<P> The U.S. state of South Carolina is made up of 46 counties, the maximum allowable by state law . They range in size from 359 square miles (578 square kilometers) in the case of Calhoun County to 1,358 square miles (3,517 square kilometers) in the case of Charleston County . The least populous county is McCormick County, with only 9,958 residents, while the most populous county is Greenville County, with a population of 451,225, despite the state's most populous city, Columbia, being located in Richland County . </P> <P> In the colonial period, the land around the coast was divided into parishes corresponding to the parishes of the Church of England . There were also several counties that had judicial and electoral functions . As people settled the backcountry, judicial districts and additional counties were formed . This structure continued and grew after the Revolutionary War . In 1800, all counties were renamed as districts . In 1868, the districts were converted back to counties . The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has maps that show the boundaries of counties, districts, and parishes starting in 1682 . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> County </Th> <Th> FIPS County Code </Th> <Th> County seat </Th> <Th> Established </Th> <Th> Origin </Th> <Th> Etymology </Th> <Th> Population </Th> <Th> Area </Th> <Th> Map </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Abbeville County </Td> <Td> 001 </Td> <Td> Abbeville </Td> <Td> 1785 </Td> <Td> Ninety - Six District </Td> <Td> Abbeville, France </Td> <Td> 7004248720000000000 ♠ 24,872 </Td> <Td> 7002511000000000000 ♠ 511 sq mi (7003132300000000000 ♠ 1,323 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Aiken County </Td> <Td> 003 </Td> <Td> Aiken </Td> <Td> 1871 </Td> <Td> Barnwell, Edgefield, Lexington, and Orangeburg </Td> <Td> William Aiken, founder of the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company </Td> <Td> 7005167458000000000 ♠ 167,458 </Td> <Td> 7003108000000000000 ♠ 1,080 sq mi (7003279700000000000 ♠ 2,797 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Allendale County </Td> <Td> 005 </Td> <Td> Allendale </Td> <Td> 1919 </Td> <Td> Barnwell and Hampton </Td> <Td> P.H. Allen, first postmaster of the new county </Td> <Td> 7003904500000000000 ♠ 9,045 </Td> <Td> 7002413000000000000 ♠ 413 sq mi (7003107000000000000 ♠ 1,070 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Anderson County </Td> <Td> 007 </Td> <Td> Anderson </Td> <Td> 1826 </Td> <Td> Pendleton District </Td> <Td> Robert Anderson, American Revolutionary War general and Southern surveyor </Td> <Td> 7005196569000000000 ♠ 196,569 </Td> <Td> 7002757000000000000 ♠ 757 sq mi (7003196100000000000 ♠ 1,961 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bamberg County </Td> <Td> 009 </Td> <Td> Bamberg </Td> <Td> 1897 </Td> <Td> Barnwell </Td> <Td> Francis Marion Bamberg, Confederate general in the American Civil War </Td> <Td> 7004144340000000000 ♠ 14,434 </Td> <Td> 7002395000000000000 ♠ 395 sq mi (7003102300000000000 ♠ 1,023 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Barnwell County </Td> <Td> 011 </Td> <Td> Barnwell </Td> <Td> 1798 </Td> <Td> Orangeburg </Td> <Td> John Barnwell, South Carolina State Senator and prisoner of war during the American Revolution </Td> <Td> 7004214830000000000 ♠ 21,483 </Td> <Td> 7002557000000000000 ♠ 557 sq mi (7003144300000000000 ♠ 1,443 