County Past
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Charleston County, South Carolina

Historic newspapers, landmarks, and county history layers for genealogists and local historians.

—newspaper titles
—digitized titles
222historic places
—earliest paper
1868formed
408,235pop. 2020
31cemeteries
9CW battlefields

At a glance

Summary

The National Register of Historic Places includes 222 listed properties in the county, first listed in 1966; 43 are also National Historic Landmarks. Most listings are in or near Charleston, Edisto Island, Mount Pleasant.

Summary generated automatically from the source data on this page.

Newspapers

Library of Congress

Newspaper directory data for South Carolina is not yet loaded on this site. Browse Charleston titles at the Library of Congress.

National Register of Historic Places

NPS NRHP

141 of 222 listings mapped; some locations are restricted by NPS to protect sensitive sites.

222 listed properties
PropertyCityTypeListed
Aiken, Gov. William, HouseCharlestonBuilding1977
Aiken, William, House and Associated Railroad Structures NHLCharlestonDistrict1966
Angel OakJohns IslandSite2026
Ashley Hall PlantationCharlestonDistrict1975
Ashley River Historic DistrictCharlestonDistrict1994
Ashley River Historic District (Boundary Increase)CharlestonDistrict2010
Ashley River RoadSummervilleStructure1983
Atlanticville Historic DistrictSullivan's IslandDistrict2007
Auld MoundMount PleasantSite1970
Bache, Alexander, U.S. Coast Survey LineEdisto IslandStructure2007
Bailey's StoreEdisto IslandBuilding1986
Barnwell HouseCharlestonBuilding1980
Bass Pond SiteKiawah IslandSite1979
Battery ChevesFort Johnson EstatesStructure1982
Battery GadsdenSullivan's IslandStructure1974
Battery LeRoyJames IslandStructure1982
Battery No. 1James IslandStructure1982
Battery No. 5James IslandStructure1982
Battery ThomsonSullivan's IslandStructure1974
Battery TynesJames IslandStructure1982
Battery WilkesLongbranch EstatesStructure1982
Bennett, Gov. Thomas, HouseCharlestonBuilding1978
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal ChurchMcClellanvilleBuilding2004
Bethel Methodist ChurchCharlestonBuilding1974
Blacklock, William, House NHLCharlestonBuilding1973
Blake TenementsCharlestonBuilding1970
Bleak Hall Plantation OutbuildingsEdisto IslandBuilding1973
Boone Hall Plantation House and Historic Landscape (Boundary Increase)Mount PleasantDistrict1994
Branford-Horry HouseCharlestonBuilding1970
Brewton, Miles, House NHLCharlestonBuilding1966
Brewton, Robert, House NHLCharlestonBuilding1966
Brick House Ruin NHLEdisto IslandStructure1970
Brooklands PlantationEdisto IslandBuilding1987
Brown, Dianna, Antique ShopCharlestonBuilding2020
Buzzard's Island SiteMount PleasantSite1970
Cape Romain LighthousesMcClellanvilleStructure1981
Cassina PointEdisto IslandBuilding1986
Castle PinckneyCharlestonStructure1970
Central Baptist ChurchCharlestonBuilding1977
Charleston Cemeteries Historic DistrictCharlestonDistrict2017
Charleston Cigar Factory NHLCharlestonBuilding
Charleston Consolidated Railway, Electric and Gas Company Car HouseCharlestonBuilding2017
Charleston Historic District NHLCharlestonDistrict1966
Charleston Historic DistrictCharlestonDistrict1978
Charleston Historic District (Boundary Increase)CharlestonDistrict1970
Charleston Historic District (Boundary Increase)CharlestonDistrict1984
Charleston Naval HospitalNorth CharlestonBuilding2021
Charleston Naval Hospital Historic DistrictNorth CharlestonDistrict2010
Charleston Navy Yard Historic DistrictNorth CharlestonDistrict2006
Charleston Navy Yard Officers' Quarters Historic DistrictNorth CharlestonDistrict2007
Charleston Old and Historic District (Boundary Increase)CharlestonDistrict1985
Charleston Old and Historic District (Boundary Increase)CharlestonBuilding1986
Charleston's French Quarter DistrictCharlestonDistrict1973
Christ ChurchMount PleasantBuilding1972
Cigar FactoryCharlestonBuilding1980
Circular Congregational Church and Parish House NHLCharlestonBuilding1973
Citizens and Southern National Bank of South CarolinaCharlestonBuilding1971
College of Charleston NHLCharlestonBuilding1971
Coming Street CemeteryCharlestonSite1996
