Counties of South Carolina
LocationState of South Carolina
Number46
Populations7,579 (Allendale) – 547,950 (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] They range in size from 359 square miles (930 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 7,579 residents, while the most populous county is Greenville County, with a population of 547,950, despite the state's most populous city, Charleston, being located in Charleston County.

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.[2] The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has maps that show the boundaries of counties, districts, and parishes starting in 1682.[3]

Historically, county government in South Carolina has been fairly weak.[4] 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.[5] 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.[4]

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.[6] This was finally enacted in 1975 with the Home Rule Act,[5] which provided for elected councils in each county. Further, in 1989, all counties were given the authority to exercise broad police powers.[7] 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.[8] Nonetheless, all counties and municipalities in South Carolina lack “fiscal home rule,” meaning they may only enact taxes authorized by the General Assembly.[5]

County ordinances become applicable within municipal boundaries when the municipality and the county make a formal agreement, and the municipality formally adopts the ordinance.[9] Unincorporated areas are governed by the county's land use plans.[10]

County abbreviations

County NameAbbreviation[11]County NameAbbreviation[11]
AbbevilleABGreenwoodGN
AikenAKHamptonHA
AllendaleALHorryHR
AndersonANJasperJA
BambergBAKershawKE
BarnwellBRLancasterLA
BeaufortBULaurensLU
BerkeleyBKLeeLE
CalhounCLLexingtonLX
CharlestonCHMarionMA
CherokeeCKMarlboroML
ChesterCSMcCormickMC
ChesterfieldCTNewberryNB
ClarendonCROconeeOC
ColletonCNOrangeburgOR
DarlingtonDAPickensPK
DillonDNRichlandRD
DorchesterDRSaludaSA
EdgefieldEDSpartanburgSP
FairfieldFASumterSU
FlorenceFLUnionUN
GeorgetownGEWilliamsburgWG
GreenvilleGVYorkYK