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Beaufort County </Td> <Td> 013 </Td> <Td> Beaufort </Td> <Td> 1769 </Td> <Td> 1769 Judicial District </Td> <Td> Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort, colonial proprietary landowner </Td> <Td> 7005183149000000000 ♠ 183,149 </Td> <Td> 7002576000000000000 ♠ 576 sq mi (7003149200000000000 ♠ 1,492 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Berkeley County </Td> <Td> 015 </Td> <Td> Moncks Corner </Td> <Td> 1882 </Td> <Td> Charleston </Td> <Td> William Berkeley, colonial proprietary governor and landowner </Td> <Td> 7005210898000000000 ♠ 210,898 </Td> <Td> 7003122800000000000 ♠ 1,228 sq mi (7003318100000000000 ♠ 3,181 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Calhoun County </Td> <Td> 017 </Td> <Td> St. Matthews </Td> <Td> 1908 </Td> <Td> Lexington and Orangeburg </Td> <Td> John C. Calhoun, U.S. Senator from South Carolina and states' rights advocate </Td> <Td> 7004147960000000000 ♠ 14,796 </Td> <Td> 7002392000000000000 ♠ 392 sq mi (7003101500000000000 ♠ 1,015 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Charleston County </Td> <Td> 019 </Td> <Td> Charleston </Td> <Td> 1769 </Td> <Td> 1769 Judicial District </Td> <Td> King Charles II of England </Td> <Td> 7005396484000000000 ♠ 396,484 </Td> <Td> 1,358 </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cherokee County </Td> <Td> 021 </Td> <Td> Gaffney </Td> <Td> 1897 </Td> <Td> Spartanburg, Union, and York </Td> <Td> Cherokee Native Americans </Td> <Td> 7004566460000000000 ♠ 56,646 </Td> <Td> 7002397000000000000 ♠ 397 sq mi (7003102800000000000 ♠ 1,028 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Chester County </Td> <Td> 023 </Td> <Td> Chester </Td> <Td> 1785 </Td> <Td> Camden District </Td> <Td> Chester, Pennsylvania </Td> <Td> 7004321810000000000 ♠ 32,181 </Td> <Td> 7002586000000000000 ♠ 586 sq mi (7003151800000000000 ♠ 1,518 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Chesterfield County </Td> <Td> 025 </Td> <Td> Chesterfield </Td> <Td> 1798 </Td> <Td> Cheraws District </Td> <Td> Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, an Enlightenment - era scholar, government official, and member of the British House of Lords </Td> <Td> 7004460130000000000 ♠ 46,013 </Td> <Td> 7002806000000000000 ♠ 806 sq mi (7003208800000000000 ♠ 2,088 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Clarendon County </Td> <Td> 027 </Td> <Td> Manning </Td> <Td> 1855 </Td> <Td> Sumter </Td> <Td> Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, colonial proprietary landowner </Td> <Td> 7004339510000000000 ♠ 33,951 </Td> <Td> 7002696000000000000 ♠ 696 sq mi (7003180300000000000 ♠ 1,803 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Colleton County </Td> <Td> 029 </Td> <Td> Walterboro </Td> <Td> 1800 </Td> <Td> Charleston </Td> <Td> John Colleton, colonial proprietary landowner </Td> <Td> 7004379230000000000 ♠ 37,923 </Td> <Td> 7003113300000000000 ♠ 1,133 sq mi (7003293400000000000 ♠ 2,934 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Darlington County </Td> <Td> 031 </Td> <Td> Darlington </Td> <Td> 1785 </Td> <Td> Cheraws District </Td> <Td> Darlington, England </Td> <Td> 7004672340000000000 ♠ 67,234 </Td> <Td> 7002567000000000000 ♠ 567 sq mi (7003146900000000000 ♠ 1,469 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dillon County </Td> <Td> 033 </Td> <Td> Dillon </Td> <Td> 1910 </Td> <Td> Marion </Td> <Td> J.W. Dillon, founder of the Wilson Short Cut Railroad </Td> <Td> 7004308580000000000 ♠ 30,858 </Td> <Td> 7002407000000000000 ♠ 407 sq mi (7003105400000000000 ♠ 1,054 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dorchester County </Td> <Td> 035 </Td> <Td> St. George </Td> <Td> 1868 </Td> <Td> Berkeley and Colleton </Td> <Td> Dorchester, Massachusetts </Td> <Td> 7005153773000000000 ♠ 153,773 </Td> <Td> 7002577000000000000 ♠ 577 sq mi (7003149400000000000 ♠ 1,494 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Edgefield County </Td> <Td> 037 </Td> <Td> Edgefield </Td> <Td> 1785 </Td> <Td> Ninety - Six District </Td> <Td> Disputed; either its location on the edge of the state or Edgefield, Norfolk, England </Td> <Td> 7004263580000000000 ♠ 26,358 </Td> <Td> 7002507000000000000 ♠ 507 sq mi (7003131300000000000 ♠ 1,313 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Fairfield County </Td> <Td> 039 </Td> <Td> Winnsboro </Td> <Td> 1785 </Td> <Td> Camden District </Td> <Td> The county's fair fields, as described by colonial governor Charles Cornwallis </Td> <Td> 7004226530000000000 ♠ 22,653 </Td> <Td> 7002710000000000000 ♠ 710 sq mi (7003183900000000000 ♠ 1,839 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Florence County </Td> <Td> 041 </Td> <Td> Florence </Td> <Td> 1888 </Td> <Td> Clarendon, Darlington, Marion, and Williamsburg </Td> <Td> Florence Harllee, daughter of Wilmington and Manchester Railroad founder W.W. Harllee </Td> <Td> 7005138742000000000 ♠ 138,742 </Td> <Td> 7002804000000000000 ♠ 804 sq mi (7003208200000000000 ♠ 2,082 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Georgetown County </Td> <Td> 043 </Td> <Td> Georgetown </Td> <Td> 1769 </Td> <Td> 1769 Judicial District </Td> <Td> King George II of Great Britain </Td> <Td> 7004613990000000000 ♠ 61,399 </Td> <Td> 7002813550000000000 ♠ 813.55 sq mi (7003210700000000000 ♠ 2,107 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Greenville County </Td> <Td> 045 </Td> <Td> Greenville </Td> <Td> 1786 </Td> <Td> Washington District </Td> <Td> Nathanael Greene, Revolutionary War general </Td> <Td> 7005498766000000000 ♠ 498,766 </Td> <Td> 7002795000000000000 ♠ 795 sq mi (7003205900000000000 ♠ 2,059 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Greenwood County </Td> <Td> 047 </Td> <Td> Greenwood </Td> <Td> 1897 </Td> <Td> Abbeville and Edgefield </Td> <Td> Greenwood Plantation, the home of John McGee, the county's largest landowner </Td> <Td> 7004701330000000000 ♠ 70,133 </Td> <Td> 7002463000000000000 ♠ 463 sq mi (7003119900000000000 ♠ 1,199 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hampton County </Td> <Td> 049 </Td> <Td> Hampton </Td> <Td> 1787 </Td> <Td> Beaufort </Td> <Td> Wade Hampton, Congressman from South Carolina and once the nation's wealthiest citizen </Td> <Td> 7004199220000000000 ♠ 19,922 </Td> <Td> 7002563000000000000 ♠ 563 sq mi (7003145800000000000 ♠ 1,458 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Horry County </Td> <Td> 051 </Td> <Td> Conway </Td> <Td> 1801 </Td> <Td> Georgetown </Td> <Td> Peter Horry, Revolutionary War general </Td> <Td> 7005322342000000000 ♠ 322,342 </Td> <Td> 7003125500000000000 ♠ 1,255 sq mi (7003325000000000000 ♠ 3,250 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jasper County </Td> <Td> 053 </Td> <Td> Ridgeland </Td> <Td> 1912 </Td> <Td> Beaufort and Hampton </Td> <Td> William Jasper, Revolutionary War sergeant </Td> <Td> 