Cook's Old Field CemeteryMt. PleasantSite2003
Crawford's Plantation HouseEdisto IslandBuilding1993
Dock Street TheatreCharlestonBuilding1973
Drayton Hall NHLCharlestonBuilding1966
Edisto Island Baptist ChurchEdisto IslandBuilding1982
Edisto Island Presbyterian ChurchEdisto IslandBuilding1971
Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal ChurchCharlestonBuilding2018
Engineering-Management BuildingNorth CharlestonBuilding2020
Enston, William, HomeCharlestonDistrict1996
Exchange and Provost NHLCharlestonBuilding1969
Faber HouseCharlestonBuilding2019
Fairfield PlantationMcClellanvilleBuilding1974
Farmers' and Exchange Bank NHLCharlestonBuilding1973
Farmfield Plantation HouseCharlestonBuilding1982
Fenwick HallCharlestonBuilding1972
Fig Island Site NHLEdistoSite1970
Fireproof Building NHLCharlestonBuilding1969
Florence Crittenton HomeCharlestonBuilding1997
Folly North Site-38CH1213Folly BeachSite2003
Fort Johnson/Powder MagazineCharlestonSite1972
Fort Moultrie Quartermaster and Support Facilities Historic DistrictSullivan's IslandDistrict2007
Fort PalmettoHamlin SoundStructure1982
Fort Pemberton SiteCharlestonSite1978
Fort PringleJames IslandStructure1982
Fort Sumter National MonumentCharlestonDistrict1966
Fort Sumter National Monument (Boundary Increase and Additional Documentation)Sullivan's IslandDistrict2016
Fort TrenholmJohn's IslandStructure1982
FrogmoreEdisto IslandBuilding1987
General Asbestos and Rubber Company (GARCO) Main MillNorth CharlestonBuilding2017
Gibbes, William, House NHLCharlestonBuilding1970
Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy TrinityCharlestonBuilding2004
Grimball, Paul, House RuinsEdisto IslandSite1986
Grove PlantationAdams RunBuilding1978
H. L. HUNLEY (submarine)CharlestonSite1978
Hampton Park Terrace Historic DistrictCharlestonDistrict1997
Hampton Plantation NHLMcClellanvilleBuilding1970
Hanckel MoundRockvilleSite1970
Harrietta PlantationMcClellanvilleBuilding1975
Hebron Presbyterian ChurchJohns IslandBuilding2025
Heyward, Dubose, House NHLCharlestonBuilding1971
Heyward-Washington House NHLCharlestonBuilding1970
Hibernian Hall NHLCharlestonBuilding1973
Horse IslandRockvilleSite1970
Host of America MotelNorth CharlestonBuilding2020
Huger, Cleland Kinloch and Burnet R. Maybank, HouseCharlestonBuilding2015
Huguenot Church NHLCharlestonBuilding1973
Hutchinson HouseEdisto IslandBuilding1987
Hutchinson House (Additional Documentation)Edisto IslandBuilding1987
Jackson Street Freedman's CottagesCharlestonBuilding2017
John's Island Presbyterian ChurchCharlestonBuilding1975
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue NHLCharlestonBuilding1978
King CemeteryAdams RunSite2000
Lawton-Seabrook CemeteryEdisto IslandSite2017
Lighthouse Point Shell Ring (38CH12)CharlestonSite1990
Long Point Plantation (38CH321)Mt. PleasantSite1986
Lowndes GroveCharlestonBuilding1978
Lucas Family CemeteryMt. PleasantSite1998
Lucas, Jonathan, HouseCharlestonBuilding1978
Magnolia CemeteryCharlestonDistrict1978
Magnolia Plantation and GardensCharlestonDistrict1972
Manigault, Joseph, House NHLCharlestonBuilding1973
Marine Barracks, Charleston Navy YardNorth CharlestonBuilding2020
Market Hall and Sheds NHLCharlestonBuilding1973
Marshlands Plantation HouseJames IslandBuilding1973
McClellanville Historic District (Additional Documentation)McClellanvilleDistrict1982
McCrady's Tavern and Long RoomCharlestonBuilding1972
McLeod PlantationCharlestonBuilding1974
Meggett, W. Gresham, High and Elementary SchoolCharlestonBuilding2018
Middleton's PlantationEdisto IslandBuilding1971
Mikell, Isaac Jenkins, HouseCharlestonBuilding2014
Mills, Clark, Studio NHLCharlestonBuilding1966
Morris Island LighthouseCharlestonStructure1982
Mosquito Beach Historic DistrictCharlestonDistrict2019
Moultrieville Historic DistrictSullivan's IslandDistrict2007
Mount Pleasant Historic DistrictMount PleasantDistrict1973
Moving Star HallJohn's IslandsBuilding1982
Murray, Andrew B., Vocational SchoolCharlestonBuilding2002
Nicholson, James, HouseCharlestonBuilding1974
Oak IslandEdisto IslandBuilding1986
Oakland Plantation HouseMount PleasantBuilding1977
Old Bethel United Methodist ChurchCharlestonBuilding1975
