
Colleton County was created in 1800 and was formed from Charleston County. The County at one time contained St. Bartholomew Parish, St. Paul Parish, and St. George Dorchester Parish. In 1769 the parishes became part of the Charleston District, until 1800 when they formed the Colleton District. The county was named for Sir John Colleton (1608-1666) one of the Lords Proprietors. The county seat is Walterboro.
In searching for genealogy records be sure to check the following counties as they were created from Colleton County : Dorchester County in 1897.
Colleton County is bordered by Orangeburg County (north), Dorchester County (northeast), Charleston County (east), Beaufort County (south), Hampton County (west), Allendale County (west), Bamberg County (northwest).
Cities and Towns in Colleton County, SC include Cottageville, Edisto Beach, Green Pond, Lodge, Round O, Ruffin, Smoaks, Walterboro, Williams, Jacksonboro
A portion of the county was removed in 1897 to form Dorchester County.
Several Revolutionary War skirmishes took place in Colleton County.
The Official County Government Website is located at http://www.colletoncounty.org/.
Colleton County Clerk of Court has Court Records from 1807 and is located at P.O. Box 620, 101 Hampton Street, Walterboro, SC 29488; Phone: 843-549-5791 . The Colleton County Clerk of Court consist of The Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions. See South Carolina Court Records for more details.
Colleton County Clerk of Probate Court has Marriage Records from 1911 , Probate Records from 1865 and is located at P.O. Box 1036 , 200 East Washington St., Walterboro, SC 29488; Phone: 843-549-7216. The Colleton County Probate Court has original jurisdiction over actions concerning the issuance of marriage licenses, the estate of a deceased person, the will of an individual, the estate of a minor or incapacitated person, trusts, and involuntary commitments. See South Carolina Probate Records for more details.
Colleton County Registrar Mesne Conveyance has Land Records from 1802 and is located at P.O. Drawer 2289, Gaffney, SC 29342; Phone: (864) 487-2571 . The Register Of Deeds Office records land titles, leins and other documents related to property transaction in Colleton County. See South Carolina Land Records for more details.
Below is a list of online resources for Colleton County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Colleton County Court Records by clicking the link below:
Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.
PLEASE READ FIRST!!! There were no South Carolina birth or Death certificates before January 01, 1915.
Colleton County Health Department has vital records and is located at PO Box 229, 219 South Lemacks, Walterboro, SC 29488, Phone: (843) 549-1516. This office can search for birth and death records from January 01, 1915. Marriage records prior to 1950 may be available from the Probate Judge in the county where the license was issued. Divorce records since April 1949 should be available from the County Clerk in the county where the petition was filed (See Colleton County Court Records for Address and Phone number)
South Carolina DHEC, Division of Vital Records is located at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201; telephone # (803) 898-3630, fax #: (803) 799-0301.
The fee to search for a birth, Marriage or Death certificate is $12.00, which includes one certified copy of the certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." There were no South Carolina birth or Death "certificates" before January 01, 1915. You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
For each additional copy of the certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $3.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "S.C. DHEC, Division of Vital Records." Please do not send cash. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees of $5.00 are required for expedited service. The expedite fee guarantees a response leaving the Division of Vital Records within three (3) working days. A response can be in the form of a letter, a telephone call, or a certification being mailed.
Mail all Applications to: S.C. DHEC, Division of Vital Records is located at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. You can download an application online for Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates or Death Certificates. Ordering Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
There are a few online vital record databases which include: South Carolina Baptist Deaths and Marriages, 1866-87 and South Carolina Baptist Marriages and Deaths, 1835-65 which are a collection of marriage and death notices is derived from Baptist newspapers in South Carolina. Also there is the South Carolina Death Index, 1915-1949 & 1850-52 from the South Carolina DHEC.
Below is a list of online resources for Colleton County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Colleton County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable
Federal Population Schedules that exist for South Carolina are 1790, 1800 (Part of the 1800 census for Richland District is missing), 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. The first federal census was taken in 1790. The 1850 census of York and Lexington districts indicates county of birth as well as state for each person. There are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms & U.K. Census Extraction Forms
Below is a list of online resources for Colleton County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Colleton County Census Records by clicking the link below:
Below is a list of online resources for Colleton County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Colleton County Military Records by clicking the link below:
Below is a list of online resources for Colleton County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Colleton County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
There are many churches and cemeteries in Colleton County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Colleton County Tombstone Transcription Project. The South Carolina Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches and cemeteries free for viewing or download here.
Below is a list of online resources for Colleton County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Colleton County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below: