Colleton County Genealogy
- Formed 1800
- Parent district Charleston District
- County seat Walterboro
- Neighbors Bamberg, Beaufort, Charleston, Dorchester, Hampton, Orangeburg
In-depth topics
Colleton County was formed in 1800 (Charleston District). The county seat is Walterboro. Neighboring counties include Bamberg, Beaufort, Charleston, Dorchester, Hampton, Orangeburg.
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).
Colleton County was formed in 1800 from the Charleston District. It was named for one of the Lords Proprietors of the Carolina Colony John Colleton. The county was originally formed in 1682, but became a part of the Charleston District until 1800. The county seat is Walterboro. In 1897 a portion of the county was used for the formation of Dorchester County. There were several Revolutionary War skirmishes in Colleton County, with the state legislature even meeting in Jacksonboro during the British occupation of Charleston. Rice and Cotton were the main agricultural products in this area for a great part of it's history. Some of these old plantations make up a nature preserve called ACE Basin. A famous resident of Colleton County was Revolutionary War soldier Isaac Hayne.
Colleton County Genealogical Society
125 Wade Hampton Avenue
Walterboro, SC 29488
Colleton County Courthouse old link
P.O. Box 157
County Courthouse
Walterboro, SC 29488
Census
- 1850 Federal Census Index by last name only
- 1860 Federal Census Slave Schedule transcription of largest slaveholders Also, 1870 Free African Americans with surname matches.
Tax Records
Military Records
Other
Cemeteries
USGS listing of cemeteries in Colleton County
Query Forums
Cities and towns of Colleton County:
- Ashton
- Canadys
- Cottageville
- Edisto
- Edisto Beach
- Edisto Island
- Green Pond
- Greenpond
- Islandton
- Jacksonboro
- Lodge
- Moselle
- Ritter
- Round O
- Ruffin
- Smoaks
- Walterboro (County Seat)
- Williams
History notes
Colleton 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 Colleton 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 Colleton 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 Colleton 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
Colleton County Courthouse
Walterboro, South Carolina
https://www.colletoncounty.org/