Chesterfield County Genealogy
- Formed 1785
- Parent district Cheraws District
- County seat Chesterfield
- Neighbors Darlington, Kershaw, Lancaster, Marlboro
Chesterfield County was formed in 1785 (Cheraws District). The county seat is Chesterfield. Neighboring counties include Darlington, Kershaw, Lancaster, Marlboro.
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).
Chesterfield County was formed in 1798 from the Cheraws District. The county was named for Lord Chesterfield (1694-1773), who was an English statesman. The oldest town in the County is Cheraw which was founded in 1748. (Although the county seat is Chesterfield). The town Cheraw was known as Chatham until 1821.
Cheraw and Chesterfield were occupied briefly by General Sherman's troops during the Civil War.
Chesterfield County is home to Cheraw State Park (established 1934.)
There are several sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Chesterfield, SC which include Historic Districts.
A famous native of Chesterfield County, SC is jazz great Dizzy Gillespie.
Chesterfield County SCGenweb site
A History of the Chesterfield County Public Library
Chesterfield District Chapter, South Carolina Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 167
Chesterfield, SC 29709
Chesterfield County Courthouse old link
200 West Main Street
County Courthouse
Chesterfield, SC 29709
Census
- 1850 Federal Census index by last name only
- 1850 Federal Census transcription Directory opens to listing of text files, titled by page number and the above index.
Cemeteries
Query Forums
Cities and towns of Chesterfield County:
Cheraw
Chesterfield (County Seat)
Clyde
Jefferson
McBee
Mount Croghan
Pageland
Patrick
Robinson
Ruby
History notes
Chesterfield 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 Chesterfield 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 Chesterfield 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 Chesterfield 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
Chesterfield County Courthouse
Chesterfield, South Carolina
https://www.chesterfieldcountysc.com/