Old CourthouseMount PleasantBuilding1971
Old Georgetown RoadMcClellanvilleStructure2014
Old House PlantationEdisto IslandBuilding1971
Old House Plantation and Commissary (Boundary Increase)Edisto IslandBuilding1987
Old Marine Hospital NHLCharlestonBuilding1973
Old Slave MartCharlestonBuilding1975
Patrick, Dr. John B., HouseSullivans IslandBuilding1995
Peter's Point PlantationEdisto IslandBuilding1973
Phillips Community Historic DistrictMount PleasantDistrict2023
Porter Military AcademyCharlestonDistrict1996
Powder Magazine NHLCharlestonBuilding1972
Presbyterian ManseEdisto IslandBuilding1971
Presqui'ileCharlestonBuilding1978
Pritchard, Paul, ShipyardMount PleasantSite1974
Progressive Club, TheJohns IslandBuilding2007
Prospect HillEdisto IslandBuilding1986
Read BuildingCharlestonBuilding2022
Rhett, Robert Barnwell, House NHLCharlestonBuilding1973
Robb, William, HouseCharlestonBuilding1983
Robert Mills ManorCharlestonDistrict2021
Rockville Historic DistrictRockville andDistrict1972
Roper, Robert William, House NHLCharlestonBuilding1973
Rose, Thomas, HouseCharlestonBuilding1970
Russell, Nathaniel, House NHLCharlestonBuilding1971
Rutledge, Edward, House NHLCharlestonBuilding1971
Rutledge, Gov. John, House NHLCharlestonBuilding1971
Seabrook, John, Plantation BridgeRockvilleStructure1974
Seabrook, William, HouseEdisto IslandBuilding1971
Seashore Farmers' Lodge No. 767James IslandBuilding2007
Seaside Plantation HouseEdisto IslandBuilding1982
Seaside SchoolEdisto IslandBuilding1994
Secessionville Historic DistrictFolly BeachDistrict1979
Sewee MoundAwendawSite1970
Simmons, James Stocker, HouseCharlestonBuilding2022
Simmons-Edwards House NHLCharlestonBuilding1971
Site of Old Charles TowneCharlestonSite1969
Sixth Naval District Training Aids LibraryCharlestonBuilding2017
Slave Street, Smokehouse, and Allee, Boone Hall PlantationMount PleasantDistrict1983
Snee Farm-Charles Pinckney National Historic Site (Additional Documentation) NHLMount PleasantDistrict1973
Snee Farm-Charles Pinckney National Historic Site (Boundary Increase) NHLMount PleasantDistrict2021
Sottile, Giovanni, HouseCharlestonBuilding2019
South Carolina National Bank of CharlestonCharlestonBuilding1973
South Carolina State ArsenalCharlestonBuilding1970
Spanish Mount PointEdisto IslandSite1974
Sparrow, James, HouseCharlestonBuilding1998
Spring Street Methodist ChurchCharlestonBuilding2024
St. Andrews Episcopal ChurchCharlestonBuilding1973
St. James Episcopal Church, Santee NHLGeorgetownBuilding1970
St. Mark's Episcopal ChurchCharlestonBuilding2026
St. Mary's Roman Catholic ChurchCharlestonBuilding1976
St. Michael's Episcopal Church NHLCharlestonBuilding1966
St. Philip's Episcopal Church NHLCharlestonBuilding1973
Standard Oil Company HeadquartersCharlestonBuilding2015
Stiles-Hinson HouseCharlestonBuilding1974
Stono River Slave Rebellion Site NHLRantowlesSite1974
Stuart, Col. John, House NHLCharlestonBuilding1970
Sullivan's Island Historic DistrictSullivan's IslandDistrict2007
Summit Plantation HouseAdams RunBuilding1983
SunnysideEdisto IslandBuilding1986
Sunnyside Plantation Foreman's House (Boundary Increase)Edisto IslandBuilding1994
Sword Gate HousesCharlestonBuilding1970
Tennent, Josiah Smith, HouseCharlestonBuilding1979
Towles FarmsteadMeggettDistrict1994
Townsend's, Hephzibah Jenkins, Tabby Oven RuinsEdisto IslandSite1987
Trinity Episcopal ChurchEdisto IslandBuilding1971
U.S. Coast Guard Historic DistrictSullivans IslandDistrict1973
U.S. CustomhouseCharlestonBuilding1974
U.S. Post Office and CourthouseCharlestonBuilding1974
USS LAFFEY NHLMount PleasantStructure1983
USS YORKTOWN (CV-10) NHLMount PleasantStructure1982
Unitarian Church NHLCharlestonBuilding1973
Unnamed BatteryShaftsbury TownhousesStructure1982
Unnamed Battery No. 1Clark's PointStructure1982
Vander Horst, Arnoldus, HouseCharlestonBuilding1973
Vesey, Denmark, House NHLCharlestonBuilding1976
Wedge, TheMcClellanvilleBuilding1980
WehakenCharlestonDistrict2026
Wescott RoadEdisto IslandStructure1986
West Point Rice MillCharlestonBuilding1995
Wilkinson-Boineau HouseAdams RunBuilding1999
Willtown BluffAdams RunSite1974
Windsor PlantationEdisto IslandBuilding1974

