Orangeburgh District, South Carolina Genealogy


 * Not to be confused with the smaller Orangeburg County 1800-present. From 1800 to 1868 that Orangeburg County was also known by the alias of Orangeburg District.

Alternate Spelling
Tradition has been that the "h" was used when referring to Orangeburgh District and it was dropped when referring to Orangeburg County.

Historical Facts
In 1768 South Carolina replaced all of her previous counties with seven court districts including the new Orangeburgh District northwest of the previous Berkeley, Colleton, and Granville counties. See the 1770 South Carolina map.

In 1785 South Carolina created four newly-defined subordinate counties within the overarching Orangeburgh District: (See the 1785 South Carolina map.)


 * Lewisburg County 1785
 * Lexington (1785-1791) County 1785
 * Orange County 1785
 * Winton County 1785

The four subordinate counties were never surveyed or properly laid out. Their boundaries were ambiguous. Their county governments never became functional. Most records were kept at the parish level; none were kept at the county level. There were no county seats. There were no political connotations to the counties' existences. In this case the term "county" had no meaning other than to describe an approximate geographical area. They were a counties in name only.

The four subordinate counties were abolished in 1791. Only the overarching Orangeburgh District remained for the next nine years.

In 1800 Barnwell District was created from part of Orangeburgh District. Lexington District was created from part of Orangeburgh District in 1804 and carried the same name as the old territory formed in 1785. The remaining area of Orangeburgh District became Orangeburg County in 1868. archives.sc.gov/sccountymaps/Pages/default.aspx

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


 * St. Matthew's Parish records since 1768
 * papers filed in the District Seat at Orangeburg, South Carolina
 * 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.

Societies
Orangeburgh German-Swiss Genealogical Society

The OGSGS is a family history organization which promotes the collection and preservation of early records of the people of Orangeburgh District, South Carolina, and their descendants.

Be sure to check the resources documenting the history of Orangeburgh and its earliest settlers on the home page above.

Websites

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