7004284650000000000 ♠ 28,465 </Td> <Td> 7002700000000000000 ♠ 700 sq mi (7003181300000000000 ♠ 1,813 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kershaw County </Td> <Td> 055 </Td> <Td> Camden </Td> <Td> 1798 </Td> <Td> Claremont, Fairfield, Lancaster, and Richland </Td> <Td> Joseph Kershaw, one of the county's pioneering settlers </Td> <Td> 7004640970000000000 ♠ 64,097 </Td> <Td> 7002740000000000000 ♠ 740 sq mi (7003191700000000000 ♠ 1,917 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lancaster County </Td> <Td> 057 </Td> <Td> Lancaster </Td> <Td> 1798 </Td> <Td> Camden District </Td> <Td> Lancaster County, Pennsylvania </Td> <Td> 7004895940000000000 ♠ 89,594 </Td> <Td> 7002555000000000000 ♠ 555 sq mi (7003143700000000000 ♠ 1,437 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Laurens County </Td> <Td> 059 </Td> <Td> Laurens </Td> <Td> 1785 </Td> <Td> Ninety - Six District </Td> <Td> Henry Laurens, president of the Second Continental Congress and prisoner of war during the American Revolution </Td> <Td> 7004667770000000000 ♠ 66,777 </Td> <Td> 7002724000000000000 ♠ 724 sq mi (7003187500000000000 ♠ 1,875 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lee County </Td> <Td> 061 </Td> <Td> Bishopville </Td> <Td> 1902 </Td> <Td> Darlington, Kershaw, and Sumter </Td> <Td> Robert E. Lee, Confederate general during the Civil War </Td> <Td> 7004176350000000000 ♠ 17,635 </Td> <Td> 7002411000000000000 ♠ 411 sq mi (7003106400000000000 ♠ 1,064 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lexington County </Td> <Td> 063 </Td> <Td> Lexington </Td> <Td> 1804 </Td> <Td> Orangeburg </Td> <Td> Battle of Lexington, opening skirmish of the Revolutionary War </Td> <Td> 7005286196000000000 ♠ 286,196 </Td> <Td> 7002758000000000000 ♠ 758 sq mi (7003196300000000000 ♠ 1,963 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Marion County </Td> <Td> 067 </Td> <Td> Marion </Td> <Td> 1800 </Td> <Td> Georgetown </Td> <Td> Francis Marion, Revolutionary War general </Td> <Td> 7004317260000000000 ♠ 31,726 </Td> <Td> 7002494000000000000 ♠ 494 sq mi (7003127900000000000 ♠ 1,279 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Marlboro County </Td> <Td> 069 </Td> <Td> Bennettsville </Td> <Td> 1785 </Td> <Td> Cheraws District </Td> <Td> John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, English general, diplomat, and confidant of monarchs </Td> <Td> 7004269450000000000 ♠ 26,945 </Td> <Td> 7002485000000000000 ♠ 485 sq mi (7003125600000000000 ♠ 1,256 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> McCormick County </Td> <Td> 065 </Td> <Td> McCormick </Td> <Td> 1914 </Td> <Td> Abbeville, Edgefield, and Greenwood </Td> <Td> Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the mechanical reaper and founder of International Harvester </Td> <Td> 7003964300000000000 ♠ 9,643 </Td> <Td> 7002394000000000000 ♠ 394 sq mi (7003102000000000000 ♠ 1,020 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Newberry County </Td> <Td> 071 </Td> <Td> Newberry </Td> <Td> 1785 </Td> <Td> Ninety - Six District </Td> <Td> Disputed; possibly Newbury, Berkshire, England, or from early settlers' notion that the landscape was as "pretty as a new berry" </Td> <Td> 7004380790000000000 ♠ 38,079 </Td> <Td> 7002647000000000000 ♠ 647 sq mi (7003167600000000000 ♠ 1,676 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Oconee County </Td> <Td> 073 </Td> <Td> Walhalla </Td> <Td> 