062 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Greenville County.svg
GreenwoodCounty 047 Greenwood 1897 Abbeville County and Edgefield County Greenwood Plantation, the home of John McGee, the county's largest landowner69,460464 sq mi
(1,202 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Greenwood County.svg
HamptonCounty 049 Hampton 1878 Beaufort County Wade Hampton III, lieutenant general and cavalry leader in the Confederate States Army and later governor of South Carolina and U.S. senator18,122563 sq mi
(1,458 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Hampton County.svg
HorryCounty 051 Conway 1801 Georgetown County Peter Horry, Revolutionary War general397,4781,255 sq mi
(3,250 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Horry County.svg
JasperCounty 053 Ridgeland 1912 Beaufort County and Hampton County William Jasper, Revolutionary War sergeant33,544702 sq mi
(1,818 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Jasper County.svg
KershawCounty 055 Camden 1798 Claremont County, Fairfield County, Lancaster County, and Richland Joseph Kershaw, one of the county's pioneering settlers69,905740 sq mi
(1,917 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Kershaw County.svg
LancasterCounty 057 Lancaster 1798 Camden District Lancaster, England, and the House of Lancaster [19] 108,215555 sq mi
(1,437 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Lancaster County.svg
LaurensCounty 059 Laurens 1785 Ninety-Six District Henry Laurens, president of the Second Continental Congress and prisoner of war during the American Revolution68,873724 sq mi
(1,875 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Laurens County.svg
LeeCounty 061 Bishopville 1902 Darlington County, Kershaw County, and Sumter County Robert E. Lee, Confederate general during the Civil War15,967411 sq mi
(1,064 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Lee County.svg
LexingtonCounty 063 Lexington 1804 Orangeburg County Battle of Lexington, opening skirmish of the Revolutionary War309,528758 sq mi
(1,963 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Lexington County.svg
MarionCounty 067 Marion 1800 Georgetown County Francis Marion, Revolutionary War general28,508494 sq mi
(1,279 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Marion County.svg
MarlboroCounty 069 Bennettsville 1785 Cheraws District John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, English general, diplomat, and confidant of monarchs25,704486 sq mi
(1,259 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Marlboro County.svg
McCormickCounty 065 McCormick 1914 Abbeville County, Edgefield County, and Greenwood County Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the mechanical reaper and founder of International Harvester 9,941394 sq mi
(1,020 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting McCormick County.svg
NewberryCounty 071 Newberry 1785 Ninety-Six District Disputed; possibly Newbury, Berkshire, England, or from early settlers' notion that the landscape was as "pretty as a new berry"38,825647 sq mi
(1,676 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Newberry County.svg
OconeeCounty 073 Walhalla 1868 Pickens County Oconee Native Americans81,221674 sq mi
(1,746 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Oconee County.svg
OrangeburgCounty 075 Orangeburg 17691769 Judicial DistrictPrince William V of Orange 82,8201,128 sq mi
(2,922 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Orangeburg County.svg
PickensCounty 077 Pickens 1826 Pendleton District Andrew Pickens, governor of South Carolina135,495513 sq mi
(1,329 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Pickens County.svg
RichlandCounty 079 Columbia 1799 Camden District The county's rich soil425,138772 sq mi
(1,999 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Richland County.svg
SaludaCounty 081 Saluda 1896 Edgefield County Saluda River 19,123462 sq mi
(1,197 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Saluda County.svg
SpartanburgCounty 083 Spartanburg 1785 Ninety-Six District "Spartan Regiment" of the state militia, which was the key force for victory in the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowpens 356,698820 sq mi
(2,124 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Spartanburg County.svg
SumterCounty 085 Sumter 1798 Claremont County, Clarendon County, and Salem County Thomas Sumter, Revolutionary War general and U.S. senator from South Carolina104,165682 sq mi
(1,766 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Sumter County.svg
UnionCounty 087 Union 1798 Ninety-Six District Union Church, the first Christian place of worship in the area26,629515 sq mi
(1,334 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Union County.svg
WilliamsburgCounty 089 Kingstree 1802 Georgetown District King William III of England 29,891937 sq mi
(2,427 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting Williamsburg County.svg
YorkCounty 091 York 1798 Camden District York County, Pennsylvania 298,320696 sq mi
(1,803 km2)
Map of South Carolina highlighting York County.svg