Alphabetical list

County
 FIPS code[12] County seat[13] Est.[13] Origin[14] Etymology Population
(2022)[15]		 Area[16] Map
Abbeville County 001 Abbeville1785Ninety-Six DistrictAbbeville, France 24,356 512 sq mi
(1,326 km2)		State map highlighting Abbeville County
Aiken County 003 Aiken1871Barnwell County, Edgefield County, Lexington County, and Orangeburg CountyWilliam Aiken, founder of the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company 174,150 1,080 sq mi
(2,797 km2)		State map highlighting Aiken County
Allendale County 005 Allendale1919Barnwell County and Hampton CountyP.H. Allen, first postmaster of the new county 7,579 412 sq mi
(1,067 km2)		State map highlighting Allendale County
Anderson County 007 Anderson1826Pendleton DistrictRobert Anderson, American Revolutionary War general and Southern surveyor 209,581 756 sq mi
(1,958 km2)		State map highlighting Anderson County
Bamberg County 009 Bamberg1897Barnwell CountyFrancis Marion Bamberg (1838–1905), Confederate general in the American Civil War 12,908 396 sq mi
(1,026 km2)		State map highlighting Bamberg County
Barnwell County 011 Barnwell1798Orangeburg CountyJohn Barnwell, South Carolina State Senator and prisoner of war during the American Revolution 20,414 557 sq mi
(1,443 km2)		State map highlighting Barnwell County
Beaufort County 013 Beaufort17691769 Judicial DistrictHenry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort, colonial proprietary landowner 196,371 923 sq mi
(2,391 km2)		State map highlighting Beaufort County
Berkeley County 015 Moncks Corner1882Charleston CountyWilliam Berkeley, colonial proprietary governor and landowner 245,117 1,234 sq mi
(3,196 km2)		State map highlighting Berkeley County
Calhoun County 017 St. Matthews1908Lexington County and Orangeburg CountyJohn C. Calhoun, U.S. senator from South Carolina and states' rights advocate 14,179 392 sq mi
(1,015 km2)		State map highlighting Calhoun County
Charleston County 019 Charleston17691769 Judicial DistrictKing Charles II of England 419,279 1,358 sq mi
(3,517 km2)		State map highlighting Charleston County
Cherokee County 021 Gaffney1897Spartanburg County, Union County, and York CountyCherokee Native Americans 56,121 397 sq mi
(1,028 km2)		State map highlighting Cherokee County
Chester County 023 Chester1785Camden DistrictChester, Pennsylvania 31,931 586 sq mi
(1,518 km2)		State map highlighting Chester County
Chesterfield County 025 Chesterfield1798Cheraws DistrictPhilip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, an Enlightenment-era scholar, government official, and member of the British House of Lords 43,683 806 sq mi
(2,088 km2)		State map highlighting Chesterfield County
Clarendon County 027 Manning1855Sumter CountyEdward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, colonial proprietary landowner 30,913 696 sq mi
(1,803 km2)		State map highlighting Clarendon County
Colleton County 029 Walterboro1800Charleston CountyJohn Colleton, colonial proprietary landowner 38,599 1,133 sq mi
(2,934 km2)		State map highlighting Colleton County
Darlington County 031 Darlington1785Cheraws DistrictDarlington, England 62,398 566 sq mi
(1,466 km2)		State map highlighting Darlington County
Dillon County 033 Dillon1910Marion CountyJames William "J.W." Dillon (1826-1913), founder of the Wilson Short Cut Railroad 27,738 407 sq mi
(1,054 km2)		State map highlighting Dillon County
Dorchester County 035 St. George1868Berkeley County and Colleton CountyDorchester, Massachusetts 166,133 571 sq mi
(1,479 km2)		State map highlighting Dorchester County
Edgefield County 037 Edgefield1785Ninety-Six DistrictDisputed; either its location on the edge of the state or Edgefield, Norfolk, England 26,932 507 sq mi
(1,313 km2)		State map highlighting Edgefield County
Fairfield County 039 Winnsboro1785Camden DistrictThe county's fair fields, as described by colonial Governor Charles Cornwallis 20,455 710 sq mi
(1,839 km2)		State map highlighting Fairfield County
Florence County 041 Florence1888Clarendon County, Darlington County, Marion County, and Williamsburg CountyFlorence Harllee (1848-1927), daughter of Wilmington and Manchester Railroad founder W.W. Harllee 136,721 804 sq mi
(2,082 km2)		State map highlighting Florence County
Georgetown County 043 Georgetown17691769 Judicial DistrictKing George II of Great Britain 64,722 1,035 sq mi
(2,681 km2)		State map highlighting Georgetown County
Greenville County 045 Greenville1786Washington DistrictNathanael Greene, Revolutionary War general 547,950 796 sq mi
(2,062 km2)		State map highlighting Greenville County
Greenwood County 047 Greenwood1897Abbeville County and Edgefield CountyGreenwood Plantation, the home of John McGee, the county's largest landowner 69,267 464 sq mi
(1,202 km2)		State map highlighting Greenwood County
Hampton County 049 Hampton1878Beaufort CountyWade Hampton III, lieutenant general and cavalry leader in the Confederate States Army and later governor of South Carolina and U.S. senator 18,113 563 sq mi
(1,458 km2)		State map highlighting Hampton County
Horry County 051 Conway1801Georgetown CountyPeter Horry, Revolutionary War general 383,101 1,255 sq mi
(3,250 km2)		State map highlighting Horry County
Jasper County 053 Ridgeland1912Beaufort County and Hampton CountyWilliam Jasper, Revolutionary War sergeant 32,039 702 sq mi
(1,818 km2)		State map highlighting Jasper County
Kershaw County 055 Camden1798Claremont County, Fairfield County, Lancaster County, and RichlandJoseph Kershaw, one of the county's pioneering settlers 67,751 740 sq mi
(1,917 km2)		State map highlighting Kershaw County
Lancaster County 057 Lancaster1798Camden DistrictLancaster, England, and the House of Lancaster[17] 104,577 555 sq mi
(1,437 km2)		State map highlighting Lancaster County
Laurens County 059 Laurens1785Ninety-Six DistrictHenry Laurens, president of the Second Continental Congress and prisoner of war during the American Revolution 67,965 724 sq mi
(1,875 km2)		State map highlighting Laurens County
Lee County 061 Bishopville1902Darlington County, Kershaw County, and Sumter CountyRobert E. Lee, Confederate general during the Civil War 16,153 411 sq mi
(1,064 km2)		State map highlighting Lee County
Lexington County 063 Lexington1804Orangeburg CountyBattle of Lexington, opening skirmish of the Revolutionary War 304,797 758 sq mi
(1,963 km2)		State map highlighting Lexington County
Marion County 067 Marion1800Georgetown CountyFrancis Marion, Revolutionary War general 28,450 494 sq mi
(1,279 km2)		State map highlighting Marion County
Marlboro County 069 Bennettsville1785Cheraws DistrictJohn Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, English general, diplomat, and confidant of monarchs 26,039 486 sq mi
(1,259 km2)		State map highlighting Marlboro County
McCormick County 065 McCormick1914Abbeville County, Edgefield County, and Greenwood CountyCyrus McCormick, inventor of the mechanical reaper and founder of International Harvester 9,764 394 sq mi
(1,020 km2)		State map highlighting McCormick County
Newberry County 071 Newberry1785Ninety-Six DistrictDisputed; possibly Newbury, Berkshire, England, or from early settlers' notion that the landscape was as "pretty as a new berry" 38,247 647 sq mi
(1,676 km2)		State map highlighting Newberry County
Oconee County 073 Walhalla1868Pickens CountyOconee Native Americans 80,180 674 sq mi
(1,746 km2)		State map highlighting Oconee County
Orangeburg County 075 Orangeburg17691769 Judicial DistrictPrince William V of Orange 83,094 1,128 sq mi
(2,922 km2)		State map highlighting Orangeburg County
Pickens County 077 Pickens1826Pendleton DistrictAndrew Pickens, governor of South Carolina 133,462 513 sq mi
(1,329 km2)		State map highlighting Pickens County
Richland County 079 Columbia1799Camden DistrictThe county's rich soil 421,566 772 sq mi
(1,999 km2)		State map highlighting Richland County
Saluda County 081 Saluda1896Edgefield CountySaluda River 18,938 462 sq mi
(1,197 km2)		State map highlighting Saluda County
Spartanburg County 083 Spartanburg1785Ninety-Six District"Spartan Regiment" of the state militia, which was the key force for victory in the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowpens 345,831 820 sq mi
(2,124 km2)		State map highlighting Spartanburg County
Sumter County 085 Sumter1798Claremont County, Clarendon County, and Salem CountyThomas Sumter, Revolutionary War general and U.S. senator from South Carolina 104,012 682 sq mi
(1,766 km2)		State map highlighting Sumter County
Union County 087 Union1798Ninety-Six DistrictUnion Church, the first Christian place of worship in the area 26,752 515 sq mi
(1,334 km2)		State map highlighting Union County
Williamsburg County 089 Kingstree1802Georgetown DistrictKing William III of England 30,058 937 sq mi
(2,427 km2)		State map highlighting Williamsburg County
York County 091 York1798Camden DistrictYork County, Pennsylvania 294,248 696 sq mi
(1,803 km2)		State map highlighting York County

