Chester County Genealogy
- Formed 1785
- Parent district Camden District
- County seat Chester
- Neighbors Fairfield, Lancaster, Union, York
Chester County was formed in 1785 (Camden District). The county seat is Chester. Neighboring counties include Fairfield, Lancaster, Union, York.
Use the research panels below for modern starting points—government contacts, census, vital records, cemeteries—and read the legacy narrative for local history notes and older link collections (some updated).
Chester County was formed in 1785 from Craven County and the Camden District. (Later it was transfered to the Pinckney District in 1791 until 1800.) It became it's own district in 1800. Since it is close to the North Carolina state line, you might find that the boundary "moved" from time to time. Areas of Chester County could have been considered to be in the county of Tryon, NC or any of it's "children" in North Carolina: Ruthorford, Mecklenburg, or Lincoln, or in South Carolina: York, Chester, Union, Spartanburg, Cherokee.
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Chester County was named ofr Chester County, PA. The area was setlled from about 1755. The area was the site of a Patriot defeat in the Revolutionary War battle of Fishing Creek in 1780 (August). The American forces in the battle were under the command of Thomas Sumter. Later in that same year, in November, American forces beat the British at the Battle of Fishdam Ford.
Chester County is home to a State Park at Landsford Canal which was built in 1823 to bypass rapids in the Catawba River.
Chester District Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 336
Richburg, SC 29729
Chester County Courthouse
P.O. Drawer 580
County Courthouse
Chester, SC 29706
Census
- 1790 Federal Census transcription
- 1790 Federal Census transcription
- 1800 Federal Census transcription Alphabetically ordered
- 1810 Federal Census transcription Alphabetically ordered
- 1820 Federal Census transcription Alphabetically ordered (A-Finch missing)
- 1830 Federal Census Index
- 1840 Federal Census Index
- 1850 Federal Census Index
- 1850 Federal Census transcription Directory opens to listing of index files (indx*txt) and text files title by the starting page (pg*txt).
- 1860 Federal Census transcription Directory opens to listing of index files (indx*txt) and text files title by the starting page (pg*txt).
Cemeteries
- USGS listing of cemeteries of Chester County
- Cemetery Transcriptions
- Armenia Methodist Church Cemetery transcription.
- Brushy Fork Cemetery Transcription
- Burnt Meeting House Cemetery Transcription
Military Records
Chester County Military Records
Family Pages
Chester County, SC Famly Pages
Query Forums
Cities and towns of Chester County:
- Beckhamville
- Blackstock
- Chester (County Seat)
- Cornwell
- Douglass
- Edgemoor
- Fort Lawn
- Great Falls
- Lando
- Richburg
- Stover
- Woodward
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History notes
Chester County's documentary trail follows South Carolina's district-to-county evolution. When searching before county formation, check parent districts and neighboring counties for deeds, estates, and tax lists.
Research starting points
Census
Federal census schedules (and some state/colonial substitutes) are foundational for Chester County household reconstruction. Start with every decade the family should appear, then correlate with land and probate.
Vital records
South Carolina statewide vital registration is comparatively late. For many Chester County families you will rely on a mix of county probate, church registers, Bible records, newspapers, and delayed birth certificates—not only a single “vital records office” file.
Cemeteries
Cemetery surveys for Chester County appear in published books, Find a Grave, USGenWeb archives, and local historical society vertical files. Always note whether a reading is complete or partial.
Courthouse & contacts
Chester County Courthouse
Chester, South Carolina
https://www.chestercounty.org/