Charleston District, South Carolina Genealogy

United StatesSouth CarolinaCharleston District


 * Not to be confused with the small Charleston (1785-1791) County abolished in 1791.
 * Not to be confused with Charleston County 1800-present. From 1800 to 1868 that Charleston County was also known by the alias of Charleston District.

History
Originally Charles Town District, spelling officially changed to Charleston District in 1785.

Charleston District was created in 1768 from Colleton (1682-1768) County, Berkeley (1682-1768) County, and part of Craven County. See the 1768 South Carolina map.

In 1785 six subordinate counties were formed within the overarching Charleston District:


 * Bartholomew County
 * Berkeley (1785-1791) County
 * Charleston (1785-1791) County
 * Colleton (1785-1791) County
 * Marion (1785-1791) County
 * Washington County

These counties never became functional, and were abolished in 1791. They were counties in name only. See the 1785 South Carolina Map.

In 1800, South Carolina abolished overarching administrative court districts like Charleston District, and switched to the county-only concept. An all new Charleston County was created in 1800. However they called their counties, districts until 1868, after the Civil War.

For documents of people who lived in this area from 1768 to 1800, look in:


 * Christ Church Parish records since 1706
 * St. Andrew's Parish records since 1706
 * St. Bartholomew's Parish records since 1706
 * St. James Goose Creek Parish records since 1706
 * St. James Santee Parish records since 1706
 * St. Paul's Parish records since 1706
 * St. Philip's Parish records since 1706
 * St. Thomas and St. Denis Parish records since 1706
 * St. John's Berkeley Parish records since 1708
 * St. George Parish records since 1717
 * St. John's Colleton Parish records since 1730
 * St. Michael's Parish records since 1751
 * St. Stephen's Parish records since 1754
 * papers filed in the early capital at Charleston, South Carolina.

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating South Carolina county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation South Carolina County Boundary Maps" (1682-1987) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Family Histories
See also Berkeley County Genealogy

Websites

 * Charles Town District, South Carolina, courtesy: Carolana.com. Includes history.