Source: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Property links open NRHP nomination files at the National Archives.

County formation

Newberry AHCB

Charleston was formed in 1868 (1868-04-16) from unknown / original county.

Charleston District became CHARLESTON County under new state constitution. All judicial districts converted to counties, all existing counties continued, and counties assumed all functions of local government from both judicial districts and parishes.

Source: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

Population by decade

Census

Charleston County population from 1790 to 2020 (Census historical series).

408k233k57k179018001840188019101920196020002020
17901800182018401860188019001920194019501960198020002020
66,98557,48080,21282,66170,100102,80088,006108,450121,105164,856216,382276,974309,969408,235

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau historical county population (Forstall 1790–1990) and public-domain / CC0 county population series through 2020.

National Park Service sites nearby

NPS

Park units within about 40 km of the county centroid (from NPS Public POIs; no API key).

SiteTypeDist.
Fort Sumter National MonumentPark unit7.7 km
Charles Pinckney National Historic SitePark unit12.1 km

Source: NPS National Datasets / Public POIs. The NPS Developer API requires a free key and was not used.

Cemeteries & historical places

USGS GNIS

31 cemeteries and 3 historical populated places (ghost towns / former settlements) recorded in USGS GNIS for this county.

Cemeteries — 31 of 31 listed
NameLatLon
Adverse Cemetery32.81656-79.95564
Bethany Cemetery32.81406-79.94814
Bethlehem Cemetery32.72351-80.3926
Brown Cemetery32.79675-79.98646
Carolina Memorial Gardens32.92822-80.04064
Castle Cemetery32.881-80.10231
Chaplin Cemetery32.7435-80.13732
Confederate Cemetery32.78573-79.87369
First Scots Presbyterian Church Cemetery32.77417-79.93102
Hebrew Cemetery32.78989-79.94314
Holy Cross Cemetery32.74055-79.91456
Hopewell Cemetery32.83934-80.39038
Hughes Cemetery32.80573-80.12898
Johnson Cemetery32.92711-80.05064
Live Oak Memorial Gardens32.85017-80.07009
Magnolia Cemetery32.8178-79.94574
Oak Grove Cemetery32.90211-80.01981
Ocean Grove Cemetery32.78461-79.86869
Parker Cemetery32.63762-80.15606
Prices Cemetery32.6774-80.35454
Quaker Churchyard32.77739-79.93259
Riverview Memorial Park32.84588-79.98961
Saint Lawrence Cemetery32.81489-79.94397
Saint Peters Cemetery32.77517-79.93564
Sunset Memorial Cemetery32.93017-80.05675
Tomb of Colonel William Washington32.79795-80.14537
Trinity Cemetery32.5699-80.28343
Venning Cemetery32.81656-79.83397
Wappetow Cemetery32.92739-79.71646
White Cemetery32.8335-80.27871
Wilson Cemetery32.99072-79.6209
Historical populated places — 3 of 3
NameLatLon
Clementia32.72518-80.18537
Gannon32.68712-80.27732
Point Pleasant32.75184-80.14843

Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System (public domain). Cemeteries from the 2021 NationalFile archive; historical places from GNIS HistoricalFeatures topical extract.

Civil War battlefields nearby

ABPP

American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) Civil War study areas near this county.

BattlefieldStudy acresDist.Site ID
Fort Sumter3,5388.5 kmSC001
Charleston Harbor1,3519.3 kmSC009
Fort Sumter1,1649.7 kmSC008
Charleston Harbor2,36210.9 kmSC004
Fort Wagner3,18111.4 kmSC005
Grimball'S Landing5,47111.4 kmSC006
Fort Wagner, Morris Island2,58211.5 kmSC007
Secessionville3,25311.6 kmSC002
Simmon 'S Bluff55429.2 kmSC003

Source: NPS American Battlefield Protection Program Civil War Study Areas (public ArcGIS feature service).

Historical markers

HMdb link

Marker text and photos from the Historical Marker Database (HMdb) are not embedded here. HMdb allows non-commercial reuse with attribution, but commercial/compensated use needs written permission; this is a commercial site, so we only link out.

Search HMdb for Charleston County, South Carolina

Terms: hmdb.org/copyright.asp. Linking is encouraged by HMdb.