Winton County, South Carolina Genealogy

History
Winton County was created in 1785 within Orangeburgh District from the southwest half of the overarching Orangeburgh District. See the 1785 South Carolina map.

Winton County was never surveyed or properly laid out. Its boundaries were ambiguous. Its county government never became fully functional. Most records were kept at the parish level; few were kept at the county level. In this case the term "county" had little meaning other than to describe an approximate geographical area. For the most part it was a county in name only.

Winton County's separate court was abolished in 1791. In 1798 it was transformed into Barnwell County.

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.