Lexington County Genealogy | South Carolina Genealogy

Lexington County was formed in 1804 (Orangeburg District). The county seat is Lexington. Neighboring counties include Aiken, Calhoun, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda.

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).

Lexington County was formed in 1804 from the old Orangeburg District. The county name was in honor of the Revolutionary War battle of the same name. (Lexington, Mass.) Granby was the original county seat (just south of where Cayce is now located.) After problems with flooding the county seat was moved in 1820 to present day Lexington.

The town of Lexington is a "descendant" of sorts of the township of Saxe-Gotha which was laid out encompassing most of present day Lexington County. The idea with laying out the Royal Townships was to encourage settlement of the "back country". The Colonial government of King George II established 11 of these Royal Townships in South Carolina. Of course, one reason as stated was the encouragement of settlement of the back country, but the main motive was to create more of a buffer between the low country plantations and powerful indian tribes to the west.

Two very important indian trails went through what has become Lexington County, Cherokee Path and Occaneechi Path. US Highway 1 roughly follows Occaneechi Path and US 378 approximates the trail of Cherokee Path.

1 mile to the east of Lexington was the location of the Battle of Tarrar Springs in the Revolutionary War (November 16, 1781).

The town suffered tremendous loss of buildings in 1865 under the occupation of forces under the command of Gen. Sherman (Lexington was under control of the army guarding the Western Flank of Shermans troops.) Most businesses and homes, the county jail and courthouse and St. Stephen's Lutheran Church were all burned.

Lexington County houses the Lexington County Museum which illustrates life around the turn of the 18th century. There are 15 buildings on the property including the Lexington Post Office (first building constructed in Lexington, SC.) The John Fox farmhouse is included in the collection as well. In addition to the buildings there are many items in the collection that would have been common to day to day life in the ante-bellum era.

Lexington County SCGenweb site

Lexington County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 1442
Lexington, SC 29072

Lexington County Courthouse
212 S. Lake Drive
County Courthouse
Lexington, SC 29072

Census

1850 Federal Census Index - by last name only

Cemeteries

Query Forums

Cities and towns of Lexington County:

Barr
Batesburg
Batesburg-Leesville
Cayce
Cayce-West Columbia
Chapin
Columbia
Columbia AMF
Delmar
Dixiana
Edmund
Fairview Crossroads
Gaston
Gilbert
Harbison
Holtson Crossroads
Kathwood
Kneece
Lake Murray
Lake Murray Shores
Leesville
Lexington (County Seat)
Macedon
New Holland Crossroads
Pelion
Pineridge
Red Bank
Saluda Gardens
Saluda Terrace
Samaria
South Congaree
Springdale
Steedman
Summerland
Summit
Swansea
Thor
West Columbia
Westover Acres

History notes

Lexington 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 Lexington 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 Lexington 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 Lexington 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

Lexington County Courthouse
Lexington, South Carolina
https://www.lex-co.com/