Washington County, South Carolina Genealogy

United States South Carolina  Washington County


 * Not to be confused with the later Washington District of northwestern South Carolina.

History
Washington County was created in 1785 in the overarching Charleston District from shore area northwest of Charleston City up to Georgetown. See the 1785 South Carolina map

Washington 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.

Washington County was abolished in 1791.

For documents of people who lived in this area at this time, look in parish 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.