South Carolina Counties

The state of South Carolina is made up of 46 counties. Learn more about each county by selecting a county below to explore people, places and events.

The state of South Carolina is made up of 46 counties. Learn more about each county by selecting a county below to explore people, places and events.

To view the state by tourism regions, visit ETV Shorts.

To view the state by landform regions, visit Web of Water or for the artistic sides of the state, visit A Natural State.

Within this Collection

<div>Abbeville</div>
Abbeville

Known as the “Birthplace and Deathbed of the Confederacy”, Abbeville County played a key role in Southern history.

<div>Aiken</div>
Aiken

Situated along the Savannah River, Aiken County shares its name with its county seat. An equestrian-enthusiast’s paradise, Aiken County is home to a polo club and a prominent horse racing scene with its own Triple...

<div>Allendale</div>
Allendale

Allendale County lies next to the Savannah River in the Lowcountry.

<div>Anderson</div>
Anderson

Anderson County is located in the Upstate of South Carolina, lying halfway between Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia.

<div>Bamberg</div>
Bamberg

Bamberg County is located in southwestern South Carolina.

<div>Barnwell</div>
Barnwell

The area now known as Barnwell County initially existed within the Orangeburg District before becoming Winton County.

<div>Beaufort</div>
Beaufort

Beaufort County lies in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Tourism is important to the county, as many visitors flock to the area to enjoy coastal waters, barrier islands, wildlife, and historic small towns.

<div>Berkeley</div>
Berkeley

Berkeley County is located in the Lowcountry, with its county seat in Moncks Corner.

<div>Calhoun</div>
Calhoun

Calhoun County lies between Columbia and Charleston. The area is widely popular with the locomotive and logistical industries due to its proximity to major interstates.

<div>Charleston</div>
Charleston

“Charleston County and the city of Charleston, its county seat, are the most historic locations in the state.”

<div>Cherokee</div>
Cherokee

In 1897, lands from York, Spartanburg, and Union counties merged to create Cherokee County.

<div>Chester</div>
Chester

Chester County is a county of about 30,000 residents located in South Carolina’s Piedmont region.

<div>Chesterfield</div>
Chesterfield

Chesterfield County is located in Northern South Carolina.

<div>Clarendon</div>
Clarendon

Clarendon County lies in the Santee Cooper region of South Carolina. The county’s economy revolves around timber, agriculture, and the railroad industry. Manning serves as the county seat.

<div>Colleton</div>
Colleton

Colleton County lies in South Carolina’s Lowcountry and Walterboro serves as its county seat.

<div>Darlington</div>
Darlington

The county is principally known for Darlington Raceway, which is an important venue for stock car racing.

<div>Dillon</div>
Dillon

Historically, agriculture has had a large presence in Dillon County’s economy. However, over time, manufacturing has become the largest employer of Dillon County residents.

<div>Dorchester</div>
Dorchester

Dorchester County has played in a significant role in history. The county is home to the nation’s first landscaped gardens, Middleton Place Gardens, which still exist today.

<div>Edgefield</div>
Edgefield

Edgefield County lies within the Aiken/Augusta metro area along the Savannah River.

<div>Fairfield</div>
Fairfield

Fairfield County is part of the Old English District of South Carolina.

<div>Florence</div>
Florence

Florence is the hub of an eight county region called the “Pee Dee”. It is the center for business, health care, communications, education, retail sales, cultural opportunities, and recreation.

<div>Georgetown</div>
Georgetown

Although a number of Native American tribes already lived in the area and the Spanish had visited, English planters and their African slaves were the first to settle what is now known as Georgetown County.

<div>Greenville</div>
Greenville

Greenville County, South Carolina’s most populous county, lies in the Upstate.

<div>Greenwood</div>
Greenwood

Lying in the Lower Piedmont of South Carolina’s Upstate, Greenwood County resulted from a merger of Abbeville and Edgefield counties in 1897.

<div>Hampton</div>
Hampton

The area is home to a number of plantation homes open to the public as well as Lake Warren State Park and the Hampton County Watermelon Festival, which is South Carolina’s oldest continuing festival.

<div>Horry</div>
Horry

Horry County is home to one of South Carolina’s tourism hubs, the Grand Strand.