Defunct parishes, counties and districts

Parishes

Until the late 19th century, the South Carolina Lowcountry was divided into parishes which in turn were subdivided several "districts"; these civil parishes were based on and generally coincident (even well after disestablishment) with Anglican ecclesiastical parishes. [20]

  • St. Helena's Parish (Beaufort District)
  • St. Luke's Parish (Beaufort District), created on May 23, 1767; located on Hilton Head Island and the adjacent mainland
  • St. Peter's Parish (Beaufort District)
  • Prince William Parish (Beaufort District)
  • St. Andrew's Parish (Charleston District)
  • St. Bartholomew's Parish (Charleston District)
  • St. John's Colleton Parish (Charleston District)
  • St. George's Dorchester Parish (Charleston District)
  • St. Philip's & St. Michael's Parish (Charleston District)
  • Christchurch Parish (Charleston District)
  • St. James' Goose Creek Parish (Charleston District)
  • St. Thomas' & St. Denis' Parish (Charleston District)
  • St. John's Berkeley Parish (Charleston District)
  • St. Stephen's Parish (Charleston District)
  • St. James' Santee Parish (Charleston District)
  • St. Paul's Parish (Charleston District)
  • All Saints' Parish (Georgetown District)
  • Prince George, Winyah, Parish (Georgetown District)
  • Prince Frederick Parish (Georgetown District)
  • St. David's Parish (Cheraw District)
  • St. Mark's Parish (Cheraw District)
  • St. Matthew's Parish (Orangeburgh District)

Counties

Districts

Proposed counties

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. Section 3, Article VIII of the South Carolina Constitution Archived January 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  2. "South Carolina Constitution - Article VIII: Local Government" (PDF). South Carolina Legislature Online. Columbia, SC: South Carolina State Legislature. October 2, 2023. Section 3. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  3. Edgar, Walter, ed. The South Carolina Encyclopedia, University of South Carolina Press, 2006, pp. 230-234, ISBN   1-57003-598-9
  4. "SC County Maps". South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
  5. 1 2 Underwood, James Lowell. The South Carolina Constitution 2–5 (1985) (describing how South Carolina’s strong legislature led to weak county government in South Carolina until 1973 because county needs were handled by county delegations to the General Assembly)
  6. 1 2 3 Tyer, Charlie B. (1999). "County Government in the Palmetto State". The South Carolina Governance Project. University of South Carolina. Archived from the original on January 4, 2021.
  7. Ulbrich, Holley H.; London, Donna S.; Lucken, Melinda A. (2011). "Local Governments and Home Rule in South Carolina 4".
  8. Pierce, Jon B. (June 8, 2016). "Local government". South Carolina Encyclopedia.
  9. S.C. Code Ann. § 4-9-25 (2020).
  10. Guyton, Madison (2020). "Bans on Bans: Plastic Bags, Power, And Home Rule In South Carolina". 71 S.C. L. Rev. 801, 807.
  11. S.C. Code Ann. § 6-29-330 (2020).
  12. 1 2 "Curation, Loan, and Access Policy" (PDF). South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. pp. 21–22. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  13. "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
  14. 1 2 "NACo – Find a county". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
  15. "2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  16. "QuickFacts: South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  17. "2020 County Gazetteer Files - South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  18. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  136.
  19. "History of Lancaster", Lancaster County, South Carolina Archived May 15, 2019, at the Wayback Machine
  20. The Newberry Library (2009). "South Carolina: Individual County Chronologies, South Carolina Atlas of Historical County Boundaries". publications.newberry.org. Chicago, Illinois, US. Retrieved June 5, 2018.

Works cited