1868 </Td> <Td> Pickens </Td> <Td> Oconee Native Americans </Td> <Td> 7004763550000000000 ♠ 76,355 </Td> <Td> 7002674000000000000 ♠ 674 sq mi (7003174600000000000 ♠ 1,746 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Orangeburg County </Td> <Td> 075 </Td> <Td> Orangeburg </Td> <Td> 1769 </Td> <Td> 1769 Judicial District </Td> <Td> Prince William V of Orange </Td> <Td> 7004879030000000000 ♠ 87,903 </Td> <Td> 7003112800000000000 ♠ 1,128 sq mi (7003292200000000000 ♠ 2,922 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pickens County </Td> <Td> 077 </Td> <Td> Pickens </Td> <Td> 1826 </Td> <Td> Pendleton District </Td> <Td> Andrew Pickens, Governor of South Carolina </Td> <Td> 7005122863000000000 ♠ 122,863 </Td> <Td> 7002512000000000000 ♠ 512 sq mi (7003132600000000000 ♠ 1,326 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Richland County </Td> <Td> 079 </Td> <Td> Columbia </Td> <Td> 1799 </Td> <Td> Camden District </Td> <Td> The county's rich soil </Td> <Td> 7005409549000000000 ♠ 409,549 </Td> <Td> 7002772000000000000 ♠ 772 sq mi (7003199900000000000 ♠ 1,999 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Saluda County </Td> <Td> 081 </Td> <Td> Saluda </Td> <Td> 1896 </Td> <Td> Edgefield </Td> <Td> Saluda River </Td> <Td> 7004201970000000000 ♠ 20,197 </Td> <Td> 7002462000000000000 ♠ 462 sq mi (7003119700000000000 ♠ 1,197 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Spartanburg County </Td> <Td> 083 </Td> <Td> Spartanburg </Td> <Td> 1785 </Td> <Td> Ninety - Six District </Td> <Td> "Spartan Regiment" of the state militia, which was the key force for victory in the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowpens </Td> <Td> 7005301463000000000 ♠ 301,463 </Td> <Td> 7002819000000000000 ♠ 819 sq mi (7003212100000000000 ♠ 2,121 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sumter County </Td> <Td> 085 </Td> <Td> Sumter </Td> <Td> 1798 </Td> <Td> Claremont, Clarendon, and Salem </Td> <Td> Thomas Sumter, Revolutionary War general and U.S. Senator from South Carolina </Td> <Td> 7005107396000000000 ♠ 107,396 </Td> <Td> 7002682000000000000 ♠ 682 sq mi (7003176600000000000 ♠ 1,766 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Union County </Td> <Td> 087 </Td> <Td> Union </Td> <Td> 1798 </Td> <Td> Ninety - Six District </Td> <Td> Union Church, the first Christian place of worship in the area </Td> <Td> 7004276730000000000 ♠ 27,673 </Td> <Td> 7002516000000000000 ♠ 516 sq mi (7003133600000000000 ♠ 1,336 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Williamsburg County </Td> <Td> 089 </Td> <Td> Kingstree </Td> <Td> 1802 </Td> <Td> Georgetown District </Td> <Td> King William III of England </Td> <Td> 7004319550000000000 ♠ 31,955 </Td> <Td> 7002937000000000000 ♠ 937 sq mi (7003242700000000000 ♠ 2,427 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> York County </Td> <Td> 091 </Td> <Td> York </Td> <Td> 1798 </Td> <Td> Camden District </Td> <Td> York County, Pennsylvania </Td> <Td> 7005258526000000000 ♠ 258,526 </Td> <Td> 7002696000000000000 ♠ 696 sq mi (7003180300000000000 ♠ 1,803 km) </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> County </Th> <Th> FIPS County Code </Th> <Th> County seat </Th> <Th> Established </Th> <Th> Origin </Th> <Th> Etymology </Th> <Th> Population </Th> <Th> Area </Th> <Th> Map </Th> </Tr>

List of south carolina counties in alphabetical order
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