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.
Known as the “Birthplace and Deathbed of the Confederacy”, Abbeville County played a key role in Southern history.
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...
Allendale County lies next to the Savannah River in the Lowcountry.
Anderson County is located in the Upstate of South Carolina, lying halfway between Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia.
Bamberg County is located in southwestern South Carolina.
The area now known as Barnwell County initially existed within the Orangeburg District before becoming Winton County.
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.
Berkeley County is located in the Lowcountry, with its county seat in Moncks Corner.
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.
“Charleston County and the city of Charleston, its county seat, are the most historic locations in the state.”
In 1897, lands from York, Spartanburg, and Union counties merged to create Cherokee County.
Chester County is a county of about 30,000 residents located in South Carolina’s Piedmont region.
Chesterfield County is located in Northern South Carolina.
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.
Colleton County lies in South Carolina’s Lowcountry and Walterboro serves as its county seat.
The county is principally known for Darlington Raceway, which is an important venue for stock car racing.
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.
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.
Edgefield County lies within the Aiken/Augusta metro area along the Savannah River.
Fairfield County is part of the Old English District of South Carolina.
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.
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.
Greenville County, South Carolina’s most populous county, lies in the Upstate.
Lying in the Lower Piedmont of South Carolina’s Upstate, Greenwood County resulted from a merger of Abbeville and Edgefield counties in 1897.
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.
Horry County is home to one of South Carolina’s tourism hubs, the Grand Strand.
Jasper County was initially inhabited by Yemassee and Coosaw Indians.
Today, Kershaw County is known as an important equestrian area.
“Lancaster County and its county seat were named for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.”
Laurens County lies in the Piedmont of South Carolina, with the Enoree River, the Saluda River, and Lake Greenwood comprising some of its borders.
Lee County was founded in 1902 with a combination of lands previously belonging to Kershaw, Sumter, and Darlington counties.
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.
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.”
Marlboro County was founded in 1785 within Cheraws District and named after John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough.
McCormick County was founded in 1916 due to a combination of lands previously belonging to Abbeville, Greenwood, and Edgefield counties.
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.
Cherokee Native Americans first inhabited the lands now known as Oconee County.
Orangeburg County was founded as Orangeburg District in 1769.
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.
Richland County lies in the South Carolina midlands. Its county seat, Columbia, also serves as the state capital.
Saluda County was founded in 1895 from lands previously belonging to Edgefield County.
Spartanburg County was founded in 1785 and lies near the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Sumter County was first settled by Englishmen from Virginia and the South Carolina Lowcountry in the mid-18th century.
Union County lies in the Piedmont of South Carolina with a population of about 29,000 people.
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.
York County lies within the Olde English region of South Carolina. The county and its seat are named in honor of York County, Pennsylvania.
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This Carolina Stories special takes a lighthearted look at favorite places and homegrown things, spanning the alphabet to showcase all that South Carolina has to offer.
Full of interesting facts on geography, plants, and fauna found in South Carolina state parks.
Home to a wealth of folk traditions, South Carolina is culturally and geographically diverse.
ETV Shorts is a web series of stories gathered from around the state of South Carolina.
A Natural State explores how people express a love for nature by shaping, twisting, carving, and weaving materials collected from the landscape.
Original SC is a series featuring stories of everyday South Carolinians living, working and experiencing all that the Palmetto State has to offer.
Palmetto Scene was a South Carolina video magazine that explored the people, places, and culture of the Palmetto State.
Road Trip! Through South Carolina Civil Rights History was designed to help teachers and students to learn about the people and the events, and the importance of the civil rights movement in South Carolina from the...