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.[18]

  • 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

  • Birch County proposed in 2013 (portions of Lexington and Richland counties)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Section 3, Article VIII of the South Carolina Constitution Archived January 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Edgar, Walter, ed. The South Carolina Encyclopedia, University of South Carolina Press, 2006, pp. 230-234, ISBN 1-57003-598-9
  3. ↑ South Carolina Department of Archives and History maps.
  4. 1 2 See 2 James Lowell Underwood, 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)
  5. 1 2 3 Charlie B. Tyer, County Government in the Palmetto State, S.C. Governance Project (1999), http://www.ipspr.sc.edu/grs/SCCEP/Articles/county%20government.htm .
  6. ↑ Holley H. Ulbrich, Donna S. London,  & Melinda A. Lucken, Local Governments and Home Rule in South Carolina 4 (2011).
  7. ↑ See Jon B. Pierce, Local Government, S.C. Encyclopedia (last updated April 6, 2017), https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/local-government/ (citing S.C. Code Ann. § 4-9-25 (2020))
  8. ↑ S.C. Code Ann. § 4-9-25 (2020).
  9. ↑ Madison Guyton, Note, Bans on Bans: Plastic Bags, Power, And Home Rule In South Carolina, 71 S.C. L. Rev. 801, 807 (2020).
  10. ↑ S.C. Code Ann. § 6-29-330 (2020).
  11. 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.
  12. ↑ "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA. Retrieved April 9, 2007.
  13. 1 2 National Association of Counties. "NACo - Find a county". Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
  14. ↑ "2020 County Gazetteer Files - South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: South Carolina". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  16. ↑ "2020 County Gazetteer Files - South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  17. ↑ "History of Lancaster", Lancaster County, South Carolina Archived May 15, 2019, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ↑ 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

  • Landrum, John Belton O'Neall (1897) Colonial and revolutionary history of upper South Carolina: embracing for the most part the primitive and colonial history of the territory comprising the original county of Spartanburg with a general review of the entire military operations in the upper portion of South Carolina and portions of North Carolina Shannon and Company, Greenville, South Carolina, OCLC 3492548
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