<div>Jasper</div>
Jasper

Jasper County was initially inhabited by Yemassee and Coosaw Indians.

<div>Kershaw</div>
Kershaw

Today, Kershaw County is known as an important equestrian area.

<div>Lancaster</div>
Lancaster

“Lancaster County and its county seat were named for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.”

<div>Laurens</div>
Laurens

Laurens County lies in the Piedmont of South Carolina, with the Enoree River, the Saluda River, and Lake Greenwood comprising some of its borders.

<div>Lee</div>
Lee

Lee County was founded in 1902 with a combination of lands previously belonging to Kershaw, Sumter, and Darlington counties.

<div>Lexington</div>
Lexington

Lexington County lies in the Midlands region of South Carolina. Both the county and its seat were named after the Revolutionary War’s first battle, the battle of Lexington.

<div>Marion</div>
Marion

Marion County has strong ties to Revolutionary War history. The county and county seat’s namesake, Francis Marion, was a Revolutionary War general called the “Swamp Fox.”

<div>Marlboro</div>
Marlboro

Marlboro County was founded in 1785 within Cheraws District and named after John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough.

<div>McCormick</div>
McCormick

McCormick County was founded in 1916 due to a combination of lands previously belonging to Abbeville, Greenwood, and Edgefield counties.

<div>Newberry</div>
Newberry

Newberry County was founded in 1785 within the Ninety-Six District. Scotch-Irish, English, and German immigrants settled the area beginning in the mid-18th century.

<div>Oconee</div>
Oconee

Cherokee Native Americans first inhabited the lands now known as Oconee County.

<div>Orangeburg</div>
Orangeburg

Orangeburg County was founded as Orangeburg District in 1769.

<div>Pickens</div>
Pickens

Pickens County lies in the northwestern part of South Carolina. Both the county and its seat are named in honor of Revolutionary War general Andrew Pickens.

<div>Richland</div>
Richland

Richland County lies in the South Carolina midlands. Its county seat, Columbia, also serves as the state capital.

<div>Saluda</div>
Saluda

Saluda County was founded in 1895 from lands previously belonging to Edgefield County.

<div>Spartanburg</div>
Spartanburg

Spartanburg County was founded in 1785 and lies near the Blue Ridge Mountains.

<div>Sumter</div>
Sumter

Sumter County was first settled by Englishmen from Virginia and the South Carolina Lowcountry in the mid-18th century.

<div>Union</div>
Union

Union County lies in the Piedmont of South Carolina with a population of about 29,000 people.

<div>Williamsburg</div>
Williamsburg

Williamsburg County lies in the southern Pee Dee region of South Carolina. The county was named in honor of King William III. Kingstree serves as its county seat.

<div>York</div>
York

York County lies within the Olde English region of South Carolina. The county and its seat are named in honor of York County, Pennsylvania.

Xenorophid Ancient Whales | Curiosity Trek!

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Xenorophid Ancient Whales | Curiosity Trek!
Back during the Paleogene period, an ancient family of odontocete whales once lived in the seas of southeastern North America; almost exclusively in the South Carolina area! These whales were called...
The Entelodont "Terminator Pig" | Curiosity Trek!

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The Entelodont "Terminator Pig" | Curiosity Trek!
Trust us, if these prehistoric animals were still alive today? You would want to keep your distance! Entelodonts earned their nicknames "Hell Pig" and "Terminator Pig" for being aggressive hunters and...
Table Rock | Wild Wild South

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Table Rock | Wild Wild South
South Carolina’s slice of the Great Smoky mountains has some of the most vibrant wildlife - and incredible foliage! Join Hyatt as she chases the sunset to catch the best view from one of the state’s...
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Bartram's Bass | What's Wild!
Recently recognized as its own species, Bartram’s Bass tells a story of discovery, persistence, and conservation within the Savannah River system. Join the South Carolina Department of Natural...
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Loggerhead Sea Turtle | What's Wild!
South Carolina’s coastline sets the stage for one of nature’s most enduring journeys—the nesting of the loggerhead sea turtle. From fragile barrier islands to bustling beaches, these ancient mariners...
Charleston, South Carolina | Expedition VR

