Orange County, South Carolina Genealogy

History
Orange County was created in 1785 within Orangeburgh District from the southeast part of the overarching Orangeburgh District. See the 1785 South Carolina map.

Orange County was never surveyed or properly laid out. Its boundaries were ambiguous. Its county government never became functional. Most records were kept at the parish level; none were kept at the county level. There was no county seat. There were no political connotations to the county's existence. In this case the term "county" had no meaning other than to describe an approximate geographical area. It was a county in name only.

Orange County was abolished in 1791.

After 1908 Calhoun County, South Carolina encompassed much of Orange County territory.

During the American Civil War Sherman's Union army burned most of the records of this area stored in Orangeburg in 1865.

For documents of people who lived in this area 1785-1791, look in St. Matthew's Parish records, in Amelia Township and Orangeburgh Township records, or for papers filed in 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.