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Charleston, South Carolina | Expedition VR
Explore Charleston, South Carolina virtually! Scroll below to explore this Expedition VR episode. In this episode of Expedition VR journey through Charleston, South Carolina—a coastal city steeped in...
Greenville, South Carolina | Expedition VR

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Greenville, South Carolina | Expedition VR
Explore Greenville, South Carolina virtually! Scroll below to explore this Expedition VR episode. In this episode of Expedition VR take an immersive tour of Greenville, where vibrant downtown streets...
Columbia, South Carolina | Expedition VR

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Columbia, South Carolina | Expedition VR
Explore South Carolina's capital city virtually! Scroll below to explore this Expedition VR episode. In this episode of Expedition VR as we explore Columbia, the vibrant heart of the Palmetto State...
Jerome Busbee's Haunted Cart | Curiosity Trek!

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Jerome Busbee's Haunted Cart | Curiosity Trek!
Back when Jerome Busbee worked at the Adluh Flour Company in the mid-20th century, he used his favorite work cart every day. According to urban legend, after Busbee died his spirit possessed this cart...
The Ninety-Six Star Fort | Curiosity Trek!

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The Ninety-Six Star Fort | Curiosity Trek!
The Ninety-Six National Historic Site located in Greenwood, SC was the site of two battles in the American Revolution. This location figured prominently in the Southern Campaign in the American...
Fort Sumter's Flags | Curiosity Trek!

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Fort Sumter's Flags | Curiosity Trek!
Visitors to Fort Sumter National Historical Park have claimed that ghostly faces can be seen in two of Fort Sumter's original battle flags. Nobody knows for sure exactly what these markings are, when...
Eremotherium Giant Ground Sloth Skeleton | Curiosity Trek! Major Patrick Ferguson's Cairn | Curiosity Trek!

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Major Patrick Ferguson's Cairn | Curiosity Trek!
Visitors to Kings Mountain National Park may have noticed a grave marker with a massive pile of rocks behind it. What is the story of this unusual monument? This is the grave of Major Patrick Ferguson...
Eremotherium Giant Ground Sloth Skeleton | Curiosity Trek! A Letter from the Swamp Fox | Curiosity Trek!

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A Letter from the Swamp Fox | Curiosity Trek!
In this episode of Curiosity Trek!, The Georgetown County Museum is proud to showcase an impressive piece of Revolutionary War history- A handwritten letter from Francis Marion, also known as “The...
Eremotherium Giant Ground Sloth Skeleton | Curiosity Trek! The Faces of Fort Sumter | Curiosity Trek!

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The Faces of Fort Sumter | Curiosity Trek!
Sometime after the conclusion of the Civil War, some people claimed that ghostly faces can be seen imprinted on two of Fort Sumter’s authentic battle flags which flew over the fort during the Civil...
Pinckney Island | Wild Wild South

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Pinckney Island | Wild Wild South
Home to over 250 species, this is one of Hyatt’s favorite birding spots in the south! In the final installment, she’ll be taking y'all on an expedition through the boot stickin’ swamp to track down...
A National Park Frozen in Prehistoric Time | Wild Wild South Barrier Islands | Wild Wild South

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Barrier Islands | Wild Wild South
In this escapade, we dive deep into a stormy Lowcountry, revealing the vital role of barrier islands in protecting the marsh. Hyatt highlights the raw power of the weather and the ocean and the...
Maritime Forest | Wild Wild South

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Maritime Forest | Wild Wild South
The Lowcountry is full of diverse habitats, not just marshes! So today, Hyatt is going into the maritime forest on Hilton Head Island, fixin’ to find some of the amazing creatures that live here. From...
A National Park Frozen in Prehistoric Time | Wild Wild South Marshes and Beaches | Wild Wild South

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Marshes and Beaches | Wild Wild South
Join host Hyatt Mamoun on an adventure through South Carolina's Lowcountry in the first episode of Wild Wild South: Lowcountry! In this episode, we'll explore our incredibly biodiverse marshes and...
Glen Adams, Pipe Major | Original SC

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Glen Adams, Pipe Major | Original SC
Meet the talented bagpipe player and leader of the Palmetto Pipes and Drums band. Founded in 1996, the band has flourished, showcasing their musical talent and dedication. They have achieved numerous...